CA2236644A1

CA2236644A1 - Value added network with multiple access methodology

Info

Publication number: CA2236644A1
Application number: CA002236644A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Edward A. Hafner; Terry H. Rohrer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Sterling Commerce Inc
Priority date: 1995-11-03
Filing date: 1996-11-01
Publication date: 1997-05-09
Also published as: NO981979D0; IL124303A0; EP0870252A1; BR9611143A; TR199800789T2; WO1997016793A1; NO981979L; EP0870252A4; AU7600996A

Abstract

A communications system (10) is provided which allows clients (20) subscribing to a value added network (90) to easily and flexibly communicate with that value added network (90). The client may choose to connect with the network through a direct connect dial-up link such as an X.25 link or alternatively the client may connect through an Internet Protocol (IP) link. A switch (25) at the client connection is provided for accessing the value added network (90) through either communications link. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user of the client workstation may determine which link is appropriate while in another embodiment the communications protocol is selected automatically by the client process based upon the application accessed. Further, a portion of the communications system (10) of the present invention is located at the value added network location. This portion of the system communicates with the connected clients (20) in a manner that allows the communications interface to be transparent to the client.

Description

CA 02236644 1998-0~-01 VALUE ADDED NETVVORK WITEI MULTIPLE~ ACCI~SS METEIODOLOGY

TECHNICAL FIELD QF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of communications applications and S more specifically to comm--nic~tions applications allowing flexible access and mllltit~cking capability to a value added network.
BACKGRQUND OF THE INVENTION
The needs of the typical computer user can no longer be met through the use of asingle, isolated personal computer. Tnete?~rl, users generally require comm--niç~tion with other 10 components for ~cceeeing data or processing capability not available locally. These components may be present as part of a network in a typical client/server ar~hitect~re or they may be located anywhere throughout the world and ~cceceible through an agreed upon comm--ni~tions protocol.
Many b--einesses have become dependent on these so-called "distributed" systems for 15 ?Icceceing, storing and processing data generated by or required by the business. The components which are ~ccessed from the client (or a dumb terminal) may be part of the bll.cin~eeee' network or they may be components operated by ~ffili~ted or lm~ffili~ted third parties. For example, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) allows b~einesees to exchange many kinds of data with each other electronically. An electronic network is typically owned and 20 operated by a third party service provider which contracts with the b--eine~eses subscribing to the electronic network. In a typical arr~ngP.ment both a vendor and a purchaser will subscribe to the electronic network. These parties may .oxf.h~nge electronic mail mess~ges (E-mail), purchase orders, approvals and inventories as well as a myriad of other h~l lllaLion through the network. Additionally, various levels of processing may occur within the network so as to 25 automate the business tr~ne~cti~ns occurring between the vendor and the supplier. These networks are often des-;libed as "value added ~Lwo,k~?' (VANs).
Although existing VANs have made a ~ub~l~,Lial positive impact on the ability torapidly and accurately process transactions between :jubs~ g b~eineee~e, they do still suffer from some important drawbacks. For example, many networks operate over a single dial-up CA 02236644 1998-0~-01 cc)mmllnications line. In such systems, the operator ofthe VAN provides subscribers with one or more col"",..,-;cations applications which run locally on a client processor at the subscriber locations. These applications operate in conjunction with network comm-mi~tit nsapplications so that data may be properly and con.ci~t~ntly L~ " l;l ~ ed between the client and the network. Unfortunately, existing client and network applications along with their 5 associated dial-up communications protocols are typically limited in that they may only process a single session at once. In other words, most current co~ ti~-ns standards, with which existing network applications are designed to work, will not allow a client to interact with multiple host applications at one time. For ~x~mplç, it is typically not possible to download a vendor's inventory while at the same time sending that same vendor an E-mail 10 posing a question with respect to that inventory. As a subscriber to an existing network, that potential purchaser would need to dial up the network, access the download processing applic~tion request the inventory download, wait for it to complete, exit the download processing application and enter the E-mail application. Then and only then can the user at the client initiate the E-mail tr~n~mie~ion.
In addition to only being able to support only a single session at once, direct connect dial-up connections can be c ~ sive. A typical connection may occur over an X.25 network which will result in a connect time charge to either the client/subscriber or the network operator by a third party X.25 communications provider. Similarly, once co,--",;l led to an X.25 provider (or a provider of another co" ,p~l ihle col "" ,. "~ic~ti(-ns service) both the subscriber and the EDI operator are, to some degree, at the whim of such a provider. For example, the commllnic~tions provider may raise prices, provide eqllipm~nt subject to failure and/or fail to provide ~lequ~te support. As will be easily recognizable, this can have a ~i~nific~nt negative impact on the operation of both the EDI network and the subscriber's contin--ing business operations.
The availability and recent popularity of the Internet provides an attractive alternative to direct asynchronous dial-up access through X.25 lines. Many o~ ns use the Internet to interconnect private networks so that data may be exchanged between remote sites. For example, an olg~ it)n having mllltiple sites might allow for electronic mail to be L,~,-~",illed between the two sites through the Internet public network. The Internet requires CA 02236644 1998-0~-01 TCP/IP addressing in order for mess~ges to be Lla~ .";lle~l and universally understood.
Unfortunately, however, meSs~gec Ll,."~ ecl over the public Internet network are not secure in that they may be intercepted and read by ~-ninten-lecl people or or~ni7~tinns. Thus, data exch~n~e between colll~ es or within a single COI~ at multiple sites oYer the Internet may not always be an acceptable alternative.
Accoldillgly, a need has arisen for a commllniç~tions system allowing for cost efficient, secure and flexible data ~Ycch~nge between clients and the applications which they access on a remote server. It is also desirable to provide a system which allows the client to operate multiple sessions through a single communications connection to the server.
SlJhlMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the te~.hing.~ of the present invention, a communications system which subst~nti~lly ~olimin~te~s the problems and disadvantages with prior systems is provided.
According to one embodiment ofthe present invention, a co.. ;c~tiQns system is provided which allows clients subscribing to a value added network to easily and flexibly commlmic~te with that value added network. The client may choose to connect with the n~Lw~,lk through a direct connect dial-up link such as an X.25 link or alternatively the client may cormect through an Internet Protocol (IP) link. A switch at the client connection is provided for ~çces~in~ the value added network through either communications link. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user of the client wc,lh~LaLion may determine which link is a~.opliate while in another embodiment the coll.ll-ullications protocol is selected autom~tiç~lly by the client process based upon the application ~cce~e-l Further, a portion of the commlmis~tions system ofthe present invention is located at the value added network location. This portion of the system communicates with the conn~ctecl clients in a manner that allows the commllniç~tion~ interface to be Ll~lspa.ellL to the client.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete underst~nrling of the present invention may be acquired by l~rellil~g to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like features and wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a diagram illustrating the operational environment ofthe commllniç~tions system of the present invention, CA 02236644 1998-0~-01 FIGURE 2 is a block diagram illus~ hlg the client portion of the communications system of the present invention; and FIGURE 3 is a block diagram illustrating the value added network portion of the comm-mications system ofthe present invention.
~ETAILED DESCRIPTION O~ THE INVENTION
S Referring to FIGURE 1, the operational environment ofthe comml-nic~tinns system 10 of the present invention is shown. Clients 20 communicate through either public c~.."""l-;cations network (PCN) 60 or through direct dialup connection (DDC) 70 to access data and applications resident on value added network (VAN) 90. Each client 20 in~.llldes switch 25 for selecting co~ llunication over PCN 60 or DDC 70. In a plcrclled embodiment of the invention PCN 60 colll~lises the Internet and DDC 70 comprises an X.25 communications network running through an X.25 co""".~,~ic.~tions server (not shown). The X.25 network may, for example, comprise an online service such as the one known as CompuserveTM operated by Compuserve, Inc., located in Columbus, Ohio. The comm--nications system may include any number of clients 20 so long as the available bandwidth and Ll;~ ;on resources can reasonably accolll,llodate them. Further, VAN 90 may comprise a computer system having one or more applications, various ~1~t~hs~e~:e and communications access to other clients 20 in the communications system 10. In one embodiment, VAN 90 may be one or more processors dedicated to the task of accepting, processing and ~lnn.~lll;L~ g electronic data ...Le..,hallge i.lro-lllation.
DDC 70 comprises a comm--nis~tione m~lillm capable of illLclGol~ cting two processors according to a standard protocol available and known to both processors. In a plcrclled embodiment ofthe present invention DDC 70 comprises an X.25 comm--nications server operating to provide a secure connection between clients 20 and VAN 90.
Alternatively, direct dialup connection may be any other comml-nic~tion~ server capable of providing a secure co,~necl;Qn between clients 20 and VAN 90.
Public comm~mic~tiQnS network 60 comprises a plurality of intel col~lGcted processors and/or servers. Public comm~lnic~tiQn~ network 60, in a plt;rt;lled embodiment, colllplises an il.lel ~,o,llle~;Lion of networks which is cornmonly known as the "Internet". Similarly any other public communications net~,vork may be employed in connection with the present invention.

CA 02236644 1998-0~-01 s However, in a p~c~re~ed embodiment, the Internet system is used Trafflc origin~ting from clients 20 and VAN 90 are directed to the app.~,p.iate locations within public con-l~-ullications network 60 by router systems therein (not shown).
In a p~ t;r~ d embodiment both PCN 60 and DDC 70 interface with a the same router 45 prior to completing the comm-lnic~tions path to VAN 90 In that path, following the S router, communications system 10 preferably inc~hl(les at least one firewall 35 and at least one additional router 55 prior to completing the comm--ni~tit ns path to VAN 90. As is known in the art, firewall 35 is a security device blocking attempts by lm~lthorized people to access VAN 90. It should be noted that communications system 10 may contain additional routers and firewalls between PCN 60 and DDC 70 (collectively) and VAN 90. Additional firewalls 10 will provide additional security within VAN 90.
Routers 45 and 55 serve to read addressing i.lrc,llllalion contained in packets so as to most efflciently ll~lslllil these packets to their destin~tion. PCN 60 also typically contains many routers through which traffic in commllni~ti~ns system 10 flows. As is known in the art, DDC 70, in its embodiment as an X 25 network contains multiple pads which serve to 15 route traffic in a similar manner to the routers contained in PCN 60 Traffic traveling through both PCN 60 and DDC 70 consists of packets of inr~.lllalion which are routed to the clçei n~tecl recipient In the case of communications system 10, packets origin~ting from one client 20 may be routed to VAN 90 or to any other client 20 within comm--niç~tions system 10 In the case oftrafflc traveling through PCN 60, data is not 20 secure in that it may be relatively easily intercepted and colllploll-ised at various locations within the network. In contrast, DDC 70 provides a secure communications link between client 20 and VAN 90 such that information can not be hllel-;ep~ed and/or conl~l~l. ised In a plere;lled embodiment of the present invention, clients 20 comm--nic~te with both PCN 60 and DDC 70 using Point to Point Protocol (PPP) This protocol allows for the 25 tr~n~mi~ci~ n of TCP/IP packets ~ltili~ing a high speed modem over a single telephone line. It also provides an arçhitect~-re wherein multiple sessions may be operated ~imlllt~neously through a single connection (although possibly through multiple comm--nic~ti- ns paths) Alternatively, the Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) may be used to connect through PCN
60 or DDC 70 to VAN 90 in order to achieve the same advantages By using these protocols, CA 02236644 1998-0~-01 a single asynchronous connecti- n may be used for all communications traffic within communications system 10. In this way, each of clients 20 may ~imlllt~neQusly communicate with VAN 90. In fact, each of clients 20 may concurrently commnnic~te data respecting multiple applications so that multiple tasks or sessions may occur between an individual client 20 and VAN 90 at one time.
As mentioned above, Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) allows TCP/IP connectivity over a non-dedicated line. DDC 70, in its form as an X.25 packet switched network, allows for world-wide, packet based connectivity, with local dial access.
Turning now to Figure 2, specific detail concerning client 20 is provided. It is to be understood that each of clients 20 within commnnic~tion.~ system 10 may take various forms which may or may not be exactly as described below. For example, particular clients may have added functionality while others may be more limited in their capabilities without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention. In one embodiment of the present invention client 20 comprises a personal computer (PC) for communicating with VAN 90. In this same embodiment, VAN 90 comprises a ~ infi~lle computer for processing electronic commerce accolding, to a particular EDI standard or accold"lg to multiple EDI standards. It should be noted, however, that client 20 could be any comp~ting device capable of 1 Unllillg at least some of the below described applications (or other similar applications) and VAN 90 could be any computing device "~s.i"l;~;"i~g applications which are accessed by clients 20.
Client 20 l epl esent~ an int~lligf-nt client capable of pelrol ~ g processing by itself as opposed to a dumb termin~l which has little or no proce~eing capability. Client 20 of the present invention also co.lLai,ls memory, at least one processor for .u..."..g local applic~tion~, an input device 100 and an output device 105. Grap_ical user interface 110 comprises a set of applications for displaying h rullllalion at output device 105 and for plolll,u~ g a user to input necessary h~ll~l~Lion at input device 100. One or more security applications 120 may be provided as part of client 20 and controlling the flow of data between GUI 1 10 and the various functional applications cont~ine(l within client 20. Security applications 120 may serve to prevent nn~thorized access to particular applications or all applic~ti(~n~ Security applications 120 may colll~-ise a password/validation check or they may be more complex security mef.h~ implf-mPnted in either haldw~e or software as is known in the art.

CA 02236644 l998-0~-Ol Client 20, in a ~lert;ll~d embodiment, is a PC providing access to VAN 90 which is a host computer for p~.rol.lling electronic data i,lLe~ allge in~ 1ing various value added services. As such, in this embodiment, client 20 contains a number of applications which are run locally at client 20 but used in conjunction with applications running on VAN 90.
Exemplary client applications are provided below. It should be noted, however, that these 5 particular applications in no way make up the whole universe of potential client applic~ti which could be used in connection with the present invention.
The first client application is EDI application 130. In a plt;re~llt;d embodiment EDI
application 130 comprises the Gentran:DirectorTM and ECForms~M software paç~gP,sdistributed by Sterling Software, Inc. located in Dublin, Ohio. These EDI packages provide 10 for automatic electronic collllllel .;e to occur between various trading pal lnt;l s who have access to comm--nic~tions system 10. The Gentran:Director product allows a user to fully manage EDI processing through various navigation tools. In addition, trading partners may be defined and docllmPnt~ for c;Achallge may be specified. The ECForms p~c.k~ge provides a user with a tool for developing the forms that will be used between particular trading partners. In a 15 plc;re;lled embodiment, EDI application 130 communicates through a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) co-llpaLible encoder 180. The MIME encoder 180 encodes data such as printable ASCII text into a format suitable for tr~n~mi.~ion as electronic mail. F~nI
application may access and store data in connPcted d~t~b~e 195.
The next client application employed in a pl er~lled embodiment of the present 20 invention is a sophi~tiç~ted mail processing application 140. In a plerelled embodiment ofthe present invention, mail processing application is Co~ elce: MailTM, which is distributed by Sterling Software, Inc. This application is an electronic mail application that allows users to send and receive E-Mail messages with and from trading partners. Mail application 140 preferably provides convpntion~l E-mail functionality with support for X.400 users, the 25 Internet, and open addressing. Mail application 140 preferably routes output through MlME
encoder 180 prior to tr~n~mi.c~ic n to VAN 90.
World-Wide-Web application 150 allows a user to access world wide web pages which are located either on the public communications network 60 or at VAN 90. The world wide web is a large scale i,lr~ Lion service that allows a user to browse hlr~llllaLion using a CA 02236644 1998-0~-01 hypermedia linking system providing ease of use and efficient access to desired illfol ~,lalion.
Particular (possibly often used) world wide web pages may be stored locally in local library 190 for quick access.
File l,dll~fel protocol (FTP) application 160 allows a user to download a file or any type of i,~llllaLion from VAN 90 or which is located on public comm--nic~tions network 60 which is preferably the Internet. Similarly, FTP application 160 allows a user to upload a file to these same remote locations. FTP is a TCPtIP standard for transferring files from one location to another.
Finally, an X.500 directory 170 may be provided so as to indicate and specify attributes relating to subscribers of VAN 90. The X.500 may also contain vendor i~l~ntifi~rs and addresses as well as additional il~,l",~Lion about the vendors (profiles) so that hlfu~ Lion about such vendors may be ~çces.~eA as part of an open standard (X.500) by many applications.
The client 20 will also preferably contain TCP stack manager 125 for breaking application data down into TCP packets and ~tt~hing the required header il~ollll~Lion as is known in the art. In one embodiment, TCP stack m~n~g~r may be the Winsock applications progl~ ,.""g interface (API) inçhlded with the Windows 95 operating system distributed by the Microsoft Corporation for customizing packet ~7ent:l~Lion. Comml-nications m~n~g~r 135 functions to control the reception and tr~n~mi~.cion of packet data to and from the client 20, respectively.
Figure 3 illustrates VAN 90 in more detail. As mentioned above7 the particular applications resident on VAN 90 may differ from those described below without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that VAN 90 is preferably impl~nn~ntecl as an Ethernet nelwol k providing access to each of the below described applications or similar applications.
The first exemplary application rurming on VAN 90 is world wide web server 210.
World wide web server 210 may contain various world wide web pages managed and " ,~; " ~ e~l by the operator of VAN 90 or its subscribers. These world wide web pages may be ~ce~setl by clients 20 or by other processors or terminals having authorization to access data through VAN 90.

CA 02236644 1998-0~-01 Next, MIME post offlce 220 is p~er~l~ly provided so as to allow clients 20 to access their mail, process it and determine the llltim~te status of mail. Ml:ME post offlce 220 may interface with Co~ e-ce network for receiving mail the.t;fi~,--, and Ll~ g mail thereto.
X.500 directory 230 may be ..~ .ed at VAN 90 as rli~cll~sed to provide an open platform allowing users to access il-ro.lllaLion about subscribers such as their addresses and 5 desired trading partners.
FTP server 240 contains various files and data which is ~ ;.-ed on VAN 90 for tr~n~mi~ion to subscribers if so desired. File server 250 similarly downloads data and files which may be l,.~ ;..ed on storage device 255.
As would be obvious to one of ordill~y skill in the art, various other applications may also reside on VAN 260 so that they may be remotely ~ccessed by clients 20. This group of applications is illustrated in Figure 3 as box 260.
Considering the above description of clients 20 and VAN 90 and the communications thel~b~Lw~en7 the specific operation ofthe system from the user's standpoint is now described in ~d-1itic~n~1 detail. In a typical impl~ n, the user, sitting at client terminal 20 will initiate comml-nic~tion with VAN 90 through a set up screen. In one embodirnent, the user may be prompted to select either PCN 60 or DDC 70 as a commllniç~ticn path to VAN 90. In either case, a PPP commllnic~ti~ n protocol is preferably used so that the user may concurrently process multiple sessions ~xecllting multiple applications with data ~ h~nge between client 20 and VAN 90. Alternatively, a SLIP protocol or any other agreed upon protocol providing multiple concurrent sessions over PCN 60 and DDC 70 may be used. In another embodiment, a comml-ni~tinns path (PCN 60 or DDC 70) will ~utom~tic~lly be sçlected for the user as controlled by the particular application(s) being acce~e(l Automatic selection may alternatively be made on the basis of the availability and status (e.g. the response time or extent of current traffic) of either or both of PCN 60 or DDC 70.
Upon selection of either PCN 60 or DDC 70, switch 25 operates to autom~tic~lly dial up the local l-ulllbel for DDC access or access the PCN 60 as may be required. As will be described below, switch 25 comprises an application for s~lectin~ among a plurality of logon scripts, each of the logon scripts causing the call to be routed to a di~el~llL host.
In the case of DDC access and in particular X.25 access, PPP packets are tunneled CA 02236644 1998-0~-01 through that network. Prior to being sent to a particular application resident on VAN 90, the X.25 rc l lllaUillg illrOl lllaLion is preferably stripped off of the data stream and the PPP packets will be converted to TCP/IP.
The tr~n~mi~ion of PPP over X.25 is established as follows. First, an X.25 connection is established. This is preferably accomplished via a local dial to an X.25 povider's Point of S .Presence (POP). A scripting l~n~l~ge is used to logon and route the call to VAN 90. Once X.25 connectivity is established, a PPP session is brought up. This is controlled by PPP
software running on client 20 and by routers 45 and/or 55. Router 45 and/or 55 assigns client 20 a dynamic IP address. Once PPP conn~ctivity is established, there exists an open comm--nic~tion pipe for the IP to use. In practical terms, the PPP protocol data is wrapped in 10 X.25 packet envelopes that are opened and re-routed at the VAN 90 site. The procedure is similar when SLIP is used in place of PPP.
In the case of access through PCN 60 and in particular Internet access, PPP packets are Ll ;~ . .;11 ed through that network by dialing up a PPP terrninal server of an Internet service provider. PPP packets are L,~ ed directly to VAN 90. In this case the logon script is set 15 up to point to the Internet rather than to the VAN 90 IP address.
The above description is merely illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered to limit the scope thereof. Additional modifications, substitutions, alterations and other changes may be made to the invention without depal Lhlg from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended daims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A communications system comprising:
at least one client;
a value added network;
a public communications network coupling said at least one client with said value added network;
a direct dialup network coupling said at least one client with said value added network; and a switching mechanism coupled to said at least one client, said switching mechanism operable to allow said at least one client to selectively communicate through either said direct dialup network or said public communications network to access data and applications resident on said value added network.

2. The system of Claim 1 wherein said value added network comprises multiple applications programs remotely accessed by said at least one client.

3. The system of Claim 2 wherein said value added network comprises a plurality of servers linked through an Ethernet connection.

4. The system of Claim 1 wherein said public communications network comprises the Internet.

5. The system of Claim 1 wherein said direct dialup connection comprises an X.25 network.

6. The system of Claim 1 wherein said public communications network comprises the Internet and said direct dialup connection comprises an X.25 network.

7. The system of Claim 1 wherein communication between said at least one client and said value added network is in the form of Point to Point Protocol.

8. The system of Claim 1 wherein communication between said at least one client and said value added network is in the form of SLIP protocol.

9. Cancelled.

10. The system of Claim 1 wherein each of said clients further comprises a communications application running locally.

11. The system of Claim 10 wherein each of said clients further comprises a plurality of local commerce applications.

12. The system of Claim 11 wherein said local commerce applications include an electronic mail application.

13. The system of Claim 11 wherein said local commerce applications include a world wide web browser application.

14. The system of Claim 11 wherein said local commerce applications include at least one electronic data interchange application.

15. The system of Claim 1 wherein a user located at said at least one client controls whether said at least one client communicates with said value added network through said direct dialup network or through said public communications network.

16. The system of Claim 1 further comprising at least one firewall located between said at least one client and said value added network.

17. The system of Claim 16 further comprising at least one router located between said at least one client and said value added network.

18. A method for communicating between at least one client and a value added network comprising the steps of:
selecting a communications network connecting said at least one client with said value added network from among either a public communications network or a direct dialup network, communicating with said value added network through said selected communicationsnetwork, said communication through said public communications network and said communication through said direct dialup network being specified according to the same communications protocol.

19. The method of Claim 18 wherein said communications protocol comprises Point to Point protocol.

20. The method of Claim 18 wherein said communications protocol comprises SLIP protocol.

21. The method of Claim 18 wherein said selection of a communications network is controlled by a user located at said client.