Method and system of providing computer network based limited visibility service discovery

摘要

Computer networks can have excessively varied configurations, hence the ability to easily discover and access services within a networked computing environment has become indispensable to modern business. As a result, systems such as ZeroConfiguration (ZeroConfig) have been introduced to make services such as printing more seamless. ZeroConfig enables a service (such as a printing service) to be discovered in a straightforward manner to user devices wishing to use the service without any configuration on the part of a user or administrator. While this is advantageous in some environments, in others, service visibility becomes too widespread. Hence, a system and method is provided for controlled visibility service discovery and subsequent service execution. The system and method allow only authorized users to discover services from their user device using ZeroConfig as the underlying technology. In this way benefits of systems such as ZeroConfig can be maintained while providing service visibility control.

主权项

1. A method of providing computer network based limited visibility service discovery, comprising:
disabling a broadcast function of a service device when the service device includes a broadcast service advertisement function; configuring a service to be recognized by a server via an initial service discovery request; directing the server to wait for a subsequent service discovery request from a user device; upon receipt of the subsequent service discovery request, verifying with the server that the requesting user device is authorized or not authorized to view services available via the network; responding to a user device service request based on a result of the authorization check, where a response is sent from the server to only the said requesting user device if authorized to view the service, and a response is not sent to said requesting user device if not authorized to view the service; upon receipt of user selection of the service to be executed, processing the service request with a service handler by receiving, processing, and forwarding the request to a service device or further service forwarding device.