Remote access communication architecture apparatus and method

• US 7,895,334 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2000
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synchronoss Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: FusionOne Incorporated (Synchronoss Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pang, Eric, Tu, Edgar Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Coulter; Kenneth R
• Application Number:
  US09/618,956
• Time in Patent Office: 3,870 Days
• Field of Search: 709/100, 709/227, 709/229, 709/237, 709/230, 718/100
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system and method for communicating data from a base computer to a remote device via a central server system without the necessity of specialty software on the remote device. Remote devices such as laptop computers and cellular telephones communicate with the central server system, while the central server system likewise communicates with base computers. Communications between the central server system and the base computers are facilitated by an intermittent query from base computers to the central server system in a manner which allows communication even in a firewall-constrained environment. The system and method provides a means for facilitating both persistent connections and dialup communications between the base computers and the central server system.

Claims

1. A remote access system, comprising in combination:

a server system in operative communication with at least one remote device and at least one base computer responsive to establishment of a remote access session between the at least one remote device and the server system, and responsive to intermittent communication between the at least one base computer and the server system, wherein the at least one remote device includes open application standard remote access software to establish a remote access session with the server system, and wherein the at least one remote device includes non-proprietary remote access server software and non-proprietary remote control system software;

a task transmitter within said server system for transmitting tasks submitted by said at least one remote device to said at least one base computer; and

a task data receiver within said server system for receiving task data from said at least one base computers and returned to the remote device.

2. The remote access system of claim 1 further comprising security services enabled between said server system and said at least one remote device, and between said server system and at least one base computers.

3. The remote access system of claim 2 wherein said security services between said server system and at least one remote device include means for authenticating the user of the remote device.

4. The remote access system of claim 3 wherein said security services between said server system and at least one base computer includes encryption.

5. A method for remotely accessing a base computer from internet-enabled remote devices, the method comprising in combination:

establishing a remote access session with one of the remote devices at an internet central server system, wherein the remote devices include open application standard remote access software to establish the remote access session, and include non-proprietary remote access server software and non-proprietary remote control system software;

presenting a task list to the remote device from said internet central server system;

receiving a task selection at said internet central server system from the remote device;

establishing a persistent connection between said internet central server system and a base computer in response to intermittent contact from said base computer to said internet central server system, and in response to establishing a remote access session between the one of the remote devices and the internet central server system;

transmitting said task from said internet central server system to the base computer via said connection between said internet central server system and said base computer;

receiving at said internet central server system task data from the base computer responsive to said transmitted task; and

presenting from said internet central server system a task response compiled from said task data to the remote device.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising terminating said remote access session by said internet central server system.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising communicating said task response via a protocol compatible with the remote device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said protocol is TCP/IP for remote devices configured as computers.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said protocol is WAP for remote devices configured as wireless communication devices.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising authenticating the user of the remote device while establishing the remote access session.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a secure communication means while establishing the remote access session and continuing said secure communication between said internet central server system and the remote device until said session is terminated.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising encrypting the communications between said internet central server system and the base computer.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising establishing a communication link between the base computer and the internet central server system when the base computer is not already connected to the internet.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising dialing up a base computer modem by the internet central server system to wake up the base computer to establish said communication link.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising disconnecting from the dial up connection by the base computer and then reestablishing the communication link via the internet between said internet central server system and said base computer.

16. A method for remotely accessing a base computer from internet-enabled remote devices, the method comprising in combination:

establishing a remote access session with one of the remote devices at an internet central server system, wherein the remote devices include open application standard remote access software to establish the remote access session, and include non-proprietary remote access server software and non-proprietary remote control system software;

presenting a task list to the remote device from said internet central server system;

receiving a task selection at said internet central server system from the remote device;

establishing a persistent connection between said internet central server system and a base computer in response to intermittent contact from said base computer to said internet central server system;

transmitting said task from said internet central server system to the base computer via said connection between said internet central server system and said base computer;

receiving at said internet central server system task data from the base computer responsive to said transmitted task;

presenting from said internet central server system a task response compiled from said task data to the remote device;

authenticating the user of the remote device while establishing the remote access session;

providing a secure communication means while establishing the remote access session and continuing said secure communication between said internet central server system and the remote device until said session is terminated;

encrypting the communications between said internet central server system and the base computer;

establishing a communication link between the base computer and the internet central server system when the base computer is not already connected to the internet; and

dialing up a base computer modem by the internet central server system to wake up the base computer to establish said communication link.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising disconnecting from the dial up connection by the base computer and then reestablishing the communication link via the internet between said internet central server system and said base computer.