EP0814589A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for automated network reconfiguration
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1997-06-16
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2017-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for providing an enhanced level of security for sensitive or proprietary information associated with information transactions in a public network, such as the Internet. In carrying out that method, an on-line information transaction is bifurcated between a generalized information access portion of such a transaction and an exchange of sensitive user information. With such a bifurcation, the generalized information access portion of the transaction, which generally would constitute the more substantial (in terms of network resources) portion of the transaction, would be handled via a non-secure network, usually a public network such as the Internet. The portion of the transaction involving sensitive user information, on the other hand, would be handled by a separate secure connection, such as a private network, or intranetwork. An important characteristic of this bifurcation arrangement is the provision of a means for automated reconfiguration of a user terminal as between accessing the Ageneralized information via the non-secure network and access to the secure communications network for the exchange of sensitive user information. Such an automated reconfiguration will be carried out without the necessity for any action on the part of the user, and indeed will be largely invisible to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan P. Harwood
- 👤 Thomas Kimmeth
- 👤 Kurt Nusbaum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/18; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/42; G06Q20/425; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0609; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5691; H04L12/5692; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04M; H04M7/00; H04M7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for managing a transaction via a communications path between a terminal device and a serving node in a data network, said method comprising the steps of: establishing an initial communications path via a first connection between said terminal device and a serving node in a first data network; receiving information from said serving node in said first data network for effecting a reconfiguration of said communications path for said transaction from said first connection in said first data network to a second connection in a second data network; and automatically connecting said terminal device to a serving node in said second data network via said second connection.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for managing a transaction via a communications path between a terminal device and a serving node in a data network, said method comprising the steps of: establishing an initial communications path via a first connection between said terminal device and a serving node in a first data network; selecting at least one information item from a data base of said information items provided at said serving node in said first data network; causing said selected information items to be downloaded to said terminal device via said first connection; receiving information from said serving node in said first data network for effecting a reconfiguration of said communications path for said transaction from said first connection in said first data network to a second connection in a second data network; and automatically connecting said terminal device to a serving node in said second data network via said second connection.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for managing a transaction via a communications path between a terminal device and a serving node in a data network, said method comprising the steps of: establishing an initial communications path via a first connection between said terminal device and a serving node in a first data network; identifying at least one data network application from a data base of said data network applications provided at said serving node in said first data network; receiving information from said serving node in said first data network for reconfiguring said terminal device for implementation of a communication path via an alternate connection between said terminal device and at least one of said identified data network applications in a second data network; and in response to a selection signal from a user, automatically connecting said terminal device to a selected one of said identified data network applications via said alternate connection.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for managing a transaction via a communications path between a terminal device and a serving node in a data network, said method comprising the steps of: establishing an initial communications path via a first connection between said terminal device and a serving node in a first data network; selecting an off-line form application from a data base provided at said serving node in said first data network; receiving information from said serving node in said first data network for reconfiguring said terminal device for implementation of a communication path via a second connection between said terminal device and said selected off-line form application in a second data network; and in response to, a selection signal from a user, automatically connecting said terminal device to said selected off-line form application.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 1 or 2 including the further step of recognizing a signal to reconfigure said communications path from said first connection to said second connection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 3 wherein said selected data network application is operated at a serving node in said second data network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 4 wherein said selected off-line form application is operated at a serving node in said second data network.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
34 words
The method for managing a transaction of one of the Claims 1, 2, 6 or 7 wherein said serving nodes in said first and said second data networks are manifested in a common node.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 1 or 2 wherein said step of receiving information includes the further step of effecting said reconfiguration of said communications path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 1 or 2 wherein said step of automatically connecting includes the step of automatically disconnecting said first connection prior to implementation of said second connection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 1 or 2 including the further steps of: automatically disconnecting said second connection in response to a user signal; and reconfiguring said terminal device to enable, in response to user instruction, an implementation of a connection via an identified data network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 11 wherein said step of automatically reconfiguring said terminal device includes the step of effecting said implementation of said connection via said identified data network.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 2 wherein said step of causing said selected information items to be downloaded includes the further step of causing said selected information items to be displayed at said terminal device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 13 wherein said displayed selected items can be edited by a user at said terminal device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 13 wherein display characteristics for said displayed selected items can be controlled at said terminal device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 2 wherein said step of automatically connecting includes the step of uploading said selected information items from said terminal device to said service provider via said second connection.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 3 including the further steps of: automatically disconnecting said alternate connection in response to a user signal; and reconfiguring said terminal device to enable implementation of a pre-selected connection between said terminal device and an identified data network.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 17 wherein said step of automatically reconfiguring said terminal device includes the further step of effecting said implementation of said pre-selected connection.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 4 including the further step of downloading from said serving node in said first data network to said terminal device of an off-line form related to said off-line form application.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 4 including the further step of uploading said downloaded off-line form from said terminal device to said selected off-line form application, after processing by a user.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 4 including the further steps of: automatically disconnecting said connection to said selected off-line form application in response to a user signal; and reconfiguring said terminal device to enable implementation of a pre-selected connection between said terminal device and an identified data network.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method for managing a transaction of Claim 21 wherein said step of automatically reconfiguring said terminal device includes the further step of effecting said implementation of said pre-selected connection.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for managing connections between a terminal device and at least one information source/processor wherein at least two of said connections are implemented via separate communications networks, comprising the steps of: recognizing a signal for connection to an information source/processor via a communications network other than a communications network for which a predetermined connection is configured; causing said terminal device to implement a connection to said information source/processor via said other communications network; and upon termination of said information source/processor connection via said other communications network, automatically reconfiguring a connection criteria in said terminal device to enable said terminal device to implement, in response to user instruction, a connection via an alternative one of said communications networks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method for managing connections of Claim 23 wherein said recognizing step occurs at a point when said terminal device is connected to a given source/processor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method for managing connections of Claim 23 wherein information items may be selected by a user at said terminal device from said given source/processor, and including the further step of causing said selected information items to be downloaded from said source/processor to said terminal device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method for managing connections of Claim 25 wherein said step of effecting connection includes the further step of uploading said selected information items from said terminal device to said other information source/processor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method for managing connections of Claim 26 wherein said selected information items are processed by said user at said terminal device prior to uploading to said other information source/processor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method for managing connections of Claim 24 including the further step of causing said given source/processor to download to said terminal device configuration data for enabling said step of effecting connection to said other information source/processor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method for managing connections of Claim 24 including the further step of causing said other source/processor to download to said terminal device configuration data for enabling said step of automatically restoring a prior connection criteria in said terminal device.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for enhancing security of certain data in an on-line information transaction comprising the steps of: bifurcating said information transaction into a first portion comprising said certain data and a remaining portion, wherein said remaining portion is carried out via a public on-line communications connection between a terminal device and a public information server; causing said first portion to be carried out via a secure private on-line communications connection between said terminal device and a private information server; and automatically reconfiguring network access means in said terminal device to switch between said public connection and said private connection.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.