Method for remotely controlling computer resources via the internet with a web browser

• US 6,138,150 A
• Filed: 09/03/1997
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nichols, Stephen R., Schroeder, Kurt N., Wentz, Samuel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson, Marc D.
• Application Number:
  US08/923,105
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/203, 709/208, 709/302, 709/218, 710/15, 710/18, 710/19, 710/220, 707/513, 395/101, 395/114, 345/326, 345/329, 345/330, 345/163, 345/335, 345/356, 345/348
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence

Abstract

A personal computer or workstation running a Web browser point and click interface is used to display and send information for remotely controlling a computer such as a mainframe. In the preferred embodiment, a web site or "home-page" is constructed on a secure HTTP (hyper text transfer protocol) server which comprises a Hardware Management Console (HMC). A user logs on to the Internet World Wide Web in a conventional manner by entering the address or uniform resource locator (URL) to connect to the secure HTTP server. Upon entry of a correct password the Hardware Management Console (HMC) home-page will be displayed. Icons representing various mainframe computer components are displayed which link to additional pages which the user can click on to monitor and control the mainframe computer. The color of the icons provide a summary of the status its representative component (e.g., a green icon indicates that the representative component is functioning is normally, red indicates an abnormal condition, and blue indicates that a message is available). Further, the user can change an automatic refresh rate for the browser stored at the server for a particular user identification (userid). Any action initiated by a remote web browser is reflected on the local Hardware Management Console (HMC) drag and drop interface and vice-versa.

Claims

1. A method for remotely controlling a computing device via the Internet, comprising steps of:

accessing the Internet with a computer terminal running a web browser;

logging onto a server connected to the Internet and to a computing device to be controlled;

verifying a user name and password for said computer terminal running said web browser;

sending home page data from said server to said computer terminal running said web browser, said home page comprising a management console for said computing device to be controlled; and

providing icons on said home page representative of components for said computing device to be controlled which link to additional pages containing additional data regarding said representative components, wherein said icons are color coded according a status of said representative components.

2. A method for remotely controlling a computing device via the Internet as recited in claim 1 wherein when an icon comprises a first color said representative component is normal, and when said icon comprises a second color said representative component is abnormal, and when icon comprises a third color messages from said representative component are displayed when said icon is selected.

3. A method for remotely controlling a computing device via the Internet as recited in claim 1 wherein said computing device is a mainframe computer.

4. A method for remotely controlling a computing device via the Internet as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of building a response to said computer terminal running said web browser authorizing access to only authorized devices and tasks associated with said computing device to be controlled.

5. A method for remotely controlling a computing device via the Internet as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of choosing a language for data sent from said server to be displayed on said computer terminal running said web browser.

6. A method for remotely controlling a computing device via Internet as recited in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

storing a personalized browser refresh time interval on said server;

building an initial response for said server and sending said browser refresh time interval to said computer terminal running said web browser; and

automatically generating a refresh request by said browser.

7. A system for remotely controlling a remote computer via the World Wide Web, comprising:

at least a first client running browser software;

an Internet connection for connecting said first client to the World Wide Web; and

a secure server connected to the World Wide Web and connected to a remote computer to be controlled, wherein said first computer accesses said secure server via the World Wide Web and said secure server sends home-page data to be displayed on said first client comprising a management console for monitoring and controlling said remote computer,

wherein said management console comprises icons representative of components for said remote computer which link to additional pages containing more data regarding said representative components, wherein when an icon comprises a first color said representative component status is normal, and when said icon comprises a second color said representative component status is abnormal.

8. A system for remotely controlling a remote computer via the World Wide Web as recited in claim 7 wherein said remote computer is a mainframe computer.

9. A system for remotely controlling a remote computer via the World Wide Web as recited in claim 7 wherein said first client transmits a user identification and password to said secure server.

10. A system for remotely controlling a remote computer via the World Wide Web as recited in claim 9 wherein said secure server stores a language choice for said user identification.

11. A system for remotely controlling a remote computer via the World Wide Web as recited in claim 9 wherein said secure server stores a personalized browser refresh time which is sent to said first client such that said first client can automatically request a refresh according to said personalized browser refresh time.

12. A method for remotely controlling a computing device via a network, comprising steps of:

accessing the network with a computer terminal running browser software;

logging onto a server connected to the network and to a computing device to be controlled;

verifying a user name and password for said computer terminal running said browser software;

sending home page data from said server to said computer terminal running said browser software, said home page comprising a management console for said computing device to be controlled; and

providing icons on said home page representative of components for said computing device to be controlled which link to additional pages containing more data regarding said representative components, wherein said icons are color coded according to a status of said representative components.

13. A method for remotely controlling a computing device via a network as recited in claim 12 wherein said network is a local area network.

14. A method for remotely controlling a computing device via a network as recited in claim 12 wherein said network is a wide area network.

15. A method for remotely controlling a computing device via a network as recited in claim 12 wherein said network is switched connection.

16. A method for remotely controlling a computing device via a network as recited in claim 12, wherein when an icon is a first color said representative function is normal, and when said icon is a second color said representative function is abnormal.