System and method for providing a secure connection between networked computers

• US 20050044350A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Netskope Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Eric White
• Inventors: White, Eric, Turley, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/151
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a secure connection between networked computers are disclosed. A computer may make a request for a secure connection to another networked computer. In response, configuration data may be sent to the requesting computer which configures a protocol on the requesting computer and establishes a secure connection with the other networked computer. This configuration data may advantageously utilize protocols inherent to particular operating systems to setup and establish this secure connection in an automated fashion, and may include a controller designed to both automatically configure such a protocol and automatically establish a secure connection using the protocol.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a secure connection between two computers, comprising:

requesting a connection, wherein the request is in a first protocol;

sending data in response to the request;

configuring a second protocol using the data;

establishing the secure connection using the second protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first protocol is HTTPS.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data is sent using the first protocol.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the request for the connection includes a username and a password.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the data is sent only if the username and password are verified.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data includes a controller.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the controller is an Active X controller.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the data includes a credential.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the secured connection is established using the credential.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the credential includes a password and a username.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the credential is dynamically generated in response to the request.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the credential is valid only for the duration of the secure connection.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the second protocol is configured automatically using the controller.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second protocol is PPTP.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the secure connection is established automatically using the controller.

16. A system for a secure connection between two computers, comprising:

a first computer operable to request a connection, wherein the request is in a first protocol;

a second computer operable to send data in response to the request, wherein the data contains instructions operable to configure a second protocol on the first computer and establish the secure connection using the second protocol.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first protocol is HTTPS.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data is sent using the first protocol.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the request for the connection includes a username and a password.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein second computer is operable to verify the username and password and send the data only if the username and password are verified.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the data includes a controller.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the controller is an Active X controller.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the data includes a credential.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the secured connection is established using the credential.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the credential includes a password and a username.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein second computer is operable to dynamically generate the credential in response to the request.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the credential is valid only for the duration of the secure connection.

28. The system of claim 21, wherein the second protocol is configured automatically by the controller.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the second protocol is PPTP.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the secure connection is established automatically using the controller.

31. A computer readable medium, having data embodied thereon, the data translatable for:

configuring a protocol on a first computer; and

establishing a secure connection between the first computer and a second computer using the protocol.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, wherein the data is translatable to implement a controller.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the controller is an Active X controller.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the data further include includes a credential.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 34, wherein the secure connection is established using the credential.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35, wherein the credential includes a password and a username.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the protocol is configured automatically by the controller.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein the protocol is PPTP.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 37, wherein the secure connection is established automatically using the controller.