Method, apparatus and system for supporting multiple collaborative sessions in a bi-directional communication device

• US 20050198112A1
• Filed: 04/10/2003
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magnolia Licensing LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Broerman, Keith Robert, Shu, Linmei, Wang, Liangzhong
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for supporting multiple diagnostic sessions include receiving multiple diagnostic session requests, verifying identification information for each requester, establishing a communications channel for each verified requester, and communicating the requested information to all of the verified requesters via the established communications channels.

Claims

1. A method for supporting multiple diagnostic sessions in a bidirectional communication device, said method comprising:

receiving diagnostic session requests from a plurality of requesters;

verifying identification information for each of said requesters;

establishing a communications channel for each verified requester; and

communicating the requested information to all of said verified requesters via said established communications channels.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if communication of information to a requester (110, 130) fails, making available, to a subsequent requester, the communications channel associated with the failed communication.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said identification information comprises a user ID and a password.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing a communications channel comprises assigning an available socket for communication with each verified requester.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising rejecting subsequent requests after a total number of available sockets has been assigned.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing a communications channel further comprises saving session information such as, a requester IP address and a requester receiving port number for each of said verified requesters.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the requested information is communicated to each of said verified requesters via an available socket comprising the respective saved session information.

8. An apparatus for supporting multiple diagnostic sessions in a bidirectional communication device, said apparatus comprising:

a server;

a memory for storing program instructions; and

a processor for executing said instructions to configure the apparatus to perform the steps of;

receiving diagnostic session requests from a plurality of requesters;

verifying identification information for each of said requesters;

establishing a communications channel for each verified requester; and

communicating the requested information to all of said verified requesters via said established communications channels.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further configured to perform the step of:

if communication of information to a requester fails, making available, to a subsequent requester, the communications channel associated with the failed communication.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further configured to perform the steps of:

rejecting subsequent requests after a total number of available sockets has been assigned.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said establishing a communications channel comprises assigning an available socket for communication with each verified requester.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said assigned sockets comprise a requester IP address and a requester receiving port number.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plurality of requesters comprise Telnet clients.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said plurality of requesters are network devices.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said server comprises:

a web server for enabling communication between a requesting device and a diagnostic engine; and

said diagnostic engine for performing the routines that are specified in each of said requests.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said apparatus comprises a modem.

17. An apparatus for supporting multiple Telnet sessions, comprising:

means for receiving Telnet session requests from a plurality of requesters;

means for verifying identification information for each of said requesters;

means for establishing a communications channel for each verified requester; and

means for communicating the requested information to all of said verified requesters via said established communications channels.

18. Computer-readable medium for storing a set of instructions, wherein when said set of instructions is executed by a processor perform a method comprising:

receiving Telnet session requests from a plurality of requesters;

verifying identification information for each of said requesters;

establishing a communications channel for each verified requester; and

communicating the requested information to all of said verified requesters via said established communications channels.

19. A network comprising:

at least one subscriber terminal comprising a Telnet client for initiating Telnet session requests;

at least one data servicing system comprising a Telnet client for initiating Telnet session requests; and

a network device comprising;

a Telnet server;

a memory for storing program instructions; and

a processor for executing said instructions to configure said network device to perform the steps of;

receiving Telnet session requests from said at least one subscriber terminal and said at least one data servicing system;

verifying identification information for each of said requesters;

establishing a communications channel for each verified requester; and

communicating the requested information to all of said verified requesters via said established communications channels.

20. The network of claim 19, wherein said network device is further configured to perform the step of:

if communication of information to a requester fails, making available, to a subsequent requester, the communications channel associated with the failed communication.