System having generalized client-server computing

• US 20060020688A1
• Filed: 09/26/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bampton Technologies, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Li Fung, Luo, Hui
• Application Number:
  US11/235,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20060020688A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams

Abstract

A protocol provides generalized client-server computing by providing a server program that can utilize standard and non-standard ports for applications.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method of providing a generalized client-server protocol between a client and a server crossing a GSA gateway, comprising:

sending an IP address query message to a default DNS server by the client using a hostname for the server;

transmitting a reply to the client by a border DNS server with a public IP address of a GSA gateway that serves as a gateway router for the server'"'"'s subnet;

receiving a service request message for a server application from the client at the GSA gateway at a standard TCP port for the generalized client-server protocol utilizing a URL to indicate the requested server application;

sending an IP address query message by the GSA gateway to the border DNS server using an internal network interface;

sending a private IP address of the server by the border DNS server in response to the IP address query message;

forwarding the service request message by the GSA gateway to the server module listening to the standard TCP port for the generalized client-server protocol;

selecting a port on the server by the server module;

launching the requested server program by the server module;

commanding the requested server application to listen to the selected port;

sending a response message by the server module to the GSA gateway with information for the selected port;

generating a NAPT record in the GSA gateway such that the record includes an unused port number at an external interface to replace a port number given by the server as the public port number; and

rewriting the server port information and sending a response message to the client.

19. The method according to claim 18, further including periodically broadcasting the NAPT record to other GSA gateways that are grouped together for load balancing and failure over.

20. The method according to claim 18, further including initiating client-server communications between the client and the server using the GSA gateway'"'"'s public IP address and the returned server port associated with the GSA gateway.

21. The method according to claim 18, further including routing the client-server communication according to the NAPT record.

22. The method according to claim 18, further including identifying the server with a URL.

23-28. -28. (canceled)