Access and control system for network-enabled devices
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for remote access of network-enabled devices that provide seamless, firewall-compliant connectivity between multiple users and multiple devices, that allow collaborative operations by multiple users of remote devices, that allow point to multipoint control of multiple devices and which allow rapid, secure transmission of data between remote users and devices. In general terms, the system includes at least one connection server, and at least two computers operatively coupled to the connection server via a public or global network. In an example where at least one client computer is operatively connected to at least one network-enabled device through a connection server via the public or global network, the connection server is configured to route control instructions from the client to the network-enabled device, and route data from the network-enabled device to the client.
1. A process for remotely controlling one or more network-enabled devices by one or more client computers over a public network, wherein the one or more network-enabled devices are operatively connected within one or more different private networks and the one or more client computers are operatively connected within one or more other different private networks, at least one of the private networks being protected by a firewall element, said process comprising:
accessing at least one connection server by at least one of the client computers, said at least one connection server being operably connected to the public network;
establishing a secure connection between each of the at least one client computers and the at least one connection server, after which, the at least one connection server establishes a secure connection between the at least one connection server and each of the network-enabled devices requested to be connected with the at least one client computer, through at least one device control computer connected with said network-enabled devices, wherein secure, full duplex, persistent communications are established through the connection server without the need for any of the computers to know or address a private address of any of the other computers between which the communications take place;
sending control instructions from said at least one client computer to at least one of the connected network-enabled devices, via the at least one connection server; and
receiving data at said at least one client computer received from said at least one connected network-enabled device via said at least one connection server.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the client computers send control instructions to collaboratively control at least one of said network-enabled devices.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein one or more of said client computers send control instructions for point to multipoint delivery of said instructions to a plurality of said network-enabled devices.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one said network-enabled device comprises a scientific instrument.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one said network-enabled device comprises a chemical reactor.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one said network-enabled device comprises a video security device.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one said network-enabled device comprises a surgical device.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one said network-enabled device comprises a power meter.
9. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one said network-enabled device comprises a home security system.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least one said network-enabled device comprises an office security system.