Natural Language Network Security Policy Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network security configuration software lacks the ability to extract configuration elements from natural language text and cannot infer user intentions from such text, requiring administrators to manually translate and interpret requests into specific policy elements.
Innovation Solution
A system that receives and parses bit strings encoding natural-language requests to identify objects and actions, displaying descriptions and applicable operations, allowing users to select and implement changes through a graphical user interface, utilizing natural language understanding techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional configuration software with forms and wizards is used, then the system provides structured guidance and validation, but the user must manually translate natural language requests into specific policy elements, increasing complexity and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical interaction of manually filling forms and translating natural language into structured policy elements with an automated natural language processing system. The system uses bit string encoding and parsing to automatically extract objects and actions from natural language requests, substituting the manual mechanical process with an automated computational approach that directly interprets user intent without requiring manual translation steps
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically processing natural language requests without requiring users to manually navigate complex forms or understand specific policy element structures. The bit string encoding and automatic parsing allow the system to independently extract configuration elements and generate policy adjustments, making the configuration process more autonomous and reducing the cognitive burden on users
2Ease of operation
If natural language processing is implemented to extract configuration elements, then the user interface becomes more intuitive and user-friendly, but the system complexity increases due to additional parsing and interpretation layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of information representation by encoding natural language requests as bit strings with specific structures. This transformation allows the system to process natural language in a standardized format that can be automatically parsed for objects and actions, maintaining system manageability while enabling intuitive natural language interaction. The bit string encoding serves as an intermediate representation that bridges natural language and structured policy elements
3Productivity
If the system automatically parses and interprets natural language requests, then productivity increases by reducing manual steps, but the reliability may decrease due to potential misinterpretation of user intent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system parses natural language requests into structured representations and can present these interpretations to users for confirmation before applying policy changes. This feedback loop allows the system to automatically process requests efficiently while providing users an opportunity to verify and correct any misinterpretations, thereby maintaining both high productivity and reliability
Data Source
AI summary
To administer computer network security, a computer system receives a bit string that encodes a natural-language request for adjusting a security policy of the network and parses the bit string to identify one or more objects and an action to be applied to the object(s). Preferably, the system displays a description of one of the objects and a menu of operations that are applicable to the object, receives a user selection of one of the options, and effects the selected operation. The scope of the invention also includes a non-transient computer-readable storage medium bearing code for implementing the method and a system for implementing the method.