Method and apparatus for defining a user specific configuration environment
First Claim
1. A network device, comprising a collection of hardware components or a combination of hardware, software and firmware components which embody a detector module, an adjuster module and a controller, wherein:
- the detector module is operative to obtain first network configuration parameters from initial client data packets sent to the network device by a client, the first network configuration parameters identifying first servers having corresponding network communications functions in a first network in which the client has operated;
the adjuster module is operative to create mapping and translation values associating the first network configuration parameters with second servers having the corresponding network communications functions in a second network in which the network device operates; and
the controller is operative to utilize the mapping and translation values to translate between subsequent client data packets and corresponding translated data packets exchanged between the controller and the second servers such that the client is enabled to operate in the second network using the first configuration parameters;
wherein;
the client is one user of a set of users;
the mapping and translation values are part of a configuration environment corresponding to each of the users, the configuration environment indicative of a configuration parameter set corresponding to each of the users; and
the controller is further operable to;
(i) receive communications signals from a particular user of the set of users, the communications signals having transactional characteristics indicative of a request for a particular type of network transaction;
(ii) determine, from the transactional characteristics, a configuration environment having configuration parameter sets, each configuration parameter set corresponding to a particular type of network transaction; and
(iii) apply the determined configuration environment to subsequent network transaction requests from the user by employing the configuration parameter set corresponding to the requested transaction type, the configuration environment adapted to be applied by the controller independently of the configuration environment corresponding to other users of the set of users.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for identifying an expected configuration environment defined by configuration parameters typically employed by a user, and seamlessly applying the configuration environment to subsequent network transaction requests of the user, regardless of the network access point from which the transaction request emanates, provides remote network access according to the expectations of the user. Each user has an independent configuration environment stored in a memory accessible by a data communications device. The data communications device identifies a connection as emanating from a particular user, and applies the corresponding configuration environment from the memory to network transaction requests from the user. In this manner, the user perceives the same treatment by the network when connecting in the home office as well as via a remote connection such as from a hotel, airport, or cybercafe. Accordingly, attempts to access the network from a remote network access point will not impede the user because the expectations of the user about the network will be unchanged from the home office network access point.
25 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A network device, comprising a collection of hardware components or a combination of hardware, software and firmware components which embody a detector module, an adjuster module and a controller, wherein:
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the detector module is operative to obtain first network configuration parameters from initial client data packets sent to the network device by a client, the first network configuration parameters identifying first servers having corresponding network communications functions in a first network in which the client has operated; the adjuster module is operative to create mapping and translation values associating the first network configuration parameters with second servers having the corresponding network communications functions in a second network in which the network device operates; and the controller is operative to utilize the mapping and translation values to translate between subsequent client data packets and corresponding translated data packets exchanged between the controller and the second servers such that the client is enabled to operate in the second network using the first configuration parameters; wherein; the client is one user of a set of users; the mapping and translation values are part of a configuration environment corresponding to each of the users, the configuration environment indicative of a configuration parameter set corresponding to each of the users; and the controller is further operable to; (i) receive communications signals from a particular user of the set of users, the communications signals having transactional characteristics indicative of a request for a particular type of network transaction; (ii) determine, from the transactional characteristics, a configuration environment having configuration parameter sets, each configuration parameter set corresponding to a particular type of network transaction; and (iii) apply the determined configuration environment to subsequent network transaction requests from the user by employing the configuration parameter set corresponding to the requested transaction type, the configuration environment adapted to be applied by the controller independently of the configuration environment corresponding to other users of the set of users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a network device which includes a collection of hardware components or a combination of hardware, software and firmware components, the network device having a client port for connection to a communications link to a client and having a network port for connection to a second network in which the network device operates, comprising:
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obtaining first network configuration parameters from initial client data packets sent to the network device by a client via the client port, the first network configuration parameters identifying first servers having corresponding network communications functions in a first network in which the client has operated, the first network parameters not identifying second servers having the corresponding network communications functions in the second network; creating mapping and translation values associating the first network configuration parameters with second servers having the corresponding network communications functions in the second network; and utilizing the mapping and translation values to translate between subsequent client data packets and corresponding translated data packets exchanged between the network device and the second servers such that the client is enabled to operate in the second network using the first configuration parameters; wherein the client is one user of a set of users, and the mapping and translation values are part of a configuration environment corresponding to each of the users, the configuration environment being indicative of a configuration parameter set corresponding to each of the users; and further comprising; (i) receiving communications signals from a particular user of the set of users, the communications signals having transactional characteristics indicative of a request for a particular type of network transaction; (ii) determining, from the transactional characteristics, a configuration environment having configuration parameter sets, each configuration parameter set corresponding to a particular type of network transaction; and (iii) applying the determined configuration environment to subsequent network transaction requests from the user by employing the configuration parameter set corresponding to the requested transaction type, the configuration environment adapted to be applied by the controller independently of the configuration environment corresponding to other users of the set of users. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification