Method and apparatuses for transferring data for multiple applications through a single communication link in response to authentication information

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transferring data in response to authentication information. Authentication information is transmitted from a client computer to a server computer to authorize access to restricted data. Invocation information is transmitted from the server computer to the client computer in response to the authentication information. A first application is invoked in the client computer using the invocation information. The restricted data is then transmitted from the server computer to the first application program in the client computer based on the access authorized by the authentication information.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08 / 957,219 filed Oct. 24, 1997 <?insert-start id="INS-S-00001" date="20100406" ?>now U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,249<?insert-end id="INS-S-00001" ?>.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for communicating data between data processing systems, and more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for communicating digital data between digital processing systems.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]It is often necessary or desirable to transfer data between data processing systems, such as digital processing systems. Typically, the transfer of data requires a modem or other interface to convert from the digital data on a digital processing system to data in other formats, such as analog formats. A typical example involves the use of a computer system with a modem at one location to transfer a data file from that computer system to a remotely l...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is about methods and devices for transferring data between digital processing systems. One method involves creating a first representation of a digital media file stored on a first system and comparing it to a plurality of representations stored on a second system. The first representation is transmitted to the second system only if it doesn't match any of the plurality of representations. This allows for secure transfer of data between systems. The invention also describes computer systems and software for performing these methods. Another embodiment involves a client computer transmitting authentication information to a server computer to gain access to restricted data. The server computer then transmits invocation information to the client computer to allow the first application program to access the restricted data. Overall, the invention provides a way to transfer data safely and securely between digital processing systems."

Problems solved by technology

The transfer of large data files, such as digital pictures, requires considerable time even with high-speed analog modems.

Still, considerable time can be required to transfer large files even with these other types of modems.

These prior approaches to transferring data often result in the transmission of unnecessary data between the computer systems.

As a result, considerable time can be spent transferring unneeded data.

It should be noted that one solution may involve checking for the file name on the recipient system before sending the file; however, file names can be changed so that a check for the file name may not yield the correct answer.

This results in wasted effort and can be particularly annoying to a computer-user that has already supplied, for example, authentication information in order to establish the link between the first application program and the remote computer system.

Because the session identifier is located in the payload and not in a header location defined by a particular protocol, it is difficult for other client applications (including those on other machines) to intercept the session identifier and masquerade as the original requester.

While this makes the authenticated download operation somewhat more secure, it also makes it more difficult for a second client application to assume the communication session initiated by the first application.

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