Classifications

• • 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
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04L12/00—Data switching networks
  • H04L12/02—Details
  • H04L12/16—Arrangements for providing special services to substations
  • H04L12/18—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast
  • H04L12/1813—Arrangements for providing special services to substations for broadcast or conference, e.g. multicast for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms
  • H04L12/1818—Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• • 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
  • H04L63/083—Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security for authentication of entities using passwords
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP

Definitions

• This invention relates to a telecommunications data conferencing platform.
• Telecommunications data conferencing platforms are already known.
• One example of a known data conferencing platform is the Databeam Net.1 20 System supplied by Databeam Corporation of Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
• a data conferencing platform typically comprises a reservation system and a data server.
• the organiser When an organiser wishes to establish a data conference, the organiser contacts the reservation system to reserve a time and date for the conference. The reservation system then confirms the details of the conference to the organiser.
• These details typically include an identifier for the conference and a password.
• the organiser then forwards these details to the participants to the conference.
• the data conferencing platform transmits conference data, such as drawings and text, between terminals used by the participants.
• conference data such as drawings and text
• a data conferencing platform for providing a data conference between participants, said data conferencing platform having first and second zones, said data conferencing platform comprising: a reservation system located in the first zone; a data server located in the second zone and arranged to be connected to a communications network; and an interface between the first and second zones, the reservation system being connected through the interface to the data server; the reservation system being arranged to make conference reservations; the data server being arranged to receive details of a data conference from the reservation system and to pass conference data between communications terminals used by participants to a data conference; 2
• the interface between the first and second zones being arranged to restrict the passage of messages from the second zone to the first zone to messages which originate directly in the second zone but allow the passage of conference data.
• the expression "messages which originate directly in the second zone" is intended to cover messages which are created inside the second zone but to exclude messages which arise outside the second zone and pass through it to the interface.
• a first message might, for example, be created outside the second zone and be transmitted thereinto.
• the interface would not permit the passage of the first message from the second zone to the first zone.
• a server to take, for example, some or all of the information content of the first message however and create a second message, the interface would permit the passage of the second message from the second zone to the first zone.
• the messaging protocol associated with the first and second messages of this example may be different.
• FIGS 1 and 2 together illustrate the construction of a telecommunications data conferencing platform embodying this invention and the connections between the platform and terminals used by conference participants;
• Figure 3 is a flow chart of the operations which are performed in establishing a data conference using the platform shown in Figure 1 .
• FIG. 1 there is shown a telecommunications data conferencing platform which has a first secure zone 10, a second partly secure zone 1 2 and an interface in the form of a secure firewall 1 - between the first and second zones 10, 1 2.
• the first zone contains a master data server 1 6, a billing system 1 8, a reservation system 20 and an audio bridge 22, which are connected by a communications link 24 to the secure firewall 14.
• the reservation system 20 is 3
• the billing system 1 8 is responsible for generating the billing data for each conference.
• the audio bridge 22 is a bridge between the data conferencing platform and an audio conferencing platform and enables an audio conference to be set out in parallel with a data conference. The provision of an audio conference in parallel with a data conference does not form part of this invention as such and the audio bridge 22 will not be described in further detail.
• Data conferencing platforms having a data server, a billing system and a reservation system are known. An example of such a system is the Databeam Net.1 20 System supplied by Databeam Corporation of Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
• the software which provides the functionality of the master data server 1 6, the billing system 18 and the reservation system 20 generally takes the form used in a known data conferencing platform but modified to provide the functionality described below.
• the master data server 1 6 is connected through a bank of modems 26 to the public switched telecommunications network (PSTN) 28.
• the modems 26 permit the master data server 1 6 to make outgoing calls through the PSTN 28 but prevent the master data server 1 6 from receiving in-coming calls.
• the PSTN is a circuit switched network.
• the second zone 1 2 contains slave data servers 30 and 32 and a World Wide Web (Web) server 34 which are connected together and also to the secure firewall 14 through a communications link 36.
• the slave data server 32 and the Web server 34 are connected to a public firewall 38 by a communications link 40.
• the public firewall 38 is connected by a communications link 42 to the public Internet 44.
• a terminal in the form of a computer 46 is shown connected by a communications link 48 to the public Internet 44.
• the users of computers which can be connected to the public Internet 44 can be participants in a data conference established by the data conferencing platform shown in Figure 1 .
• the user of computer 46 could be such a participant.
• the slave data server 30 is connected through a bank of modems 50 to the PSTN 28.
• the modems 50 permit the slave data server 30 to receive incoming 4
• the user of a computer connected to the PSTN 28, for example computer 60 can be a participant in a data conference established by the data conferencing platform shown in Figure 1 .
• FIG. 1 The users of terminals in the form of computers connected to a private intranet can be participants in a data conference established by the data conferencing platform shown in Figure 1 .
• Figure 2 shows the connections and equipment which are used to connect such computers to the data conferencing platform of Figure 1 .
• Figure 2 also shows PSTN 28, modems 26 and the master data server 1 6.
• a private intranet 62 and a computer 64 connected to it.
• the intranet 62 is connected through a private firewall 66 to a slave data server 68.
• the slave data server 68 is connected through a modem 70 to the PSTN 28.
• the modem 70 permits the slave data server 68 to receive incoming calls from the PSTN 28 but only for the purpose of connecting it to the master data server 1 6.
• the user of computer 64 or the user of any other computer connected to the private intranet 62, could be a participant in a data conference established by the data conferencing platform shown in Figure 1 .
• the users of computers connected to other private intranets can be participants in a data conference in a similar manner.
• the data conferencing platform shown in Figure 1 uses the T.1 20 data conferencing protocol established by the International Telecommunications Union.
• the secure firewall 14 is arranged to restrict the passage of messages from the partly secure zone 1 2 to the secure zone 10 to messages which directly originate in the partly secure zone 1 2.
• the secure firewall 1 2 will permit the passage of a message created on the slave data server 30 or 32 or on the Web server 34. However, it will block a message which originates outside the partly secure zone 1 2 and which passes through the partly secure zone 1 2 simply by a routing function.
• the firewall 14 permits the passage of conference data which conforms to the T.1 20 data conferencing protocol (from the partly secure zone 14 to the secure zone 10).
• the public firewall 38 is arranged to block the passage of messages which fall into one or more categories established by the owner of the data conferencing platform.
• the private firewall 66 is arranged to block all messages except for those which relate to a data conference. 5
• the master data server 1 6, the billing system 1 8, the reservation system 20, the secure firewall 14, the slave data server 30, the slave data server 32, the Web server 34, the public firewall 42, the slave data server 68 and the private firewall 66 each take the form of an individual computer having software to provide the required functionality.
• two or more of the components may share a common computer.
• the billing system 1 8 and the reservation system 20 could be provided on a single computer.
• traffic on the communications links 24, 36, 42 and 48 is transmitted using the TCP/IP protocols. These protocols are also used for traffic between the slave data server 68 and the private intranet 62 as well as traffic between the private intranet 62 and computers connected to it.
• HTTP HyperText Transfer Protocol
• An Internet server which can supply information using the Web service is known as a Web server and the server 34 shown in Figure 1 is an example of such a server.
• a user having a computer which is capable of using the Web service can transmit a request for a data conference to the Web server 34.
• the Web server 34 then inserts the request into a message established in a format used by the reservation system 20 and forwards the message to the reservation system 20.
• the first category comprises users of computers which can connect to the public Internet, such as computer 46.
• the second category comprises users of computers, such as the user of computer 60, which can be connected through the PSTN 28 and modem 50 to the slave data server 30.
• the third category there are users of computers connected to a private intranet which can be connected to the master data server 1 6 through a slave data server and modem provided for the private intranet.
• the user of computer 64 is an example of a participant in the third category. 6
• the participants are the users of computers 46, 60 and 64.
• the organiser of the data conference sends a request to the reservation system 20 for a data conference.
• the request includes the date and time at which the conference is to begin and its duration.
• the organiser can make a phone call to the operator of the reservation system 20, who then enters the details of the request into the reservation system 20.
• the user can send the request to the reservation system 20 via the Web server 34.
• the organiser's computer sends a request to the Web server 34 for a Web page containing a blank request form for a data conference.
• the Web server 34 then transmits the blank form to the organiser's computer.
• the organiser then enters the details of the request onto the Web page and the computer sends the Web page back to the Web server 34.
• the Web server 34 inserts the details of the request into a message which is in a format used by the reservation system 20 and forwards the message to the reservation system 20.
• the Web server 34 functions as a request handling server.
• the reservation system 20 checks if it will be able to establish a conference in accordance with the request. If it is possible to establish the conference, the reservation system 20 creates an identifier and a password for the conference and enters the details of the conference on its booking list.
• the reservation system 20 sends a confirmation message to the organiser.
• the confirmation message contains the identifier and the password for the conference.
• the reservation message can be sent to the organiser over the telephone by the operator of reservation system 20.
• the reservation message can be sent as an e-mail to the organiser's computer via the secure firewall 14, the server 34 and the public Internet 44.
• a step 106 the organiser forwards details of the conference to the three participants. Where a participant has a computer connected to the public 7
• the organiser can send the conference details to the participant simply by forwarding the e-mail received from the reservation system 20.
• the reservation system 20 detects that it is time to start the conference.
• the reservation system 20 creates the conference on the master data server 1 6.
• the master data server 1 6 invites the slave data servers 30, 32 and 68 to join the conference.
• the master data server sends the details of the conference to each of these data servers. More specifically it sends the details of the conference to the slave data servers 30 and 32 via the communications link 24, firewall 14 and the communications link 36.
• the master data server makes an outgoing call using one of the modems 26 through the PSTN 28 and modem 70 to the slave data server 68.
• each of the slave data servers 30, 32 and 68 is invited to join the conference because each of these data servers will be used by one of the participants. More generally, the master data server invites each, but only each, slave data server which will be used by one or more participants to join the conference. Thus, if none of the users of the intranet 62 was a participant in the conference, the slave data server 68 would not be invited to join the conference. However, if the user of a computer connected to another private intranet was a participant in a conference, the slave data server associated with that private intranet would be invited to join the conference.
• a step 1 14 the participants join the conference.
• each participant sends a request message to join the conference to the appropriate slave data server.
• the request message includes the identifier and the password for the conference.
• the user of computer 46 sends a request message to the slave data server 32 via the public Internet 44 and public firewall 38.
• the user of computer 60 makes an outgoing call through the PSTN 28 to modem 50, which then completes the connection to the slave data server 30. It is to be noted that the request messages from computers 46 and 60 are prevented 8
• the user of computer 64 sends a request through the private intranet 62 and private firewall 66 to the slave data server 68.
• each participant is able to add data to the conference.
• the manner in which each user adds items of data to the conference and these items of data are forwarded to the other participants will now be described.
• the item of data is transmitted by the computer 46 through the public Internet 44 to the slave data server 32.
• Slave data server 32 then forwards this item of information to any other computers connected to it and used by participants in the conference. In the present example, there are no such computers.
• the slave data server 32 also forwards the item of data (conforming to the T.1 20 data conferencing protocol) to the master data server 16.
• the secure firewall 14 permits passage of such conference data.
• the master data server 1 6 forwards the item of information to the slave data servers 30, 68.
• the slave data server 68 forwards it to the computer 64 and the slave data server 60 forwards it to the computer 60. More generally, in a data conference, a slave data server forwards an item of information to any computer connected to it and used by a participant in the conference.
• the computer 60 transmits the item of information through the PSTN 28 to the slave data server 30.
• This item of information is then transmitted by slave data server 30 to any computer connected to it and used by a conference participant. In the present example, there are no such computers.
• the item of information is also forwarded by the slave data server 30 to the master data server 1 6.
• the master data server 1 6 forwards the item of information to the slave data servers 32 and 66.
• the slave data server 32 forwards it to the computer 46 and the slave data server 68 forwards it to the computer 64.
• the user of computer 64 wishes to add an item of information to the conference, it transmits the item of information to the slave data server 68.
• the slave data server 68 then forwards it to any other computer connected to the private intranet 62 and used by a participant to the conference. In this example, there are no such participants.
• the slave data server 68 also forwards the item of 9
• the master data server 1 6 forwards the item of information to the slave data servers 30 and 32.
• Each of these slave data 30 and 32 also forwards the item of information to any computer connected to it and which is used by a participant to the conference.
• the slave data servers 30 and 32 forward the item of information, respectively, to computers 60 and 46.
• the reservation system 20 is located inside the secure zone 10, unauthorised persons cannot gain access to it, and so unauthorised persons are unable to obtain details of a conference established by the reservation system 20. In similar fashion unauthorised persons are likewise unable to gain direct access to the master data server 1 6. Thus, unauthorised persons are unable to obtain data used in a conference established by the data conferencing platform shown in Figure 1 . Furthermore, it will be appreciated that denial of direct access to the reservation system 20 or master data server 1 6 also precludes the possibility of using such access to interact with either the audio bridge 22 or the billing system 1 8.
• the data conferencing platform shown in Figure 1 can be used to establish a data conference which uses all three categories of participants. However, if it is desired to provide a data conferencing platform for only one category of participants, then the design can be simplified. For example, if the data conferencing platform is required to provide data conferences only for participants who are connected to it through the public Internet, then the slave data server 30, the bank of modems 50 and the bank of modems 26 may be omitted. Further simplification can be made by omitting the master data server 1 6. With this further simplification, the reservation system 20 establishes the conference directly on the slave data server 32.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Computing Systems (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
• Computer And Data Communications (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

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Families Citing this family (19)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1999
  • 1999-02-08 WO PCT/GB1999/000394 patent/WO1999041896A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-02-08 AU AU25299/99A patent/AU748788B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1999-02-08 CN CN99802895A patent/CN1290447A/zh active Pending
  • 1999-02-08 CA CA002320146A patent/CA2320146C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-02-08 JP JP2000531946A patent/JP4180239B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-02-08 EP EP99904985A patent/EP1055316B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-02-08 DE DE69908094T patent/DE69908094T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-02-08 US US09/600,305 patent/US6668288B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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