Providing private network local resource access to a logically remote device

• US 20030182363A1
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Clough, James, Cherry, Darrel D.
• Application Number:
  US10/107,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182363A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer

Abstract

The following described subject matter provides private network local resource access to a logically remote device. Specifically, the described arrangements and procedures are directed to receiving a message in a local private network. The message having been communicated from a computer that is logically located in a remote private network. The message corresponds, to an operational request that has been directed by the computer to a resource of the local private network. Responsive to receiving the message, the described arrangements and procedures generate and communicate the operational request to the resource for processing.

Claims

1. A method providing private network local resource access to a logically remote device, the method comprising:

receiving a message in a local private network, the message being communicated from a computer that is logically located in a remote private network, the message corresponding to an operational request directed by the computer to a resource of the local private network;

responsive to receiving the message;

generating the operational request; and

communicating the operational request to the resource for processing.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the message is communicated over a single-tunnel VPN connection from the local private network, the local private network being independent of the remote private network.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the message is a secure data post directed to the resource.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the message is a secure data post based on the HTTPS protocol.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the resource is a printing device.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the resource is a scanning device.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer is configured to communicate commands and/or data to a URL identifying a server in the local private network, the server controlling access to the resource from the remote private network.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer is not configured to communicate the operational request to a device driver specifically designed to control input and/or output respectively to/from the resource.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the message comprises a command and/or a datum corresponding to the operational request, and wherein the method further comprises communicating, by the resource, information to the computer, the information corresponding to the operational request.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the message was directed to a URL address corresponding to a server located in the local private network, and wherein the message further comprises information to identify the resource.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the message was directed to a URL corresponding to a server located in the local private network, and wherein the method further comprises:

mapping, by the server, the URL to the resource.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising configuring the computer to generate the message in a particular manner to indicate a desired operation of the resource, the particular manner being a function of whether the computer is logically located in the remote private network;

or whether the computer is logically located in the local private network, such that the configuring is perform prior to the computer being connected to the remote private network.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the message is received by a server in the local private network, and wherein the method further comprises before the act of receiving, an act of communicating, by the computer, a secure data post comprising the message.

14. A computer-readable medium comprising computer executable instructions providing private network local resource access to a logically remote device, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for:

receiving a message in a local private network, the message being communicated from a computer that is logically located in a remote private network, the message corresponding to an operational request directed by the computer to a resource of the local private network;

responsive to receiving the message;

generating the operational request; and

communicating the operational request to the resource for processing.

15. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the message is communicated over a single-tunnel VPN connection from the local private network, the local private network being independent of the remote private network.

16. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the message is a secure data post directed to the resource.

17. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the message is a secure data post based on the HTTPS protocol.

18. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the resource is a printing device.

19. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the resource is a scanning device.

20. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer is configured to communicate commands and/or data to a URL identifying a server in the local private network, the server controlling access to the resource from the remote private network.

21. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer is not configured to communicate the operational request to a device driver specifically designed to control input and/or output respectively to/from the resource.

22. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the message was directed to a URL address corresponding to a server located in the local private network, and wherein the message further comprises information to identify the resource.

23. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the message comprises a command and/or a datum corresponding to the operational request and wherein the instructions further comprises communicating, by the resource, information to the computer, the information corresponding to the operational request.

24. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the message was directed to a URL corresponding to a server located in the local private network, and wherein the instructions further comprise mapping, by the server, the URL to the resource.

25. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, further comprising instructions for configuring the computer to generate the message in a particular manner to indicate a desired operation of the resource, the particular manner being a function of whether the computer is logically located in the remote private network;

or whether the computer is logically located in the local private network, such that the configuring is perform prior to the computer being connected to the remote private network.

26. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the message is received by a server in the local private network, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise, before the instructions for receiving, instructions for communicating, by the computer, a secure data post comprising the message.

27. A system providing private network local resource access to a logically remote device, the system comprising:

processing means for;

receiving a message in a local private network, the message being communicated from a computer that is logically located in a remote private network, the message corresponding to an operational request directed by the computer to a resource of the local private network;

responsive to receiving the message;

generating the operational request; and

communicating the operational request to the resource for processing.

28. A system as recited in claim 27, wherein the message is communicated over a single-tunnel VPN connection from the local private network, the local private network being independent of the remote private network.

29. A system as recited in claim 27, wherein the resource is a printing or scanning device.

30. A system as recited in claim 27, wherein the message was directed to a URL corresponding to a server located in the local private network, and wherein the processing means further comprise means for mapping, by the server, the URL to the resource.

31. A system as recited in claim 27, further comprising means for configuring the computer to generate the message in a particular manner to indicate a desired operation of the resource, the particular manner being a function of whether the computer is logically located in the remote private network;

or whether the computer is logically located in the local private network, such that the configuring is perform prior to the computer being connected to the remote private network.