Patent ID: 6073174
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A remote access management system for managing communication with distributed target equipment over a communications network, said system comprising:means for receiving a request for an access operation to selected target equipment;means for providing routing information for target equipment identified by said request, said routing information including, for each of at least some pieces of target equipment, a communication network line termination address and a port number of an interface means having a plurality of ports, each of said at least some pieces of target equipment being connected to the network via a port of an interface means and being thereby individually accessible by specifying a respective interface address and a respective port number in the routing information;means for providing equipment-specific access requirements in dependence upon the type of the selected target equipment;means for initiating an access operation to said target equipment, said means including means arranged to transmit control information, including said routing information and said equipment access requirements, to a communications network platform arranged to receive said control information and operate said access operation over a communications network;means for receiving and storing data from said network platform in response to said access operation; and,means for forwarding to the originator of said request data indicative of said stored data.