CA2485426A1 - System and method for provisioning universal stateless digital and computing services - Google Patents
System and method for provisioning universal stateless digital and computing services Download PDFInfo
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
- H04L67/01—Protocols
- H04L67/08—Protocols specially adapted for terminal emulation, e.g. Telnet
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F15/00—Digital computers in general; Data processing equipment in general
- G06F15/16—Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
- H04L63/02—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for separating internal from external traffic, e.g. firewalls
- H04L63/0272—Virtual private networks
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
- H04L63/04—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
- H04L63/0428—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
- H04L63/0442—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L63/00—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security
- H04L63/08—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for authentication of entities
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
- H04L67/14—Session management
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
- H04L67/50—Network services
- H04L67/56—Provisioning of proxy services
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
- H04L67/50—Network services
- H04L67/56—Provisioning of proxy services
- H04L67/565—Conversion or adaptation of application format or content
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L69/00—Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass
- H04L69/08—Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
Abstract
A service provisioning system and method for providing remote access to digital services over a communications network, comprising a plurality of client devices connected to the communications network for requesting digital services from a plurality of service centers and presenting output from the digital services. The network operation center connected to the communications network authenticates client devices and users, manages sessions, and processes requests for digital services. A connector associated with each service center establishes a session with a client device specified by the network operation center and encapsulates the native protocols of the digital services within a remote interactive protocol. The remote interactive protocol includes information for generating a human-perceptible presentation on the client device, to provide a remote access to the digital services without modifying the hardware and software infrastructure of the service centers.
Description
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISIONING UNIVERSAL STATELESS
DIGITAL AND COMPUTING SERVICES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to remote access of digital data and services and, more particularly to a service provisioning system architecture for providing universal stateless digital and computer services.
[0002] The configuration of corporate computer systems has evolved over the past fifty ears since the introduction of the software programmable digital computer. In the frst multi-user systems, some number of users, such as corporate employees, etc., accessed the processing power of one or more centrally located mainframe computers using "dumb terminals" connected to the mainfr acne computers via a communications network. The mainframe computers provided all processing power and data storage facilities. The dumb terminal was used for and limited to inputting data to the mainframe computers and displaying output data generated by the mainframe computers.
That is, the dumb terminal did not have the capability of processing or storing data locally.
Essentially, the dumb terminal was useless unless it was connected to the mainframe computers via a dedicated, mainframe and installation-specific communications network.
DIGITAL AND COMPUTING SERVICES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to remote access of digital data and services and, more particularly to a service provisioning system architecture for providing universal stateless digital and computer services.
[0002] The configuration of corporate computer systems has evolved over the past fifty ears since the introduction of the software programmable digital computer. In the frst multi-user systems, some number of users, such as corporate employees, etc., accessed the processing power of one or more centrally located mainframe computers using "dumb terminals" connected to the mainfr acne computers via a communications network. The mainframe computers provided all processing power and data storage facilities. The dumb terminal was used for and limited to inputting data to the mainframe computers and displaying output data generated by the mainframe computers.
That is, the dumb terminal did not have the capability of processing or storing data locally.
Essentially, the dumb terminal was useless unless it was connected to the mainframe computers via a dedicated, mainframe and installation-specific communications network.
[0003] However, the high cost associated with acquiring and maintainng the mainframe computers fueled the availability and popularity of the desktop or personal computer ("PC") in the 1980s. W itially configvmed as a stand-alone platform, a PC is a self contained computing system where all processing is performed locally, and all applications and data are executed and stored locally. The relatively low cost of PCs enabled single users and small businesses to readily acquire and utilize the processing power of the PCs instead of relying on massive, centrally located mainframe systems.
However, users could not easily share data'with other users since their PCs were not part of a centralized network and did not necessarily use the same operating system. Also, since each PC needed its own local copy of any software to be executed, incompatible versions of the same software application in different personal computers prevented users from comlnmucating and sharing data with each other.
However, users could not easily share data'with other users since their PCs were not part of a centralized network and did not necessarily use the same operating system. Also, since each PC needed its own local copy of any software to be executed, incompatible versions of the same software application in different personal computers prevented users from comlnmucating and sharing data with each other.
(0004] These comlectivity and compatibility problems with the standalone PCs gave rise to client/semer systems. The PCs (or clients) were connected to each other via a private communications networl~, such as a corporate network, and to a common server storing data and applications. The server maintains the common data and provides copies of the data to the clients upon request. However, since the client/server systems rely on the processing power of the PC, the hardware and software components of each PC of a client/server network must be constantly s~mcl~ronized and therefore upgraded.
In manly corporate settings, PCs are numerous and widely distributed tluoughout and among diverse locations. Depending on the age and type of the PC system, certain hardware components, such as microprocessors, random access memory (RAM), hard disk devices, etc., can be upgraded or replaced without replacing the entire PC system.
However, even when it is feasible to upgrade the PC systems, the cost of upgrading thousands of PC
systems can be staggering.
In manly corporate settings, PCs are numerous and widely distributed tluoughout and among diverse locations. Depending on the age and type of the PC system, certain hardware components, such as microprocessors, random access memory (RAM), hard disk devices, etc., can be upgraded or replaced without replacing the entire PC system.
However, even when it is feasible to upgrade the PC systems, the cost of upgrading thousands of PC
systems can be staggering.
[0005] When the PC system can no longer be upgraded, the entire system must be replaced. For example, newer versions of software applications or operating systems may require hardware capabilities that camiot be satisfied by existing PC systems.
Generally, a PC system is considered to be obsolete in three to five years, thereby necessitating costly replacement of thousands of PCs as ofteiz as every three years.
Generally, a PC system is considered to be obsolete in three to five years, thereby necessitating costly replacement of thousands of PCs as ofteiz as every three years.
[0006] In addition to the cost of purchasing new hardware and software, the cost of resolving the software and hardware compatibility problems in the client/server system can be substantial. For example, many software applications are not readily backwards compatible, thereby imposing a significant burden on the corporations to maintain.
compatible versions of software applications on all PC systems. The administrative effort and the cost to upgrade each system, provide licensed copies of software, install and maintain the software is the largest portion of the recurring costs of running a client/server network in a corporation. Even with reznote administration capabilities, the tracl~ing and cataloging of software applications can be very onerous.
compatible versions of software applications on all PC systems. The administrative effort and the cost to upgrade each system, provide licensed copies of software, install and maintain the software is the largest portion of the recurring costs of running a client/server network in a corporation. Even with reznote administration capabilities, the tracl~ing and cataloging of software applications can be very onerous.
[0007] Installation of new software also exposes the corporate user to security risks. The integrity and security of the corporate networl~ can be easily breached by hackers or disuupted partially or in total liyinadvertent or intentional introduction of computer viruses when a user installs or downloads unauthorized and even authorized software application or files.
[0008] Individuals who are away from their off ce often have a continuing need to gain access to their corporate networks: ~ They may need to access files, e-mails, applications and programs running on their "desktop", etc. ("Desktop" refers to a top level, local graphical user interface enviromneyt customized by a user to display and provide access to data, folders acid applications.) One approach is to use laptop personal computers to enable users to access the corporate network to remotely access their files and e-mails. That is, if appropriate communications software is installed on each client laptop PC, the users can remotely access emails and the corporate network to transfer files from/to the networl~ server through a dial-up telephone line (or a broadband comlection, such as a digital subscriber line (DSL), T1, cable, etc.). All application programs reside and locally execute on the local client laptop PC. While this approach is simple, it necessitates that each and every such software application be installed, configured and then maintained on each laptop PC. Consequently, over time, this approach, pauticularly in view of the on-going support costs of the installed software applications, can become quite expensive.
[0009] Another approach uses a traditional virtual private network (VPN) to provide wide area network (WAN) connectivity from a remote user location to a central corporate local area network (LAN). A VPN WAN correction can implement an Open System Interconnection (OSI) layer 2 extension between the LAN and the remote user location. A remote client PC connected through a VPN to a LAN appears as if it is directly colmected to the LAN. However, a VPN connection requires expensive VPN
termination equipment (or a client-site VPN muter) located at each end of the connection, or VPN client software installed and configured at the client machine. In either case, the VPN terminator provides layer 2 packet processing as well as appropriate packet encryption/decryption functionality. Although either PC operating system or client based VPN software can mitigate the cost of the VPN terminator, it both require considerable packet processing to assemble and disassemble packets, imposing a significant processing burden on the PC. Accordingly, a separate dedicated VPM terminator at the remote user location is often required to support VPN coii~zectivity with required levels of security and reliability without imposing undue processing load on the client PC
itself. Thus VPN
equipment is not only expensive, but tedious to configure and costly to administer and maintain.
termination equipment (or a client-site VPN muter) located at each end of the connection, or VPN client software installed and configured at the client machine. In either case, the VPN terminator provides layer 2 packet processing as well as appropriate packet encryption/decryption functionality. Although either PC operating system or client based VPN software can mitigate the cost of the VPN terminator, it both require considerable packet processing to assemble and disassemble packets, imposing a significant processing burden on the PC. Accordingly, a separate dedicated VPM terminator at the remote user location is often required to support VPN coii~zectivity with required levels of security and reliability without imposing undue processing load on the client PC
itself. Thus VPN
equipment is not only expensive, but tedious to configure and costly to administer and maintain.
[0010] In all of the above cases, sensitive corporate data are transferred and duplicated between the secure corporate network and the PC/Iaptop. Once data is downloaded and physically copied, no access or transport security system can prevent unauthorized, uncontrolled distribution and misuse of the data, which happens without the knowledge of the legitimate data owner.
[0011] Still another approach to extending the office environment to remote user location utilizes an application service provider (ASP) model requiring the installation of specialized server software in the network server, such as Citrix Corporation's MetaFrameOO software using independent computing architecture (ICAO) protocol.
The network server situated on the LAN would, function as an ASP by hosting multiple virtual machines, to various different remotely located client PCs. Alternatively, Microsoft Corporation's WindowsOO Terminal Services (WTS) using remote desktop protocol (RDP) can be utilized to provide multiple virtual machines. However, both the MetaFrameO and WTS software impose considerable processing load on the client PC, and are vulnerable to network faults and security breaches, such as "man-in-the-middle"
attacks. Additionally, the ASP-based approach, at best, provides a limited remote execution functionality. The prior art systems were desig~ied and developed to overcome the bandwidth limitations of the prior communications networks. Current technological advances have dramatically increased the bandwidth of the communications network.
The network bandwidth is increasing faster than microprocessor speed and doubling approximately every nne months, therebyreducing the value of the prior art systems a~.id technologies, effectively rendering them obsolete. Tn view of the shortcomings of the prior systems and networl~s, it is desirable to provide a system and method for enabling a user to securely access his client machine, including desktop, software applications, email, data files, etc., from anywhere in the world as if he is still in the office without compromising security or investing in new hardware/software infrastructure.
The network server situated on the LAN would, function as an ASP by hosting multiple virtual machines, to various different remotely located client PCs. Alternatively, Microsoft Corporation's WindowsOO Terminal Services (WTS) using remote desktop protocol (RDP) can be utilized to provide multiple virtual machines. However, both the MetaFrameO and WTS software impose considerable processing load on the client PC, and are vulnerable to network faults and security breaches, such as "man-in-the-middle"
attacks. Additionally, the ASP-based approach, at best, provides a limited remote execution functionality. The prior art systems were desig~ied and developed to overcome the bandwidth limitations of the prior communications networks. Current technological advances have dramatically increased the bandwidth of the communications network.
The network bandwidth is increasing faster than microprocessor speed and doubling approximately every nne months, therebyreducing the value of the prior art systems a~.id technologies, effectively rendering them obsolete. Tn view of the shortcomings of the prior systems and networl~s, it is desirable to provide a system and method for enabling a user to securely access his client machine, including desktop, software applications, email, data files, etc., from anywhere in the world as if he is still in the office without compromising security or investing in new hardware/software infrastructure.
[0012] Managing information systems efficiently has never been more difficult or more essential for success. As the cost of ownership for desktop systems escalates, corporations need ways to reduce purchase aazd upgrade costs, administration and maintenance expenses. However, these savings can't result in a loss of functionality or performance. An unrestricted access to high performance applications remains a critical requirement in managing information systems efficiently. Thus, it is desirable to have a service provisioning system architecture that can provide an unrestricted, native and secure remote access without modifying or with minimal changes to its existing hardware and software infrastructure.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Therefore, it is m object of the present invention to provide a service provisioning system architecture that delivers miversal stateless digital and computing services and overcomes the above-noted shortcomings.
[0014] It is another object of the present invention to provide a service provisionng system architectLUe that provides a secure, reliable, rich, high-performance access to corporate system, such as legacy enterprise data center, with no or minimal modification to the existuig hardware and software infrastructure. The corporate data center can be outfitted with a connector or connection service device to provide a secure remote access from anywb.ere in the world.
[0015] The inventive system and method enables a user of a client device, preferably a stateless client device, to access remote resources including applications and data. Thus, without requiring a local copy of software or data or corresponding hardware resources, a user can surf the Internet, and access his desktop operating system, files and applications. The user can further access other digital services, such as digital video and music broadcasts, Internet protocol (IP) telephony and the like, using a client device much like a television. Preferably, the system includes an authentication system or mechanism, such as a smart card.
[0016] By defining a new way of delivering digital services, the inventive service provisioning system architecture offers multiple levels of functionality, security and long-term investment protection at a significantly.lower overall cost than prior approaches, and allows delivery of any digital service to a remote location without requiring a local copy of the data, any application or supportive hardware.
[0017] W accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the inventive system delivers digital services from an existing network, system or data center through a single "Digital Dial Tone" network without compromising security or modifying any of the functions, operations and hardware/software infrastructure or the existing network.
The service provisioning system architecture of the present invention connects simple, low cost, low maintenance client devices, that can be incorporated in various forms, such as desktops, portable, wireless, or embedded in existing legacy appliances such as TVs, PDAs aJld PCs.
The service provisioning system architecture of the present invention connects simple, low cost, low maintenance client devices, that can be incorporated in various forms, such as desktops, portable, wireless, or embedded in existing legacy appliances such as TVs, PDAs aJld PCs.
[0018] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the service provisioiung system provides remote access 'to digital services over a communications network, comprising a plurality of client devices comiected to the communications network for requesting digital services from a ph~rality of service centers and presenting output from the digital services. The network operation center connected to the communications network authenticates client devices and users, manages sessions, and processes requests for digital services. A ~coxnlector associated with each service center establishes a session with a client device specified by the networlc operation center and encapsulates the native protocols of the digital services within a remote interactive protocol. The remote interactive protocol includes information for generating a human-perceptible presentation on the client device,-to provide a remote access to the digital services without modifying the hardware and software infiastructure of the service centers.
[0019] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the service provisioning method provides a secure remote access to digital services over a communications networlc. The method connects each service center to a connector to provide one or more digital services over the communications network, the connector encapsulating respective native protocols of the digital services within a common remote interactive protocol. The method receives a request for a digital service available on a service center from a user on a client device over the coimnunications network. The network operation center authenticates the user and the client device. If the user and the client device are authenticated as a valid user and a valid client device, a device comzection to the client device is established to initiate a session. The method translates input/output commands of the requested digital service into the remote interactive protocol by the connector, thereby making the requested digital service on the service center remotely accessible to the valid user on the valid client device without modifying the hardware and software infrastructure of the data center.
[0020] The present invention may be embodied in a network of computer systems including a set of dedicated servers adapted by a set of software components, all configured according to the service provisioning system architecture. This architecture has the ability to connect, generate, manage and deliver a digital service session to a variety of client devices connected to the network, and enables the "hot swapping" or "switching" of such sessions between devices by simply authenticating the user through a smart card or other applicable access control technology. By reason of the unique and novel aspects of the present invention, user interaction with each service is unaffected by the type, location or comectivity of the device used.
[0021] Various other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become readily apparent from the ensuing detailed description and the appended claim.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The following detailed description, given by way of example, arid not intended to Iimit tile present invention solely thereto, will best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is an exemplary bloclc diagram of the service provisioning system architecture of the present invention;
[0024] FIGS. 2A-2D are exemplary screen shots of the Meta-Desktop in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an authentication process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and [0026] Fig. 4 is a flow chant of a process for transferring control of a client device to another NOC in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
(0027] The present invention is readily implemented using presently available communication apparatuses and electronic components. The invention finds ready application in virtually all communications systems, including but not limited to intranet, local area network (LAN), wireless LAN (WLAN), wide area network (WAN), Internet, puivate and public commmications networks, wireless, satellite, cable network or other online global broadcast, point-to-point, and other networlcs.
[0028] The present invention provides the basis for a secure, reliable, rich, high-performance access to a wide variety of computational, conununications, entertainment and other digital services (collectively referred to herein as "digital services") wlule providing enhanced security and without requiring a costly conversion to a new hardware/software infrastmcture. The system utilizes Iow-cost, low-maintenance devices to deliver digital services over a wide variety of communications networks worldwide.
Tlxe inventive service provisioning system architecture is operable to manage multiple user sessions from a variety of different client devices. The system continuously maintains each session, thereby permitting the user to readily access his session from different locations and client devices.
Tlxe inventive service provisioning system architecture is operable to manage multiple user sessions from a variety of different client devices. The system continuously maintains each session, thereby permitting the user to readily access his session from different locations and client devices.
[0029] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. l, a service provisioning system architecture 100 comprises one or more client devices 400, service centers 300 and networlc operation centers (NOC) 200 comzected to each other via a communications network; such as the W ternet or a wide area network (WAN) 110. The service provisioning system architecture 100 can utilize virtually any communications system, such as intranet, local area networlc (LAN), wireless network including wireless LAN (WLAN), wide area network (WAN), hlterlet, private or public communications network, satellite network, cable network, other online global broadcast network and the like. W accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the service provisioning system architecture 100 includes security tokens associated with each authorized user of the universal stateless digital and computing services.
[0030] hl accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the WAN 110 is a packet network using, for example, tra~lsmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP). Since all processing and computations are centrally performed at the service centers) 300, the WAN 110 should support a desired level of quality of service (QOS) to instu-e timely response time and timely delivery of data between the client devices 400 and the service centers 300. For example, in order to ensure that the user does not experience an unacceptable or even noticeable delay, the round-trip delay imposed by the WAN 110 should be less than, for example, 60 cosec. Accordingly, the total time from user entering the inputs to the rendering of the textual or graphical representation of the result (i.e., round-trip delay) should be below the user's threshold of perception, i.e., about a hundred milliseconds. Preferably, the QOS demands on the WAN 110 as characterized by round-trip delays are less than 60ms on average and less than 100ms in the worst case.
It is appreciated that from user standpoint and perception, a higher average delay with a low variance is generally prefers ed over a lower average delay with a high variance.
It is appreciated that from user standpoint and perception, a higher average delay with a low variance is generally prefers ed over a lower average delay with a high variance.
[0031] Consistent with current and foreseen architecture of global connnunications networks, the bandwidth requirements of WAN 110 are highly asymmetrical for typical computing applications. The remote processing and rendering aspect of the inventive service provisioning system architecture 100 typically generates considerably more downstream traffic (i.e., data traffic from the service center 300 to the client device 400) than upstream traffic (i.e., data traffic from the client device 400 to the service center 300). In typical application, the bandwidth demand from upstream traffic is on the order of a few lcilobits per second (I~bps) whereas the downstream traffic averages between a few hundred Kbps to several Mbps. For example, in a digital broadcast service application, the traffic consists mainly of broadcast video/audio data from the service center 300 to the client device 400 (i.e., downstream traffic) at 1.554 Mbps after the user selects a particular broadcast or channel similar to the over-the-air broadcast television and cable television, the latter requiring a single upstream transmission of less than one kilobyte.
[0032] Remote devices 430, e.g., CD-ROMs, video cameras, scanners, printers, etc., connected to the client devices 400 can increase the upstream traffic to impose additional bandwidth requirements on the WAN 110. However, these upstream bandwidth demands on WAN 110 can be easily quantified and tend to be constant, frequently being isochronous.
[0033] W accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the inventive service provisioning system architecture ~ lOp utilizes industry standard compression technology to transmit audio and/or video content (e.g., Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), MP3 and the like). Accordingly, bandwidth demands on the WAN 110 from multimedia and telephony applications can be defined. The availability of enhanced WAN performance, e.g., a higher WAN QOS guarantee, may reduce the cost of client devices 400 due to lower memory and data buffering requirements. For example, the approximate bandwidth requirements for various multimedia applications on the WAN
110 include: 160 Mbps for uncompressed analog National Television Standards Cormnittee (NTSC) video and audio, 2 to 7 Mbps for compressed DVD-quality video, 384 Kbps to 1 Mbps for VCR-quality video using the latest coder/decoder (codec), 1.5 Mbps for raw (e.g., pulse width modulation (PWM) encoded) CD-quality audio and Kbps for MP3-compressed music. In contrast, the bandwidth requirement can be as little as 8 Kbps for simple telephony grade compressed audio.
110 include: 160 Mbps for uncompressed analog National Television Standards Cormnittee (NTSC) video and audio, 2 to 7 Mbps for compressed DVD-quality video, 384 Kbps to 1 Mbps for VCR-quality video using the latest coder/decoder (codec), 1.5 Mbps for raw (e.g., pulse width modulation (PWM) encoded) CD-quality audio and Kbps for MP3-compressed music. In contrast, the bandwidth requirement can be as little as 8 Kbps for simple telephony grade compressed audio.
[0034] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the inventive service provisioning system architecture 100 can use various public and/or proprietary remote interactive protocols to ensure user authentication and privacy, preferably through end-to-end encryption. For example, the present system can utilize protocols such as remote desktop protocol (RDP), independent computing arclutecture (ICA~), hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), stateless low-level interface machine (SLIM), appliance link protocol (ALP), etc., as the remote interactive protocol as long as the protocol provides user authentication and enables the user~to securely connect and disconnect to/from the session. WAN 110 preferably comprises a virtual private network (VPN) service to segregate data traffic and to provide a lugh level of network performance.
[0035] Various digital services available from the service centers 300 can be accessed by the users using the client devices 400. The client devices 400 can be located in corporate offices, homes, hotels, airplanes, cars, other in-transit or franchised commercial spaces and the life. The inventive service provisioning system architecture 100 of the present invention contemplates. users employing a variety of different client device implementations and a variety of different type of client devices to access the digital services available from and supported by service centers 300. These client device implementations can range from a hardware-intensive solution, such as a stateless device (for example, a video display terminal), to a software based solution wherein terminal emulation software is installed on a standard PC (i.e., a stateful device) to emulate a client device 400. The client devices 400 can range from simple "wallffnanOO-life"
personal audio playback devices to full-function "PC-life" devices that are comparable to high-end workstations in both functionality and performance. Accordingly, client devices 400 may include but are not limited to lcioslcs, "dmnb" terminals, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, desktop PCs; network PCs, wireless handheld PCs, smaut telephones, set top boxes (STB), TV sets,' arid the life.
personal audio playback devices to full-function "PC-life" devices that are comparable to high-end workstations in both functionality and performance. Accordingly, client devices 400 may include but are not limited to lcioslcs, "dmnb" terminals, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, desktop PCs; network PCs, wireless handheld PCs, smaut telephones, set top boxes (STB), TV sets,' arid the life.
[0036] W accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, client devices 400 can comprise various input/output peripheral equipment, e.g., displays, keyboards, speakers, microphones, smart card readers, etc., each connected to WAN 110.
Preferably, client device 400 implements a remote interactive protocol (or a subset of a remote interactive protocol, i.e., 'light" or "mini" version of the protocol) to communicate with the NOC(s) 200 and service centers) 300 on 'the WAN 110. Client devices 400 can each comprise a combination of the defined peripheral devices, such as one or more display devices (e.g., full-color, blacl~/white, LCD, direct-mapped, frame-buffer device, etc.), input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, touch-screen, scanner, card reader, buttons, etc.), audio devices (e.g., speaker, microphone, etc.), video devices (e.g., camera, codec, clip/overlay region, etc.), and storage devices (e.g., universal serial bus (USB) devices such as printers, CDROMs, DVDs, hard disks, etc.). The specific instances and/or the number of each class of peripheral devices associated with a particular client device 400 are enumerated at power up and reported to the NOC(s) 200 as part of the device authentication and connection setup process. In this mamzer, the service centers 300 can adapt their input/output (I/O) interfaces to si~ppout the capabilities of a specific client device 400 configuration that is cmTently being used to support a number of different types of client devices 400. For example, in the case of bus-comlected peripherals such as USB devices, all "plug" events (i.e., connect/discomiect events) are signaled or reported to NOC(s) 200 via the remote interactive protocol so that appropriate action can be taken at the service centers) 300 to communicate with the client devices 400. Such actions may include, for example, transmitting, appropriate rendering commands to client device 400. The signaling is also necessary because device drivers associated with the attached bus-based peripherals reside and execute on the service centers 300 and not on client devices 400. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the client device 400 encapsulates or wraps the native,protocol of the attached peripheral device (i.e., native USB protocol) within an appropriate remote interactive protocol and passes the native commands between the attached peripheral and corresponding service center 300, i.e., the one currently in communication with and providing service to the client device 400. W accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the remote interactive protocol overlays or operates "on top" of the existing native protocol to thereby enable any device to cormect and connnuncate with the service provisioning system architecture 100. The actual policy defining the operation of the attached peripheral device is set by the corresponding service center 300. For example, the responsible service center 300 determines how to interact with, i.e., "what to do" with the attached peripherals and how to respond to various events such as hot plug/unplug, device-specific exceptions, etc.
Preferably, client device 400 implements a remote interactive protocol (or a subset of a remote interactive protocol, i.e., 'light" or "mini" version of the protocol) to communicate with the NOC(s) 200 and service centers) 300 on 'the WAN 110. Client devices 400 can each comprise a combination of the defined peripheral devices, such as one or more display devices (e.g., full-color, blacl~/white, LCD, direct-mapped, frame-buffer device, etc.), input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, touch-screen, scanner, card reader, buttons, etc.), audio devices (e.g., speaker, microphone, etc.), video devices (e.g., camera, codec, clip/overlay region, etc.), and storage devices (e.g., universal serial bus (USB) devices such as printers, CDROMs, DVDs, hard disks, etc.). The specific instances and/or the number of each class of peripheral devices associated with a particular client device 400 are enumerated at power up and reported to the NOC(s) 200 as part of the device authentication and connection setup process. In this mamzer, the service centers 300 can adapt their input/output (I/O) interfaces to si~ppout the capabilities of a specific client device 400 configuration that is cmTently being used to support a number of different types of client devices 400. For example, in the case of bus-comlected peripherals such as USB devices, all "plug" events (i.e., connect/discomiect events) are signaled or reported to NOC(s) 200 via the remote interactive protocol so that appropriate action can be taken at the service centers) 300 to communicate with the client devices 400. Such actions may include, for example, transmitting, appropriate rendering commands to client device 400. The signaling is also necessary because device drivers associated with the attached bus-based peripherals reside and execute on the service centers 300 and not on client devices 400. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the client device 400 encapsulates or wraps the native,protocol of the attached peripheral device (i.e., native USB protocol) within an appropriate remote interactive protocol and passes the native commands between the attached peripheral and corresponding service center 300, i.e., the one currently in communication with and providing service to the client device 400. W accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the remote interactive protocol overlays or operates "on top" of the existing native protocol to thereby enable any device to cormect and connnuncate with the service provisioning system architecture 100. The actual policy defining the operation of the attached peripheral device is set by the corresponding service center 300. For example, the responsible service center 300 determines how to interact with, i.e., "what to do" with the attached peripherals and how to respond to various events such as hot plug/unplug, device-specific exceptions, etc.
[0037] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a proxy device 410 can be utilized to enable a non-compliant client device 420 to connect to the WAN 110 and communicate with the service centers 300 and the NOC 200. Non-compliant client devices 420 may represent devices that do not currently itself support the remote interactive protocol of the service provisioning system architecture 100. To provide appropriate interface, the proxy device 410 appears to the WAN 110 as a client device 400 and acts as a protocol converter : or "ttumel device" for the non-compliant client device 420. For example, instead of installing the emulating software on a "dumb"
terminal, the "dumb" temninal can be coW ected to a proxy device 410 which is coimected to the WAN 110, thereby enabling the "dumb" terminal to communicate with the NOCs 200 and the service centers 300 via the proxy device 410 and WAN 110.
terminal, the "dumb" temninal can be coW ected to a proxy device 410 which is coimected to the WAN 110, thereby enabling the "dumb" terminal to communicate with the NOCs 200 and the service centers 300 via the proxy device 410 and WAN 110.
[0038] For example, the proxy device 410 can be used to connect a non-complaint thin client to the WAN 110 by converting the thin client's native protocol to its analog in the remote interactive protocol. Accordingly, from the service provisioning system architecture's point of view, the non-compliant thin client is just another client device 400 corrected to the WAN 110. Whereas, from the thin client's point of view, it is simply comlected to a standard thin client serves;. 'Therefore, the service provisioning system architecture 100 can correct and communicate with existing networl~, device or system with no or only minimal modification to the hardware and/or software infrastructure of the existing networl~, device or system. Accordingly, the existing networlc, device or system's functions, operations and infrastructure have not changed, but its capabilities have been enhanced and extended by comiecting to the service provisioning system architecture 100. By correcting to the service provisioning system architecture 100, a corporation, an organization or an individual ca~z now provide a world-wide remote access to the services available on its existing networl~, device or system without compromising security or investing in new hardware/software infrastnicture, such as new client-server system, firewalls, etc.
[0039] In service provisioning system architecture 100, the "real" computing resources and the data associated with the services reside in the service centers 300. It is appreciated that a service center 300 can be a legacy enterprise data center outfitted with one or more connectors or connection service modules 310, or a special site set up specifically to support a given service, such as video conference, Internet protocol (IP) telephony, voice messaging, cable television, digital music, digital movie, e-commerce, etc. The service provisioning system architecture 100 enables the service provider to offer its services by establishing a service center 300 which connects its system to the WAN 110 via a connector 310. The connector or connection service module 310 encapsulates or wraps the existing native protocol of the corresponding service center 300 within an appropriate remote interactive protocol. This enables the service center 300 to transmit its native commands to client devices 400. Also, connector or connection service module 310 of the service center 300 Lmwraps or disassembles the remote interactive protocol messages or paclcets containing the native commands of the client devices 400 destined for service center 300. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, all services offered by the service centers 300 are delivered to the client devices 400 at the direction of, and under the continuous control of, the NOC(s) 200, described hereinbelow.
[0040] W accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, service provisioning system architecture 100 enables a service provider to convert a data center into or establish a seuvice center 300 with no or only minimal changes to its existing hardware and software infrastnicture. For example, a corporation can seamlessly convert its legacy enterprise infrastnicture into a service center 300 and connect the service center 300 to WAN 110 via a connector 310 to provide its employees a secure remote access to a portion or all of the services available on its legacy enterprise infrastructure. The remote interactive protocol of the service provisioning system architecture 100 operates "on top" of the native protocol of the legacy enterprise system to provide a secure remote access to authorized employees. For Unix-based servers, remote access to applications can be provided by either "xhost'ing" the applications or running a special "virtual framebuffer" driver in the server's Xl 1 server software. For Microsoft Windows-based servers, remote access to applications can.be provided by enabling the windows terminal server function and using Microsoft's RDP protocol. Both of these methods provide remote access to applications that run on the servers within the service center 300. In either case, the service center 200 has one or more connection service modules 310 that are connected to the LAN 320 (or the enterprise's Intranet) on one side and to the WAN
110 on the other side. Alternatively, the connector or comzection service module 310 can be comlected to the WAN 110 via a firewahh device (not shown). The connection service module or comlector 310 maintains a secme,connection to one or more NOCs 200, and awaits instnictions to securely connect one of its offered services to a client device 400 specified by one of the NOCs 200. Accordingly, everything that was previously available directly from the data center (e.g., user applications, e-mail clients, voice processing, Internet connections, etc.) is now remotely accessible by a remote user, preferably using a smart card (described hereinbehow) from anywhere, yet, the data never exits the perimeter of the service center 300. Hence, there is no need for a laptop or proprietary personal digital assistants (PDAs), while traveling, although they can still be used.
With the service provisioning system architecture 100, businesses and corporations no longer need to purchase and maintain desl~top or laptops, provide technical and software support at the individual client device location, thereby saving substantial cost, time and overhead while providing an unprecedented level of security and performance.
[0001] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, connection service module 310 comprises software and hardware components, such as a set of one or more low cost, horizontally scalable servers 315 that comlect each digital service to the WAN 110. For example, the digital service can represent computers or servers running a specific operating system (i.e., Windows~, MacintoshTM, LinuxTM, UnixTM, SolarisTM, etc.), digital television broadcasts, IP telephony and the life. Connection service module 310 act as the local user interface for each service, interpret the display/sound and user cormnand set for each service and convert the command set to and from the remote interactive protocol format. Once a session is established between a client device and a service center 300, comlection service module 310 uses the client device 400 to receive and display the human perceptible output of a subscribed or requested digital service and transmit basic, atomic inputs to the subscribed or requested digital service.
Connection service module 310 or servers 315 collect the video or display image (i.e., pixels), sound and I/O data sets of a digital service and generates a stateless session with the client device 400. Servers 315 are "appliance-life" in nature, requiring minimal maintenance and performing only a single function. That is, the servers 315 only manage device comlections between applications or services running on the servers 330 within the service center 300 and the client devices 400 requesting such service.
[0042] The network operations center (NOC) 200 is the gateway to all of the services offered by various service centers 200 corrected to the WAN 110. The NOC
200 authenticates all connection requests received from the client devices 400 and securely transfers the correction to the appropriate service center 300 to deliver the requested services to the client devices 400. Accordingly, the service provisioning system architecture can support multiple NOCs 200 to support a large number of client devices. W accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the number of NOCs 200 is not only vertically scalable, but the functions within a single NOC are also horizontally scalable (nlunber of hardware/software components within the NOC
200 can be increased to expand the NOC's capabilities).
[0001] h accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the NOC 200 comprises one or more authentication service modules 210, a Meta-DesktopTM
service module 220, a user database 230 and a client database 240. The authentication service module 210 responds to authentication requests from the client devices 400 and executes the authentication process of the remote interactive protocol to setup and maintain valid authenticated comlections between the client devices 400 and the NOC 200. The authentication service module 210 stores and maintains valid client devices, user IDs and their associated public lceys in the user database 230 axed the client database 240. Each client device 400 can be associated with a pa~.-ticular NOC 200.
Alternatively, each client device 400 can be associated with a primary NOC 200 and a secondary NOC 200 in case the primary NOC 200 is unavailable. Turning now to Fig. 3, there is illustrated an authentication process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The client device 400 can either transmit its authentication request directly to the assigned NOC 200 (i.e., www.xds.net, www.xds.co.iu, www.xds.de, etc.) or broadcast its authentication requests on the WAN 110 to be received and processed by the assigned NOC 200 in step 1000. Preferably, the client device 400 uses the public l~ey associated with the assigned NOC 200 to encrypt the authentication request before transmitting or broadcasting its authentication request to the assigned NOC 200 in step 1000.
[0044] Each NOC 200 is assigned a unique private l~ey. Using the NOC's private l~ey, the authentication service module 210 decrypts the authentication requests or messages received from the client devices 400 in step 1010. The authentication service module 210 transmits or broadcasts an encrypted response to a particular client device 400 by encrypting the response using the public lcey that is associated with that client device 400 or a user on that client device 400 in step 1020. Preferably, the inventive service provisioning system architecture 100 employs s5nnmetric public l~ey exchange wherein the authentication service module 210 has the public l~ey associated with a user or the client device 400 and the client device.400 has the public l~ey associated with the authentication service module 210. That ' is, the client device 400 encrypts its authentication requests using the public l~ey that is associated with the assigned NOC 200 and decrypts the response or messages received from the assigned NOC 200 using its or user's private lcey. This symmetric authentication procedure ensures that valid NOC 200 is in cornmmlication with a valid client device 400.
[0045] Once the authentication request and response have been successfully exchanged between the requesting client device 400 and the authentication service module 210, the requesting client device 400 and the authentication service module 210 share a unique value (preferably, a value that is difficult to determine or guess) that can be used as a session lcey or initial session l~ey in step 1030. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, eachvclient device 400 includes a smart card reader 430. Each smart card Lllllqllely identifies a user and stores user information, such as user m, user's private key, NOC's public key and the like. A user inserts his smart card into the smal-t card reader 430 of the client device 400 to initiate a session between the client device 400 and a NOC 200. The smart card generates an authentication request based on the client ID of the client device 400 and encrypts its authentication request using its stored public lcey and decrypts the response or messages received from the NOC
using its stored private key. Once the authentication request and response have been successfully exchanged, the smart card and the authentication service module 210 now share a session lcey or initial session key to establish a session with each other. The use of the smart card enables a NOC 200 and a thin or "dumb" client device 400 (i.e., a low cost client device lacking encryption and decryption capabilities) to authenticate each other to establish a session.
[0046] Once the session key and the authentication of the requesting client has been established, the authentication service module 210 passes off or provides the client m associated with the requesting client device 400 to the Meta-Desktop service module 220 in step 1040. The Meta-Deslctop service module 220 establishes a device connection with the requesting client device 400 and displays a customized Meta-Desktop on the requesting device 400 in step 1050.
[0047] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the Meta-Desktop module 220 comprises one or more Meta-Desktop servers 225. The Meta-Desl~top service module 220 searches the client database 240 for a client profile based on the client ID supplied by a remote user's smart card and reads or retrieves the client profile to determine the client device type; the location of the client device (e.g., geographic location and/or network location such as If address), the attached peripheral devices and the like. Based on the client profile information, the Meta-Desktop module 220 generates a Meta-deslctop session using an appropriate Meta-desktop server 225 (e.g., one having spare capacity) and establishes a secure device connection with the requesting client device 400 to display the client-specific customized Meta-Desktop on the requesting client device 400. As a security measure, the Meta-Desktop service module 220 preferably initiates the device connection to the client device 400 to ensure that the Meta-Desktop service module 220 is in communication with a valid and authenticated client device 400.
[0048] The Meta-Deslctop is a top-level selection interface that is used to launch the user into a specific service comiection, i.e., comlecting the client device 400 to a specific service center 300 to receive a particular digital service. W
accordance with an aspect of the present invention, since the Meta-Desl~top is the first screen that is displayed to the user by the client device 400, the Meta-Deslctop offers an opportunity to provide advertising 450, branding and other service-related functions along with user-customizable features as shown in Fig. 2A. The Meta-Desl~top preferably includes icons 440 representing various services available to a specific authenticated user on a specific authenticated client device 400 as shown in Figs. 2A-2D. For example, even though a user is subscribed to the Internet telephony service, he may not be able to access the telephony service if the client device 4.00 is not equipped with a microphone.
In accordance with a~1 embodiment of the present invention, based on the client profile information and infomnation received fiom the client device 400, the Meta-Desl~top service module 220 can customize or tailor the Meta-Desl~top content for a specific client device, a specific user, a specific location of the user, a specific time, etc. Preferably, the Meta-Desl~top module 220 transmits, pushes or broadcasts dynamically changing and constantly updated displays to the client devices 400.
[0049] Although the service provisioning system architecture 100 has been described herein as providing the Meta-Desl~top service, it is appreciated that the Meta-Desl~top service is merely one of marry services that can provided by the NOC
200.
Accordingly, as with the Meta-Desl~top service, authentication service module 210 can authenticate, connect and manage any digital service to the client device 400 via a secure device comiection. For example, one authentication module 210 can manage digital service A, such as the Meta-Desl~top service, and another authentication module 210 can manage digital service B.
[0050] When a user selects a particular service from the Meta-Desl~top displayed on the client device 400 (e.g., clicl~ing on an icon 440 associated with that particular service) in step 1060, the serving or assig~led NOC 200 that is securely connected to the client device 400 determines the service center 300 that is associated with the selected service. The serving NOC 200 uses its secLUe comlection to the connection service module 310 of the desired service center 300 to initiate a new device connection (also referred to herein as the render cormection) between a server 330 and the requesting client device 400 in step 1070. The serving NOC 200 manages the session between the server 330 of the connection module 310 and the requesting client device 400 and maintains a record of the session (i.e., current status or state of the session). That is, the serving NOC
200 provides the client profile information of the requesting client device 400 to the connection service module 310 and instincts the comzection service module 310 to establish a session with the requesting client device 400 by initiating a device or render comlection between the server 330 providing the requested service and the requesting client device 400 over the WAN 110. This approach provides enhanced security by ensuring that the comlection service module 310 initiates all outgoing connections to the client devices 400, and no incoming comlections to the service center 300 are permitted.
That is, no client devices 400 can call into or initiate connections to the service center 300. Also, the NOC 200 terminates or drops its device connection to the client device 400 that was providing the Meta-Deslctop. The connection service module 310 translates the input/output commands from the application service into the remote interactive protocol format and manages the connection to the client device 400. That is, the comlection service module 310 converts to the format (resolution, color depth, l~eystrol~es, mouse coordinates etc.) appropriate for each given client device 400 for any of the digital services available on the service center 300. It is appreciated that no translation is required by the connection service module 310 if the application supports native remote interactive protocol, e.g. via the X11 virtual device driver software.
[0051] After the NOC 200 initiates the establishment of a session between a particular service center 300 and the client device 400, the requesting client device 400 transmits user inputs to the appropriate service center 300 with over the WAN
110 in step 1080. Upon receipt, the service center 300 processes the inputs and/or performs the computations to generate output/results in step 1090. The service center 300 transmits the rendering commands to the client device 400 in step 1100.
[0052] In accordmce with an embodiment of the present invention, each NOC
200 is operable to manage multiple sessions with a variety of client devices 400. NOC
200 dynamically updates the display format of each Meta-Desl~top based on the type of client device 400 that is currently being used by the user to access the digital service from the service provisioning system architecture 100.
[0053] Service provisioning system architecture 100 enhances security by maintaining a secure (e.g., TCP-based) connection between the client device 400 and one of the NOCs 200. The lifetime of the authentication performed on initial user tol~en 18.
insertion, i.e., inserting the smart card into the client device 400 to access the digital service, corresponds to the lifetime of the comiection that is established between the client device 400 and the NOC 200. As long as this correction is maintained, the NOC
sends a "lceep-alive" message to the correction service module 310 of the service center 300. Preferably, as an additional security precaution, the connection service module 310 terminates the device comlection to the client device 400 if the connection service module 310 fails to receive the "beep-alive" message within a predetermined period of time. It is appreciated that the "keep-alive" function is part of the remote interactive protocol.
[0054] As part of the authentication handshal~e or process, the authentication service module 210 performs a public l~ey transaction to ensure the authenticity of both individual users and the specific client device 400. However, a secure distribution of the l~eys is a problem in a public l~ey system, thereby a secure system is necessary to ensure that lceys are securely distributed and safeguarded. W accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the service provisioning system architecture 100 utilizes a tol~en-based security system that employs smart card technology for distributing l~eys and generating session l~eys. For example, a valid user can use his smart card or integrated circuit card to logon to his session via the client device 400 and access the various Meta-Desl~top or digital services. W accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the smart cardltol~en stores user's private lcey, user credentials (e.g., a client/user ID), the public l~ey of a NOC 200, a uniform resource identifier or locator (URI or URL) that can be used to locate an appropriate NOC (e:g.,.'the string "xtp://<uid>.xds.com/"), and the life. Preferably, the smart card includes a source of appropriate pseudo-random numbers, so the service provisioning system architecture 100 does not have to rely on the client devices 400 having these capabilities. As discussed herein, the client devices 400 may span a wide range of device capabilities from a simple I/O device to a fully-functional PC.
[0055] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the smart card/tol~en can be used to authenticate both the client device 400 and the user. Preferably, smart card is a type used by the global system for mobile communication-subscriber identity module (GSM-SIM). For additional security, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, authentication service, module 210 requires the user to enter a PIN or password to unlocl~ the smart card, similar to the conventional automatic teller machine (ATM) card. This helps prevent the smart card from being used an unauthorized user.
[0056] For software-based client device 400 such as a web browser (i.e., one without a smart card reader), the inventive service provisioning system architecture 100 may utilize some other authenticatiouvalidation method, such as using secure sockets layer (SSL) for privacy and a fingerprint reader, a password or challenge/response system for authentication.
[0057] A digital service such as a word processor application, web browser, video service, telephony comzection, etc., can be connected to the WAN 110 through the connectors) or comlection service modules) 310. Once a session has been established between service center 300 and the client device 400, connection service module 310 of service center 300 activates the requested digital service and converts the incoming digital data representation (e.g., a Windows desktop, display/mouse and keystrokes) into a data representation compatible with the remote interactive desktop protocol format and encapsulates it with the user session ID. That is, the connection service module 310 may generate bit-mapped pixel images of the service output, such as generating virtual image of the desktop, an application, etc. The connection service module 310 also reports its state and availability to the NOC 200. However, if the user or user session does not request a digital service, the NOC 200 or~the'Meta-Desktop service module 220 merely maintains the session alive and idle, as shown in Fig. 2A. This enables NOC
200 to provide substantially immediate response to a user request for a digital service and to fully maintain the state of the service session at all times.
[0058] Turning now to Fig. 4, there is illustrated a process for transferring control of a client device 400 to another NOC 200' in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Upon a user request for digital service (e.g., insertion of the smart card in a client device 400) in step 2000, authentication service module 210 of the determines the geographic and/or network location of the requesting client device 400 (e.g., IP address) and establishes whether the distance between the client device 400 and the service center 300 associated with the digital service (i.e., the serving service center 300) is within the direct service area of the service center, e.g., few thousand miles in step 2010. The authentication service module 210 searches the client database 240 for client profile information which contains information relating to the client device type, attached peripheral devices, location, etc. The size of the direct service area depends on the round-trip delay or response time, which should be preferably below the user's threshold of perception. If authentication service module 210 deternines that the requesting client device 400 is within the direct service area of the serving service center 300, the authentication service module 210 authenticates the user and the client device 400, and provides the client ID associated with the requesting client associated with the requesting client device 400 to the Meta-Desktop service module 220 of the NOC 200 in step 2020.
The Meta-Desktop service module 220 establishes a device connection with requesting client device 400, customizes the Meta-Desktop based on the client profile information of the requesting client device 400, and displays the customized Meta-Desktop on the requesting client device 400 in step 2030. When the user selects a desired service from the Meta-Desktop displayed on the requesting client device 400 in step 2040, the NOC
200 determines and instincts the coiTesponding service center 300 to establish a device comlection or session with the requesting client device 400 in step 2050.
[0059] If the client device 400 is outside the direct service area of the service center 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the home NOC
200 encapsulates the user session and transfers and re-establishes the user session to another NOC 200 located closer to the client device 400 (i.e., remote NOC 200) in step 2060. That is, the original user session with the home NOC 200 is "frozen" or suspended.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a series of dedicated servers and software (i.e., session caching servers) encapsulates and transfers the user session to provide global hot desking (i.e., syncluonizing the state of user session among various NOCs 200).
Upon a user's return to his home service area, the home NOC 200 restores/updates and synchronizes the user session in his home service area (i.e., stores the state of user session on the user database 230 of the home NOC~200) in step 2070.
[0060] The NOC 200 hosts aald continuously maintains the user session, thereby enabling the user to freely switch between different types of client devices 400 and/or locations in real time, while maintaining the user session on the NOC 200 and/or the connection service module 210. The user can continue with the session from the point that session was last accessed. Accordingly, if connection service module 210 does not receive the "keep-alive" message from NOC within a predetermined period of time, the connection service module 210 terminates the render or device coimection to the client device 400. Similarly, if the user logs off or removes the token or smart card from the client device 400, NOC 200 continuously maintains the user session, but terminates the authentication connection to the client device 400 and instructs the comZection service module 210 to terminate its render or device connection to the client device 400. A user can re-enter his user session merely by logging back in. If using a smart card or token, this is done by re-entering the token into the same or different client device 400. Thus, the logging on and logging off can be completed to switch between client devices 400.
Thus, a user corrected to one client device 400 and showing a presentation could logoff from it and log-on to another client device 4D0 by removing a token from the first client device 400 and inserting into the second client device 400. Other than a pause in the time needed to switch between the client devices the state of the presentation is maintained and the user can then move about while continuing to show the presentation. When there is a lag time between the time that a user logs off and logs back onto a session, the session would be cached and stored on the connection service module 310 or the NOC 200 while the NOC 200 re-establishes the authenticated and properly configured comlection with the new client device. Hence, there is no need for a laptop or proprietary personal digital assistants (PDAs), while traveling, although they can still be used. With the service provisioning system architecture 100, user only needs to carry his smart card or token to remotely access his corporate network from anywhere.
[0061] The correction service module 310 receives incoming data from service providers or servers 330 and parses the information for transmission to the client devices 400. The present invention utilizes the basic user interface of each client device 400 rather than transcoding information based on the features and functionalities of each client device 400 to display the representation of the data on the client device 400.
Transcoding is a process of converting a media file or object from one format to another.
For example, transcoding is used to convert video formats and to fit hypertext markup language (HTML) files and graphic file's to tile constraints of mobile device and other web-enabled products which usually have 'smaller screen sizes, lower memory, and slower bandwidth rates. The client session and computing overhead to process and manage each user session resides with the NOC 200.
[0062] The comzection service module 310 transfers (i.e., uploads and downloads) data to each client device 400. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the connection service module 310 is a normalized virtual media buffer operable to transfer data using a range of protocols, such as ALP, RDP, IP and the like.
Preferably, connection service module 310 transfers data using the remote interactive protocol optimized to provide a high level of performance with encrypted delivery of streaming data representations, such as streaming video and audio. Those spilled in the art will apps eciate that information relating to streaming audio or video can be transmitted using the User Datagra~n Protocol (UDP) and/or a proprietary tunneling protocol architecture, as these formats tolerate some data loss while reducing data latency. Each session's graphical user interface (GUI) and visual information can be driven by each service driver having it's own rendering engine or windowing engine, such as Microsoft Windows or the JavaTM virtual machine.
[0063] By virtue of the present service provisioning system architecture, NOC
200 can establish a secure cormnunication path between the connection service module 300 and the client device 400 to provide unparalleled levels of security to both the service providers and the users. In addition, the: present invention enables all sessions to be available to the user without any data traveling outside the service center 300, thus providing secure and continuous access to the data from anywhere, including unsecured remote locations.
[0064] In view of the foregoing description, nmnerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those slcilled in the art.
Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those spilled in the art the best mode of ca~.Tying out the invention. Details of the structure may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications, which come within the scope of the appended claim, is reserved.
110 on the other side. Alternatively, the connector or comzection service module 310 can be comlected to the WAN 110 via a firewahh device (not shown). The connection service module or comlector 310 maintains a secme,connection to one or more NOCs 200, and awaits instnictions to securely connect one of its offered services to a client device 400 specified by one of the NOCs 200. Accordingly, everything that was previously available directly from the data center (e.g., user applications, e-mail clients, voice processing, Internet connections, etc.) is now remotely accessible by a remote user, preferably using a smart card (described hereinbehow) from anywhere, yet, the data never exits the perimeter of the service center 300. Hence, there is no need for a laptop or proprietary personal digital assistants (PDAs), while traveling, although they can still be used.
With the service provisioning system architecture 100, businesses and corporations no longer need to purchase and maintain desl~top or laptops, provide technical and software support at the individual client device location, thereby saving substantial cost, time and overhead while providing an unprecedented level of security and performance.
[0001] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, connection service module 310 comprises software and hardware components, such as a set of one or more low cost, horizontally scalable servers 315 that comlect each digital service to the WAN 110. For example, the digital service can represent computers or servers running a specific operating system (i.e., Windows~, MacintoshTM, LinuxTM, UnixTM, SolarisTM, etc.), digital television broadcasts, IP telephony and the life. Connection service module 310 act as the local user interface for each service, interpret the display/sound and user cormnand set for each service and convert the command set to and from the remote interactive protocol format. Once a session is established between a client device and a service center 300, comlection service module 310 uses the client device 400 to receive and display the human perceptible output of a subscribed or requested digital service and transmit basic, atomic inputs to the subscribed or requested digital service.
Connection service module 310 or servers 315 collect the video or display image (i.e., pixels), sound and I/O data sets of a digital service and generates a stateless session with the client device 400. Servers 315 are "appliance-life" in nature, requiring minimal maintenance and performing only a single function. That is, the servers 315 only manage device comlections between applications or services running on the servers 330 within the service center 300 and the client devices 400 requesting such service.
[0042] The network operations center (NOC) 200 is the gateway to all of the services offered by various service centers 200 corrected to the WAN 110. The NOC
200 authenticates all connection requests received from the client devices 400 and securely transfers the correction to the appropriate service center 300 to deliver the requested services to the client devices 400. Accordingly, the service provisioning system architecture can support multiple NOCs 200 to support a large number of client devices. W accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the number of NOCs 200 is not only vertically scalable, but the functions within a single NOC are also horizontally scalable (nlunber of hardware/software components within the NOC
200 can be increased to expand the NOC's capabilities).
[0001] h accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the NOC 200 comprises one or more authentication service modules 210, a Meta-DesktopTM
service module 220, a user database 230 and a client database 240. The authentication service module 210 responds to authentication requests from the client devices 400 and executes the authentication process of the remote interactive protocol to setup and maintain valid authenticated comlections between the client devices 400 and the NOC 200. The authentication service module 210 stores and maintains valid client devices, user IDs and their associated public lceys in the user database 230 axed the client database 240. Each client device 400 can be associated with a pa~.-ticular NOC 200.
Alternatively, each client device 400 can be associated with a primary NOC 200 and a secondary NOC 200 in case the primary NOC 200 is unavailable. Turning now to Fig. 3, there is illustrated an authentication process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The client device 400 can either transmit its authentication request directly to the assigned NOC 200 (i.e., www.xds.net, www.xds.co.iu, www.xds.de, etc.) or broadcast its authentication requests on the WAN 110 to be received and processed by the assigned NOC 200 in step 1000. Preferably, the client device 400 uses the public l~ey associated with the assigned NOC 200 to encrypt the authentication request before transmitting or broadcasting its authentication request to the assigned NOC 200 in step 1000.
[0044] Each NOC 200 is assigned a unique private l~ey. Using the NOC's private l~ey, the authentication service module 210 decrypts the authentication requests or messages received from the client devices 400 in step 1010. The authentication service module 210 transmits or broadcasts an encrypted response to a particular client device 400 by encrypting the response using the public lcey that is associated with that client device 400 or a user on that client device 400 in step 1020. Preferably, the inventive service provisioning system architecture 100 employs s5nnmetric public l~ey exchange wherein the authentication service module 210 has the public l~ey associated with a user or the client device 400 and the client device.400 has the public l~ey associated with the authentication service module 210. That ' is, the client device 400 encrypts its authentication requests using the public l~ey that is associated with the assigned NOC 200 and decrypts the response or messages received from the assigned NOC 200 using its or user's private lcey. This symmetric authentication procedure ensures that valid NOC 200 is in cornmmlication with a valid client device 400.
[0045] Once the authentication request and response have been successfully exchanged between the requesting client device 400 and the authentication service module 210, the requesting client device 400 and the authentication service module 210 share a unique value (preferably, a value that is difficult to determine or guess) that can be used as a session lcey or initial session l~ey in step 1030. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, eachvclient device 400 includes a smart card reader 430. Each smart card Lllllqllely identifies a user and stores user information, such as user m, user's private key, NOC's public key and the like. A user inserts his smart card into the smal-t card reader 430 of the client device 400 to initiate a session between the client device 400 and a NOC 200. The smart card generates an authentication request based on the client ID of the client device 400 and encrypts its authentication request using its stored public lcey and decrypts the response or messages received from the NOC
using its stored private key. Once the authentication request and response have been successfully exchanged, the smart card and the authentication service module 210 now share a session lcey or initial session key to establish a session with each other. The use of the smart card enables a NOC 200 and a thin or "dumb" client device 400 (i.e., a low cost client device lacking encryption and decryption capabilities) to authenticate each other to establish a session.
[0046] Once the session key and the authentication of the requesting client has been established, the authentication service module 210 passes off or provides the client m associated with the requesting client device 400 to the Meta-Desktop service module 220 in step 1040. The Meta-Deslctop service module 220 establishes a device connection with the requesting client device 400 and displays a customized Meta-Desktop on the requesting device 400 in step 1050.
[0047] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the Meta-Desktop module 220 comprises one or more Meta-Desktop servers 225. The Meta-Desl~top service module 220 searches the client database 240 for a client profile based on the client ID supplied by a remote user's smart card and reads or retrieves the client profile to determine the client device type; the location of the client device (e.g., geographic location and/or network location such as If address), the attached peripheral devices and the like. Based on the client profile information, the Meta-Desktop module 220 generates a Meta-deslctop session using an appropriate Meta-desktop server 225 (e.g., one having spare capacity) and establishes a secure device connection with the requesting client device 400 to display the client-specific customized Meta-Desktop on the requesting client device 400. As a security measure, the Meta-Desktop service module 220 preferably initiates the device connection to the client device 400 to ensure that the Meta-Desktop service module 220 is in communication with a valid and authenticated client device 400.
[0048] The Meta-Deslctop is a top-level selection interface that is used to launch the user into a specific service comiection, i.e., comlecting the client device 400 to a specific service center 300 to receive a particular digital service. W
accordance with an aspect of the present invention, since the Meta-Desl~top is the first screen that is displayed to the user by the client device 400, the Meta-Deslctop offers an opportunity to provide advertising 450, branding and other service-related functions along with user-customizable features as shown in Fig. 2A. The Meta-Desl~top preferably includes icons 440 representing various services available to a specific authenticated user on a specific authenticated client device 400 as shown in Figs. 2A-2D. For example, even though a user is subscribed to the Internet telephony service, he may not be able to access the telephony service if the client device 4.00 is not equipped with a microphone.
In accordance with a~1 embodiment of the present invention, based on the client profile information and infomnation received fiom the client device 400, the Meta-Desl~top service module 220 can customize or tailor the Meta-Desl~top content for a specific client device, a specific user, a specific location of the user, a specific time, etc. Preferably, the Meta-Desl~top module 220 transmits, pushes or broadcasts dynamically changing and constantly updated displays to the client devices 400.
[0049] Although the service provisioning system architecture 100 has been described herein as providing the Meta-Desl~top service, it is appreciated that the Meta-Desl~top service is merely one of marry services that can provided by the NOC
200.
Accordingly, as with the Meta-Desl~top service, authentication service module 210 can authenticate, connect and manage any digital service to the client device 400 via a secure device comiection. For example, one authentication module 210 can manage digital service A, such as the Meta-Desl~top service, and another authentication module 210 can manage digital service B.
[0050] When a user selects a particular service from the Meta-Desl~top displayed on the client device 400 (e.g., clicl~ing on an icon 440 associated with that particular service) in step 1060, the serving or assig~led NOC 200 that is securely connected to the client device 400 determines the service center 300 that is associated with the selected service. The serving NOC 200 uses its secLUe comlection to the connection service module 310 of the desired service center 300 to initiate a new device connection (also referred to herein as the render cormection) between a server 330 and the requesting client device 400 in step 1070. The serving NOC 200 manages the session between the server 330 of the connection module 310 and the requesting client device 400 and maintains a record of the session (i.e., current status or state of the session). That is, the serving NOC
200 provides the client profile information of the requesting client device 400 to the connection service module 310 and instincts the comzection service module 310 to establish a session with the requesting client device 400 by initiating a device or render comlection between the server 330 providing the requested service and the requesting client device 400 over the WAN 110. This approach provides enhanced security by ensuring that the comlection service module 310 initiates all outgoing connections to the client devices 400, and no incoming comlections to the service center 300 are permitted.
That is, no client devices 400 can call into or initiate connections to the service center 300. Also, the NOC 200 terminates or drops its device connection to the client device 400 that was providing the Meta-Deslctop. The connection service module 310 translates the input/output commands from the application service into the remote interactive protocol format and manages the connection to the client device 400. That is, the comlection service module 310 converts to the format (resolution, color depth, l~eystrol~es, mouse coordinates etc.) appropriate for each given client device 400 for any of the digital services available on the service center 300. It is appreciated that no translation is required by the connection service module 310 if the application supports native remote interactive protocol, e.g. via the X11 virtual device driver software.
[0051] After the NOC 200 initiates the establishment of a session between a particular service center 300 and the client device 400, the requesting client device 400 transmits user inputs to the appropriate service center 300 with over the WAN
110 in step 1080. Upon receipt, the service center 300 processes the inputs and/or performs the computations to generate output/results in step 1090. The service center 300 transmits the rendering commands to the client device 400 in step 1100.
[0052] In accordmce with an embodiment of the present invention, each NOC
200 is operable to manage multiple sessions with a variety of client devices 400. NOC
200 dynamically updates the display format of each Meta-Desl~top based on the type of client device 400 that is currently being used by the user to access the digital service from the service provisioning system architecture 100.
[0053] Service provisioning system architecture 100 enhances security by maintaining a secure (e.g., TCP-based) connection between the client device 400 and one of the NOCs 200. The lifetime of the authentication performed on initial user tol~en 18.
insertion, i.e., inserting the smart card into the client device 400 to access the digital service, corresponds to the lifetime of the comiection that is established between the client device 400 and the NOC 200. As long as this correction is maintained, the NOC
sends a "lceep-alive" message to the correction service module 310 of the service center 300. Preferably, as an additional security precaution, the connection service module 310 terminates the device comlection to the client device 400 if the connection service module 310 fails to receive the "beep-alive" message within a predetermined period of time. It is appreciated that the "keep-alive" function is part of the remote interactive protocol.
[0054] As part of the authentication handshal~e or process, the authentication service module 210 performs a public l~ey transaction to ensure the authenticity of both individual users and the specific client device 400. However, a secure distribution of the l~eys is a problem in a public l~ey system, thereby a secure system is necessary to ensure that lceys are securely distributed and safeguarded. W accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the service provisioning system architecture 100 utilizes a tol~en-based security system that employs smart card technology for distributing l~eys and generating session l~eys. For example, a valid user can use his smart card or integrated circuit card to logon to his session via the client device 400 and access the various Meta-Desl~top or digital services. W accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the smart cardltol~en stores user's private lcey, user credentials (e.g., a client/user ID), the public l~ey of a NOC 200, a uniform resource identifier or locator (URI or URL) that can be used to locate an appropriate NOC (e:g.,.'the string "xtp://<uid>.xds.com/"), and the life. Preferably, the smart card includes a source of appropriate pseudo-random numbers, so the service provisioning system architecture 100 does not have to rely on the client devices 400 having these capabilities. As discussed herein, the client devices 400 may span a wide range of device capabilities from a simple I/O device to a fully-functional PC.
[0055] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the smart card/tol~en can be used to authenticate both the client device 400 and the user. Preferably, smart card is a type used by the global system for mobile communication-subscriber identity module (GSM-SIM). For additional security, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, authentication service, module 210 requires the user to enter a PIN or password to unlocl~ the smart card, similar to the conventional automatic teller machine (ATM) card. This helps prevent the smart card from being used an unauthorized user.
[0056] For software-based client device 400 such as a web browser (i.e., one without a smart card reader), the inventive service provisioning system architecture 100 may utilize some other authenticatiouvalidation method, such as using secure sockets layer (SSL) for privacy and a fingerprint reader, a password or challenge/response system for authentication.
[0057] A digital service such as a word processor application, web browser, video service, telephony comzection, etc., can be connected to the WAN 110 through the connectors) or comlection service modules) 310. Once a session has been established between service center 300 and the client device 400, connection service module 310 of service center 300 activates the requested digital service and converts the incoming digital data representation (e.g., a Windows desktop, display/mouse and keystrokes) into a data representation compatible with the remote interactive desktop protocol format and encapsulates it with the user session ID. That is, the connection service module 310 may generate bit-mapped pixel images of the service output, such as generating virtual image of the desktop, an application, etc. The connection service module 310 also reports its state and availability to the NOC 200. However, if the user or user session does not request a digital service, the NOC 200 or~the'Meta-Desktop service module 220 merely maintains the session alive and idle, as shown in Fig. 2A. This enables NOC
200 to provide substantially immediate response to a user request for a digital service and to fully maintain the state of the service session at all times.
[0058] Turning now to Fig. 4, there is illustrated a process for transferring control of a client device 400 to another NOC 200' in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Upon a user request for digital service (e.g., insertion of the smart card in a client device 400) in step 2000, authentication service module 210 of the determines the geographic and/or network location of the requesting client device 400 (e.g., IP address) and establishes whether the distance between the client device 400 and the service center 300 associated with the digital service (i.e., the serving service center 300) is within the direct service area of the service center, e.g., few thousand miles in step 2010. The authentication service module 210 searches the client database 240 for client profile information which contains information relating to the client device type, attached peripheral devices, location, etc. The size of the direct service area depends on the round-trip delay or response time, which should be preferably below the user's threshold of perception. If authentication service module 210 deternines that the requesting client device 400 is within the direct service area of the serving service center 300, the authentication service module 210 authenticates the user and the client device 400, and provides the client ID associated with the requesting client associated with the requesting client device 400 to the Meta-Desktop service module 220 of the NOC 200 in step 2020.
The Meta-Desktop service module 220 establishes a device connection with requesting client device 400, customizes the Meta-Desktop based on the client profile information of the requesting client device 400, and displays the customized Meta-Desktop on the requesting client device 400 in step 2030. When the user selects a desired service from the Meta-Desktop displayed on the requesting client device 400 in step 2040, the NOC
200 determines and instincts the coiTesponding service center 300 to establish a device comlection or session with the requesting client device 400 in step 2050.
[0059] If the client device 400 is outside the direct service area of the service center 300, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the home NOC
200 encapsulates the user session and transfers and re-establishes the user session to another NOC 200 located closer to the client device 400 (i.e., remote NOC 200) in step 2060. That is, the original user session with the home NOC 200 is "frozen" or suspended.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a series of dedicated servers and software (i.e., session caching servers) encapsulates and transfers the user session to provide global hot desking (i.e., syncluonizing the state of user session among various NOCs 200).
Upon a user's return to his home service area, the home NOC 200 restores/updates and synchronizes the user session in his home service area (i.e., stores the state of user session on the user database 230 of the home NOC~200) in step 2070.
[0060] The NOC 200 hosts aald continuously maintains the user session, thereby enabling the user to freely switch between different types of client devices 400 and/or locations in real time, while maintaining the user session on the NOC 200 and/or the connection service module 210. The user can continue with the session from the point that session was last accessed. Accordingly, if connection service module 210 does not receive the "keep-alive" message from NOC within a predetermined period of time, the connection service module 210 terminates the render or device coimection to the client device 400. Similarly, if the user logs off or removes the token or smart card from the client device 400, NOC 200 continuously maintains the user session, but terminates the authentication connection to the client device 400 and instructs the comZection service module 210 to terminate its render or device connection to the client device 400. A user can re-enter his user session merely by logging back in. If using a smart card or token, this is done by re-entering the token into the same or different client device 400. Thus, the logging on and logging off can be completed to switch between client devices 400.
Thus, a user corrected to one client device 400 and showing a presentation could logoff from it and log-on to another client device 4D0 by removing a token from the first client device 400 and inserting into the second client device 400. Other than a pause in the time needed to switch between the client devices the state of the presentation is maintained and the user can then move about while continuing to show the presentation. When there is a lag time between the time that a user logs off and logs back onto a session, the session would be cached and stored on the connection service module 310 or the NOC 200 while the NOC 200 re-establishes the authenticated and properly configured comlection with the new client device. Hence, there is no need for a laptop or proprietary personal digital assistants (PDAs), while traveling, although they can still be used. With the service provisioning system architecture 100, user only needs to carry his smart card or token to remotely access his corporate network from anywhere.
[0061] The correction service module 310 receives incoming data from service providers or servers 330 and parses the information for transmission to the client devices 400. The present invention utilizes the basic user interface of each client device 400 rather than transcoding information based on the features and functionalities of each client device 400 to display the representation of the data on the client device 400.
Transcoding is a process of converting a media file or object from one format to another.
For example, transcoding is used to convert video formats and to fit hypertext markup language (HTML) files and graphic file's to tile constraints of mobile device and other web-enabled products which usually have 'smaller screen sizes, lower memory, and slower bandwidth rates. The client session and computing overhead to process and manage each user session resides with the NOC 200.
[0062] The comzection service module 310 transfers (i.e., uploads and downloads) data to each client device 400. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the connection service module 310 is a normalized virtual media buffer operable to transfer data using a range of protocols, such as ALP, RDP, IP and the like.
Preferably, connection service module 310 transfers data using the remote interactive protocol optimized to provide a high level of performance with encrypted delivery of streaming data representations, such as streaming video and audio. Those spilled in the art will apps eciate that information relating to streaming audio or video can be transmitted using the User Datagra~n Protocol (UDP) and/or a proprietary tunneling protocol architecture, as these formats tolerate some data loss while reducing data latency. Each session's graphical user interface (GUI) and visual information can be driven by each service driver having it's own rendering engine or windowing engine, such as Microsoft Windows or the JavaTM virtual machine.
[0063] By virtue of the present service provisioning system architecture, NOC
200 can establish a secure cormnunication path between the connection service module 300 and the client device 400 to provide unparalleled levels of security to both the service providers and the users. In addition, the: present invention enables all sessions to be available to the user without any data traveling outside the service center 300, thus providing secure and continuous access to the data from anywhere, including unsecured remote locations.
[0064] In view of the foregoing description, nmnerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those slcilled in the art.
Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those spilled in the art the best mode of ca~.Tying out the invention. Details of the structure may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications, which come within the scope of the appended claim, is reserved.
Claims (30)
1. A service provisioning system for providing remote access to digital services over a communications network, comprising:
a plurality of client devices connected to said communications network for requesting digital services by users and presenting output from said digital services to said users;
a plurality of service centers for providing said digital services, each of said digital services including a respective native protocol for communicating information to be presented by said client devices to said user and receiving commands input to said client devices by said users;
a network operation center connected to said communications network for authenticating client devices and said users, managing sessions relating said users to requested ones of said digital services, and processing requests for digital services received from said client devices; and at least one connector associated with each of said service centers for establishing respective one of said sessions with respective ones of said client device specified by said network operation center and encapsulating said native protocols of requested ones of said digital services within a remote interactive protocol, said remote interactive protocol including information for generating a human-perceptible presentation on said respective ones of said client devices, to provide a remote access to said digital services without modifying the hardware and software infrastructure of said plurality of service centers.
a plurality of client devices connected to said communications network for requesting digital services by users and presenting output from said digital services to said users;
a plurality of service centers for providing said digital services, each of said digital services including a respective native protocol for communicating information to be presented by said client devices to said user and receiving commands input to said client devices by said users;
a network operation center connected to said communications network for authenticating client devices and said users, managing sessions relating said users to requested ones of said digital services, and processing requests for digital services received from said client devices; and at least one connector associated with each of said service centers for establishing respective one of said sessions with respective ones of said client device specified by said network operation center and encapsulating said native protocols of requested ones of said digital services within a remote interactive protocol, said remote interactive protocol including information for generating a human-perceptible presentation on said respective ones of said client devices, to provide a remote access to said digital services without modifying the hardware and software infrastructure of said plurality of service centers.
2. The service provisioning system of claim 1, wherein said information for generating a human-perceptible presentation includes screen image data for display by said client devices.
3. The service provisioning system of claim 1, wherein said information for generating a human-perceptible presentation includes bit-mapped image data.
4. The service provisioning system of claim 1, wherein said client devices are stateless.
5. The service provisioning system of claim 1, wherein said at least one connector is operable to translate input/output commands of said requested ones of said digital service into said remote interactive protocol and to display virtual representation of data on respective ones of said client devices to ensure that said data is not transmitted outside of respective service center, thereby providing a secure remote access to digital services.
6. The service provisioning system of claim 1, wherein said network operation center comprises an authentication service module for authenticating said users and said client devices, establishing and managing an authentication connection between an authenticated client device and said network operation center.
7. The service provisioning system of claim 6, wherein said authentication service module further comprises a token-based security system for distributing keys and generating session keys using smart cards.
8. The service provisioning system of claim 6, wherein said network operation center comprises a Meta-Desktop service module for generating client-specific customized Meta-Desktop displaying digital services available to authenticated ones of said users and said client devices, and receiving a request for a selected digital service from authenticated ones of said client devices.
9. The service provisioning system of claim 8, wherein said Meta-Desktop service module is operable to generate said specific customized Meta-Desktop based on profile information of said authenticated client device.
10. The service provisioning system of claim 8, wherein said network operation center determines a service center associated with said selected digital service to provide a serving service center and controls said serving service center to establish said session with said authenticated client device.
11. The service provisioning system of claim 1, wherein each of said client devices comprises a peripheral device selected from the group consisting of: a display device, an input device, an audio device, a video device, and a universal serial bus device.
12. The service provisioning system of claim 1, wherein said client devices are non-compliant client devices that do not support said remote interactive protocol.
13. The service provisioning system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of proxy devices, each proxy device associated with one of said non-compliant client devices and operable to convert a protocol of said non-compliant device to said remote interactive protocol.
14. The service provisioning system of claim 1, wherein said communications network provides a predetermined level of quality of service guarantee to ensure a predetermined timely response time.
15. The service provisioning system of claim 1, wherein said network operation center is operable to continuously maintain said session regardless of the status of said client device.
16. The service provisioning system of claim 1, wherein said services comprise a service selected from the group consisting of: video conference, IP telephony, voice messaging, digital music, digital movie, e-commerce, and computing services.
17. A method for providing a secure remote access to digital services over a communications network, comprising the steps of:
connecting each service center to a connector to provide one or more digital services over said communications network, said connector encapsulating respective native protocols of said digital services within a common remote interactive protocol;
receiving a request for a digital service available on a service center from a user on a client device over said communications network;
authenticating said user and said client device by a network operation center;
establishing a device connection to said client device to establish a session if said user and said client device are authenticated as a valid user and a valid client device; and translating input/output commands of said requested digital service into said remote interactive protocol by said connector, thereby making said requested digital service on said service center remotely accessible to said valid user on said valid client device without modifying the hardware and software infrastructure of said data center.
connecting each service center to a connector to provide one or more digital services over said communications network, said connector encapsulating respective native protocols of said digital services within a common remote interactive protocol;
receiving a request for a digital service available on a service center from a user on a client device over said communications network;
authenticating said user and said client device by a network operation center;
establishing a device connection to said client device to establish a session if said user and said client device are authenticated as a valid user and a valid client device; and translating input/output commands of said requested digital service into said remote interactive protocol by said connector, thereby making said requested digital service on said service center remotely accessible to said valid user on said valid client device without modifying the hardware and software infrastructure of said data center.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of translating comprises the step of providing information to generate a human-perceptible presentation on said valid client device.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of providing information provides screen image data for display by said valid client device.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of providing information provides bit-mapped image data.
21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of displaying of virtual representation of data on said valid client device to ensure that said data is not transmitted outside of respective service center, thereby providing a secure remote access to digital services.
22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of establishing and managing an authentication connection between a client device and said network operation center.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of distributing keys using a token-based security system and generating session keys using smart cards.
24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of generating client-specific customized Meta-Desktop displaying digital services available to said valid user and said valid device and receiving a request for a selected digital service from said valid client device.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of generating includes the step of generating said specific customized Meta-Desktop based on profile information of said valid client device.
26. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of determining a service center associated with said selected digital service to provide a serving service center and controlling said serving service center to establish said session with said valid client device.
27. The method of claim 17, further comprising converting a protocol of a non-compliant device to said remote interactive protocol by a proxy device.
28. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing a predetermined level of quality of service guarantee to ensure a predetermined timely response time by said communications network.
29. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of continuously maintaining said session regardless of the status of said valid client device.
30. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of providing a secure remote access to a service selected from the group consisting of: video conference, IP
telephony, voice messaging, digital music, digital movie, e-commerce, and computing services.
telephony, voice messaging, digital music, digital movie, e-commerce, and computing services.
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2002
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2003
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US20080072298A1 (en) | 2008-03-20 |
CN100407186C (en) | 2008-07-30 |
SG187266A1 (en) | 2013-02-28 |
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