Secure communication network
First Claim
1. A secure communication network, comprising:
- a plurality of local client networks each of which comprises a client device in communication with a plurality of agent devices, wherein the client device comprises an embedded IP (Internet Protocol) device;
a server that communicates over a secure communication link with the client device of each of the local client networks, wherein the server stores an agent list for the client device of each of the local client networks, wherein each agent list comprises a list of available agent devices associated with the client device; and
a plurality of remote devices in communication with the server;
wherein the server receives from each of the remote devices a request to connect with one of the agent devices of one of the local client networks by (a) receiving an identity of a client device from the remote device, (b) displaying the agent list associated with the identified client device, and (c) receiving from the remote device a selection of one of the agent devices from the agent list, and, for each request, the server proxies all communications between the remote device and the selected agent device via the secure communication link between the server and the client device associated with the selected agent device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a secure communication network that enables multi-point to multi-point proxy communication over the network. The network employs a smart server that establishes a secure communication link with each of a plurality of smart client devices installed on local client networks. Each smart client device is in communication with a plurality of agent devices. A plurality of remote devices can access the smart server directly and communicate with agent devices via the secure communication link between the smart server and one of the smart client devices. This communication is enabled without complex configuration of firewall or network parameters by the user.
6 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A secure communication network, comprising:
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a plurality of local client networks each of which comprises a client device in communication with a plurality of agent devices, wherein the client device comprises an embedded IP (Internet Protocol) device; a server that communicates over a secure communication link with the client device of each of the local client networks, wherein the server stores an agent list for the client device of each of the local client networks, wherein each agent list comprises a list of available agent devices associated with the client device; and a plurality of remote devices in communication with the server; wherein the server receives from each of the remote devices a request to connect with one of the agent devices of one of the local client networks by (a) receiving an identity of a client device from the remote device, (b) displaying the agent list associated with the identified client device, and (c) receiving from the remote device a selection of one of the agent devices from the agent list, and, for each request, the server proxies all communications between the remote device and the selected agent device via the secure communication link between the server and the client device associated with the selected agent device.
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2. A method of enabling secure communication between a plurality of remote devices and a plurality of agent devices located within a plurality of local client networks, comprising:
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causing a client device to be deployed within each local client network, wherein the client device comprises an embedded IP (Internet Protocol) device, wherein the client device is in communication with a plurality of agent devices within the local client network; using a server to; (1) establish a secure communication link with the client device of each local client network; (2) store an agent list for each client device, wherein each agent list comprises a list of available agent devices associated with the client device; (3) receive from each of the remote devices a request to connect with one of the agent devices of one of the local client networks by; (a) receiving an identity of a client device from the remote device; (b) displaying the agent list associated with the identified client device; (c) receiving from the remote device a selection of one of the agent devices from the agent list; and (4) for each request received in step (3), proxy all communications between the remote device and the selected agent device via the secure communication link between the server and the client device associated with the selected agent device.
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3. A system that enables secure communication between a plurality of remote devices and a plurality of agent devices located within a plurality of local client networks, comprising:
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a plurality of client devices each of which is deployed within one of the local client networks for communication with a plurality of agent devices within that local client network, wherein each of the client devices comprises an embedded IP (Internet Protocol) device; a server operable to; (1) establish a secure communication link with each client device of each of the local client networks; (2) store an agent list for each of the client devices, wherein each agent list comprises a list of available agent devices associated with the client device; (3) receive from each of the remote devices a request to connect with one of the agent devices of one of the client networks by; (a) receiving an identity of one of the client devices from the remote device; (b) displaying the agent list associated with the identified client device; (c) receiving from the remote device a selection of one of the agent devices from the agent list, and (4) for each request received in step (3), proxy all communications between the remote device and the selected agent device via the secure communication link between the server and the client device associated with the selected agent device. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification