Managed peer-to-peer applications, systems and methods for distributed data access and storage

• US 20050138186A1
• Filed: 11/13/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Rizal, Dharmarus, Hesselink, Lambertus, Bjornson, Eric S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams

Abstract

Applications, systems and methods for efficiently accessing and controlling data of devices among multiple computers over a network. Communication of data over one or more networks may be managed by means of one or more connection servers which may also manage any or all of authentication, authorization, security, encryption and point-to-multipoint communications functionalities. Alternatively, computers may be connected over a wide area network without a connection server, and with or without a VPN.

Claims

1. A system for establishing a secure network among at least two computers over a public, wide area network, said system comprising:

a first computer connectable to the wide area network;

a second computer connectable to the wide area network;

means for authenticating at least one of said second computer for connection to said first computer over the wide area network and said first computer for connection to said second computer over the wide area network; and

means for integrating file structure associated with at least one of said first and second computers, said file structure integrating means configured to integrate a file structure of accessible files accessed at said second or first computer, into a file structure contained at said first or second computer, respectively.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for integration file structure is provided in an application.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for integrating is provided in a service.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for integrating file structure is associated with a web browser.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional computer connectable to the wide area network, and wherein at least one of said first, second and at least one additional computers are configured for secure, point-to-multipoint communications with the remainder of said first, second and at least one additional computer, over the wide area network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said first computer is connectable to the wide area network through a first firewall element, said first firewall element adapted to protect said first computer from hostile intrusion from the public network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said second computer is connectable to the wide area network through a second firewall element, said second firewall element adapted to protect said second computer from hostile intrusion from the public network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said first and second firewall elements use different criteria for restriction of communications traffic therethrough.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second computers is a wireless device.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a connection server operatively connecting said first and second computers across the wide area network, said connection server providing at least one of authentication, authorization, security, logging, encryption, load balancing and point-to-multipoint communications functionalities to said system.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a remote desktop control feature associated with at least one of said first and second computers, said remote desktop control feature configured to integrate a desktop of said second computer or said first computer on a display of said first computer or said second computer, respectively.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said desktop integrated by said desktop control feature is fully functional on the display on which it is integrated.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said first and second computers comprises one or more devices selected from the group consisting of:

home appliances, video equipment, audio equipment, printers, fax machines, office equipment, medical devices, vehicles, cameras, RFID equipment, laboratory equipment, manufacturing machinery, GPS equipment, and devices having one or more embedded microprocessors;

said system configured to allow direct remote control of said one or more devices from the other of said computers across the wide area network.

14. A system for remote communications between private computers through a public network while providing seamless, firewall-compliant connectivity, said system comprising:

a first computer connectable to the public network over a first secure channel;

a second computer connectable to the public network over a second secure channel, wherein at least one of said first and second computers connects to the public network through a firewall element adapted to protect said first or second computer, respectively from hostile intrusion from the public network; and

means for integrating file structure associated with at least one of said first and second computers, said means for integrating file structure configured to integrate a file structure of accessible files accessed at said second or first computer, into a file structure contained at said first or second computer, respectively

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a connection server operatively coupled to the public network, outside of said at least one of first and second firewall elements, said connection server including means for authenticating at least one of said first and second computers, means for forming a first, secure, firewall compliant connection with said first computer, means for forming a second, secure, firewall compliant connection with said second computer, means for sending communications received from said first computer to said second computer while maintaining second firewall compliance, and means for sending communications received from said second computer to said first computer while maintaining first firewall compliance.

16. A system for establishing a secure network among at least two computers over a network, said system comprising:

a first computer connectable to the network;

a second computer connectable to the network, wherein at least one of said first and second computers connects to the network through a firewall;

means for authenticating at least one of said second computer for connection to said first computer, and said first computer for connection to said second computer; and

means for integrating file structure associated with at least one of said first and second computers, said file structure integrating means configured to integrate a file structure of accessible files accessed at said second or first computer, into a file structure contained at said first or second computer, respectively.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said first and second computers are connectable over a private network, each of said first and second computers being connectable to the network through first and second firewalls, respectively.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising at least one additional computer connectable to said first and second computers over a wide area network, and wherein at least one of said first, second and at least one additional computers are configured for secure, point-to-multipoint communications with the remainder of said first, second and at least one additional computer, over the wide area network and private network.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising a computer running at a gateway of said private network.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said computer running at said gateway includes said means for integrating file structure.

21. The system of claim 16, further comprising a connection server operatively coupled to a public network and publicly addressable by said first and second computers and including said means for authenticating,

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising a connection server running on said gateway and addressable by said first and second computers.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said means for means for authenticating is at a public address, wherein authentication of a connection between said first and second computers is carried out at said public address and wherein after said authentication has occurred, communications between said first and second computers bypass said public address and are routed through said connection server.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for authenticating is located at a publicly addressed location remote from said first and second computers.

25. The system of claim 16, further comprising a personal authentication device, wherein said personal authentication device must be integrated into the network and activated prior to establishing secure connections between said first and second computers.

26. A remote control system for accessing at least one remote computer from a local computer over a wide area network, wherein said local and remote computers are securely connected to one another over a wide area network, at least one of said computers being connectable to the wide area network through a firewall element, said system comprising:

means for accessing files stored on said at least one remote computer connected to said local computer;

means for integrating the files accessed into a file structure of the local computer;

means for operating at least one device connected to said at least one remote computer in at least one remote location, from a local location of the local computer; and

means for displaying, on a display of said local computer, a desktop display of said at least one remote computer.

27. The remote control system of claim 26, wherein at least two of said computers are connectable to the wide area network through at least first and second firewall elements, respectively.

28. The remote control system of claim 26, further comprising means for operating at least one of said at least one remote computers through remote desktop control.

29. The remote control system of claim 28, wherein said remote desktop control includes performing at least one of cursor control and keystroke control of said at least one remote computer by controlling a cursor or keystroke on said local computer.

30. The remote control system of claim 26, further comprising means for displaying the integrated file structure on said local computer.

31. The remote control system of claim 26, wherein at least one of said at least one remote computers is selected from the group consisting of:

personal computers, MP3 players, portable digital devices, laptop computers, personal digital assistants, cellular phones, home appliances, video equipment, audio equipment, printers, fax machines, office equipment, medical devices, vehicles, cameras, RFID equipment, laboratory equipment, manufacturing machinery, GPS equipment, a server running on a gateway, network attached storage devices, and devices having one or more embedded microprocessors.

32. The remote control system of claim 31, wherein said local computer is selected from the group consisting of:

personal computers, MP3 players, portable digital devices, laptop computers, personal digital assistants, cellular phones, home appliances, video equipment, audio equipment, printers, fax machines, office equipment, medical devices, vehicles, cameras, RFID equipment, laboratory equipment, manufacturing machinery, GPS equipment, a server on a gateway, and devices having one or more embedded microprocessors.

33. The remote control system of claim 26, wherein at least one of said at least one device operated by said means for operating is selected from the group consisting of:

home appliances, video equipment, audio equipment, printers, fax machines, office equipment, medical devices, vehicles, cameras, RFID equipment, laboratory equipment, manufacturing machinery, GPS equipment, network attached storage devices. and devices having one or more embedded microprocessors.

34. The remote control system of claim 26, wherein at least one of said at least one device operated by said means for operating is selected from the group consisting of:

a digital camera and a video recorder.

35. The remote control system of claim 26, further comprising means for collaboratively operating at least one of said remote computers by said local computer and at least one other of said remote computers when said at least one other remote computer and said local computer are each connected with said at least one remote computer over one or more of said wide area networks and at least one other network.

36. A remote control system for accessing at least one device connected to at least one remote computer from a local computer over a wide area network, said system comprising:

means for accessing files stored on said at least one device connected to said at least one remote computer by said local computer;

means for integrating the files accessed into a file structure of the local computer;

means for operating at least one digital camera connected to said at least one remote computer in at least one remote location, from a local location of the local computer; and

means for displaying, on a display of said local computer, a desktop display of said at least one remote computer.

37. A remote control system for accessing at least one device connected to at least one remote computer from a local computer over a wide area network, said system comprising:

means for accessing files stored on said at least one device connected to said at least one remote computer by said local computer;

means for integrating the files accessed into a file structure of the local computer;

means for operating at least one video recorder connected to said at least one remote computer in at least one remote location, from a local location of the local computer; and

means for displaying, on a display of said local computer, a desktop display of said at least one remote computer.

38. A remote desktop control system for accessing and controlling at least one remote computer from a local computer over a wide area network, said system comprising:

means for displaying, on a display of said local computer, a desktop display of said at least one remote computer; and

means for operating at least one of said at least one remote computers through remote desktop control.

39. The remote control system of claim 38, wherein said remote desktop control includes performing at least one of cursor control and keystroke control of said at least one remote computer by controlling a cursor or keystroke on said local computer.

40. A remote control system for accessing and controlling at least one storage device connected to at least one remote computer from a local computer, said system comprising:

means for accessing files stored on each said storage device connected to each said remote computer by said local computer; and

means for locally manipulating a file structure of said files accessed from each said storage device connected to each said remote computer when said remote and local computers are connected over a wide area network.

41. The remote control system of claim 40, further comprising means for integrating the file structure of said files accessed from each said storage device connected to each said remote computer when said remote and local computers are connected over a wide area network with a file structure of said local computer.

42. The remote control system of claim 41, further comprising means for locally displaying said integrated file structure.

43. A computer readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for securely and remotely operating a remote computer from a local computer over a public network while providing seamless, firewall-compliant connectivity, wherein execution of one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

authenticating at least one of said remote computer for connection to said local computer over the public network and said local computer for connection to said remote computer over the public network;

establishing a secure connection between said local computer and said remote computer over the public network; and

integrating a desktop of said remote computer on a display of said local computer.