Patent US380835A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6308281B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6308281B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Virtual client to gateway connection over multiple physical connections
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1998-09-02
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Granted: 2001-10-23
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Expires: 2018-09-02
Abstract
Abstract A method, system, and computer program by which a logical network connection can be maintained in the presence of disruption or failure of the underlying physical network connection. The technique defines a virtual connection between the client and gateway, which is not dependent upon continuous connectivity in the underlying physical connection, and can resume operation transparently even though the physical connection may be established on a different media type. Additionally, the technique of the present invention enables the physical medium to be changed even though the physical connection was not disrupted. This change in medium may be based on a number of factors, such as quality of service or transmission speed, which can be monitored. A graphical user interface (“GUI”) is defined whereby the human user may observe a depiction of the available physical connections and their status, information regarding the physical connection currently in use, etc. The user may initiate changes to the current physical connection from this GUI, without disrupting the logical connection.
Inventors
- 👤 George E. Hall, Jr.
- 👤 John D. Kari
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/66; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L69/00; H04L69/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
In a computing environment capable of having a connection to a network, computer readable code embodied on computer readable media and readable by a computer system in said environment, for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections, comprising: a subprocess for establishing a first physical connection from said client to said gateway using a first of at least one available connection media and a first of at least one available connection devices; a subprocess for establishing a second physical connection from said client to said gateway using a second of said connection media and a second of said connection devices, wherein at least one of said second medium and said second connection device is different from said first medium and said first connection device; and a subprocess for maintaining a logical connection between said client and said gateway, wherein said logical connection is initially supported by said first physical connection and then by said second physical connection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a computing environment capable of having a connection to a network, computer readable code embodied on computer readable media and readable by a computer system in said environment, for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections, comprising: a subprocess for establishing a first physical connection from said client to said gateway using a first of at least one available connection media and a first of at least one available connection devices; a subprocess for establishing a second physical connection from said client to said gateway using a second of said connection media and a second of said connection devices, wherein at least one of said second medium and said second connection device is different from said first medium and said first connection device; and a subprocess for maintaining a logical connection between said client and said gateway, wherein said logical connection is initially supported by said first physical connection and then by said second physical connection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
Computer readable code for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 1 , wherein said subprocess for maintaining a logical connection further comprises: a subprocess in said client for sending a session key to said gateway using said second physical connection, wherein said session key identifies said logical connection and was created when using said first physical connection; and a subprocess in said gateway for receiving said session key, and detecting said receipt as a request to continue said logical connection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
Computer readable code for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 1 , further comprising a subprocess for displaying a graphical user interface which depicts: a graphical representation of said client and said gateway, said available connection media, and said available connection devices; a status of each of said media and said devices; and an indication of which of said media and said devices is currently in use.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
Computer readable code for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 2 , wherein said second physical connection is established in response to a disruption or failure of said first physical connection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
Computer readable code for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 2 , wherein said second physical connection is established in response to detection of a better connection choice than said first physical connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
Computer readable code for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 3 , wherein said second physical connection is established in response to a request by a user, said request being initiated by a subprocess responsive to user input from said graphical user interface.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections in a computing environment capable of having a connection to a network, said system comprising: means for establishing a first physical connection from said client to said gateway using a first of at least one available connection media and a first of at least one available connection device; means for establishing a second physical connection from said client to said gateway using a second of said connection media and a second of said connection devices, wherein at least one of said second medium and said second connection device is different from said first medium and said first connection device; and means for maintaining a logical connection between said client and said gateway, wherein said logical connection is initially supported by said first physical connection and then by said second physical connection.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections in a computing environment capable of having a connection to a network, said system comprising: means for establishing a first physical connection from said client to said gateway using a first of at least one available connection media and a first of at least one available connection device; means for establishing a second physical connection from said client to said gateway using a second of said connection media and a second of said connection devices, wherein at least one of said second medium and said second connection device is different from said first medium and said first connection device; and means for maintaining a logical connection between said client and said gateway, wherein said logical connection is initially supported by said first physical connection and then by said second physical connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
The system for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 7 , wherein said means for maintaining a logical connection further comprises: means in said client for sending a session key to said gateway using said second physical connection, wherein said session key identifies said logical connection and was created when using said first physical connection; and means in said gateway for receiving said session key, and detecting said receipt as a request to continue said logical connection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 7 , further comprising means for displaying a graphical user interface which depicts: a graphical representation of said client and said gateway, said available connection media, and said available connection devices; a status of each of said media and said devices; and an indication of which of said media and said devices is currently in use.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 8 , wherein said second physical connection is established in response to a disruption or failure of said first physical connection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 8 , wherein said second physical connection is established in response to detection of a better connection choice than said first physical connection.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 9 , wherein said second physical connection is established in response to a request by a user, said request being initiated by means responsive to user input from said graphical user interface.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections in a computing environment capable of having a connection to a network, said method comprising the steps of: establishing a first physical connection from said client to said gateway using a first of at least one available connection media and a first of at least one available connection device; establishing a second physical connection from said client to said gateway using a second of said connection media and a second of said connection devices, wherein at least one of said second medium and said second connection device is different from said first medium and said first connection device; and maintaining a logical connection between said client and said gateway, wherein said logical connection is initially supported by said first physical connection and then by said second physical connection.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections in a computing environment capable of having a connection to a network, said method comprising the steps of: establishing a first physical connection from said client to said gateway using a first of at least one available connection media and a first of at least one available connection device; establishing a second physical connection from said client to said gateway using a second of said connection media and a second of said connection devices, wherein at least one of said second medium and said second connection device is different from said first medium and said first connection device; and maintaining a logical connection between said client and said gateway, wherein said logical connection is initially supported by said first physical connection and then by said second physical connection.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 13 , wherein said maintaining a logical connection step further comprises: sending a session key from said client to said gateway using said second physical connection, wherein said session key identifies said logical connection and was created when using said first physical connection; and receiving said session key in said gateway, and detecting said receipt as a request to continue said logical connection.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 13 , further comprising a step for displaying a graphical user interface which depicts: a graphical representation of said client and said gateway, said available connection media, and said available connection devices; a status of each of said media and said devices; and an indication of which of said media and said devices is currently in use.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 14 , wherein said second physical connection is established in response to a disruption or failure of said first physical connection.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 14 , wherein said second physical connection is established in response to detection of a better connection choice than said first physical connection.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method for maintaining a virtual connection between a client and a gateway across multiple physical connections according to claim 15 , wherein said second physical connection is established in response to a request by a user, said request being initiated by a step responsive to user input from said graphical user interface.
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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) | 2004-10-22 | 2005-04-23 | 2005-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-22 | 2009-04-23 | 2009-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-22 | 2013-04-23 | 2013-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |