Adaptive communication system enabling dissimilar devices to exchange information over a network

• US 6,145,084 A
• Filed: 10/08/1998
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tumbleweed Holdings LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Net I Trust
• Inventors: Zuili, Patrick, Ice, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): HUA, LY
• Application Number:
  US09/168,531
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 713/201, 713/200, 713/202
• US Class Current: 726/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• 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 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

Methods and apparatus enabling dissimilar devices to exchange information over a computer network stores a database of permissible sending and receiving devices at a verification server. A first device generates a request send authorization signel, which is compared at the server to the stored database and, in the event of a correspondence, a send authorization signel is generated by the server. Before a complete exchange may occur, however, a request receive authorization signal is generated at the second device in response to receiving the communication signal from the first device. The request receive authorization signal is compared to the database at the server and, in the event of a correspondence, a receive authorization signal is generated by the server, causing the second device to receive the message from the first device. A translation function is preferably provided prior to the step of causing the second device to receive the message from the first device, which may be related to dissimilar device hardware, software device protocol, network security, domestic/international communication standards, language or other factors, as appropriate.

Claims

1. A method enabling devices to exchange information over a computer network, comprising the steps of:

storing a database of permissible sending and receiving devices at a verification server;

generating a request send authorization signal at a first device;

comparing the request send authorization signal to the database at the server and, in the event of a correspondence, generating a send authorization signal;

sending a message from the first device to a second device in response to the send authorization signal;

generating a request receive authorization signal at the second device in response to receiving the communication signal from the first device;

comparing the request receive authorization signal to the database at the server and, in the event of a correspondence, generating a receive authorization signal; and

causing the second device to receive the message from the first device in response to the receive authorization signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are selected from the group consisting of:

computers, cellular telephones, facsimile machines, pagers, and printers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device and the second device are dissimilar, and the method further includes the step of performing a translation function prior to the step of causing the second device to receive the message from the first device in response to the receive authorization signal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first device and the second device are dissimilar in terms of their hardware, and wherein the step of performing the translation function is related to the hardware dissimilarity.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the first device and the second device are dissimilar in terms of the languages which they recognize, and wherein the step of performing the translation function is related to the language dissimilarity.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the first device and second device are dissimilar in terms of the software device protocols which they utilize, and wherein the step of performing the translations function is related to the difference in software device protocol.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the first device and the second device are dissimilar in terms of an international communications standard, and wherein the step of performing the translation function is related to the difference in the international communications standard.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the first device and the second device are different in terms of network security, and wherein the step of performing the translation function is related to the difference in network security.

9. In a network involving a plurality of devices, a method of providing secure and reliable communications between a device A and a device B, comprising the steps of:

providing a verification server;

seeking permission to send a communication signal from device A to device B by sending a request send authorization signal from device A to the verification server;

determining whether device A may communicate with device B and, if authorized to do so, transmitting a send authorization signal to device A;

receiving the send authorization signal at device A, and transmitting a communication signal to device B to establish communications therewith;

seeking permission to receive the communication signal at device B by sending a request receive authorization signal from device B to the verification server;

determining whether device B may communicate with device A and, if authorized to do so, transmitting a receive authorization signal to device B from the verification server; and

receiving the receive authorization signal at device B and processing the communication signal transmitted by device A.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein device A and device B are selected from the group consisting of:

personal computers, cellular telephones, facsimile machines, pagers, and printers.

11. The method of claim 9, further including the step of performing a translation function prior to the step of causing device B to receive the message from device A in response to the receive authorization signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first device and the second device are dissimilar in terms of their hardware, and wherein the step of performing the translation function is related to the hardware dissimilarity.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first device and the second device are dissimilar in terms of the languages which they recognize, and wherein the step of performing the translation function is related to the language dissimilarity.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first device and second device are dissimilar in terms of the software device protocols which they utilize, and wherein the step of performing the translation function is related to the difference in software device protocol.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first device and the second device are dissimilar in terms of an international communications standard, and wherein the step of performing the translation function is related to the difference in the international communications standard.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first device and the second device are different in terms of network security, and wherein the step of performing the translation function is related to the difference in network security.

17. The method of claim 11, further including the steps of:

providing, at the verification server, a data structure comprising a rule table including, with respect to each device;

protocols, transmit allowance, receive allowance, and translation capabilities; and

determining whether the communication signal may be sent by the first device and received by the second device in accordance with the data structure.

18. An adaptive communication system enabling dissimilar devices to exchange information through a verification server, comprising:

means enabling a first device to generate a "request send authorization signal";

means for the verification server, in response to the receipt of the "request send authorization signal", to compare said "request send authorization signal" with a predetermined database of permissible recipient and sending devices, and for generating a "send authorization signal" whenever said "request send authorization signal" is within said database;

means for causing the first device, in response to the receipt of the "send authorization signal," to send a "communication signal" to a second device;

means for causing the second device, in response to the arrival of communication signal from the first device to generate a "request receive authorization signal";

means for causing the verification server, in response to the receipt of the "request receive authorization signal", to compare the "request receive authorization signal" with the database, and to generate a "receive authorization signal" whenever the "request receive authorization signal" is within the database; and

means for causing the second device, in response to the "receive authorization signal," to receive the communication signal from the first device.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the first and second devices are selected from the group consisting of;

personal computers, cellular telephones, facsimile machines, pagers, and printers.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a data structure within the verification server including a rule table containing protocols, transmit allowance, receive allowance, translation capabilities in conjunction with each device.

21. In a distributed communications environment comprising at least one server device and a plurality of network devices wherein the network devices and server are linked together by a communications network, a method of communications, comprising the steps of:

storing a capabilities data structure on the server device including, for each network device, protocols, transmit allowance, receive allowance, and translation capabilities;

generating, by a first network device, a request to allow transmission of a message to a second network device;

transmitting the request to a server device;

receiving the request by the server device;

comparing the capabilities of the first network device to the capabilities device of the second network device to determine whether the request should be granted;

transmitting a response to the first network device; and

transmitting the message from the first network device to the second network device if the response from the server device indicates that the capabilities of the first network device are compatible with the capabilities of the second network device.