Extranet architecture

• US 6,453,348 B1
• Filed: 11/06/1998
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barnier, Brian Glen, Madrid, Richard T., Dean, Thomas Terence, Mueller, Randy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): EL HADY, NABIL M
• Application Number:
  US09/187,556
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 709/200-203, 709/217-219, 709/225-230, 709/245, 709/310, 713/200, 713/201
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• 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 63/0838 using one-time-passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An extranet that includes a network which couples a plurality of non-related participants and a server coupled to the network. The server stores a plurality of applications including workgroup applicants, transaction applications, security applications and transport circuits and equipment. The server is programmed to load particular ones of the plurality of applications onto the network for use by the plurality of participants in response to a request by one of the participants for a particular application.

Claims

1. A method for providing an extranet service between a plurality of unrelated subscribers, the method comprising:

interconnecting the plurality of subscribers by digital data circuits to form a network;

providing hardware and software support for the use of Internet Protocols thus providing an extranet for at least one of transactional processing and workgroup processing by subscribers of the plurality of subscribers;

coupling at least one server to the extranet wherein the at least one server stores a plurality of applications and data including collaboration software, office productivity software, and electronic data interchange software along with end-user data; and

making available at least one of the plurality of applications over the extranet for use by the plurality of subscribers in response to a request by a subscriber for an instance of a particular application;

wherein the transactional processing makes available individual applications of the plurality of applications to respective subscribers according to subscription information associated with the respective subscriber, and

wherein the workgroup processing defines a workgroup of subscribers among the plurality of subscribers, makes at least one of the plurality of applications available to the subscribers of the workgroup, and secures communications and data exchanged among the subscribers of the workgroup from other subscribers.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

querying a subscriber in response to a request from the subscriber for a particular application for a password or digital certificate; and

providing access to the particular application if a correct password or valid digital certificate has been given.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

encrypting communications between subscribers on the extranet by means of virtual private networking technology.

4. A method for providing an extranet service between unrelated subscribers, the method comprising:

(a) establishing a subscriber database listing customers who subscribe to the extranet service and subscriber subscription information;

(b) establishing a communication link between the subscribers listed in the subscriber database to form an extranet;

(c) providing collaboration software applications stored at a common location and accessible to subscribers on the extranet;

(d) providing workflow software applications stored at the common location and accessible to subscribers on the extranet;

(e) providing transaction software applications stored at the common location and accessible to subscribers on the extranet;

(f) providing electronic mail software applications stored at the common location and accessible to subscribers on the extranet;

(g) providing electronic data interchange software applications stored at the common location and accessible to subscribers on the extranet; and

(h) sharing the software applications provided in acts (b)-(g) among the subscribers listed in the subscriber database in accordance with the subscriber subscription information;

wherein the transaction software applications make available individual applications of the software applications to respective subscribers in accordance with the subscriber subscription information associated with the respective subscriber, and

wherein the workgroup software applications define a workgroup of subscribers among the unrelated subscribers, make at least one of the software applications available to the subscribers of the workgroup, and secure communications and data exchanged among the subscribers of the workgroup from other subscribers.

5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising:

updating the subscriber database to add new customers who subscribe to the extranet service.

6. A method according to claim 4 further comprising:

updating the subscriber database to delete customers from the extranet service.

7. A method according to claim 4 further comprising:

providing security administration at the network, application module and user file levels to continually update needed profile information.

8. A method according to claim 4 further comprising:

updating the software applications provided in acts (c)-(g).

9. A method for providing an extranet service between customers, the method comprising:

(a) establishing a communication link between customers to form an extranet, including providing a common screen menu for use by the customers accessing the extranet;

(b) providing workgroup software on the extranet;

(c) providing transaction software on the extranet;

(d) providing security software on the extranet;

(e) providing transport software on the extranet; and

(f) sharing the software provided in acts (b)-(e) to the customers on the extranet in accordance with customer selections made using the common screen menu;

wherein the transaction software makes available individual provided software to respective customers in accordance with subscription information associated with the respective customer, and wherein the workgroup software defines a workgroup of customers among the customers, makes at least one of the provided software available to the customers of the workgroup, and secures communications and data exchanged among the customers of the workgroup from other customers.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein acts (b)-(e) are provided by an extranet service provider.

11. A method according to claim 9 further comprising:

(g) providing customer-specific software on the extranet;

(h) storing a list of customers allowed access to the customers-specific software or selections of data stored in an application; and

(i) allowing access to the customer-specific software only to the customers on the list stored in act (h).

12. A method according to claim 9 further comprising:

providing access to the extranet to the customers.

13. An extranet comprising:

a network coupling a plurality of non-related participants wherein each participant is located remotely from the other participants; and

a server coupled to the network, the server storing a plurality of applications including workgroup applications, transaction applications, security applications and transport applications wherein the server is programmed to make available particular instances of the various applications on the network in response to a request by one participant of the plurality of participants for a particular application and in accordance with subscription information stored for the one participant and defining access granted to the particular application for the one participant, and

wherein the server is also programmed to define a workgroup of participants among the non-related participants, make at least one of the plurality of the applications stored in the server available to the participants of the workgroup, and secure communications and data exchanged among the participants of the workgroup from other participants.

14. An extranet according to claim 13 wherein the network comprises a dedicated access network.

15. An extranet according to claim 13 wherein at least one of the plurality of participants has its own customer-specific local area network.

16. The extranet of claim 13 further comprising:

a common screen menu usable by all participants on the network to access one or more applications on the server.