3com Corporation

Aep Networks, Inc.

Netilla Networks, Inc.

Siuling C Zhang

Rajiv Bhatia

Reginald P Best

Devin J Heitmueler

Kenneth S Araujo

Christopher P Douglas

Gamid Isayev

C Paul Douglas

Tayseer M Elhindi

Gregory H Stypko

Apparatus and accompanying methods for use therein for implementing an integrated, virtual office user environment, through an office server(s), through which a remotely stationed user can access typical office network-based applications, including e-mail, file sharing and hosted thin-client programs, through a remotely located network, e.g., WAN, connected web browser. Specifically, a front end, namely a service enablement platform (SEP), to one or more office servers on a LAN is connected to both the WAN and LAN and acts both as a bridge between the user and his(her) office applications and as a protocol translator to enable bi-directional, web-based, real-time communication to occur between the browser and each such application. The SEP translates user input originating from the browser into application-specific protocols and applies a result to a corresponding office application server.

Apparatus and accompanying methods for providing, through a centralized server site, a secure, cost-effective, web-enabled, integrated virtual office environment remotely accessible through a network-connected web browser

Apparatus and accompanying methods for use therein for implementing an integrated, virtual office user environment, through an office server(s), through which a remotely stationed user can access typical office network-based applications, including e-mail, file sharing and hosted thin-client programs, through a remotely located network, e.g., WAN, connected web browser. Specifically, a front end, namely a service enablement platform (SEP), to one or more office servers on a LAN is connected to both the WAN and LAN and acts both as a bridge between the user and his(her) office applications and as a protocol translator to enable bi-directional, web-based, real-time communication to occur between the browser and each such application. During initial operation, the SEP, operating under a default profile, establishes, over an analog connection to the WAN, a management session with the site to obtain customer WAN access information, then tears down the analog connection and establishes a broadband WAN connection through which the SEP re-establishes its prior session and obtains a client certificate and its customized profile. The SEP then re-initializes itself to that particular profile.

Apparatus and accompanying methods for providing, through a centralized server site, an integrated virtual office environment, remotely accessible via a network-connected web browser, with remote network monitoring and management capabilities

APPARATUS AND ACCOMPANYING METHODS FOR PROVIDING, THROUGH A CENTRALIZED SERVER SITE, AN INTEGRATED VIRTUAL OFFICE ENVIRONMENT, REMOTELY ACCESSIBLE VIA A NETWORK-CONNECTED WEB BROWSER, WITH REMOTE NETWORK MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES

Apparatus, and accompanying methods for use therein, for an ISDN LAN modem that is suited for small user environments and which contains an internal ISDN router having a self-contained network hub for inter-connecting multiple network devices, such as workstations, to each other through a local area network (LAN) and for permitting each of those devices to each gain access through the router to any one of a number of different remote networks. Advantageously, to facilitate and simplify its configuration, the LAN modem automatically adapts itself to a current network environment of a workstation connected thereto, via the LAN, and then communicates with that workstation through a browser executing thereat to obtain configuration information from a user situated at the workstation.

Apparatus and methods for use therein for an ISDN LAN modem utilizing

Apparatus, and accompanying methods for use therein, for an ISDN LAN modem (300) (and various aspects thereof) that is particularly, though not exclusively, suited for small user environments and which contains an internal ISDN router (305) having a self-contained network hub (340) for inter-connecting multiple network devices, such as workstations (10), to each other through a local area network (LAN) and for permitting each of those devices to each gain access through the router to any one of a number of different remote networks. Advantageously, to facilitate and simplify its configuration, the LAN modem automatically adapts itself to a current network environment of a workstation connected thereto, via the LAN, and then communicates with that workstation through a browser executing thereat to obtain configuration information from a user situated at the workstation. Additionally, the LAN modem, through use of a multi-tiered routing hierarchy including both destination- and source-based routing, accommodates several modalities of network communication not heretofore possible in a conventional router. Specifically, several different workstations can simultaneously communicate through the LAN modem with a common remote network (60) and share a single user account at a corresponding network service provider.

Apparatus and methods for use therein for an ISDN LAN modem that selects

Apparatus, and accompanying methods for use therein, for an ISDN LAN modem that is suited for small user environments and which contains an internal ISDN router having a self-contained network hub for inter-connecting multiple network devices, such as workstations, to each other through a local area network (LAN) and for permitting each of those devices to each gain access through the router to any one of a number of different remote networks. Through use of a multi-tiered routing hierarchy including both destination- and source-based routing, the LAN modem accommodates several modalities of network communication not heretofore possible in a conventional router. Specifically, several different workstations can simultaneously communicate through the LAN modem with a common remote network and share a single user account at a corresponding network service provider. Also, the LAN modem can simultaneously route packet traffic between multiple workstations on the LAN and different remote networks through different ISDN connections simultaneously existing between the LAN modem and corresponding network service providers.

Apparatus and methods for use therein for an ISDN LAN modem that

Apparatus, and accompanying methods for use therein, for an ISDN LAN modem that is suited for small user environments and which contains an internal ISDN router having a self-contained network hub for inter-connecting multiple network devices, such as workstations, to each other through a local area network and for permitting each of those devices to each gain access through the router to any one of a number of different remote networks. The LAN modem communicates network failure messages to a host workstation connected to the LAN by intercepting and responding to various DNS (domain name system) messages issued by that workstation and intended for a remote DNS server. Specifically, the LAN modem supplies its own network (IP) address in response to these messages, thus assuming a role of both a remote DNS server and a remote web server in order to implement a mechanism through which a fault-specific web page can be dynamically constructed and downloaded to the workstation for subsequent display, through a browser executing thereat. The page, once rendered, provides a specific message pertinent to the failure.

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Stony Brook, NY, United States of America

Siuling C Zhang