METHOD FOR SHARING FUNCTIONALITY AND/OR DATA BETWEEN TWO OR MORE LINKED ENTITIES

• US 20080091763A1
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Quipa Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Quipa Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Devonshire, Karyn, Lobb, Jason
• Application Number:
  US11/872,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20080091763A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/548 Object oriented; Remote method invocation [RMI] non-remote method invocation G06F9/449
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/065 for group communications cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key management involving conference or group key H04L9/0833
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1046 Joining mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1093 Some peer nodes performing special functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066

Abstract

A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network. The method comprising the steps of creating on at least one entity at least one real object, each real object providing access to the functionality and/or data of the entity. The method further comprising the step of creating on each entity at least one virtual object, each virtual object providing access to the functionality and/or data of a real object on the entity, each virtual object containing at least one object action. The method further comprising the step of creating on at least one entity at least one remote object for connection to a virtual object on a remote entity via the network; the remote object allowing an entity to access functionality and/or data of a remote entity.

Claims

1. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network comprising the steps of:

(a) creating on at least one entity at least one real object, each said real object providing access to the functionality and/or data of said entity;

(b) creating on each entity at least one virtual object, each said virtual object providing access to the functionality and/or data of a real object on said entity, each said virtual object containing at least one object action; and

(c) creating on at least one entity at least one remote object for connection to a virtual object on a remote entity via the network;

said remote object allowing an entity to access functionality and/or data of a remote entity.

2. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network as claimed in claim 1 including the step of:

(d) creating on at least one entity a metaobject, said metaobject providing access to the functionality and/or data of a plurality of virtual, remote and meta objects.

3. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network as claimed in claim 2 wherein said metaobject can contain data and/or functionality independent of any virtual or remote objects.

4. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities as claimed in claim 1 wherein a list of the objects of each entity is synchronized between entities.

5. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities as claimed in claim 3 wherein a list of the objects of each entity is synchronized between entities.

6. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said virtual and meta objects may include security functionality for controlling access to the object.

7. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities as claimed in claim 5 wherein each of said virtual and meta objects may include security functionality for controlling access to the object.

8. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network as claimed in claim 1 wherein said network is a virtual private network (VPN).

9. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network as claimed in claim 7 wherein said network is a virtual private network (VPN).

10. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network as claimed in claim 8 wherein said VPN consists of two or more linked entities having internet connectability where each entity has links with at least one other device on the VPN, said VPN formed by the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a lookup device having a known address with an updatable index of entities known to be connectable to the VPN, which look up device accepts requests from known entities (“

joining entity”

) wishing to link to the VPN,

(b) causing at least one pre-designated contact entity on the VPN to periodically poll the lookup device for received joining requests,

(c) said lookup device receiving a request from a joining entity to connect to the VPN

(d) in response to a poll for joining requests said lookup device notifying the polling contact entity of at least the address of each joining entity,

(e) if the contact entity permits a connection to the VPN, the contact entity supplies at least its address to the lookup device which passes this to the joining entity,

(f) the joining entity and contact entity establish a first link between them,

(g) the joining entity and the contact entity conduct an authentication process over said first link,

(h) and if the authentication process is successful the contact entity notifies the joining entity of at least the status of other entities belonging to the VPN and notifies all entities on the VPN that the joining device is joining the VPN,

(i) said joining device using the status of other entities belonging to the VPN to calculate its node position in the VPN including the one or two neighbour entities it will connect to,

(j) said one or two neighbour entities initiating a process of the type specified in steps (c) to (f) with said lookup entity to establish one or more second links with said joining entity and terminating said first link,

(k) and said joining entity and at least one neighbour entity conducting a mutual authentication process which if successful sustains said one or more second links.

11. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network as claimed in claim 9 wherein said VPN consists of two or more linked entities having internet connectability where each entity has links with at least one other device on the VPN, said VPN formed by the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a lookup device having a known address with an updatable index of entities known to be connectable to the VPN, which look up device accepts requests from known entities (“

joining entity”

) wishing to link to the VPN,

(b) causing at least one pre-designated contact entity on the VPN to periodically poll the lookup device for received joining requests,

(c) said lookup device receiving a request from a joining entity to connect to the VPN

(d) in response to a poll for joining requests said lookup device notifying the polling contact entity of at least the address of each joining entity,

(e) if the contact entity permits a connection to the VPN, the contact entity supplies at least its address to the lookup device which passes this to the joining entity,

(f) the joining entity and contact entity establish a first link between them,

(g) the joining entity and the contact entity conduct an authentication process over said first link,

(h) and if the authentication process is successful the contact entity notifies the joining entity of at least the status of other entities belonging to the VPN and notifies all entities on the VPN that the joining device is joining the VPN,

(i) said joining device using the status of other entities belonging to the VPN to calculate its node position in the VPN including the one or two neighbour entities it will connect to,

(j) said one or two neighbour entities initiating a process of the type specified in steps (c) to (f) with said lookup entity to establish one or more second links with said joining entity and terminating said first link,

(k) and said joining entity and at least one neighbour entity conducting a mutual authentication process which if successful sustains said one or more second links.

12. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said real objects are selected from the group consisting of File Browser, Mail Browser;

Calendar Browser;

Music Streamer;

Voice module;

Video Streamer;

Chat module;

MediaPlayer Remote;

Remote Application Module;

Advertisement Module;

Banking Module;

Printer Module;

Panic Module;

Web RSS feed module;

FTP Server module;

BLOG update module;

Legacy module;

Database module;

Web camera module.

13. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said entities is a device having a processor and that can be connected to the internet.

14. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network as claimed in claim 11 wherein at least one of said entities is a device having a processor and that can be connected to the internet.

15. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network as claimed in claim 13 wherein said at least one said device includes computers, PDAs, PPC, mobile telephones or smartphones, and embedded devices.

16. A method for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network as claimed in claim 14 wherein said at least one said device includes computers, PDAs, PPC, mobile telephones or smartphones, and embedded devices.

17. Computer software for sharing functionality and/or data between two or more linked entities using a network, said software residing on each said entity and comprising:

(a) a routine for creating at least one real object, each said real object providing access to the functionality and/or data of said entity;

(b) a routine for creating at least one virtual object, each of said of virtual objects providing access to the functionality and/or data of a real object on said entity, each said virtual object containing at least one object actions; and

(c) a routine for creating at least one remote object for connection to a virtual object on a remote entity via the network;

said remote object allowing an entity to access functionality and/or data of a remote entity.

18. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-readable software as claimed in claim 17.

19. An electromagnetic signal carrying computer-readable software as claimed in claim 17.