Patent ID: 6742039
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
A system, comprising:a local area network, said local area network including a local entity, a connection entity coupled to the local entity, and an access control mechanism coupled to the connection entity; a trusted arbitrator coupled to the access control mechanism via a wide area network; and a remote entity coupled to the trusted arbitrator via the wide area network, wherein the trusted arbitrator receives a first request, the first request being sent by the remote entity across the wide area network to the trusted arbitrator and being directed at least in part to the local entity on the local area network, wherein the trusted arbitrator authenticates the remote entity as a valid requestor before the first request is transmitted to the local entity, and is an intermediary between the remote entity and the local entity across the wide area network, wherein the connection entity continuously polls the trusted arbitrator via the access control mechanism across the wide area network to determine whether any requests directed to devices on the local area network are pending in the trusted arbitrator, wherein the trusted arbitrator sends a first response via the wide area network to the connection entity on the local area network, the first response including the first request from the remote entity and being in response to polling by the connection entity, and wherein the connection entity forwards at least a portion of the first request to the local entity.