Livingston's Server-based 'ChoiceNet' Technology Offers Customizable Control Over Internet Access.

PLEASANTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 1996--A new network filtering technology that offers customized control over Internet access -- providing an alternative to government-imposed censorship by implementing Internet content-selection mechanisms for children or corporate employees -- has been introduced by Livingston Enterprises.

Livingston's ChoiceNet(TM) is the first technology to take a centralized, server-based approach to Internet access control, enabling access to a user's authorized "site lists" from a single point, rather than requiring filtering software and site lists to be installed and updated at every PC.

ChoiceNet is also unique in permitting fully customized access for every user, so that a parent, employer or Internet service provider (ISP) can select preferred site lists -- and can even choose different allowable lists for different members of a family, staff, organization or subscriber base. And because it uses a "permit access" approach to accessible sites, ChoiceNet is inherently safer than existing Internet content-control products whose "deny access" technology allows access to anything not specifically designated as off-limits.

ChoiceNet is a client-server application platform that functions invisibly to the end user on Livingston PortMaster dial-up Communications Servers, PortMaster Office Routers and IRX Firewall Routers. ChoiceNet is designed to be offered as a value-added service by ISPs, which will allow the more than 1,500 ISPs currently deploying Livingston products to offer the technology immediately to their more than 3,000,000 users.

Application Platform for Content Control, Special-Purpose Networks, ISP Value-Added Services

ChoiceNet can be used to enforce Internet content control in a variety of environments. At home, it can keep children from seeing sexually explicit material on Internet web sites. At work, it can boost employee productivity by limiting access to game or stock-quote sites from company computers, or reduce potential employer liability by blocking access to pornography sites.

But ChoiceNet's utility is not limited to content control. ChoiceNet can give ISPs a competitive edge by letting them use their existing network infrastructure to offer value-added services such as a multi-player game server or a fee-based content server. Previously this would have required installation of a separate infrastructure to keep users from roaming at will among Internet sites once access had been established; now it can be done simply by setting up different accounts for different services and using ChoiceNet to control access to those services.

ISPs can also use ChoiceNet to lease out network usage for specific purposes. For example, a corporation can offer prospective customers access to its on-line marketing materials -- but not to the rest of the Internet -- using the ISP's existing dial-in points of presence (POPs). The ISP can track access and bill the corporation using Livingston's RADIUS accounting services.

Server-Based Technology More Scalable, Manageable Than PC Applications

Bruce Byrd, Livingston director of marketing, said, "As a general-purpose access-control technology, ChoiceNet can serve as the enabling platform for many new applications as the Internet broadens in size and scope. Many early users, however, will focus on Internet content control for children and corporate employees. The chief failing of existing content-control products, such as Surfwatch and Cybersitter, is that they are PC applications: the filtering software and all site lists must reside on every PC. And whenever there's a site update, an ever-larger list file must be downloaded over the Internet to each PC, taking several minutes and consuming hard-disk space. In addition, these programs may themselves need to be updated to work with newer versions of web browsers or PC operating systems. "With ChoiceNet, neither the filtering application nor the authorized (or unauthorized) sites reside on the PC. When a user tries to access a given site, the local dial-in communications server or router goes to the ChoiceNet server to check that user's site list. This is infinitely scalable and much easier to manage."

ChoiceNet addresses three additional drawbacks of PC-based products. First, these products offer fixed sets of vendor-selected lists which cannot be customized for a particular user (e.g., to permit access to safe-sex instruction but block all other sex-oriented material). Second, they use a "deny access" approach where any undesirable material must specifically be disallowed; thus newly added -- and potentially undesirable -- Internet sites are automatically accessible until the next time the vendor updates its software. ChoiceNet avoids this problem by offering a "permit access" approach that assumes nothing is allowed unless specifically indicated ("deny access" can be used, however, if the user prefers). Finally, PC-resident software is inherently insecure, subject to deactivation by a computer-knowledgeable adult or a precocious child "hacker."

Availability -- But No Pricing (It's Free!)

ChoiceNet is a standard feature included free with all Livingston communications servers and routers shipped beginning in May. Users of already installed Livingston equipment can obtain the ChoiceNet server via the Internet from Livingston's web site, http://www.livingston.com/.

The ChoiceNet server operates on most UNIX platforms, including SunOS, Solaris, AIX, HP/UX, Alpha OSF/1, SCO, Linux, BSDI, BSD/386 and Ultrix.

Livingston Enterprises, Inc., founded in 1986, specializes in dial-up access and LAN-to-LAN interconnectivity. Best known for its Internet connectivity products, Livingston supplies its PortMaster Communications Server and FireWall IRX Router technology to more than 1,500 Internet Service Providers worldwide. Livingston products come with free software updates and lifetime technical support. The privately-held company is located in Pleasanton, Calif.

CONTACT: Livingston Enterprises

Bruce Byrd, 510/426-0770

[e-mail]

or

Ulevich & Orrange, Inc.

William Orrange, Janis Ulevich, 415/329-1590

[e-mail]