Multiplex communications – Pathfinding or routing – Switching a message which includes an address header
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-29
2003-09-16
Ton, Dang (Department: 2666)
Multiplex communications
Pathfinding or routing
Switching a message which includes an address header
C370S352000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06621816
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT
The present invention relates to a server system of a type wherein the sharing of resources can be carried out using extensions of a private branch exchange (PBX), and more specifically to a system for and a method of exchanging server data in a packet unit, of a type wherein a plurality of users can simultaneously utilize the same resource.
As one of conventional arts, there is known one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-109847. According to the disclosure, peripheral devices such as a printer, hard disc are electrically connected to an exchange network of a digital exchanger through a data interface unit. On the other hand, a data processing unit is electrically connected to the exchange network of the digital exchanger through a data access unit. In the conventional art having such an arrangement, terminals are electrically connected to the data processing unit and the peripheral devices (servers) by making use of exchange functions of the digital exchanger. The digital exchanger is provided with connecting shared buses for the purpose of control of the peripheral devices. The buses are interconnected to internal buses of a data processing control device. When a plurality of peripheral devices are connected to the exchange network, the data processing control device can accept operation requests of other peripheral devices while one peripheral device is in operation. Thus, the data processing control device connects a line for a peripheral device to which a use request has been made to a line for a corresponding peripheral device. According to the prior art, as described above, a plurality of peripheral devices can simultaneously be utilized by connecting the peripheral devices to separate lines.
The above disclosure does not take into consideration a case where use requests are made to the same peripheral device from a plurality of terminals (lines). When one terminal makes use of the peripheral device, other terminals cannot use it, with the result that they had to wait for its use until a process of the terminal while being using the peripheral device is completed.
In the above prior art, the data processing unit needs dedicated control buses in order to control the peripheral devices. It is necessary to place connection terminals used to connect the peripheral devices to the exchange network and extending from the data interface unit, and the control buses in all possible places where the peripheral devices can be disposed. In order to ensure that users can freely travel over the peripheral devices, it is thus necessary to provide data interface units in the digital exchanger by the number of possible places where the peripheral devices can be placed. It is also necessary to place connection terminals extending from data interface units and control buses in all possible locations where the peripheral devices can be disposed. Thus, there was need for the provision of excessive equipment.
The above prior art does not give consideration as to the fact that a user travels over the peripheral devices so as to be connected to another line. Thus, when the user travels over the peripheral devices so as to change a connection line, a table indicative of the corresponding relation between numbers of the connection terminals for the connection of the peripheral devices, which numbers being held by the digital exchanger and practically-connected peripheral devices, was rendered necessary to be rewritten by either a user or a system controller. It was also necessary to inform all the users who make use of the peripheral devices of a connection line number change message.
In addition, the above prior art does not give consideration as to the security against information stored in disc devices. When a message relative to a line number to which a peripheral device is connected is received, a response to a connection request was made without reserve.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a system for exchanging server data in a packet unit, of a type wherein a plurality of terminals can simultaneously utilize the same peripheral device (server)
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a system for exchanging server data in a packet unit, of a type wherein physical interfaces identical to telephones can provide the electrical connections between terminals and servers.
It is a third object of the present invention to provide a system for exchanging server data in a packet unit, of a type wherein servers connected to users who are using terminals and to a network can automatically be registered and/or deleted, thereby making it possible to freely change locations where the servers are placed and to cause the users to freely travel over the terminals.
It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a system for exchanging server data in a packet unit, of a type wherein only users allowed to use servers can utilize the servers, and users capable of reading and writing data therefrom and therein can be assigned according to the degree of secrecy of information held by the servers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A description will now be made of a summary of operations of the present invention, which range from the completion of the entry of users in terminals connected to a network to the time that the users can utilize servers.
When a user entry is confirmed, a piece of terminal equipment acquires a user ID and a user's password. Thereafter, the terminal equipment is activated to carry out a process for setting up or establishing a packet link between the terminal equipment and a packet control on a PBX side. When the packet link is set up therebetween, the terminal equipment sends a server use request packet for the transmission of the user ID and the user's password to the packet control.
The packet control receives the server use request packet from the terminal equipment, and makes a check as to which terminal equipment has transmitted the user ID and the user password to the packet control. Thereafter, the packet control stores a physical address of the checked terminal equipment therein. Then, the packet control sends the user ID and the password to a terminal control.
The terminal control checks whether or not the user of the received user ID has been entered. A user name, a user ID, a user's password, and a user's information access level to all of which entry permission has been given, a server ID of each server connectable to a system, and the classification and attribute of each server, have been stored in the terminal control by a system controller. Then, such information is registered on a second table, and is deleted only when the system controller carries out information delete operation. The terminal control retrieves a user ID entry information from the information stored in the second table. If it is judged that the received user ID has already been registered on the second table, then the registered password is collated with the user's password. If it is judged to be an available user, then a check is made as to whether or not an available server is present by reference to the information access class of the user. Thereafter, information about a server name and a server attribute is sent to the packet control. If it is judged to be an unavailable user, an unavailable message is delivered to the packet control.
The packet control receives from terminal control an inquiry as to whether or not the user can utilize the system. If it is judged that the user can utilize it, then an available server ID and a logical channel number (LCN) of a specific logical channel, which corresponds to the server ID, are retrieved from a first table. Then, a server use response packet for the transmission of the retrieved information is sent to the corresponding terminal equipment. If it is judged that the user cannot utilize the system on the other hand, then an unavailable message is transmitted to the terminal equipme
Kageyama Seiji
Oura Tetsuo
Tadamura Katsumi
Yasue Toshikazu
Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus LLP
Ton Dang
LandOfFree
System for and method of exchanging server data in packet unit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System for and method of exchanging server data in packet unit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for and method of exchanging server data in packet unit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3088736