Universal domain routing and publication control system

• US 5,870,562 A
• Filed: 03/24/1997
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PFN, Inc.
• Inventors: Butman, Ronald A., Ramachandran, Raja, Burns, Thomas A., Malone, Thomas J., Kmiec, Michael D., Dougherty, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US08/822,902
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.68, 395/200.54, 395/200.47, 395/200.59, 370/401
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/30 Types of network names
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/02 for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system for managing information communications between clients on different networks having a first computer with a disk for storing a dynamic client registry and resource locators containing function names; a web server to respond to resource locators by calling the function name; a database management program for organizing the dynamic client registry; a domain communications server which, when loaded by the web server is executed to respond to resource locators directed to it and to direct the database management program in organizing the dynamic client registry; a second computer communicating with the first computer, the second computer having a disk for storing a dynamic group registry and for storing resource locators containing function names; the second computer executing a web server which causes it to respond to resource locators by calling the function indicated, the second computer also having a database management program for organizing the dynamic group registry; a client side communications server executing in the second computer responding to resource locators directed to it and directing the database management program in organizing the dynamic group registry; a domain communications resource locator list stored in the computers that causes functions to be selected for execution in the domain communications server in the first computer; and a client side communications resource locator list stored in the computers that causes functions to be selected for execution in the client side communications server in the second computer so communications between the computers cause selected functions to be executed to manage information flow between them.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing event-driven communications between different client entities on different networks comprising:

a first computer having electronic storage media for storing a dynamic client registry thereon and for storing resource locators containing function names thereon, the first computer further comprising a web server program which, when executed by the first computer, causes the first computer to respond to the resource locators by calling the function name indicated therein into the first computer, the first computer further comprising a database management program for organizing the dynamic client registry;

a domain communications server program which, when loaded by the web server program responding to the appropriate resource locator therefor, is executed by the first computer, and is further responsive to resource locators directed to the domain communications server program for directing the database management program in organizing the dynamic client registry to map and authorize an interclient and intra-client communications infrastructure and the contents thereof;

a second computer in communications relationship with the first computer, the second computer having electronic storage media for storing a dynamic group registry thereon and for storing resource locators containing function names thereon, the second computer father comprising a web server program which, when executed by the second computer, causes the second computer to respond to resource locators by calling the function name indicated therein into the second computer, the second computer further comprising a database management program for organizing the dynamic group registry;

a client side communications server program which, when loaded by the web server program responding to the appropriate resource locator therefor, is executed by the second computer, and is further responsive to resource locators directed to the client side communications server program for directing the database management program in organizing the dynamic group registry to map and authorize an inter-group and intra-group communications infrastructure and the contents thereof;

a domain communications resource locator list stored in the first and second computers that causes predetermined functions to be selected for execution in the domain communications server in the first computer;

a client side communications resource locator list stored in the first and second computers that causes predetermined functions to be selected for execution in the client side communications server in the second computer so that communications between the first computer and the second computer cause the selected functions to be executed dynamically in order to route contents as communication events occur according to the maps in the dynamic client registries and dynamic group registries so that clients can be registered and unregistered dynamically at a local client level, content can be created and deleted dynamically at a local client level, and content can be replicated dynamically at a local client level amongst internal client groups and automatically replicated externally to authorized external clients and groups, thereby enabling interactive communications amongst groups and clients over physically different networks.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the domain communications resource locator list includes a register domain communications resource locator that causes the domain communications server program to direct the database management program to dynamically register a client side communications server program in the dynamic client registry.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the client side communications resource locator list includes publications control resource locators that enable the client side communications server program to direct the database management program executing in the second computer to organize content information created and received by users in communications relationship with the second computer into the dynamic group registry thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the domain communications server resource locator list includes collection resource locators that enable the domain communications server program to collect map and content information referenced in the dynamic group registry of the second computer for storing in the dynamic client registry of the first computer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the domain communications server resource locator list and the client side communications server resource list include indexing resource locators that enable the client side communications server program to direct the database management program to store the content information collected from a client user in the dynamic group registry according to specified indexing criteria.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the domain communications server resource locator list includes consumers resource locators that enable the domain communications server program to direct the database management program to organize the map information stored in the dynamic client registry according to lists of authorized receivers of the information.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

a third computer in communications relationship with the first computer and having electronic storage media for storing a second dynamic group registry thereon and for storing resource locators containing function names thereon, the third computer further comprising a web server program which, when executed by the third computer, causes the third computer to respond to resource locators by calling the function name indicated therein into the third computer, the third computer further comprising a database management program for organizing the second dynamic group registry;

a client side communications server program which, when loaded by the web server program responding to the appropriate resource locator therefore, is executed by the third computer, and is further responsive to resource locators directed to the client side communications server program and directs the database management program in organizing the second dynamic group registry; and

a domain communications server resource locator list including notification resource locators that enable the domain communications server program to notify the third computer whether content information stored and indexed in the dynamic client registry of the first computer is available and authorized to be collected by the third computer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the client side communications resource locator list includes collection resource locators that enable the client side communications server program to collect content information stored on the dynamic client registry of the first computer in response to a notification from the first computer that content information the client side communications server program is authorized to receive is available.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the client side communications server program further includes a queuing mechanism for storing messages containing domain communications resource locators for later transmission, when the client side communications server program dynamically detects that the domain communications server is not able to receive messages.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the domain communications server program further includes a queuing mechanism for storing messages containing client side communications resource locators for later transmission, when the domain communications server program dynamically detects that the client side communications server is not able to receive messages.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein map information about producers, Consumers and authorized receivers stored in the dynamic client registry is used by the domain communications server to create virtual pipes for directing content information stored in the dynamic client registry to different entities on different networks.

12. A computer implemented method for managing event-driven communications between different client entities on different networks comprising the steps of:

storing a dynamic client registry and resource locators containing function names on a first computer having electronic storage media, the first computer further executing a web server program which causes the first computer to respond to the resource locators by calling the function name indicated therein into the first computer, the first computer directing a database management program for organizing the dynamic client registry;

executing a domain communications server program loaded into the first computer by the web server program responding to the appropriate resource locator therefor, for responding to resource locators directed to the domain communications server program for directing the database management program in organizing the dynamic client registry to map and authorize an inter-client and intra-client communications infrastructure and the contents thereof;

storing a dynamic group registry and resource locators containing function names on a second computer in communications relationship with the first computer, the second computer having electronic storage media and executing a web server program which causes he second computer to respond to resource locators by calling the function name indicated herein into the second computer, the second computer also directing a database management program for organizing the dynamic group registry;

executing a client side communications server program loaded by the web server program responding to the appropriate resource locator therefor, for responding to resource locators directed to the client side communications server program for directing the database management program in organizing the dynamic group registry to map and authorize an inter-group and intra-group communications infrastructure and the contents thereof;

storing a domain communications resource locator list in the first and second computers to allow predetermined functions to be selected for execution in the domain communications server in the first computer;

storing a client side communications resource locator list stored in the first and second computers to allow predetermined functions to be selected for execution in the client side communications server in the second computer so that communications between the first computer and the second computer cause the selected functions to be executed dynamically in order to route contents as communications events occur according to the maps in the dynamic client registries and dynamic group registries so that clients can be registered and unregistered dynamically at a local client level, content can be created and deleted dynamically at a local client level, and content can be replicated dynamically at a local client level amongst internal client groups and automatically replicated externally to authorized external clients and groups, thereby enabling interactive communications amongst groups and clients over physically different networks.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of storing a domain communications resource locator list further comprises the step of storing a register domain communications resource locator therein that causes the domain communications server program to direct the database management program to dynamically register a client side communications server program in the dynamic client registry.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of storing the client side communications resource locator list further comprises the step of storing publications control resource locators therein that enable the client side communications server program to direct the database management program executing in the second computer to organize content information created and received by users in communications relationship with the second computer into the dynamic group registry thereof.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of storing a domain communications server resource locator list further comprises the step of storing collection resource locators therein that enable the domain communications server program to collect map and content information referenced in the dynamic group registry of the second computer for storing in the dynamic client registry of the first computer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the steps of storing the domain communications server resource locator list and the client side communications server resource locator list further comprises the step of storing indexing resource locators in each that enable the client side communications server program to direct the database management program to store the content information collected from a client user in the dynamic group registry according to specified indexing criteria.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of storing the domain communications server resource locator list further comprises the step of storing consumers resource locators therein that enable the domain communications server program to direct the database management program to organize the map information stored in the dynamic client registry according to lists of authorized receivers of the content information.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

communicating with the first computer from a third computer having electronic storage media for storing a second dynamic group registry thereon and for storing resource locators containing function names thereon, the third computer further comprising a web server program which, when executed by the third computer, causes the third computer to respond to resource locators by calling the function name indicated therein into the third computer, the third computer further comprising a database management program for organizing the second dynamic group registry;

executing a client side communications server program on the third computer in response to the appropriate resource locator therefor, for responding to resource locators directed to the client side communications server program on the third computer and directing the database management program in organizing the second dynamic group registry; and

storing a domain communications server resource locator list on the third computer, for including notification resource locators that enable the domain communications server program to notify the third computer whether content information stored and indexed in the dynamic client registry of the first computer is available and authorized to be collected by the third computer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of storing the client side communications resource locator list further comprises the step of storing collection resource locators therein that enable the client side communications server program to collect content information stored on the dynamic client registry of the first computer in response to a notification from the first computer that content information the client side communications server program is authorized to receive is available.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of executing the client side communications server program further the step of queuing and storing messages containing domain communications resource locators for later transmission, when the client side communications server program dynamically detects that the domain communications server is not able to receive messages.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of executing the domain communications server program further comprises the step of queuing and storing messages containing client side communications resource locators for later transmission when the domain communications server program dynamically detects that the client side communications server is not able to receive messages.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of storing map information about producers, consumers and authorized receivers in the dynamic client registry further comprises the step of the domain communications server'"'"'s creating virtual pipes for directing content information stored in the dynamic client registry to different entities on different networks.