Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Multiple computer communication using cryptography – Protection at a particular protocol layer
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-29
2001-09-11
Heckler, Thomas M. (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Multiple computer communication using cryptography
Protection at a particular protocol layer
C709S227000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289463
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to communications between two computer systems using different operating systems, and more particularly, to establishing communications between a computer system using a Unix operating system and another computer system using a Windows NT operating system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Interoperability between different computer operating systems is important. For example, interoperability includes the ability to establish communications between two computer systems using two different operating systems. More particularly, certain operating systems have communication protocols which are difficult for other operating systems to accommodate when attempting to establish communications between the two operating systems. For example, Unix makes it difficult to have interoperability between a computer system using a Unix operating platform and a computer system using a Windows NT operating system. It is difficult to establish communications between the Unix system and the Windows NT system. The problem is most acute when the Unix system calls another computer having a different operating system such as the Windows NT operating system. Difficulties are also encountered when the Unix system is called by a Windows NT system. Some products provide interoperability between Unix and Windows NT. The disadvantage of such products is that the Unix calling system must be set up with communication scripts to communicate with the Windows NT operating system.
One such product available to provide communication between a computer using the Unix operating system and a computer using the Windows NT operating system is called Intel port arbiter. The Intel port arbiter requires the Unix login script to be modified so that the Windows NT system can recognize that a Unix system is calling so that the Windows NT system can invoke a Unix emulator. The difficulty with such a product is that the Unix operating system must be administered, in other words, the Unix system must be programmed beforehand what type of other operating system is being called.
Other products are available to provide interoperability between Windows NT and UNIX. Among the various products that are available from other companies are FTP servers and clients, TELNET servers and clients, and X Windows servers and clients, as well as NFS server and client software. The difficulty with such products is that the Unix system cannot communicate directly with a Windows NT operating system except through a third party server.
Due to the difficulty of Unix programming and the requirement for administration, a need exists in the art for an apparatus and method for enabling a Unix system to call a Windows NT system without the need for administration, meaning that the Unix system need not know beforehand what type of operating system the Unix system is calling. A further need exists in the art for an apparatus and method for enabling a Windows NT system to call a Unix system without the need for administration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus which enables a Unix system to place a call to another operating system, such as Windows NT operating system, without the need for administration or for knowing beforehand what type of other operating system is being called.
Another object of the present invention is to modify the operating system being called by Unix system so that the Unix system need not be modified.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus which enables another operating system, such as a Windows NT operating system, to call the Unix system without the need for administration of the Unix system.
Another object of the present invention is to establish communications between a Unix operating system and another operating system, such as a Windows NT operating system, without the need for additional servers or products interfacing between the Unix system and the Windows NT system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for establishing communications between a Unix system and a Windows NT system over a telephone line.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method enabling a Windows NT operating system to emulate a UNIX operating system during a login.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by installing a piece of computer software on a Windows NT system to enable the Windows NT system to bypass messages sent by the Unix system while communications are being established over a phone line between the two operating systems. The Unix operating system has a communications protocol which sends out messages during and requires a password and login to establish communications. The present invention provides a port grabbing routine, a skipping routine, a calling program and a Unix emulator to enable the Windows NT system to establish communications with the Unix system without having to alter the Unix system in any way.
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a method of establishing communication between a first computer and a second computer. A user login and password are obtained. Communications are initiated between the first computer and the second computer by sending the user login from the first computer to the second computer. The password is sent from the second computer to the first computer. A message sent by the second computer to the first computer is bypassed by the first computer. A connection is established between an operating system on the first computer and an operating system on the second computer.
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are achieved by an article which includes at least one sequence of machine executable instructions. A medium bears the executable instructions in machine readable form wherein execution of the instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to obtain a user login and password. Communications are initiated between the first computer and the second computer by sending the user login from the first computer to the second computer. The password is sent from the second computer to the first computer. A message sent by the second computer to the first computer is bypassed by the first computer. A connection is established between an operating system on the first computer and an operating system on the second computer.
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a computer architecture for establishing communication between a first computer and a second computer. Obtaining means are provided for obtaining a user login and password. Initiating means are provided for initiating communications between the first computer and the second computer by sending the user login from the first computer to the second computer. Sending means are provided for sending the password from the second computer to the first computer. Bypassing means are provided for bypassing a message sent by the second computer to the first computer. Establishing means are provided for establishing a connection between an operating system on the first computer and an operating system on the second computer.
The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a computer system for establishing communication between a first computer and a second computer includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory has stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to obtain a user login and password. The processor initiates communication between the first computer and the second computer by sending the user login from the first computer to the second computer. The processor sends the password from the second computer to the first computer. The processor bypasses a message sent by the second computer to the first computer and establishes a connection between an operating system on the first computer and an operation
Heckler Thomas M.
Lowe Hauptman & Gilman & Berner LLP
NCR Corporation
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