US5948064A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Discovery of authentication server domains in a computer network
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1997-07-07
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Granted: 1999-09-07
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Expires: 2017-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A method of discovering native or non-native authentication server domains in a computer network. The various domains are "discovered" by issuing requests from the client to one or more of the servers in the network. Each response is then characterized as being from a native or non-native server, and a list of each such server type is then compiled at the client. If desired, the administrator may then apply a discovery "policy" to tailor the way in which a user may access and interact with the discovered information.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel Wayne Bertram
- 👤 David Paul Dutcher
- 👤 Scott Alan Lenharth
- 👤 James Michael Rolette, Jr.
- 👤 Stanley Alan Smith
- 👤 Courtney Joseph Spooner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of discovering server domains useful for authenticating a user at a client running a native operating system, the client connectable to one or more servers in a computer network, comprising the steps of: issuing requests from the client to discover server domains available in the computer network for authentication; responsive to a reply from a given server, determining whether the server includes a native or non-native server domain; and compiling a list of server domains discovered.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of discovering server domains useful for authenticating a user at a client running a native operating system, the client connectable to one or more servers in a computer network, comprising the steps of: issuing requests from the client to discover server domains available in the computer network for authentication; responsive to a reply from a given server, determining whether the server includes a native or non-native server domain; and compiling a list of server domains discovered.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the step of compiling includes compiling a list identifying the native server domains.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the step of compiling including compiling a list identifying the non-native server domains.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as described in claim 1 further including the step of populating a dialog box with the list of server domains discovered when the user attempts authentication from the client.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the native operating system is Windows NT.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the native server domain is a Windows NT server domain.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as described in claim 6 wherein the non-native server domains include a Server Message Block (SMB) server domain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as described in claim 6 wherein the non-native server domains include a DCE Cell.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for discovering server domains useful for authenticating a user at a client running a native operating system, the client connectable to one or more servers in a computer network, comprising the steps of: issuing requests from the client to discover server domains available in the computer network for authentication; responsive to a reply from a given server, determining whether the server includes a native or non-native server domain; compiling a list of native and non-native server domains discovered; and responsive to a user logon request, providing the user with an option to select from the list of server domains discovered.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for discovering server domains useful for authenticating a user at a client running a native operating system, the client connectable to one or more servers in a computer network, comprising the steps of: issuing requests from the client to discover server domains available in the computer network for authentication; responsive to a reply from a given server, determining whether the server includes a native or non-native server domain; compiling a list of native and non-native server domains discovered; and responsive to a user logon request, providing the user with an option to select from the list of server domains discovered.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as described in claim 9 wherein the requests are issued during installation in response to administrator action.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as described in claim 9 wherein the native operating system is Windows NT.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as described in claim 11 wherein the non-native server domains included a server domain selected from the group consisting of: SMB server domains and DCE Cells.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
99 words
A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for discovering a set of one or more server domains useful for authenticating a user at a client running a native operating system, the client connectable to one or more servers in a computer network, the computer program product comprising: means for issuing requests from the client to discover server domains available in the computer network; means responsive to receipt of a reply to a given request for determining whether a server domain associated with the response is native or non-native; and means for compiling a list of server domains discovered.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for discovering a set of one or more server domains useful for authenticating a user at a client running a native operating system, the client connectable to one or more servers in a computer network, the computer program product comprising: means for issuing requests from the client to discover server domains available in the computer network; means responsive to receipt of a reply to a given request for determining whether a server domain associated with the response is native or non-native; and means for compiling a list of server domains discovered.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer program product as described in claim 13 wherein the issuing means is responsive to user input at logon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer program product as described in claim 13 wherein the issuing means is responsive to administrator input at installation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer program product as described in claim 13 wherein the issuing means is selectively responsive to a control input selected from the group of control inputs consisting of: administrator input at installation, administrator input upon reconfiguration, and user input at logon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
A computer connectable to a computer network, comprising: a processor; a native operating system; an authentication mechanism, comprising: means for discovering server domains available for authentication in the computer network; and means responsive to a logon request for providing the user with an option to select for authentication from a list of server domains discovered.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
A computer connectable to a computer network, comprising: a processor; a native operating system; an authentication mechanism, comprising: means for discovering server domains available for authentication in the computer network; and means responsive to a logon request for providing the user with an option to select for authentication from a list of server domains discovered.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
The computer as described in claim 17 wherein the means for discovering comprises: means for issuing requests from the client to discover server domains available in the computer network; means responsive to receipt of a reply to a given request for determining whether a server domain associated with the response is native or non-native; and means for compiling a list of server domains discovered.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The computer as described in claim 17 wherein the native operating system is Windows NT.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer as described in claim 17 wherein the non-native server domains included a server domain selected from the group consisting of: SMB server domains and DCE Cells.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of discovering Windows NT server domains useful for authenticating a user at a Windows NT client, the Windows NT client connectable to one or more servers in a computer network, comprising the steps of: issuing requests from the Windows NT client to discover Windows NT server domains available in the computer network for authentication; and compiling a list of the Windows NT server domains discovered.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of discovering Windows NT server domains useful for authenticating a user at a Windows NT client, the Windows NT client connectable to one or more servers in a computer network, comprising the steps of: issuing requests from the Windows NT client to discover Windows NT server domains available in the computer network for authentication; and compiling a list of the Windows NT server domains discovered.
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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) | 2002-09-06 | 2003-03-08 | 2003-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-06 | 2007-03-08 | 2007-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-06 | 2011-03-08 | 2011-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |