Method and apparatus for controlling a computer over a TCP/IP protocol network

• US 20070294334A1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AI-CORE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hickman, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,059,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications

Abstract

The present invention permits virtually the entire functionality of a computer system to be made accessible over a network such as the Internet or an Intranet. More particularly, the present invention permits a computer system to be run as a “virtual machine” through a web page provided at a web site on the World Wide Web (WWW). The apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of computers arranged in a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet or an Intranet. At least one of the computers has at least one unique address designating a web site. A host computer system (which may or may not be one of the computers on the Internet) can be “posted” onto an “advertising” web page at the web site to permit other computers coupled to the Internet to interact directly with the host computer system. The computer “posted” on the web page is referred to as the “host” or “advertiser” computer, and computers accessing the host computer are referred to as “client” or “user” computers. Having the host computer posted on a web page creates a “virtual computer” that can be view and/or controlled by the client computers. Once the connection has been made between the host computer and one or more client computers, the web page is bypassed, i.e. the two or more computer systems communicate through the Internet without necessarily going through the web site supporting the “advertising” web page.

Claims

1. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer comprising:

a client computer coupled to the Internet, said client computer having a monitor, a keyboard, and a pointing device;

a host computer coupled to the Internet running a host program that is responsive to events created by said keyboard and said pointing device of said client computer as transmitted to said host computer over the Internet in an encrypted form, said host program transmitting encrypted image information destined for said client computer over the Internet; and

a web server coupled to the Internet to facilitate at least an initial access of said host computer by said client computer.

2. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer as recited in claim 1 wherein said client computer is running a client program which facilitates with the transmission of said events created by said keyboard and said pointing device over the Internet.

3. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer as recited in claim 1 wherein said host computer is initially accessed by said client computer through a web page hosted by said web server.

4. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer as recited in claim 1 wherein said host computer is initially accessed by said client computer through an Internet-based communication.

5. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer as recited in claim 1 wherein said client computer is one of a plurality of client computers.

6. An apparatus for remotely controlling a computer as recited in claim 5 wherein said plurality of client computers can collaborate as facilitated by said host computer.

7-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method permitting the remote control of a host computer comprising:

providing a web server coupled to the Internet;

communicating with a client computer to initiate a remote control of a host computer over the Internet;

providing remote control assess of said host computer by said client computer such that said host computer receives encrypted event data from said client computer, decrypts said event data, and places it in an event queue of said host computer and such that said host computer sends encrypted video data to said client computer.

14. A method permitting the remote control of a host computer as recited in claim 13 wherein said client computer runs a client program to facilitate at least one of the remote control of said host computer and the viewing of video data which originated at said host computer.

15. A method permitting the remote control of a host computer as recited in claim 13 wherein said web server includes a web page which facilitates an introduction of said client computer to said host computer.

16. A method permitting the remote control of a host computer as recited in claim 13 wherein said said host computer is initially accessed by said client computer through an Internet-based communication.

17. A method permitting the remote control of a host computer as recited in claim 13 wherein said client computer is one of a plurality of client computers.

21. A method permitting the remote control of a host computer as recited in claim 17 wherein said plurality of client computers can collaborate as facilitated by said host computer.

18-20. -20. (canceled)

22. A method for remote viewing of images developed at a host computer comprising:

providing a web server coupled to the Internet which can communicate with a host computer coupled to the Internet and a client computer coupled to the Internet; and

initiating a session by said web server wherein image information from said host computer is provided to said client computer for viewing on a monitor of said client computer, such that image information provided by said host computer is encrypted before being transmitted over the Internet.

23. A method for remote viewing of imgages developed at a host computer as recited in claim 22 wherein said client computer is one of a plurality of client computers capable of concurrently displaying said image information from said host computer.