Method and system for interconnecting remote intelligent devices with a network

• US 20020002627A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 01/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Altamira Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Altamira Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Jackson, Steven, Stead, Graham
• Application Number:
  US09/885,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002627A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy

Abstract

A method and system for interconnecting intelligent devices (mobile or wired) with a remote network, while avoiding the need to use special remote applications loaded on the intelligent devices. This includes the use of proxy applications for remote controlling of items accessible via the remote network. The system includes a manager module and multiple tails modules. The manager provides for user access from a remote intelligent device to one or more tails. The tails either include clients for interfacing to a network or protocol, or the tails function as interfaces to commercially available clients for interfacing to a network or protocol.

Claims

1. A system for interconnecting an intelligent device with a remote element, the system comprising:

a manager module adapted for communication with the intelligent device; and

at least one tail module interfaced with the manager module according to an application program interface, and interfaced to the remote element;

wherein the manager module and the tail module provide interconnection of the intelligent device to the remote element when the intelligent device is in communication with the manager module.

2. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein the manager module comprises a proxy application that maintains a connection to the remote element on behalf of the intelligent device in the event that the intelligent device is no longer in communication with the manager module.

3. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein the tail module comprises a proxy application that maintains a connection to the remote element on behalf of the intelligent device in the event that the intelligent device is no longer in communication with the manager module.

4. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein the intelligent device is interconnected to the remote element without using an application in the intelligent device to interface the intelligent device to a communications protocol of the remote network.

5. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein the tail module comprises a client that interfaces to the remote element.

6. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein only a single tail module is utilized to effect interconnection of the intelligent device to the remote element.

7. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein plural tail modules are utilized to effect interconnection of the intelligent device to the remote element.

8. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein a first one of the at least one tail modules is utilized to effect interconnection of the intelligent device to the remote element, and wherein a second one of the at least one tail modules is utilized to effect interconnection of the intelligent device to a second remote element.

9. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein the tail module is utilized to effect interconnection of the intelligent device to the remote element, as well as a second remote element.

10. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein the remote element comprises a network.

11. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein the manager module is adapted for communication with the intelligent device via a network.

12. The system for interconnecting of claim 11, wherein the manager module is adapted for communication with the intelligent device via a wired network.

13. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein the remote element comprises a database.

14. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein the remote element comprises a special application

15. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein the manager module is configured with a list of users, a list of files, and privilege designation so as to establish a virtual local area network.

16. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein the at least one tail module is configured with a list of users, a list of files, and privilege designation so as to establish a virtual local area network.

17. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, the system further comprising:

a notification interface connected to the tail so as to provide for transmission of a notification from the tail to the intelligent device.

18. The system for interconnecting of claim 1, wherein the tail module establishes a communication link with another tail module.

19. A method for interconnecting an intelligent device with a remote element, the method comprising:

providing a manager module adapted for communication with the intelligent device;

interfacing at least one tail module with the manager module according to an application program interface; and

interfacing the tail module with the remote element;

wherein interconnection of the intelligent device to the remote element is provided via the manager module and the tail module when the intelligent device is in communication with the manager module.

20. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, the method further comprising:

maintaining a connection to the remote element on behalf of the intelligent device via a proxy application in the tail module, in the event that the intelligent device is no longer in communication with the manager module.

21. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, the method further comprising:

maintaining a connection to the remote element on behalf of the intelligent device via a proxy application in the manager module, in the event that the intelligent device is no longer in communication with the manager module.

22. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, wherein the intelligent device is interconnected to the remote element without using an application in the intelligent device to interface the intelligent device to a communications protocol of the remote element.

23. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, wherein only a single tail module is utilized to effect interconnection of the intelligent device to the remote element.

24. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, wherein plural tail modules are utilized to effect interconnection of the intelligent device to the remote element.

25. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, wherein a first one of the at least one tail modules is utilized to effect interconnection of the intelligent device to the remote element, and wherein a second one of the at least one tail modules is utilized to effect interconnection of the intelligent device to a second remote element.

26. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, wherein the tail module is utilized to effect interconnection of the intelligent device to the remote element, as well as a second remote element.

27. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, wherein the remote element comprises a network.

28. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, wherein the manager module communicates with the intelligent device via a network.

29. The method for interconnecting of claim 28, wherein the manager module communicates with the intelligent device via a wired network.

30. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, wherein the remote element comprises a database.

31. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, wherein the remote element comprises a special application

32. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, the method further comprising:

establish a virtual local area network by configuring the manager module to include a list of users, a list of files, and privilege designation.

33. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, the method further comprising:

establish a virtual local area network by configuring the tail module to include a list of users, a list of files, and privilege designation.

34. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, the method further comprising:

connecting the tail to a notification interface so as to enable transmission of a notification from the tail to the intelligent device.

35. The method for interconnecting of claim 19, the method further comprising:

establishing a communication link between the tail module and another tail module.

36. A method for effecting electronic commerce via an intelligent device interconnected with a remote network, the method comprising:

causing the intelligent device to be in communication with a manager module adapted for communication with the intelligent device;

establishing interconnection of the intelligent device to the network via the manager module interfaced with a tail module according to an application program interface, the tail module being interfaced with the network;

establishing communication between the intelligent device and a server connected to the network; and

identifying an item on the server using the intelligent device in communication with the server via the interconnection of the intelligent device to the network provided via the manager module and the tail module.

37. The method for effecting electronic commerce of claim 36, further comprising:

requesting fulfillment of the item to a destination via the network in exchange for consideration.