Method and apparatus for a client connection manager
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for establishing a virtual connection from a server through a firewall to a client, the apparatus comprising:
- the client having a first communications port, and a second communications port, the second communications port coupled to the firewall;
a client agent having a first communications port, and a second communications port, the first communications port coupled to communicate with the client first communications port;
a connection manager having a plurality of communications ports, a first one of the plurality of connection manager communications ports coupled to communicate with the client agent'"'"'s second communications port, and a second one of the plurality of connection manager communications ports directly coupled to the firewall to communicate directly from the firewall with the client second communications port;
the server having a communications port, the server communications port coupled to communicate with a third one of the plurality of connection manager communications ports; and
wherein the connection manager further comprises a connection table, the connection table having a plurality of entries for each of the connection manager plurality of communications ports, and wherein at least one of the entries is a timestamp representing an earliest time at which an associated connection can be transitioned to a next lower state of activity, the lower state of activity being in sequential order standby, idle, and error.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for a connection manager have been disclosed. By providing for persistent connections with clients, the connection manager allows for servers to communicate with clients, which would otherwise be inaccessible.
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5 Claims
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1. An apparatus for establishing a virtual connection from a server through a firewall to a client, the apparatus comprising:
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the client having a first communications port, and a second communications port, the second communications port coupled to the firewall; a client agent having a first communications port, and a second communications port, the first communications port coupled to communicate with the client first communications port; a connection manager having a plurality of communications ports, a first one of the plurality of connection manager communications ports coupled to communicate with the client agent'"'"'s second communications port, and a second one of the plurality of connection manager communications ports directly coupled to the firewall to communicate directly from the firewall with the client second communications port; the server having a communications port, the server communications port coupled to communicate with a third one of the plurality of connection manager communications ports; and wherein the connection manager further comprises a connection table, the connection table having a plurality of entries for each of the connection manager plurality of communications ports, and wherein at least one of the entries is a timestamp representing an earliest time at which an associated connection can be transitioned to a next lower state of activity, the lower state of activity being in sequential order standby, idle, and error. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification