REMOTE DEVICE COMMUNICATION PLATFORM

• US 20090178124A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Zhang, Junfeng, Patiejunas, Kestutis, Kim, Ryan Yonghee, Manion, Todd Ryun
• Granted Patent: US 8,789,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

Managing via a web portal a remote device from a source device connected to a communication network. A device ID is assigned to the remote device, and a remote management software for remote management of the remote device is not installed on the source device or the remote device. Based on the assigned device ID, a connection is established with the remote device via the communication network. A first instruction is received from a user for authenticating access to the web portal. The user is authenticated in response to the received first instruction. An online status is established for the authenticated user. A second instruction is received from the authenticated user requesting access to the remote device. The device ID of the remote device is validated. The validated device ID is associated with the authenticated user. A connection is established between the remote device and the web portal.

Claims

1. A method of managing via a web portal a remote device from a source device connected to a communication network, wherein a remote management software for remote management of the remote device is not installed on the source device or on the remote device, said method comprising:

assigning a device ID to the remote device;

based on the assigned device ID, establishing a connection with the remote device via the communication network;

receiving a first instruction from a user for authenticating access to the web portal, said received instruction being originating from the source device;

authenticating the user in response to the received first instruction;

establishing an online status for the authenticated user;

receiving a second instruction from the authenticated user requesting access to the remote device for remote management through the web portal;

validating the device ID of the remote device in response to receiving the second instruction requesting access;

associating the validated device ID with the authenticated user; and

establishing a connection between the remote device and the web portal, wherein the remote device is managed by the authenticated user via the web portal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the first instruction from the user for authenticating access to the web portal comprises receiving the first instruction from the user for authenticating access to an online account of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a third instruction from the user for associating a second user with the web portal.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising authenticating the second user for accessing the remote device in response to the received third instruction from the user.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising registering the authenticated second user with the web portal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein registering comprises registering the authenticated second user in a membership list associated with the web portal, said membership list enabling the authenticated second user for continuous access to the remote device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein registering comprises issuing an authentication ticket to the second user, wherein the authentication ticket enabling the second user to access the remote device absent a termination request from the user.

8. A system for managing a web-based remote device management for a user from a source device connected to a communication network, wherein a remote management software for remote management of the remote device is not installed on the source device or the remote device, said system comprising:

an activation server for assigning a device ID to the remote device;

wherein the activation server establishes a connection with the remote device via the communication network based on the assigned device ID;

an interface for receiving a first instruction from a user for authenticating access to the web portal, said received instruction being originating from the source device;

an authentication server for authenticating the user in response to the received first instruction;

a main server, being connected with the authentication server, the interface, and the activation server, for establishing an online status on the interface for the authenticated user;

wherein the interface receives a second instruction from the authenticated user requesting access to the remote device for remote management through the interface;

wherein the main server validates the device ID of the remote device in response to receiving the second instruction requesting access, said main server validates the device ID by requesting the activation server to validate the assigned device ID;

wherein the main server associates the validated device ID with the authenticated user; and

wherein the main server establishes a connection between the remote device and the interface, wherein the remote device is accessible to the authenticated user via the interface.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the interface receives the first instruction from the user for authenticating access to an online account of the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the interface is further configured to receive a third instruction from the user for associating a second user with the online account of the user.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the authentication server authenticates the second user for accessing the remote device in response to the received third instruction from the user, said second user sharing access of the remote device with the user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the main server further registers the authenticated second user with the online account of the user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the main server registers the authenticated second user in a membership list associated with the online account, said membership list enabling the authenticated second user for continuous access to the remote device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the main server issues an authentication ticket to the second user, wherein the authentication ticket enabling the second user to access the remote device absent a termination request from the user.

15. A method of managing via a web portal a remote device from a source device connected to a communication network, wherein a remote management software for remote management of the remote device is not installed on the source device or the remote device, said method comprising:

assigning a device ID to the remote device;

based on the assigned device ID, establishing a connection with the remote device via the communication network;

receiving a first instruction from a user for authenticating access to the web portal, said received instruction being originating from the source device;

authenticating the user in response to the received first instruction;

establishing an online status for the authenticated user;

receiving a second instruction from the authenticated user requesting access to the remote device for remote management through the web portal;

validating the device ID of the remote device in response to receiving the second instruction requesting access;

associating the validated device ID with the authenticated user;

establishing a connection between the remote device and the web portal, wherein the remote device is accessible to the authenticated user via the web portal; and

establishing an access context of the remote device for the user via the web portal, said access context defining at least one of the following;

a machine context and a user context.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the first instruction from the user for authenticating access to the web portal comprises receiving the first instruction from the user for authenticating access to an online account of the user.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving a third instruction from the user for associating a second user with the web portal;

and authenticating the second user for accessing the remote device in response to the received third instruction from the user, said second user sharing access of the remote device with the user based on the established access context.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising registering the authenticated second user with the web portal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein registering comprises registering the authenticated second user in a membership list associated with the web portal, said membership list enabling the authenticated second user for continuous access to the remote device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein registering comprises issuing an authentication ticket to the second user, wherein the authentication ticket enabling the second user to access the remote device absent a termination request from the user.