US5812784A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for supporting multiple, simultaneous services over multiple, simultaneous connections between a client and network server
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 1997-04-22
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Granted: 1998-09-22
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Expires: 2017-04-22
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are described for supporting a plurality of connections between a client computer and a network server. The client computer supports a plurality of simultaneously logged on ("active") services. The client computer creates a connection for each set of distinct credentials supplied by services logged onto the client computer. The client computer includes a redirector for maintaining independent control, status and data information for a plurality of independent connections associated with the plurality of simultaneously active services having distinct sets of credentials.
Inventors
- 👤 Colin Watson
- 👤 Andrew M. Herron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:24
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L63/00; H04L63/08; H04L63/083; H04L67/00; H04L67/14; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
A client computer simultaneously supporting two or more networked services comprising: a network interface for connecting the client computer to a network server over communications facilities; and a redirector simultaneously supporting two or more connections over the communications facilities between the client computer and the network server, at least two of the connections each having a separate network credential and supporting at least two networked services.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
A client computer simultaneously supporting two or more networked services comprising: a network interface for connecting the client computer to a network server over communications facilities; and a redirector simultaneously supporting two or more connections over the communications facilities between the client computer and the network server, at least two of the connections each having a separate network credential and supporting at least two networked services.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The client computer of claim 1, wherein the redirector comprises a mechanism for maintaining information for the simultaneous connections.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The client computer of claim 2 wherein the mechanism for maintaining information includes a connection status database for storing independent control information blocks, the independent control information blocks comprising server control blocks, and each server control block corresponds to one of the simultaneous connections.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The client computer of claim 3, wherein the independent control information blocks further comprise file control blocks linked to the server control blocks, wherein each file control block specifies a file accessed through one of the simultaneous connections corresponding to one of the linked server control blocks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The client computer of claim 4, wherein the client computer, prior to adding a second connection, determines that the second connection does not already exist between the client computer and a network server, and in response, adds the second connection without removing one of the at least two connections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The client computer of claim 5, wherein the client computer, in determining that the second connection does not already exist, searches the connection status database for an entry corresponding to the networked service with the associated network server.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The client computer of claim 5, wherein a first of the at least two connections is assigned a first set of sockets for a first connection, and a second of the at least two connections is assigned a second set of sockets for a second connection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The client computer of claim 1, further comprising a set of sockets for each one of the simultaneous connections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The client computer of claim 1, wherein the network credentials associated with one of the simultaneous connections comprise a logon name and password supplied by one of the networked services.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The client computer of claim 1, further comprising a security system for receiving the network credentials from at least two of the networked services and assigning a unique identifier to each of these networked services in association with a logon procedure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The client computer of claim 1, further comprising a security system for receiving the network credential from one of the networked services and assigning a unique identifier to the corresponding connection in association with a logon procedure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The client computer of claim 1, wherein at least two of the simultaneous connections between the client computer and the network server are made using Netware Core Protocol (NCP).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The client computer of claim 1, wherein one of the networked services is remote file sharing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer network of claim 13 wherein the network server is a file sharing server.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer network of claim 14 wherein the network server is a Netware Core Protocol (NCP) file sharing server.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The client computer of claim 1, wherein the network redirector further comprises: a logon element list comprising logon elements corresponding to logged on services; and a mechanism for maintaining control information for the at least two of the connections.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
The client computer of claim 16, wherein the mechanism for maintaining control information includes a connection status database for storing independent control information blocks, the independent control information blocks comprising server control blocks, and each server control block corresponds to one of the simultaneous connections.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The client computer of claim 17, wherein the independent control information blocks comprise file control blocks, linked to the server control blocks, wherein each file control block specifies a file accessed through one of the simultaneous connections corresponding to one of the linked server control blocks.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The client computer of claim 16, wherein each network credential comprises a logon name and password supplied by one of the at least two networked services.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The client computer of claim 1, further comprising means for maintaining two or more network connections between the client computer and the network server over communications facilities.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
75 words
A network redirector in a client computer for simultaneously supporting two or more connections over communications facilities between the client computer and a network server, at least two of the connections each having a separate network credential and supporting at least two networked services, the network redirector comprising: a logon element list comprising logon elements corresponding to logged on services; and a mechanism for maintaining control information for each of the plurality of independent connections.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
75 words
A network redirector in a client computer for simultaneously supporting two or more connections over communications facilities between the client computer and a network server, at least two of the connections each having a separate network credential and supporting at least two networked services, the network redirector comprising: a logon element list comprising logon elements corresponding to logged on services; and a mechanism for maintaining control information for each of the plurality of independent connections.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The network redirector of claim 21, wherein the mechanism for maintaining information includes a connection status database for storing independent control information blocks, the independent control information blocks comprising server control blocks, and each server control block corresponds to one of the simultaneous connections.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The network redirector of claim 22, wherein the independent control information blocks comprise file control blocks, linked to the server control blocks, wherein each file control block specifies a file accessed through one of the simultaneous connections corresponding to one of the linked server control blocks.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The network redirector of claim 21, wherein each network credential comprises a logon name and password supplied by one of the at least two networked services.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The network redirector of claim 21, further comprising means for maintaining two or more network connections between the client computer and the network server over communications facilities.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for maintaining two or more network connections between a client computer and a network server over communications facilities, the client computer simultaneously supporting two or more networked services and having a connection status database and a redirector for receiving network requests from the networked services and forwarding the network requests to the network server, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a first connection between the client computer and the network server in order to execute a first network request from a process associated with a first networked service; receiving, by the redirector, a second network request from a process associated with a second networked service; determining that a connection does not exist corresponding to the second network request, and in response, adding a second connection, without removing the first connection, between the client computer and the network server.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for maintaining two or more network connections between a client computer and a network server over communications facilities, the client computer simultaneously supporting two or more networked services and having a connection status database and a redirector for receiving network requests from the networked services and forwarding the network requests to the network server, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a first connection between the client computer and the network server in order to execute a first network request from a process associated with a first networked service; receiving, by the redirector, a second network request from a process associated with a second networked service; determining that a connection does not exist corresponding to the second network request, and in response, adding a second connection, without removing the first connection, between the client computer and the network server.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 26, wherein the client computer, in association with the creation of a new connection between the client computer and the network server, performs the steps of: formulating a control information block associated with the new connection; and storing a unique identification for the networked service and a network server identification within the control information block in the connection status database.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the step of determining that a connection does not exist corresponding to the second network request comprises searching the connection status database for an entry corresponding to the networked service with the associated network server as specified in the second network request; and failing to find the entry in the connection status database.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 26, further comprising assigning a first set of sockets for the first connection, and assigning a second set of sockets for the second connection.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-21 | 2002-03-23 | 2002-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-21 | 2006-03-23 | 2006-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-21 | 2010-03-23 | 2010-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |