VALUE ADDED NETWORK WITH MULTIPLE ACCESS METHODOLOGY

Abstract: A communications system (10) is provided which allows clients (20) subscribing to a value added network (90) to easily and flexibly communicate with that value added network (90). The client may choose to connect with the network through a direct connect dial-up link such as an X.25 link or alternatively the client may connect through an Internet Protocol (IP) link. A switch (25) at the client connection is provided for accessing the value added network (90) through either communications link. In one embodiment of the present invention, the user of the client workstation may determine which link is appropriate while in another embodiment the communications protocol is selected automatically by the client process based upon the application accessed. Further, a portion of the communications system (10) of the present invention is located at the value added network location. This portion of the system communicates with the connected clients (20) in a manner that allows the communications interface to be transparent to the client.

Description: VALUE ADDED NETWORK WITH MULTIPLE ACCESS METHODOLOGY TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of communications applications and more specifically to communications applications allowing flexible access and multitasking capability to a value added network. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The needs ofthe typical computer user can no longer be met through the use of a single, isolated personal computer. Instead, users generally require communication with other components for accessing data or processing capability not available locally. These components may be present as part of a network in a typical client server architecture or they may be located anywhere throughout the world and accessible through an agreed upon communications protocol. Many businesses have become dependent on these so-called "distributed" systems for accessing, storing and processing data generated by or required by the business. The components which are accessed from the client (or a dumb terminal) may be part ofthe businesses' network or they may be components operated by affiliated or unaffiliated third parties. For example, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) allows businesses to exchange many kinds of data with each other electronically. An electronic network is typically owned and operated by a third party service provider which contracts with the businesses subscribing to the electronic network. In a typical arrangement, both a vendor and a purchaser will subscribe to the electronic network. These parties may exchange electronic mail messages (E-mail), purchase orders, approvals and inventories as well as a myriad of other information through the network. Additionally, various levels of processing may occur within the network so as to automate the business transactions occurring between the vendor and the supplier. These networks are often described as "value added networks" (VANs). Although existing VANs have made a substantial positive impact on the ability to rapidly and accurately process transactions between subscribing businesses, they do still suffer from some important drawbacks. For example, many networks operate over a single dial-up communications line. In such systems, the operator ofthe VAN provides subscribers with one or more communications applications which run locally on a client processor at the subscriber locations. These applications operate in conjunction with network communications applications so that data may be properly and consistently transmitted between the client and the network. Unfortunately, existing client and network applications along with their associated dial-up communications protocols are typically limited in that they may only process a single session at once. In other words, most current communications standards, with which existing network applications are designed to work, will not allow a client to interact with multiple host applications at one time. For example, it is typically not possible to download a vendor's inventory while at the same time sending that same vendor an E-mail posing a question with respect to that inventory. As a subscriber to an existing network, that potential purchaser would need to dial up the network, access the download processing application, request the inventory download, wait for it to complete, exit the download processing application and enter the E-mail application. Then and only then can the user at the client initiate the E-mail transmission. In addition to only being able to support only a single session at once, direct connect dial-up connections can be expensive. A typical connection may occur over an X.25 network which will result in a connect time charge to either the client/subscriber or the network operator by a third party X.25 communications provider. Similarly, once committed to an X.25 provider (or a provider of another compatible communications service) both the subscriber and the EDI operator are, to some degree, at the whim of such a provider. For example, the communications provider may raise prices, provide equipment subject to failure and/or fail to provide adequate support. As will be easily recognizable, this can have a significant negative impact on the operation of both the EDI network and the subscriber's continuing business operations. The availability and recent popularity ofthe Internet provides an attractive alternative to direct asynchronous dial-up access through X.25 lines. Many organizations use the Internet to interconnect private networks so that data may be exchanged between remote sites. For example, an organization having multiple sites might allow for electronic mail to be transmitted between the two sites through the Internet public network. The Internet requires TCP/IP addressing in order for messages to be transmitted and universally understood. Unfortunately, however, messages transmitted over the public Internet network are not secure in that they may be intercepted and read by unintended people or organizations. Thus, data exchange between companies or within a single company at multiple sites over the Internet may not always be an acceptable alternative. Accordingly, a need has arisen for a communications system allowing for cost efficient, secure and flexible data exchange between clients and the applications which they access on a remote server. It is also desirable to provide a system which allows the client to operate multiple sessions through a single communications connection to the server. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the teachings ofthe present invention, a communications system which substantially eliminates the problems and disadvantages with prior systems is provided. According to one embodiment ofthe present invention, a communications system is provided which allows clients subscribing to a value added network to easily and flexibly communicate with that value added network. The client may choose to connect with the network through a direct connect dial-up link such as an X.25 link or alternatively the client may connect through an Internet Protocol (LP) link. A switch at the client connection is provided for accessing the value added network through either communications link. In one embodiment ofthe present invention, the user ofthe client workstation may determine which link is appropriate while in another embodiment the communications protocol is selected automatically by the client process based upon the application accessed. Further, a portion of the communications system ofthe present invention is located at the value added network location. This portion ofthe system communicates with the connected clients in a manner that allows the communications interface to be transparent to the client. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding ofthe present invention may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like features and wherein: FIGURE 1 is a diagram illustrating the operational environment ofthe communications system ofthe present invention; FIGURE 2 is a block diagram illustrating the client portion ofthe communications system ofthe present invention; and FIGURE 3 is a block diagram illustrating the value added network portion ofthe communications system ofthe present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGURE 1, the operational environment ofthe communications system 10 ofthe present invention is shown. Clients 20 communicate through either public communications network (PCN) 60 or through direct dialup connection (DDC) 70 to access data and applications resident on value added network (VAN) 90. Each client 20 includes switch 25 for selecting communication over PCN 60 or DDC 70. In a preferred embodiment ofthe invention PCN 60 comprises the Internet and DDC 70 comprises an X.25 communications network running through an X.25 communications server (not shown). The X.25 network may, for example, comprise an online service such as the one known as CompuServe™ operated by CompuServe, Inc., located in Columbus, Ohio. The communications system may include any number of clients 20 so long as the available bandwidth and transmission resources can reasonably accommodate them. Further, VAN 90 may comprise a computer system having one or more applications, various databases and communications access to other clients 20 in the communications system 10. In one embodiment, VAN 90 may be one or more processors dedicated to the task of accepting, processing and transmitting electronic data interchange information. DDC 70 comprises a communications medium capable of interconnecting two processors according to a standard protocol available and known to both processors. In a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention DDC 70 comprises an X.25 communications server operating to provide a secure connection between clients 20 and VAN 90. Alternatively, direct dialup connection may be any other communications server capable of providing a secure connection between clients 20 and VAN 90. Public communications network 60 comprises a plurality of interconnected processors and/or servers. Public communications network 60, in a preferred embodiment, comprises an interconnection of networks which is commonly known as the "Internet". Similarly any other public communications network may be employed in connection with the present invention. However, in a preferred embodiment, the Internet system is used. Traffic originating from clients 20 and VAN 90 are directed to the appropriate locations within public communications network 60 by router systems therein (not shown). In a preferred embodiment both PCN 60 and DDC 70 interface with a the same router 45 prior to completing the communications path to VAN 90. In that path, following the router, communications system 10 preferably includes at least one firewall 35 and at least one additional router 55 prior to completing the communications path to VAN 90. As is known in the art, firewall 35 is a security device blocking attempts by unauthorized people to access VAN 90. It should be noted that communications system 10 may contain additional routers and firewalls between PCN 60 and DDC 70 (collectively) and VAN 90. Additional firewalls will provide additional security within VAN 90. Routers 45 and 55 serve to read addressing information contained in packets so as to most efficiently transmit these packets to their destination. PCN 60 also typically contains many routers through which traffic in communications system 10 flows. As is known in the art, DDC 70, in its embodiment as an X.25 network contains multiple pads which serve to route traffic in a similar manner to the routers contained in PCN 60. Traffic traveling through both PCN 60 and DDC 70 consists of packets of information which are routed to the designated recipient. In the case of communications system 10, packets originating from one client 20 may be routed to VAN 90 or to any other client 20 within communications system 10. In the case of traffic traveling through PCN 60, data is not secure in that it may be relatively easily intercepted and compromised at various locations within the network. In contrast, DDC 70 provides a secure communications link between client 20 and VAN 90 such that information can not be intercepted and/or compromised. In a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, clients 20 communicate with both PCN 60 and DDC 70 using Point to Point Protocol (PPP). This protocol allows for the transmission of TCP IP packets utilizing a high speed modem over a single telephone line. It also provides an architecture wherein multiple sessions may be operated simultaneously through a single connection (although possibly through multiple communications paths). Alternatively, the Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) may be used to connect through PCN 60 or DDC 70 to VAN 90 in order to achieve the same advantages. By using these protocols, a single asynchronous connection may be used for all communications traffic within communications system 10. In this way, each of clients 20 may simultaneously communicate with VAN 90. In fact, each of clients 20 may concurrently communicate data respecting multiple applications so that multiple tasks or sessions may occur between an individual client 20 and VAN 90 at one time. As mentioned above, Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) allows TCP/LP connectivity over a non-dedicated line. DDC 70, in its form as an X.25 packet switched network, allows for world-wide, packet based connectivity, with local dial access. Turning now to Figure 2, specific detail concerning client 20 is provided. It is to be understood that each of clients 20 within communications system 10 may take various forms which may or may not be exactly as described below. For example, particular clients may have added functionality while others may be more limited in their capabilities without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention. In one embodiment ofthe present invention client 20 comprises a personal computer (PC) for communicating with VAN 90. In this same embodiment, VAN 90 comprises a mainframe computer for processing electronic commerce according to a particular EDI standard or according to multiple EDI standards. It should be noted, however, that client 20 could be any computing device capable of running at least some ofthe below described applications (or other similar applications) and VAN 90 could be any computing device maintaining applications which are accessed by clients 20. Client 20 represents an intelligent client capable of performing processing by itself as opposed to a dumb terminal which has little or no processing capability. Client 20 ofthe present invention also contains memory, at least one processor for running local applications, an input device 100 and an output device 105. Graphical user interface 110 comprises a set of applications for displaying information at output device 105 and for prompting a user to input necessary information at input device 100. One or more security applications 120 may be provided as part of client 20 and controlling the flow of data between GUI 110 and the various functional applications contained within client 20. Security applications 120 may serve to prevent unauthorized access to particular applications or all applications. Security applications 120 may comprise a password/validation check or they may be more complex security mechanisms implemented in either hardware or software as is known in the art. Client 20, in a preferred embodiment, is a PC providing access to VAN 90 which is a host computer for performing electronic data interchange including various value added services. As such, in this embodiment, client 20 contains a number of applications which are run locally at client 20 but used in conjunction with applications running on VAN 90. Exemplary client applications are provided below. It should be noted, however, that these particular applications in no way make up the whole universe of potential client applications which could be used in connection with the present invention. The first client application is EDI application 130. In a preferred embodiment EDI application 130 comprises the Gentran:Director™ and ECForms™ software packages distributed by Sterling Software, Inc. located in Dublin, Ohio. These EDI packages provide for automatic electronic commerce to occur between various trading partners who have access to communications system 10. The Gentran:Director product allows a user to fully manage EDI processing through various navigation tools. In addition, trading partners may be defined and documents for exchange may be specified. The ECForms package provides a user with a tool for developing the forms that will be used between particular trading partners. In a preferred embodiment, EDI application 130 communicates through a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MLME) compatible encoder 180. The M-ME encoder 180 encodes data such as printable ASCII text into a format suitable for transmission as electronic mail. EDI application may access and store data in connected database 195. The next client application employed in a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is a sophisticated mail processing application 140. In a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, mail processing application is Commerce: Mail™, which is distributed by Sterling Software, Inc. This application is an electronic mail application that allows users to send and receive E-Mail messages with and from trading partners. Mail application 140 preferably provides conventional E-mail functionality with support for X.400 users, the Internet, and open addressing. Mail application 140 preferably routes output through MIME encoder 180 prior to transmission to VAN 90. World- Wide- Web application 150 allows a user to access world wide web pages which are located either on the public communications network 60 or at VAN 90. The world wide web is a large scale information service that allows a user to browse information using a hypermedia linking system providing ease of use and efficient access to desired information. Particular (possibly often used) world wide web pages may be stored locally in local library 190 for quick access. File transfer protocol (FTP) application 160 allows a user to download a file or any type of information from VAN 90 or which is located on public communications network 60 which is preferably the Internet. Similarly, FTP application 160 allows a user to upload a file to these same remote locations. FTP is a TCP/IP standard for transferring files from one location to another. Finally, an X.500 directory 170 may be provided so as to indicate and specify attributes relating to subscribers of VAN 90. The X.500 may also contain vendor identifiers and addresses as well as additional information about the vendors (profiles) so that information about such vendors may be accessed as part of an open standard (X.500) by many applications. The client 20 will also preferably contain TCP stack manager 125 for breaking application data down into TCP packets and attaching the required header information as is known in the art. In one embodiment, TCP stack manager may be the Winsock applications programming interface (API) included with the Windows 95 operating system distributed by the Microsoft Corporation for customizing packet generation. Communications manager 135 functions to control the reception and transmission of packet data to and from the client 20, respectively. Figure 3 illustrates VAN 90 in more detail. As mentioned above, the particular applications resident on VAN 90 may differ from those described below without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe present invention. It should be noted that VAN 90 is preferably implemented as an Ethernet network providing access to each ofthe below described applications or similar applications. The first exemplary application running on VAN 90 is world wide web server 210. World wide web server 210 may contain various world wide web pages managed and maintained by the operator of VAN 90 or its subscribers. These world wide web pages may be accessed by clients 20 or by other processors or terminals having authorization to access data through VAN 90. Next, MIME post office 220 is preferably provided so as to allow clients 20 to access their mail, process it and determine the ultimate status of mail. MIME post office 220 may interface with Commerce network for receiving mail therefrom and transmitting mail thereto. X.500 directory 230 may be maintained at VAN 90 as discussed to provide an open platform allowing users to access information about subscribers such as their addresses and desired trading partners. FTP server 240 contains various files and data which is maintained on VAN 90 for transmission to subscribers if so desired. File server 250 similarly downloads data and files which may be maintained on storage device 255. As would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, various other applications may also reside on VAN 260 so that they may be remotely accessed by clients 20. This group of applications is illustrated in Figure 3 as box 260. Considering the above description of clients 20 and VAN 90 and the communications therebetween, the specific operation ofthe system from the user's standpoint is now described in additional detail. In a typical implementation, the user, sitting at client terminal 20 will initiate communication with VAN 90 through a set up screen. In one embodiment, the user may be prompted to select either PCN 60 or DDC 70 as a communication path to VAN 90. In either case, a PPP communication protocol is preferably used so that the user may concurrently process multiple sessions executing multiple applications with data exchange between client 20 and VAN 90. Alternatively, a SLIP protocol or any other agreed upon protocol providing multiple concurrent sessions over PCN 60 and DDC 70 may be used. In another embodiment, a communications path (PCN 60 or DDC 70) will automatically be selected for the user as controlled by the particular application(s) being accessed. Automatic selection may alternatively be made on the basis ofthe availability and status (e.g. the response time or extent of current traffic) of either or both of PCN 60 or DDC 70. Upon selection of either PCN 60 or DDC 70, switch 25 operates to automatically dial up the local number for DDC access or access the PCN 60 as may be required. As will be described below, switch 25 comprises an application for selecting among a plurality of logon scripts, each ofthe logon scripts causing the call to be routed to a different host. In the case of DDC access and in particular X.25 access, PPP packets are tunneled through that network. Prior to being sent to a particular application resident on VAN 90, the X.25 formatting information is preferably stripped off of the data stream and the PPP packets will be converted to TCP/LP. The transmission of PPP over X.25 is established as follows. First, an X.25 connection is established. This is preferably accomplished via a local dial to an X.25 povider's Point of Presence (POP). A scripting language is used to logon and route the call to VAN 90. Once X.25 connectivity is established, a PPP session is brought up. This is controlled by PPP software running on client 20 and by routers 45 and/or 55. Router 45 and/or 55 assigns client 20 a dynamic IP address. Once PPP connectivity is established, there exists an open communication pipe for the LP to use. In practical terms, the PPP protocol data is wrapped in X.25 packet envelopes that are opened and re-routed at the VAN 90 site. The procedure is similar when SLIP is used in place of PPP. In the case of access through PCN 60 and in particular Internet access, PPP packets are transmitted through that network by dialing up a PPP terminal server of an Internet service provider. PPP packets are transmitted directly to VAN 90. In this case the logon script is set up to point to the Internet rather than to the VAN 90 LP address. The above description is merely illustrative ofthe present invention and should not be considered to limit the scope thereof. Additional modifications, substitutions, alterations and other changes may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A communications system comprising: at least one client, a value added network; a public communications network; a direct dialup network; and means for allowing said at least one client to selectively communicate with said value added network through either said direct dialup network or said public communications network. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said value added network comprises multiple applications programs remotely accessed by said at least one client. 3 The system of claim 2 wherein said value added network comprises a plurality of servers linked through an Ethernet connection. 4. The system of claim 1 wherein said public communications network comprises the Internet. 5. The system of claim 1 wherein said direct dialup connection comprises an X.25 network. 6. The system of claim 1 wherein said public communications network comprises the Internet and said direct dialup connection comprises an X.25 network. 7. The system of claim 1 wherein communication between said at least one client and said value added network is in the form of Point to Point Protocol. 8. The system of claim 1 wherein communication between said at least one client and said value added network is in the form of SLIP protocol. 9 The system of claim 1 wherein said means for allowing selective communication comprises a switch 10 The system of claim 1 wherein each of said clients further comprises a communications application running locally 11 The system of claim 10 wherein each of said clients further comprises a plurality of local commerce applications 12 The system of claim 11 wherein said local commerce applications include an electronic mail application 13 The system of claim 11 wherein said local commerce applications include a world wide web browser application 14 The system of claim 1 1 wherein said local commerce applications include at least one electronic data interchange application 15 The system of claim 1 wherein a user located at said client controls said means for selective communication for specifying whether said client with said value added network through said direct dialup network or through said public communications network 16 The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one firewall located between said at least one client and said value added network 17 The system of claim 16 further comprising at least one router located between said at least one client and said value added network 18 A method for communicating between at least one client and a value added network comprising the steps of selecting a communications network from among either a public communications network or a direct dialup network, communicating with said value added network through said selected communications network, said communication through said public communications network and said communication through said direct dialup network being specified according to the same communications protocol 19 The method of claim 18 wherein said communications protocol comprises Point to Point protocol 20 The method of claim 18 wherein said communications protocol comprises SLLP protocol 21 The method of claim 18 wherein said selection of a communications network is controlled by a user located at said client

Inventors: HAFNER EDWARD A, ROHRER TERRY H, HAFNER, EDWARD, A., ROHRER, TERRY, H.
Applicants: STERLING COMMERCE INC, STERLING COMMERCE, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: H04L12, H04L29