Account synchronization for common identity in an unmanaged network
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon in a first computer, said instructions configured to perform a method comprising the steps of:
- (a) joining the first computer to an unmanaged secured workgroup;
(b) providing first account information that is associated with the first computer to a second computer for replication, the second computer being a member of the unmanaged secured workgroup;
(c) obtaining second account information that is associated with the second computer; and
(d) replicating the second account information.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A platform supports an unmanaged secured workgroup, without a server, for common user access and secure resource sharing among the computers in the group. User accounts are synchronized by replicating and modifying the accounts at each computer of the unmanaged secured workgroup. A computer advertises a change in account information to other computers in an unmanaged secured workgroup. If one of computers in the unmanaged secured workgroup determines that the change is not reflected in the current account information, the computer requests the updated account information from the advertising computer. Any conflicts between user accounts at different computers are resolved before synchronizing the user account in the unmanaged secured workgroup. Also, an application program interface (API) enables an application to query properties of a networked computer system and an unmanaged secured workgroup and to join the unmanaged secured workgroup.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon in a first computer, said instructions configured to perform a method comprising the steps of:
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(a) joining the first computer to an unmanaged secured workgroup;
(b) providing first account information that is associated with the first computer to a second computer for replication, the second computer being a member of the unmanaged secured workgroup;
(c) obtaining second account information that is associated with the second computer; and
(d) replicating the second account information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer system that supports an unmanaged secured workgroup, the computer system comprising:
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a secured group service module that handles creation, joining, and operations of the unmanaged secured workgroup; and
an application program interface (API) module that enables an application to obtain information about unmanaged secured workgroups in the computer network, to create the unmanaged secured workgroup, to join the unmanaged secured workgroup, and to leave the unmanaged secured workgroup. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon in a first computer, said instructions configured to perform a method comprising the steps of:
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(a) sending a self-signed certificate to a second computer to establish an associated account for the first computer, wherein the second computer is a member of an unmanaged secured workgroup and the first computer is a non-member of the unmanaged secured workgroup;
(b) storing an associated certificate of the second computer, a shared secret, and a copied certificate of the unmanaged secured workgroup;
(c) creating a corresponding account for the second computer on the first computer;
(d) broadcasting that the first computer is a workgroup member of the unmanaged secured workgroup; and
(e) synchronizing account information with the second computer.
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Specification