SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BRIDGING DIVERGENT INFORMATION NETWORKS

摘要

A computer system is provided that enables secure, on demand communications across IT infrastructures that may be divergent, and that may be associated with legacy components, different communication protocols, and frequent system changes. The system includes one or more bridge utilities, each bridge utility comprising two or more anchor components, each anchor component being connected to one or more associated devices or computer systems, the anchor components automatically locating and communicating with one or more span utilities, wherein the anchor components and the span utilities execute functionality for automatically creating and configuring connections between them so as to establish the bridge utility, and wherein the anchor components and span utilities are operable to send and receive signalling communications between them for configuring anchor to anchor connections, including hierarchical connections for implementing hierarchical relationships between the associated devices or computer systems, thereby establishing peer-to-peer anchor associations and parent-to-child anchor associations; and once data connections are established between anchor components in a peer-to-peer anchor association (“peer anchor components”), data communications between peer anchor components carry communications automatically between their associated devices or computer systems on a secure and on demand basis; and wherein the one or more bridge utilities enable secure, on demand communications across the IT infrastructures, even if these are divergent, thereby giving effect to information processes across such IT infrastructures.

主权项

1. A computer network implemented system is provided comprising:
one or more computers, the one or more computers implementing one or more bridge utilities for enabling the exchange of information across divergent information and communication infrastructures (“IT infrastructures”), where the IT infrastructures may be associated with different entities, each bridge utility comprising:
two or more anchor components, each anchor component being connected to one or more associated devices or computer systems the anchor components automatically locating and communicating with one or more span utilities, the anchor components and the span utilities executing functionality for automatically creating and configuring connections between them so as to establish the bridge utility, and wherein:(1) the anchor components and span utilities are configured to send and receive signalling communications between them for configuring anchor to anchor connections, including hierarchical connections for implementing hierarchical relationships between the associated devices or computer systems, thereby establishing peer-to-peer anchor associations and parent-to-child anchor associations; and(2) once data connections are established between anchor components in a peer-to-peer anchor association (“peer anchor components”), data communications between peer anchor components carry communications automatically between their associated devices or computer systems on a secure and on demand basis;and wherein the one or more bridge utilities enable secure, on demand communications across the IT infrastructures, even if these are divergent, thereby giving effect to information processes across such IT infrastructures.