System and method for obstacle-free network communication

• US 6,370,576 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nadio.Com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nadio.Com, Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Cheng-San
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/320,560
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200, 709/201, 709/203, 709/216, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/224, 709/225, 709/227
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/45 Network directories; Name-to-address mapping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• 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 and method for obstacle-free network communication allows two host computers to share data and resources freely without worrying about the restriction of the security systems in their networks. The system and method mainly comprise three software modules namely, Agent module, Initiator module, and Acceptor module. The Agent module is implemented in a computer server for receiving and storing connection requests and data from networks. The Initiator module is implemented in a host computer for sending connection requests and data to the Agent module of the computer server. The Acceptor module is implemented in another host computer for periodically querying the Agent module of the computer server to fetch the connection requests and the data from the Agent module of the computer server. Consequently, even when no direct connection can be established between the two host computers, their communication is still available via the Agent module.

Claims

1. A system for obstacle-free network communication, comprising:

Agent means for receiving and storing a plurality of connection requests and data from networks;

Initiator means for sending connection requests and data to said Agent means; and

Acceptor means for periodically querying said Agent means to fetch said connection requests and said data from said Agent means.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a database implemented in said Agent means for storing information about a plurality of registered Acceptors; and

a table implemented in said Agent means for storing said connection requests and said data.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said information about said registered Acceptors means comprises:

unique identifiers, and network addresses.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the data entries for said table comprise:

source addresses, destination addresses, and identifers of said Acceptor means.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said Iniator means and said Acceptor means are software modules implemented in host computers which are located at different networks each having at least a security system, and said Agent means is a software module implemented in a computer server.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said Agent means receives a first virtual connection request from said Initiator means and a second virtual connection request from said Acceptor means.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said Agent means receives data from said Initiator means and passes said data bound with said first virtual connection request to said Acceptor means at the same time.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said Acceptor means is located at a network having at least a security system and said Initiator means is located at a network having no security system.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said Agent means receives a reverse connection request from said Initiator means.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said Acceptor means establishes a reverse connection to said Initiator means and acceptes data transmitted directly from said Initiator means.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said Initiator communicates directly with said Acceptor when there is no security system therebetween.

12. A method for obstacle-free network communication between two host computers located at different networks both having security systems, comprising the steps of:

sending a virtual connection request from Initiator means to an Agent means;

transmitting data from said Initiator means to said Agent means;

storing said virtual connection request bound with said data in a storage means of said Agent means;

periodically querying said Agent means from Acceptor means to determine if said storage means is not empty; and

when said storage means is not empty, fetching said virtual connection request and said data from said Agent means to said Acceptor means.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

registering the information of said Initiator means and said Acceptor means in a database of said Agent means.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said information comprises:

identifier of said Acceptor means, and network address of said Acceptor means.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step of transmitting data to said Agent means and said step of fetching said data from said Agent means are executed concurrently.

16. A method for obstacle-free network communication between Initiator means and Acceptor means, wherein said Initiator means locates in a network without a security system while said Acceptor means in a network protected by at least a security system, comprising the steps of:

sending a reverse connection request from said Initiator means to Agent means;

storing said reverse connection request in a storage means of said Agent means;

periodically querying said Agent means from an Acceptor means to determine if said storage means is not empty;

when said storage means is not empty, fetching said reverse connection request from said Agent means to said Acceptor means; and

establishing a reverse connection from said Acceptor means to said Initiator means to receive data therefrom.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

registering the information about said Initiator means and said Acceptor means in a database of said Agent means.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said database is established according to said identifier of said Acceptor means.

19. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said information comprises:

an identifier of said Acceptor means, and a network address of said Initiator means.