Apparatus and method for establishing communication in a computer network

摘要

Provided are apparatus and a method for establishing communications between a Web client computer in a vehicle and a Web server computer connected to the Internet or an intranet, initiated from a remote Web Browser. The Web Browser sends a request to the server, which invokes a process at the server causing a SMS message to be sent to a telephone connected to the client computer. This SMS message includes an identification of the server process (such as a URL) and causes the client computer to establish communications with the server. This allows the Browser to interact with the client computer via a standard Browser request without the overheads of security exposure of requiring the client to be a Web server. The invention is useful for allowing a remote Browser to interact with a computer controlling a vehicle's electronic control systems.