Remote Port Access (RPA) Server

• US 20100088396A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Systech Corporation
• Original Assignee: Systech Corporation
• Inventors: Armerding, Donald G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/253 using establishment or release of connections between ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70

Abstract

Systems and methods for accessing data from one or more remote devices and providing data to remote devices installed behind one or more firewalls are provided. The remote devices are configured to automatically detect network connectivity and to open a network connection to a remote port access (RPA) server. The remote devices initiate the connection with the RPA server enabling the connection to be established through the firewall. A client device establishes a network connection to the RPA server in order to access data from or to provide data to one or more of the remote devices. The RPA server acts as an intermediary between the RPA server and the remote devices that receives data from the client device and sends the data to the remote device and receives data from the remote devices and sends the data to the client device.

Claims

1. A method for accessing data from a remote device, the method comprising:

receiving a connection request from the remote device, the remote device being located behind a firewall;

establishing a first network connection with the remote device through the firewall;

receiving a connection request from a client device;

establishing a second network connection with the client device;

receiving a request for data from the remote device from the client through the second network connection;

requesting data from the remote device via the first network connection;

receiving the requested data from the remote device via the first network connection; and

providing the requested data to the client device via the second network connection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

listening for connection requests from the remote device at a first predetermined port number.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

listening for connection requests from the client at a second predetermined port number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote device is assigned a unique identifier at the time the device is manufactured, and wherein the connection request received from the remote device includes the unique identifier assigned to the remote device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

comparing the unique identifier for the remote device received in the connection request to a set of assigned remote devices; and

adding the unique identifier for the remote device a list of connected but unassigned remote devices if the unique identifier for the remote device is not included in the set of assigned remote devices.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network connection is Transport Control Protocol (TCP) connection through the firewall.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote device is configured to automatically generate the connection request in response to detecting network connectivity.

8. A system comprising:

a remote port access server configured to

listen for connection requests from a remote device on a first set of predetermined ports, the remote device being located behind a firewall;

establish a first network connection with a remote device through the firewall in response to a connection request from the remote device;

listen for connection requests from a client device on a second set of predetermined ports, the client device being located outside of the firewall;

establish a second network connection with the client device in response to receiving a connection request from the client device;

receive a data request from the client device for data from the remote device;

request from the remote device the data requested in the data request;

receive the requested data from the remote device; and

transmit the requested data received from the remote device to the client.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the report port access server is further configured to:

listen for connection requests from the remote device at a first predetermined port number.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the report port access server is further configured to:

listen for connection requests from the client at a second predetermined port number.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the remote device is assigned a unique identifier at the time the device is manufactured, and wherein the connection request received from the remote device includes the unique identifier assigned to the remote device.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the report port access server is further configured to:

compare the unique identifier for the remote device received in the connection request to a set of assigned remote devices; and

add the unique identifier for the remote device a list of connected but unassigned remote devices if the unique identifier for the remote device is not included in the set of assigned remote devices.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the first network connection is Transport Control Protocol (TCP) connection through the firewall.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the remote device is configured to automatically generate the connection request in response to detecting network connectivity.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computer system to perform actions comprising:

receiving a connection request from the remote device, the remote device being located behind a firewall;

establishing a first network connection with the remote device through the firewall;

receiving a connection request from a client device;

establishing a second network connection with the client device;

receiving a request for data from the remote device from the client through the second network connection;

requesting data from the remote device via the first network connection;

receiving the requested data from the remote device via the first network connection; and

providing the requested data to the client device via the second network connection.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, when executed, direct the computer system to perform actions comprising:

listening for connection requests from the remote device at a first predetermined port number.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, when executed, direct the computer system to perform actions comprising:

listening for connection requests from the client at a second predetermined port number.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the remote device is assigned a unique identifier at the time the device is manufactured, and wherein the connection request received from the remote device includes the unique identifier assigned to the remote device.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising instructions that, when executed, direct the computer system to perform actions comprising:

comparing the unique identifier for the remote device received in the connection request to a set of assigned remote devices; and

adding the unique identifier for the remote device a list of connected but unassigned remote devices if the unique identifier for the remote device is not included in the set of assigned remote devices.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the first network connection is Transport Control Protocol (TCP) connection through the firewall.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the remote device is configured to automatically generate the connection request in response to detecting network connectivity.