Method and system for providing remote access to the facilities of a server computer

• US 20020111942A1
• Filed: 08/10/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deep9 Corporation
• Original Assignee: Punch Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Plate, Steven W., Campbell, R. David L., Onnen, Paul E., Sarausad, Edward M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,730,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking

Abstract

A method and system for providing remote access to the facilities of a server computer are provided. A site integration application programming interface at a co-branded Web site. The site integration application programming interface exposes a number of servlets that may be executed in response to requests received from a business partner Web site over a secure communications link. The servlets provide functionality for accessing the user registration and deletion facilities of the co-branded Web site. Moreover, the servlets also provide access to other administrative facilities provided at the co-branded Web site. The servlets also provide functionality for authorizing a user to access the co-branded we site. This servlet may be executed in conjunction with the login facilities of the business partner web site to permit concurrent login at both sites.

Claims

1. A method for providing remote access to the facilities of a server computer, comprising:

receiving a user request to access a first server computer;

determining whether said user request may be granted;

in response to determining that said user request may be granted, determining whether access to a second server computer should also be granted; and

in response to determining that access to said second server computer should be granted, transmitting a request to access to said second server computer from said first server computer to said second server computer via a secure communications connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second server computer comprises a server computer operative to store and update a network database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first server computer comprises a server computer operative to provide an Internet Web site.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said second server computer is operative to provide facilities for storing and updating said network database in a manner that is visually consistent with said Internet Web site.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication that access to said second server computer may be granted, redirecting said user from said first computer to said second computer.

22. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform any one of the methods of claims 1-21.

23. A computer-controlled apparatus capable of performing any one of the methods of claims 1-21.

6. A method for providing remote access to the facilities of a server computer, comprising:

receiving a request at a server computer operative to store and update a network database to add a new user to a group of users authorized to utilize said network database;

determining whether said request may be granted; and

in response to determining that said request may be granted, adding said new user to said group of users authorized to utilize said network database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said request is received over a secure communications link from a second server computer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a login and password for said new user are provided as a part of said request.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining whether said new user has previously been added to said group of users authorized to utilize said network database; and

in response to determining that said new user has previously been added to said group of authorized users, denying said request to add said new user.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said server computer comprises a server computer operative to store and update a network database, and wherein said second server computer comprises a server computer operative to provide an Internet Web site.

11. A method for providing remote access to the facilities of a server computer, comprising:

receiving a request at a server computer operative to store and update a network database to update user data for a user authorized to utilize said network database;

determining whether said request may be granted; and

in response to determining that said request may be granted, updating said user data as specified in said request.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said request is received over a secure communications link from a second server computer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said server computer comprises a server computer operative to store and update a network database and wherein said second server computer comprises a server computer operative to provide an Internet Web site.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said facility comprises an application programming interface for deleting access rights for a user to said server computer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said request further comprises a user ID for said user to be deleted.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said facility comprises an application programming interface for creating a new collaborative group in which users may share data.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining whether a quota has been exceeded prior to creating said collaborative group.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said request further comprises the identity of one or more users to be added to said new collaborative group.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said facility comprises an application programming interface for adding new users to an existing collaborative group in which users may share data.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said facility comprises an application programming interface for removing users from an existing collaborative group in which users may share data.

14. A method for providing remote access to the facilities of a server computer, comprising:

receiving a request for a facility available at a server computer operative to store and update a network database via a secure communications link;

determining whether said request may be granted; and

in response to determining that said request may be granted, executing said facility at said server computer according to said request.