EP0717339B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Access to independent network resources
Assignee: Microsoft Corp
•
Filing: 1995-12-11
•
Granted: 2002-04-03
•
Expires: 2015-12-11
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Vladimir Sadovsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F21/70; G06F21/82; G06F21/85; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99939
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for accessing independent resources in a computer network,
the method comprising: storing logon data for a user when the user logs on to
a local computer system (20) in the computer network; storing authentication
data when a user accesses an independent network resource: and, in response to
a request to access an independent network resource, attempting to access the
independent network resource using the logon data and the stored
authentication data; which method is characterised by the steps of: routing the
request to one of a plurality of network providers (62, 64, 66) which each
provide access to a different type of network and which share authentication
data; attempting to access the independent network resource from the network
provider (62, 64, 66) using the stored logon data that is shared among the
network providers (62, 64, 66) providing access to different network types; and
attempting to access the independent network resource from the network
provider (62, 64, 66) using the stored authentication data that is shared among
the network providers (62,64,66) providing access to different network types.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the authentication data is stored in a
cache (101).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the cache (101) resides in main memory
(38) of the local computer system (20).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 or 3 wherein the authentication data in the cache
(101) is encrypted using logon data.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
56 words
The method of any preceding claim wherein the request to access an
independent network occurs during browsing for network resources, the
browsing comprising: receiving a request from a user to display network
resources available on one or more network servers; and establishing a
connection with the one or more network servers to determine available
network resources.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 3, comprising: if the attempts to access the
independent network resource using the stored logon data and the stored
authentication data both fail, then prompting the user to enter authentication
data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the attempting to access the independent
network resource using the stored authentication data includes: searching the
cache (101) in main memory (38) of the local computer system (20) for a server
name (102); if the server is present in the cache (101), then reading the stored
authentication data associated with the server name in the cache (101) and
applying the stored authentication data to access the server associated with the
server name (102).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the stored authentication data in the
cache (101) is encrypted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the stored authentication data in the
cache (101) is encrypted using logon data, and the cache (101) in main memory
(38) of the local computer system (20) is accessible to a user at the local
computer system when logon data associated with the local computer system
(20) is entered in the local computer system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the request to access the independent
network resource is a request to enumerate resources available via the
independent network resource without specifying a particular resource, the
method comprising: establishing a connection to the independent network
resource; and enumerating the resources available via the independent network
resource using the connection.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of any preceding claim wherein the authentication data
includes a user identification (104) and a password (106).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
191 words
A networking subsystem located in memory of a client computer system
(20) in a computer network, the networking subsystem accessing independent
servers in the computer network, the networking subsystem comprising: means
for storing authentication data when a user accesses an independent network
resource; and means for attempting to access the independent network resource
using the stored authentication data; which subsystem is characterised by : a
plurality of network providers (62, 64, 66), each network provider being
responsible for accessing a particular network type, the network providers (62,
64, 66) being in communication with a shared cache (101) for storing the
authentication data, the network providers (62, 64, 66) being operable to use
authentication data stored in the shared cache (101) to access network
resources; a multiple provider router (52) in communication with an
application program (50) for receiving a request to access one of the network
resources and in communication with the network providers (62, 64, 66) for
routing the request to access the network resource to the relevant network
provider; and a redirector (68, 70, 72) associated with each network provider
(62, 64, 66) for communicating with the network resource.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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