Connection method for a network system and a server computer

• US 6,038,602 A
• Filed: 04/30/1997
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories Incorporated (Genesys Cloud Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Katsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINDER, PATRICE L
• Application Number:
  US08/848,360
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/261, 370/352, 379/202, 379/204, 379/205, 379/93.21, 395/200.34, 395/200.57, 395/200.58, 395/200.79, 709/204, 709/207, 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/122 where the PSTN/ISDN access is used as an access to networks other than PSTN/ISDN access arrangements to networks other than PSTN/ISDN H04M7/0066; access arrangements to public data networks H04L12/2856

Abstract

A server and method for connecting in a network system whereby user computers can be connected with each other as clients of server computers using Internet Protocol (IP) connections. When Internet user A desires to talk with user B across the Internet, user A dials up server A for an IP connection and issues a request to server A for connection with user B. Upon receipt of a request for connection to a user B, server A accesses a record for user B. which record is stored in a storage area managed by server A. The record includes a user name, corresponding server name, user phone number, and IP connection state of the user. Once this record has been accessed, server A sends a connection request to server B. Since servers A and B are constantly connected, server B can respond immediately to a request from server A. Server B examines the pertinent record in its storage area and determines whether or not user B currently has an IP connection. If user B does not currently have an IP connection, then server B dials up user B to establish the IP connection. Once an IP connection for user B is established, server B notifies server A and server A notifier user A that an IP connection to user B has been completed. For users A and B, the IP connection is transparent such that they share the use of an application and are enabled to talk across the Internet.

Claims

1. A connection method, for a network system that encompasses the Internet, a plurality of user computers, and a plurality of server computers, said server computers being constantly interconnected to provide said user computers an IP, Internet Protocol, connection service for the Internet, comprising the steps of:

a. a first user computer making a dial-up IP connection to a first server computer;

b. said first user computer sending, to said first server computer, a connection request along with ID information for a second user computer;

c. said first server computer, in accordance with said received ID information, locating a second server computer in whose territory said second user computer resides;

d. said first server computer notifying said second server computer of said connection request;

e. said second server computer, in response to said connection request, making a dial-up IP connection to said second user computer;

f. said second server computer notifying said first user computer, via said first server computer, that said second user computer has been connected to said second server computer; and

g. said first user computer beginning to communicate with said second user computer across the Internet.

2. In a network system, said system including a plurality of networks, each of said networks including a plurality of server computers which are always connected to said networks, a connection method for a plurality of user computers as clients of said server computers to connect each other, each of said user computers being capable of connecting to said network system, said method comprising the steps of:

a. a first user computer connecting to a first server computer;

b. said first user computer sending, to said first server computer, a connection request along with ID information for a second user computer;

c. said first server computer, in accordance with said received ID information, locating a second server computer in whose territory said second user computer resides;

d. said first server computer notifying said second server computer of said connection request;

e. said second server computer, in response to said connection request, making a dial-up IP, Internet Protocol, connection to said second user computer;

f. said second server computer notifying said first user computer, via said first server computer, that said second user computer has been connected to said second server computer; and

g. said first user computer beginning to communicate with said second user computer across the Internet.

3. A connection method, for connecting user computers, for a network system that includes a large network, which is a conglomeration of a plurality of interconnected small networks worldwide, a plurality of server computers that are always linked together across said large network, and a plurality of user computers that can be connected to said large network as clients of said server computers, comprising the steps of:

a. first user computer making a dial-up IP, Internet Protocol, connection to a first server computer;

b. said first user computer sending, to said first server computer, a connection request along with ID information for a second user computer;

c. said first server computer, in accordance with said received ID information, locating a second server computer in whose territory said second user computer resides;

d. said first server computer notifying said second server computer of said connection request;

e. said second server computer, in response to said connection request, making a dial-up IP connection to said second user computer;

f. said second server computer notifying said first user computer, via said first server computer, that said second user computer has been connected to said second server computer; and

g. said first user computer beginning to communicate with said second user computer across the Internet.

4. A server computer, which is always connected to the Internet and which is capable of IP, Internet Protocol, connecting a client user computer to the Internet, comprising:

a. means for performing an IP connection when dialed up by a client user computer;

b. means for making a dial-up IP connection to a client user computer in response to a connection request from an another server computer constantly connected;

c. means for receiving a connection request from a client user computer for connection to an another client user computer;

d. a storage area for recording and managing IDs of client user computers, IDs of server computers and current connection states;

e. means for, in response to a connection request from a client user computer, referring to said storage area to search for a corresponding server computer;

f. means for requesting an another server computer, which is constantly connected, make a connection to a requested client user computer; and

g. means for notifying a client user computer that an another server computer has completed an IP connection to an another client user computer.

5. A server computer, which is always connected to a network system formed by a plurality of networks and which is capable of connecting a client user computer to said network system, comprising:

a. means for, in accordance with a connection request from a client user computer, connecting the client user computer to said network system;

b. means for, in accordance with a connection request from another server computer always connected, connecting with a requested client user computer;

c. means for receiving from a client user computer a connection request for connection to another user computer;

d. a storage area for recording and managing IDs of user computers, IDs of server computers and current connection states;

e. means for, in response to a connection request from a client user computer, referring to said storage area to search for a corresponding server computer;

f. means for requesting that another server computer constantly connected make a connection to a requested client user computer; and

g. means for notifying a client user computer that another server computer has completed a connection to another client user computer.

6. A server computer, which is always connected to a large network that is a conglomeration of a plurality of small networks worldwide and which is capable of connecting a client user computer to said large network, comprising:

a. means for, in accordance with a connection request from a client user computer, connecting the client user computer to said network;

b. means for, in accordance with a connection request from another server computer always connected, connecting with a requested client user computer;

c. means for receiving from a client user computer a connection request for connection to another client user computer;

d. a storage area for recording and managing IDs of user computers, IDs of server computers and current connection states;

e. means for, in response to a connection request from a client user computer, referring to said storage area to search for a corresponding server computer;

f. means for requesting to another server computer that is always connected to make a connection to a requested client user computer; and

g. means for notifying a client user computer that another server computer has completed a connection to said client user computer.