SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY ACCESSING A CLIENT IN A CLIENT SERVER ENVIRONMENT.

• US 20020107907A1
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: DILE, JAMES MICHAEL, VIKSNE, JOHN, WALKER, BRETT, EDWARDS, ROBERT CLAIR Jr., DERK, DAVID, TANENHAUS, PETE, KWAN, DAVID T., TUNG, RANDY, WEN, HUI-LAN, RAMKE, THOMAS FRANKLIN Jr., HOCHBERG, AVISHAI HAIM, CASE, DOUGLAS ROBERT
• Granted Patent: US 7,506,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for remotely accessing a client in a client-server system. From a browser, an end user enters a URL containing a machine name and a port number. A listening program at the client listening on that port number establishes communication with the browser and invokes a client agent. The client agent includes conventional client functions as well as APIs that allow the client to interface with both the server and the browser. The client agent then serves an applet to the browser that makes the browser appear to the end user as the client machine. The user can then execute client functions from the browser. Examples of the client functions include backing up and restoring files from the client to/from the server, migrating or recalling files, archiving or retrieving files.

Claims

1. A system for remotely accessing a client in a client-server system comprising :

a browser for requesting remote access;

a client machine further comprised of a listening program responsive to requests for remote access and a client agent for communicating with the browser and a server machine.

2. The system for remotely accessing a client in a client server system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the browser requests access to a client machine by sending a universal resource locator containing a machine name and a port number over a network.

3. The system for remotely accessing a client in a client server system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the listing program in the client machine is listening on the port number, and establishes communications with the browser over a second port number in response to the request for access.

4. The system for remotely accessing a client in a client server system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the listening program spawns the client agent to communicate with the browser and the server.

5. The system for remotely accessing a client in a client server system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the client agent sends the browser an applet further comprising graphical user interface to execute on the browser.

6. The system for remotely accessing a client in a client server system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the applet executes in the national language and locale of the browser.

7. The system for remotely accessing a client in a client server system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the browser is located on the server machine.

8. The system for remotely accessing a client in a client server system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the graphical user interface is a command line interface.

9. A method for remotely accessing a client machine from a browser over a network comprising the steps of:

providing a universal resource locator containing a machine name and a port number at a command line at the browser;

listening at the port number for access requests at the client machine;

responsive to a request for access from the browser, invoking a client agent within an application programming interface; and

communicating between the client agent and the browser over the network.

10. The method for remotely accessing a client machine from a browser over a network as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of:

communicating between the client agent and a server over the network.

11. The method for remotely accessing a client machine from a browser over a network as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of

sending from the client agent to the browser a graphical user interface that looks like a GUI on the client machine when running at the browser.

12. The method for remotely accessing a client machine from a browser over a network as claimed in claim 11, wherein the graphical user interface is implemented in a JAVA applet.

13. The method for remotely accessing a client machine from a browser over a network as claimed in claim 10, wherein the communications are comprised of performing client functions from the browser.

14. The method for remotely accessing a client machine from a browser over a network as claimed in claim 13, wherein the communications are further comprised of retrieving files from the server to the client machine.

15. The method for remotely accessing a client machine from a browser over a network as claimed in claim 13, wherein the communications are further comprised of backing up files on client machine to the server.

17. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 16, wherein the client and the server are on the same machine.

18. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 16, wherein the browser and the server are on the same machine.

19. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 16, wherein the communications by the client agent with the server include instructions for backing up at least one client file.

20. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 16, wherein the communications by the client agent with the server include instructions for restoring at least one client file to the client from the server.

21. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 16, wherein the program instructions further include instructing for:

sending the browser a graphical user interface that runs at the browser.

22. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 21, wherein the graphical user interface is a JAVA applet.

16. A computer-readable medium having a program for servicing a request using a client, the client being capable of communicating with a browser, the client providing a plurality of functions, the program containing instructions for:

providing a client agent containing a client platform and an application programming interface; and

providing a listening program for listening for a communication from the browser and invoking the client agent;

wherein the client agent communicates with both the browser and a server.