Tunneling Client Access Point for Secure Portable Data Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current portable computing devices, such as PDAs, are bulky, have uncomfortable user interfaces, require excessive power, and are limited in data storage and access capabilities, lacking a solution for secure, portable, and efficient data processing and access.
Innovation Solution
The tunneling client access point (TCAP) system allows users to access and process data by connecting to a terminal, utilizing the terminal's resources for storage, execution, and input/output operations, providing a secure and portable solution through a plug-and-play virtual private network (VPN) mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a portable computing device is made smaller to improve portability, then portability is improved, but processing power and storage capacity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a terminal device as an intermediary that provides the processing power and storage capacity that the portable device lacks. The portable device communicates with the terminal through a network connection, allowing users to access powerful computing resources remotely while maintaining portability. This resolves the contradiction by externalizing the computational burden to an intermediary system rather than requiring the portable device itself to have high processing power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the computational resources from the physical dimension (local processing in the portable device) to the network dimension (remote processing through terminal connection). By moving the processing power to another dimension (the network/terminal infrastructure), the system achieves both portability and high processing power without requiring the portable device to be physically large or powerful.
2Weight of moving object
If a portable computing device is made smaller to improve portability, then portability is improved, but storage capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device serves as an intermediary storage repository. The portable device can store data remotely on the terminal's storage infrastructure while maintaining only minimal local storage for immediate operations. This allows users to access large amounts of storage capacity through the network connection without carrying large physical storage devices, thus resolving the contradiction between portability and storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions storage from the physical dimension (local storage in the portable device) to the network dimension (remote storage on terminal). By accessing storage resources through the network infrastructure, the system provides unlimited storage capacity while maintaining the portability of the handheld device, as the storage resides in another dimension (the network cloud) rather than in the physical device.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a PDA is equipped with custom user interfaces and operating systems to improve functionality, then functionality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device acts as an intermediary that provides the complex user interface and operating system functionality. Instead of embedding a full OS and custom UI in the portable device, the system uses the terminal's existing infrastructure to provide these functions remotely. This resolves the contradiction by offloading the complexity to an intermediary system while maintaining simplified portable device design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages the terminal device's universal computing platform to provide diverse functionality across different applications. Rather than designing specialized hardware and software for each function in the portable device, the system uses the terminal's multi-functional operating system and interface capabilities to serve multiple purposes through a single network connection, thus reducing complexity while maintaining versatility.
4Power
If a portable computing device draws more power to maintain data and operate, then processing capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal device serves as a power intermediary that handles the energy-intensive processing tasks. The portable device only needs to consume enough power to maintain network connectivity and communicate with the terminal, while the terminal's power supply handles the heavy processing workload. This resolves the contradiction by transferring the power consumption burden to an intermediary system with access to external power sources.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure details the implementation of a tunneling client access point (TCAP) that is a highly secure, portable, power efficient storage and data processing mechanism. The TCAP “tunnels” data through an access terminal's (AT) input/output facilities. In one embodiment, the TCAP has no user input or output peripherals. The TCAP connects to an access terminal and a user employs the AT's user input peripherals for input, and views the TCAPs activities on the AT's display. This enables the user to observe data stored on the TCAP without it being resident on the AT, which can be useful to maintain higher levels of data security. Also, the TCAP may tunnel data through an AT across a communications network to access remote servers. The disclosure teaches how to allow users to employ traditional large user interfaces that users are already comfortable with. The disclosure, also, teaches a plug-n-play virtual private network (VPN).