Method and apparatus for keeping a virtual private network session active on a portable computer system including wireless functionality

• US 8,006,110 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Ober, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Pérez-Gutiérrez; Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kasraian; Allahyar
• Application Number:
  US11/478,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20080004011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/328, 370/395.53, 455/127.1, 455/522, 713/310, 713/320, 713/323, 713/324
• US Class Current: 713/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks

Abstract

An apparatus for keeping a VPN session alive on a portable computer system such as a laptop computer includes a processor that executes instructions that implement application software. The laptop computer system also includes a wireless module that may communicate with a wireless network such as a wireless wide area network including wireless telephone networks, for example. In addition, the wireless module may establish a virtual private network (VPN) connection with a computer network via the wireless network. The wireless module includes a processing unit that may execute instructions that cause information to be transmitted to a host portion of the virtual private network connection at one or more predetermined times.

Claims

1. A laptop computer system comprising:

a first processor configured to execute instructions that implement application software; and

a wireless module coupled to the first processor via an input/output unit and configured to communicate with a wireless network;

wherein the wireless module includes a processing unit including a digital signal processing unit and a second processor that is separate from the digital signal processing unit and the first processor;

wherein the processing unit is configured to autonomously establish and maintain a virtual private network (VPN) connection with a computer network via the wireless network without intervention by the first processor; and

wherein the processing unit is configured to execute instructions that cause information to be transmitted to a host portion of the virtual private network connection at one or more predetermined times; and

wherein the processing unit is further configured to cause the first processor to exit a low-power state in response to receiving packets including particular commands via the VPN connection from an authenticated user.

2. The laptop computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to execute instructions associated with a client portion of the VPN connection.

3. The laptop computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to detect inactivity between the first processor and the computer network.

4. The laptop computer system as recited in claim 3, wherein the processing unit is further configured to execute the instructions that cause information to be transmitted to a host portion of the VPN connection in response to detecting the inactivity.

5. The laptop computer system as recited in claim 3, wherein the processing unit is further configured to detect when the first processor is in the low-power state.

6. The laptop computer system as recited in claim 3, wherein the processing unit is further configured to execute the instructions that cause information to be transmitted to a host portion of the VPN connection in response to detecting the first processor being in the low-power state.

7. The laptop computer system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to execute instructions that implement an email client, and wherein the email client is configured to in a first mode, display notification of a pending received email on a low-resolution display during time periods in which the processor is in a low-power state, and the email client is configured to in a second mode, download and store the pending received email during time periods in which the first processor is in the low-power state.

8. A method of establishing a virtual private network from a laptop computer system, the method comprising:

a first processor executing instructions that implement application software;

a wireless module communicating with a wireless network;

a second processor within a processing unit of the wireless module autonomously establishing and maintaining a virtual private network (VPN) connection with a computer network via the wireless network without intervention by the first processor; and

the second processor executing instructions that cause information to be transmitted to a host portion of the virtual private network connection at one or more predetermined times; and

the processing unit causing the first processor to exit a low-power state in response to receiving packets including particular commands via the VPN connection from an authenticated user.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the second processor executing instructions associated with a client portion of the VPN connection.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the processing unit detecting inactivity between the processor and the computer network.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the second processor executing the instructions that cause information to be transmitted to a host portion of the VPN connection in response to detecting the inactivity.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the processing unit detecting when the first processor is in a low-power state.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the second processor executing the instructions that cause information to be transmitted to a host portion of the VPN connection in response to detecting the first processor being in the low-power state.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the wireless module performing functions associated with digital signal processing of audio signals.

15. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the wireless module establishing the VPN connection by establishing a wireless connection with an Internet services provider (ISP).

16. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the processing unit executing instructions that implement an email client, in a first mode, the email client displaying notification of a pending received email on a low-resolution display during time periods in which the processor is in a low-power state, and in a second mode, the email client downloading and storing the pending received email during time periods in which the first processor is in a low-power state.