Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Multiple computer communication using cryptography
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-19
2001-10-16
Peeso, Thomas R. (Department: 2132)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Multiple computer communication using cryptography
C713S168000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304967
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to generally to computer networks. More specifically, to a system and architecture for distributing, monitoring, and managing information requests across a distributed computing environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Distributed computing environments, or computer networks, are designed to give computer system users the ability to send and receive information to other computer system users, and to obtain access to data sources and program applications on the computer network.
The utilization of computer networks has increased exponentially over the past decade such that current computer system architectures and technologies are unable to handle the increase. Not surprisingly, as the utilization of computer networks increases, the need for more reliable and more efficient computer network management also increases.
A computer network consists of two or more computer systems that are connected together so that they can transfer information between the computer systems. The computer systems on a computer network may be inter-connected to communicate with each other using a local or wide area network utilizing a variety of network communication techniques. The details and operation of such networks and communication technologies are well known to those skilled in the art.
There are two main types of computer networks, namely “intranets” and “intemets.” An intranet is a private computer network, such as for a company or organization, that allows information to be transferred between the computer systems connected to the private network. The data sources and program applications of the intranet are generally not available to computer systems outside of the private network. In contrast, an “internet” is a computer network in which information is transferred between computer systems connected to different computer networks. A capitalized use of the term intemet, or “Internet,” refers to the world-wide collection of inter-connected computer networks that use the TCP/IP communication protocols to transfer information. The term TCP/IP means “Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol,” and refers to a defined set of protocols for communication between computer systems and computer networks.
Client-Server Systems
Most computer networks are designed around the “client-server” methodology.
FIG. 1
illustrates a basic client-server computer network configuration. In
FIG. 1
, a “client”computer system
10
is connected to a conmunication network
12
and may communicate with a “servers” computer system
14
on network
12
. Server computer system
14
acts as a central computer system allowing access to local data sources
16
-
22
, such as databases or applications, residing on server computer system
14
or across network
12
. The term “local data source” refers generally to any data source or program application residing on server computer system
14
or any remote data source or program application across network
12
that is accessible to server computer system
14
using any available interface.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, server computer system
14
may handle information requests from a multiple of client computer systems
10
,
24
,
26
,
28
connected to network
12
. Server computer system
14
is generally referred to a “server” because it services the information requests of the “client” computer systems. In addition, program applications executing on server computer system
14
may also act as “clients” to other network server computer systems (not shown) implementing database applications or other legacy systems creating a multi-tier client-server network configuration. The term “information request” refers generally to any information request or program application request that may be processed by a server computer system. In addition, the term “resource” refers generally to both hardware and software components of a computer system or computer network that are used to perform the functions of the computer system or network. Such resources include, but are not limited to data files, databases, program applications, memory space, CPU time, communication ports, or legacy systems or other computer systems accessible across a network.
Hardware Configuration
The hardware present in each of the computer systems shown in
FIG. 1
may be of any conventional type such as is typically found on computers in a client-server network environment. As shown in
FIG. 2
, it is anticipated, however, that server computer system
14
will be equipped with some sort of central processing unit (CPU)
30
, some sort of conventional input/output equipment
32
, such as a keyboard and a video display monitor, some sort of conventional data storage device
34
, such as a disk or tape drive or CD ROM drive, some sort of random access memory (RAM)
36
, and some sort of conventional network communication hardware
38
, such as an ETHERNET interface unit for physically coupling the computer system to network
12
. Network
12
may be implemented using any conventional network protocol such as TCP/IP, SNA, SMB, HTTP, FTP, IIOP, or DCOM.
In server computer system
14
, a server software program
40
is stored on storage device
34
and installed on the server computer system
14
. The server software program
40
is responsible for handling connections and information requests from the client computer system
10
. The server software
40
may provide access to a variety of local data sources
16
,
18
,
20
,
22
present on server computer system
14
. For example, the server software
40
may allow access to information databases, such as DB
2
, IMS, Oracle, and Sybase. Additionally, server software
40
may allow access to other network server computer systems running client-server or legacy systems.
A computer network may contain more one or more server computer systems to allow access to a variety of data sources and program applications on the network. Additionally, the term “server” may refer to a particular software program running on a computer system, in that a single server computer system could have several different server software programs installed and running on it at the same time, thus giving clients on the network access to different server programs and information resources.
The Internet
As stated above, the Internet is a world-wide collection of inter-connected computer networks that all support the TCP/IP communication protocol. The term “World Wide Web” (WWW) generally refers to the collection of computer resources on the Internet that can be accessed using a variety of information protocols, such as HTTP, FTP, Gopher, telnet, USENET, WAIS, and others. HyperText Transport Protocol, or “HTTP,” is the most widely used protocol on the Internet or WWW today. As a result, the term “the Web” is often used to refer to server computer systems on the Internet that support the HTTP information protocol.
FIG. 3
is a basic network diagram illustrating the Internet or WWW In
FIG. 3
, one or more client computer systems
42
,
44
,
46
,
48
running “web browser” programs
62
are connected to the Internet and communicate with server computer system
52
running a “web server” program
64
. A “web browser”
62
is a software program installed and running on a client computer system that enables the client computer system to communicate with server computer systems to access the local data sources
54
residing on server computer system
52
.
Information Protocols
Two common web browser software programs on the market today are Microsoft Corporation's “Internet Explorer” and Netscape Communications Corporation's “Navigator.” A “web server” program is a software program installed and running on server computer system
52
that supports the HTTP information protocol. For example, Microsoft and Netscape produce web server programs to run on server computer systems interfacing with web browsers. A server computer system that is connected to the Internet
50
and is running a web server software program is generally referred to as a
Jenkens & Gilchrist P.C.
Peeso Thomas R.
RMC Software, Inc.
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