System and method for globally and securely accessing unified information in a computer network

Abstract

A client stores a first set of workspace data, and is coupled via a computer network to a global server. The client may be configured to synchronize portions of the first set of workspace data with the global server, which stores independently modifiable copies of the portions. The global server may also store workspace data which is not downloaded from the client, and thus stores a second set of workspace data. The global server may be configured to identify and authenticate a user seeking global server access from a remote terminal, and is configured to provide access to the first set or to the second set. Further, services may be stored anywhere in the computer network. The global server may be configured to provide the user with access to the services. The system may further include a synchronization-start module at the client site (which may be protected by a firewall) that initiates interconnection and synchronization with the global server when predetermined criteria have been satisfied.

1 . A smartphone comprising:
 a communications interface to communicate via one or more Internet communications channels;   a service engine configured to contact a global server via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface to retrieve configuration data to configure the service engine with a selectable set of downloadable executables, the selectable set of downloadable executables including at least one service access downloadable executable;   a display to present at least some of the selectable set of downloadable executables on the smartphone; and   an input device to select a service access downloadable executable from the selectable set of downloadable executables,   wherein the service engine is configured to download the selected service access downloadable executable via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface, the downloaded service access downloadable executable being operative to access a service server from the smartphone via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface.   
     
     
         2 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein said service server is located on a computing device remote from said global server. 
     
     
         3 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein said service server provides a workspace retrieval service enabling retrieval of a workspace element of a selected type. 
     
     
         4 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein the selectable set of downloadable executables is presented as a list on said smartphone. 
     
     
         5 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein the selectable set of downloadable executables includes one or more downloadable executables enabling retrieval of workspace elements of two or more types. 
     
     
         6 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein the smartphone is arranged to communicate via the Internet to synchronize, with a locally stored workspace element, a workspace element of a selected type which has been transmitted from another computing device via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         7 . The smartphone of  claim 6 , wherein the smartphone is configured using the selected service access downloadable executable to access a service provided by the other computing device via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         8 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein the selected service access downloadable executable is downloaded from the global server. 
     
     
         9 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein the smartphone is further configured to access said service server on the basis of further configuration data provided by said global server. 
     
     
         10 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein said service server is a component of the global server. 
     
     
         11 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein said service server is a component of a computing device remote from said global server. 
     
     
         12 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein said service server provides a user authentication service. 
     
     
         13 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein the selectable set of downloadable executables includes at least a subset of available downloadable executables, said subset being selected based on user identity. 
     
     
         14 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein the smartphone is configured to receive responses from said service server via the global server acting as a proxy for the smartphone. 
     
     
         15 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein the smartphone is configured to access said service server by retrieving a service address of the service server from the global server. 
     
     
         16 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein the smartphone is configured to access said service server by sending service requests, and receiving responses to said service requests, via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         17 . The smartphone of  claim 1 , wherein the smartphone is configured to synchronize with a further computing device at a third site via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         18 . The smartphone of  claim 17 , wherein the smartphone is configured to synchronize with the further computing device in relation to e-mail workspace data. 
     
     
         19 . The smartphone of  claim 17 , wherein the smartphone is configured to synchronize with the further computing device at the third site in relation to calendar workspace data. 
     
     
         20 . The smartphone of  claim 17 , wherein the smartphone is configured to access the further computing device in a LAN protected by a firewall when the smartphone is outside the protection of the firewall. 
     
     
         21 . A method of accessing services using a smartphone, the method comprising:
 contacting a global server via an Internet communications channel using a communications interface to retrieve configuration data to configure the smartphone with a selectable set of downloadable executables, the selectable set of downloadable executables including at least one service access downloadable executable;   presenting at least some of the selectable set of downloadable executables on a display on the smartphone;   selecting a service access downloadable executable from the selectable set; and   downloading the selected service access downloadable executable via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface, the downloaded service access downloadable executable being operative to access a service server from the smartphone via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said service server is located on a computing device remote from the global server. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said service server provides a workspace retrieval service enabling retrieval of a workspace element of a selected type. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the selectable set of downloadable executables is presented as a list on said smartphone. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the selectable set of downloadable executables includes one or more downloadable executables enabling retrieval of workspace elements of two or more types. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising communicating via the Internet to synchronize, with a workspace element stored locally on the smartphone, a workspace element of a selected type which has been transmitted from another computing device via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , comprising using the selected service access downloadable executable to access a service provided by the other computing device via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising downloading the selected service access downloadable executable from the global server. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising accessing said service server via the selected service access downloadable executable on the basis of further configuration data provided by said global server. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said service server is comprised in said global server. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said service server is comprised in a computing device remote from said global server. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said service server provides a user authentication service. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the selectable set of downloadable executables includes at least a subset of available downloadable executables, said subset being based on user identity. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising receiving responses from said service server via the global server acting as a proxy for the smartphone. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising accessing said service server by retrieving a service address of the service server from the global server. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 21 , comprising sending service requests to said service server, and receiving responses to said service requests, via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising conducting synchronization at said smartphone with respect to a further computing device at a third site via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising conducting synchronization of e-mail workspace data on said smartphone with respect to said further computing device. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising conducting synchronization of calendar data with respect to said further computing device. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising the smartphone accessing the further computing device in a LAN protected by a firewall when the smartphone is outside the protection of the firewall. 
     
     
         41 . A computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions thereon for execution on a smartphone computing device to implement a method of accessing services by the smartphone computing device, the computer readable instructions, when executed on a processor in the smartphone, causing the processor to perform the method comprising:
 contacting a global server via an Internet communications channel using a communications interface to retrieve configuration data to configure the smartphone with a selectable set of downloadable executables, the selectable set of downloadable executables including at least one service access downloadable executable;   presenting at least some of the selectable set of downloadable executables on a display on the smartphone;   selecting a service access downloadable executable from the selectable set; and   downloading the selected service access downloadable executable via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface, the downloaded service access downloadable executable being operative to access a service server from the smartphone via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface.   
     
     
         42 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein said service server is located on a computing device remote from the global server. 
     
     
         43 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein said service server provides a workspace retrieval service enabling retrieval of a workspace element of a selected type. 
     
     
         44 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the selectable set of downloadable executables is presented as a list on said smartphone. 
     
     
         45 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the selectable set of downloadable executables includes one or more downloadable executables enabling retrieval of workspace elements of two or more types. 
     
     
         46 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the computer readable instructions cause the processor to communicate via the Internet to synchronize, with a workspace element stored locally on the smartphone, a workspace element of a selected type which has been transmitted from another computing device via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         47 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 46 , wherein the computer readable instructions cause the processor to use the selected service access downloadable executable to access a service provided by the other computing device via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         48 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the computer readable instructions cause the processor to download the selected service access downloadable executable from the global server. 
     
     
         49 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the computer readable instructions cause the processor to access said service server via the selected service access downloadable executable on the basis of further configuration data provided by said global server. 
     
     
         50 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein said service server is comprised in said global server. 
     
     
         51 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein said service server is comprised in a computing device remote from said global server. 
     
     
         52 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein said service server provides a user authentication service. 
     
     
         53 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the selectable set of downloadable executables includes at least a subset of available downloadable executables, said subset being selected based on user identity. 
     
     
         54 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the computer readable instructions cause the processor to receive responses from said service server via the global server acting as a proxy for the smartphone. 
     
     
         55 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the computer readable instructions cause the processor to access said service server by retrieving a service address of the service server from the global server. 
     
     
         56 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the computer readable instructions cause the processor to send service requests to said service server, and to receive responses to said service requests, via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         57 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 41 , wherein the computer readable instructions cause the processor to conduct synchronization at said smartphone with respect to a further computing device at a third site via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         58 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 57 , wherein the computer readable instructions cause the processor to conduct synchronization of e-mail workspace data on said smartphone with respect to said further computing device. 
     
     
         59 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 57 , wherein the computer readable instructions cause the processor to conduct synchronization of calendar data with respect to said further computing device. 
     
     
         60 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 57 , wherein the computer readable instructions cause the processor to access the further computing device in a LAN protected by a firewall when the smartphone is outside the protection of the firewall. 
     
     
         61 . A service access system comprising a global server and one or more smartphones, the global server providing access to downloadable executables by each of said smartphones, wherein each of said smartphones comprises:
 a communications interface to communicate via one or more Internet communications channels;   a service engine configured to contact the global server via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface to retrieve configuration data to configure the service engine with a selectable set of downloadable executables, the selectable set of downloadable executables including at least one service access downloadable executable;   a display to present at least some of the selectable set of downloadable executables on the smartphone; and   an input device to select a service access downloadable executable from the selectable set,   wherein the service engine is configured to download the selected service access downloadable executable via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface, the downloaded service access downloadable executable being operative to access a service server from the smartphone via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface.   
     
     
         62 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein said service server is located on a computing device remote from said global server. 
     
     
         63 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein said service server provides a workspace retrieval service enabling retrieval of a workspace element of a selected type. 
     
     
         64 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein the selectable set of downloadable executables is presented as a list on said smartphone. 
     
     
         65 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein the selectable set of downloadable executables includes one or more downloadable executables enabling retrieval of workspace elements of two or more types. 
     
     
         66 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein the smartphone is arranged to communicate via the Internet to synchronize, with a locally stored workspace element, a workspace element of a selected type which has been transmitted from another computing device via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         67 . The service access system of  claim 66 , wherein the smartphone is configured using the selected service access downloadable executable to access a service provided by the other computing device via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         68 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein the global server stores a plurality of service access downloadable executables, each being operative to access a service server from the smartphone via the Internet communications channel, and wherein the selected service access downloadable executable is downloaded from the global server. 
     
     
         69 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein the smartphone is further configured to access said service server on the basis of further configuration data provided by said global server. 
     
     
         70 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein said service server is a component of the global server. 
     
     
         71 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein said service server is a component of a computing device remote from said global server. 
     
     
         72 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein said service server provides a user authentication service. 
     
     
         73 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein the selectable set of downloadable executables includes at least a subset of available downloadable executables, said subset being selected based on user identity. 
     
     
         74 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein the smartphone is configured to receive responses from said service server via the global server acting as a proxy for the smartphone. 
     
     
         75 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein the smartphone is configured to access said service server by retrieving a service address of the service server from the global server. 
     
     
         76 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein the smartphone is configured to access said service server by sending service requests, and receiving responses to said service requests, via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         77 . The service access system of  claim 61 , wherein the smartphone is configured to synchronize with a further computing device at a third site via an Internet communications channel using the communications interface. 
     
     
         78 . The service access system of  claim 77 , wherein the smartphone is configured to synchronize with the further computing device in relation to e-mail workspace data. 
     
     
         79 . The service access system of  claim 77 , wherein the smartphone is configured to synchronize with the further computing device at the third site in relation to calendar workspace data. 
     
     
         80 . The service access system of  claim 77 , wherein the smartphone is configured to access the further computing device in a LAN protected by a firewall when the smartphone is outside the protection of the firewall.