Method and system for communications with remote embedded applications

• US 7,516,223 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amscreen Group Ltd. (The Lord Sugar Family Trust)
• Original Assignee: Amscreen Group Ltd. (The Lord Sugar Family Trust)
• Inventors: Whitehead, Stephen Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter; Kenneth R
• Application Number:
  US10/398,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20050101270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,741 Days
• Field of Search: 709227-229, 709217-219, 709/203, 713/400
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

Data transfer occurs between an ISP database (21) and a vending machine database (11), via respective controllers (22 and 121). TCP ports and sockets (e.g. Telnet) (125, 126) at the module controller (121) and (225, 226) at the database controller (22) are used to establish separate CONTROL and CLEAR channels. The CONTROL channel provides end-to-end control information between the remote module controller (121) and the database controller (22), whilst the CLEAR channel is available to exchange pure end-to-end data.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising a computer network server which is arranged to communicate simultaneously with a plurality of remote computers;

and a remote embedded application that is adapted to operate without direct human control, the remote embedded application having a controller which is arranged to communicate with said computer network server such that tile transfer sessions are carried out between said computer network server and said controller;

wherein said server and controller are arranged to establish separate control and data transfer channels via TCP ports and sockets at said server and controller, such that data is transferred between said server and controller over said data transfer channel, and the transfer of such data is controlled by control signals passing between said server and controller over said control channel; and

said server is arranged to divert a file transfer session with said controller, from said server to another remote device, while retaining control of the session.

2. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said controller communicates with said server via a modem at said remote embedded application.

3. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said controller communicates with said server via a global computer network.

4. A communications system according to claim 3, wherein said global computer network comprises the Internet.

5. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein each said file transfer session is a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) session.

6. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said controller is arranged also to initiate a connection between said controller and said server and, once that connection is made, said controller exchanges data with said remote embedded application under the control of said server.

7. A communications system according to claim 6, wherein said connection initiated between said module and said server is by way of a simple terminal emulation session.

8. A communications system according to claim 6, wherein said connection initiated between said module and said server is by way of Telnet protocol.

9. A communications system according to claim 6, wherein said server is arranged to look up ID data in response to a connection initiated by said controller and use that ID data to establish a file transfer session with said remote embedded application.

10. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said server is arranged to transmit to said remote embedded application during each said file transfer session a new public encryption key such that, for each subsequent file transfer session, said server communicates with said controller using the new public encryption key that was transmitted to said remote embedded application during a previous file transfer session.

11. A communications system according to claim 10, wherein for each said subsequent file transfer session, said server logs on to said controller using the new public encryption key that was transmitted to said remote embedded application during the immediately previous file transfer session.

12. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said server is arranged to transmit to said remote embedded application, prior to at least an initial file transfer session, real time clock data in order to synchronise a clock local to said controller with a clock local to said server or another reference clock which is used by said server, thereby to synchronise date and time data as between said server and said remote embedded application.

13. A communications system according to claim 12, wherein said controller is arranged to transmit said real time clock data to said remote embedded application during only an initial set up procedure of said controller.

14. A communications system according to claim 12, wherein said server is arranged to transmit said real time clock data to said controller prior to each said file transfer session after x prior file transfer sessions, where x is 1 or greater than 1.

15. A communications system according to claim 12, wherein said server is arranged to compare the local time at said controller with the local time at said server and to make a decision, based on the result of that comparison, whether to transmit real time clock data to said remote embedded application, thereby to synchronise date and time data as between said server and said remote embedded application.

16. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed, upon installation of the controller, to establish communication with and register with a central registration database, in order to transfer data files from said database to said remote embedded application in order to set up and configure said controller for subsequent file transfer sessions with said computer network server.

17. A communications system according to claim 16, wherein said database is provided by said computer network server.

18. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said server is arranged to call said controller using Calling Line Identification (CLI);

and wherein said controller is arranged;

to detect said call and said CLI from said server;

to not answer said call from said server; and

to initiate a call to said server a predetermined time after said call and said CLI have been received from said server.

19. A communications system according to claim 18, wherein said server is arranged to call said controller under control of one of said remote computers.

20. A communications system according to claim 18, wherein said server is arranged to connect said controller with one of said remote computers.

21. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein communication between said computer network server, said plurality of remote computers and said remote embedded application is carried out in an environment selected from the group comprising hard wired connections, wireless connections, Ethernet, Extranet, Intranet, WAN, private networks, public networks, packet switched networks and circuit switched networks.

22. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein said other remote device is one of said remote computers.

23. A method of communication between a computer network server, which is arranged to communicate simultaneously with a plurality of remote computers, and a remote embedded application that is adapted to operate without direct human control, the remote embedded application having a controller which is arranged to communicate with said computer network server such that file transfer sessions are carried out between said computer network server and said remote embedded application, wherein said server and controller establish separate control and data transfer channels via TCP pods and sockets at said server and controller, such that data is transferred between said server and controller over said data transfer channel, and the transfer of such data is controlled by control signals passing between said server and controller over said control channel;

and said server is arranged to divert a file transfer session with said controller, from said server to another remote device, while retain in control of the session.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said computer network server and said remote embedded application are comprised in a system comprising a computer network server which is arranged to communicate simultaneously with a plurality of remote computers;

and a remote embedded application having a controller which is arranged to communicate with said computer network server such that file transfer sessions are carried out between said computer network server and said controller;

wherein said server and controller are arranged to establish separate control and data transfer channels via TCP ports and sockets at said server and controller, such that data is transferred between said server and controller over said data transfer channel, and the transfer of such data is controlled by control signals passing between said server and controller over said control channel.