US 7624438

Patent Overview — US 7,624,438 B2

Title: System and method for providing a secure connection between networked computers

Patent number / application: US 7,624,438 B2; Application US 10/922,041

Inventors: Eric White and Patrick Turley

Assignee information (as listed): Original assignee listed as "Individual"; assignments recorded to Rocksteady Networks, Inc.; Rocksteady Technologies, LLC; RPX Corporation; and, per the listing, Netskope Inc. as current assignee.

Key dates: Priority date 2003-08-20; filing date 2004-08-19; publication of US20050044350A1 on 2005-02-24; granted 2009-11-24; anticipated expiration 2024-08-19; legal status listed as "Expired - Lifetime."

Purpose: The invention relates generally to computer connectivity, and more particularly to establishing and providing secure connections between computers. One described scenario: a remote client computer wishes to establish a connection with an intranet or a computer within an intranet, and the remote client and a server of the intranet create a VPN so information may be securely transferred.

Plain-language scope: A connection is requested in a first protocol (described as HTTPS). In response, configuration data is sent and executes on the requesting computer to automatically configure a second protocol and establish a secure connection. The request may include a username and password, with data sent only if verified. The data may include a controller, described as an ActiveX controller, and a credential (dynamically generated, valid only for the duration of the secure connection). The second protocol is described as PPTP, configured and established automatically via the controller. The specification notes protocols inherent to particular operating systems may be used to set up the secure connection in automated fashion, requiring no manual intervention or configuration by the user. Figures describe architecture (FIG. 1), a flow diagram (FIG. 2), an applied example (FIG. 3), VPN client software (FIG. 4), and another architecture (FIG. 5).

Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7624438/en

What the excerpt does not establish: It does not provide the full claims, full specification, prosecution history, or the complete text of the figures. It does not establish the accuracy of the listed assignees or legal status, which the source itself characterizes as assumptions. It contains no findings on validity, enforceability, infringement, or prior art.