Communication system and method between stations processing common folders

• US 20040205178A1
• Filed: 05/12/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ipracom SA (Maeglin Software SA)
• Original Assignee: Ipracom SA (Maeglin Software SA)
• Inventors: Gruson, Alain
• Application Number:
  US10/476,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2535 Multiple local networks, e.g. resolving potential IP address conflicts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2567 for reachability, e.g. inquiring the address of a correspondent behind a NAT server

Abstract

The invention concerns an electronic communication system between stations (A, B, C, D, comprising means for being mutually connected via at least an Internet-type network (SR1, SR2, SR3) characterised in that the stations (A, B, C, D, E) form part of at least a common work group for at least one application, each station comprising for each application a common object database, the object databases being automatically updated via the network (SR1, SR2, SR3).

Claims

1. Electronic communication system between stations (A, B, C, D, E) comprising maeans of connecting to each other through at least one INTERNET type network (SR1, SR2, 28), characterised in that:

the stations (A, B, C, D, E) form part of at least one work group for at least one application Y, each station comprising a same objects database (BDy) for each application, the object databases (BDy) being automatically updated through the network (SR1, SR2, 28).

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the network comprises:

a central server (42) connected to the network (SR1, SR2, 28) to manage the stations (A, B, C, D, E) in at least one work group and to determine authentication certificates for each station, and

at least one referencing server (30, 30₂, 30₃) connected to the network (SR1, SR2, 28) to set up direct links between stations (A, B, C, D, E) in the same work group.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each station (A, B, C, D, E) comprises:

memory means to save the objects database (BDy) corresponding to the said application, and programs necessary for implementation of the application, and

a microprocessor and its associated memories to carry out operations defined by the said programs.

4. System according to claim 3, characterised in that the said programs comprise at least:

a first group of programs to set up an authenticated link, and

a second group of programs to create and modify the database BDy.

5. System according to claim 4, characterised in that the first group of programs comprises:

a first program to connect to the central server (42) when the application is installed in a station in order to determine an authentication certificate for the station concerned,

a second program to periodically connect the station to the referencing server in order to register localisation elements of the said station,

a third program to set up a link between the said station and another station in the same work group, and

a fourth program to mutually authenticate the calling and the called stations using the authentication certificate produced by the first program.

6. System according to claim 5, characterised in that the third program makes connection attempts consisting of:

(T1) searching for a link with the last known address of the called station, and if this fails,

(T2) searching for the called station in the sub-network to which the calling station is connected, and if this fails,

(T3) interrogating the referencing server (30) to know the localisation elements of the called station, and if this fails,

(T4) waiting until the called station sets up a link with the calling station.

7. System according to claims 4, 5 or 6, characterised in that the second group of programs comprises:

a fifth program to create or modify at least one object in the objects database (BDy), and

a sixth program to transmit from one station to all the other stations in the same work group any creation or modification made in the objects database (BDy) of the said station on one station to all the other stations in the same work group so as to modify the object databases on the other stations.

8. System according to claim 7, characterised in that the fifth program consists of enabling each station to:

create at least one initial object and to identify (A.100) this initial object,

modify this initial object (A.100),

create a derived object (A.100, B.1) modifying an initial object (A.100) created by another station,

accept or not accept the modification of the initial object by the derived object (A.100, B.1, 10h30) if the station created the initial object (A.100).

9. System according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterised in that the referencing server (30, 30₂, 30₃) comprises at least one memory in which the localisation elements of stations (A, B, C, D, E) of the same work group in the network are registered.

10. System according to claim 9, characterised in that the said memory registering the said localisation elements of the stations is updated periodically by stations in the same work group.