Verification by target end system of intended data transfer operation
First Claim
1. A communications arrangement comprising:
- a communications infrastructure;
a plurality of end systems connected to the communications infrastructure; and
a service system connected to the communications infrastructure for participating in the initiation of a data transfer operation between a first said end system and a second said end system;
the first end system comprising connectivity means for informing the service system of an intended data transfer operation with said second system, and for contacting the second end system over the communications infrastructure for the purpose of effecting said intended data transfer operation, the connectivity means of the first end system being operative to initially pass the second end system a transfer-operation characteristic known also to the service system in respect of the intended said data transfer operation;
the second end system comprising connectivity means for cooperating with the connectivity means of the first end system to effect said intended data transfer operation, the connectivity means of the second end system including verify means responsive to a said end system contacting the second end system and passing it a said transfer-operation characteristic, to communicate with the service system to check that the said transfer-operation characteristic received by the second end system corresponds to that known to the service system in respect of the intended data transfer operation with the second end system, the verify means only permitting data transfer to proceed where said transfer-operation characteristic checks out; and
the service system including complementary verify means for cooperating with the verify means of the second end system to check said transfer-operation characteristic.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications infrastructure is provided with a service system that facilitates the setting up of data transfer operations between end systems connected to the infrastructure. When a first end system wishes to initiate a data transfer operation, it contacts the service system and establishes a transfer-operation characteristic for the proposed data transfer operation that is known both to itself and the service system. The first end system then contacts the target end system with which it wishes to effect a data transfer operation and passes it the aforesaid transfer-operation characteristic. The target end system uses the received transfer-operation characteristic to check with the service system that the proposed data transfer from the first end system is known and acceptable to the service system; only if this check is passed does the target end system proceed with the data transfer operation proposed by the first end system. With this arrangement, the target end system can be sure that it only participates in data transfer operations with parties vetted by the service system.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A communications arrangement comprising:
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a communications infrastructure;
a plurality of end systems connected to the communications infrastructure; and
a service system connected to the communications infrastructure for participating in the initiation of a data transfer operation between a first said end system and a second said end system;
the first end system comprising connectivity means for informing the service system of an intended data transfer operation with said second system, and for contacting the second end system over the communications infrastructure for the purpose of effecting said intended data transfer operation, the connectivity means of the first end system being operative to initially pass the second end system a transfer-operation characteristic known also to the service system in respect of the intended said data transfer operation;
the second end system comprising connectivity means for cooperating with the connectivity means of the first end system to effect said intended data transfer operation, the connectivity means of the second end system including verify means responsive to a said end system contacting the second end system and passing it a said transfer-operation characteristic, to communicate with the service system to check that the said transfer-operation characteristic received by the second end system corresponds to that known to the service system in respect of the intended data transfer operation with the second end system, the verify means only permitting data transfer to proceed where said transfer-operation characteristic checks out; and
the service system including complementary verify means for cooperating with the verify means of the second end system to check said transfer-operation characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of initiating communication over a communications infrastructure between a first end system and a second end system using the services of a service system connected to the communications infrastructure;
- the method comprising the steps of;
(a)—
passing from the first end system, over the communications infrastructure, to said service system, an indication of an intended data transfer operation with the second end system,(b)—
establishing for the intended data transfer operation a transfer-operation characteristic known to both the first end system and the service system,(c)—
contacting the second end system from the first end system over the communications infrastructure and passing from the first end system to the second end system said transfer-operation characteristic,(d)—
contacting the service system from the second end system and checking that the transfer-operation characteristic received by the second end system in step (c) corresponds to one associated with an intended data transfer operation between the first and second end systems, ande)—
only proceeding with the data transfer operation between the first and second end systems if the checking carried out in step (d) indicates that the transfer-operation characteristic received by the second end system from the first end system corresponds to one known to the service system for an intended data transfer operation between the first and second end systems.- View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
- the method comprising the steps of;
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9. A service system for participating in the set up of a data transfer operation across a communications infrastructure between end systems connected to the latter, the service system comprising:
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interface means for connecting the service system to the communications infrastructure;
means for receiving, through said interface means, an indication from a first said end system that it wishes to effect a data transfer operation with another said end system specified in said indication, logging means for storing, in respect of each data transfer operation for which a said indication has been received by the service system, a corresponding transfer-operation characteristic known to both the first end system and the service system, verification means for receiving, through said interface means, a verification request from a second said end system that includes a transfer-operation characteristic which that end system wishes to confirm relates to a data transfer operation involving it that is known to the service system, the verification means being operative to check the transfer characteristic received by it from the second end system against transfer characteristics held by said logging means and to return a response to the second end system, through said interface means, indicative of the result of this check. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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Specification