1. A system for providing secure access to a computing resource comprising:
a first computing device accessible to a user after establishing local authentication of said user at said first computing device; and,
an authentication server connectable to said first computing device via a connection after said local authentication, said authentication server operable to:
generate encryption keys for allowing said user to access said computing resource from said first computing device after establishing remote authentication of said user;
enable access to said computing resource by sending a subset of said encryption keys to said first computing device;
after termination of said local authentication at said first computing device and said user establishes local authentication at a second computing device, re-enables access to said computing resource by sending the subset of said encryption keys to said second computing device without having to re-establish remote authentication of said user.
2. The system of claim 1, said connection being a first connection, wherein said user establishes said local authentication at said second computing device via a second connection that is different from said first connection.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein said second connection is carried through said first computing device.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said server and said first and second computing devices are further operable to encrypt communications over said connection using said encryption keys while access is provided to said resource.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein said encryption keys remain valid for the duration that said server maintains said remote authentication.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said resource is a virtual private network that connects to said server.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said server terminates said remote authentication if said user fails to re-establish local authentication at either the first or the second computing device within a predefined period of time.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said authentication server is operable to send the subset of said encryption keys after receipt and validation of cryptographic data respective to said user that is loadable onto said first computing device.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote authentication includes receipt of a userid and password respective to said user that is received by said first computing device and transmitted to said server.
10. An authentication server for connection with a first computing device that is accessible to a user after establishing local authentication of said user at said first computing device, said authentication server connectable to said first computing device via a connection after said local authentication and operable to generate encryption keys for allowing said user to access said computing resource from said first computing device after performing remote authentication of said user, said authentication server further operable to enable access to said computing resource by sending a subset of said encryption keys to said first computing device and, after termination of said local authentication at said first computing device and said user establishes local authentication at a second computing device, said server re-enables access to said computing resource by sending the subset of said encryption keys to said second computing device without having to re-perform remote authentication of said user.
11. The server of claim 10, said connection being a first connection, wherein said user establishes said local authentication at said second computing device via a second connection that is different from said first connection.
12. The server of claim 11 wherein said second connection is carried through said first computing device.
13. The server of claim 10 wherein said server and said first and second computing devices are further operable to encrypt communications using said subset of said encryption keys over said connection while access is provided to said resource.
14. The server of claim 13 wherein said encryption keys remain valid for the duration that said server maintains said remote authentication.
15. The server of claim 10 wherein said resource is a virtual private network that connects to said server.
16. The server of claim 10 wherein said server terminates said remote authentication if said user fails to re-establish local authentication at either the first or the second computing device within a predefined period of time.
17. The server of claim 10, further operable to send said subset of said keys after receipt and validation of a digital certificate respective to said user that is loadable onto said first computing device.
18. The server of claim 10 wherein said remote authentication includes receipt of a userid and password respective to said user that is received by said first computing device and transmitted to said server.
19. A method of providing secure access to a computing resource, comprising:
performing local authentication of a user at a first computing device;
performing remote authentication of said user at an authentication server connectable to said first computing device via a connection after said local authentication;
responsive to successful remote authentication, generating encryption keys for allowing said user to access the computing resource from the first computing device;
enabling access to said computing resource via said authentication server after said remote authentication by sending a subset of said encryption keys to the first computing device;
following termination of said local authentication at said first computing device and local authentication of said user at a second computing device, re-enabling access to said computing resource by sending said subset of said encryption keys to the second computing device without having to re-perform remote authentication of said user.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising terminating said remote authentication if said user fails to re-establish local authentication at either the first or the second computing device within a predefined period of time.
21. The method of claim 19, said connection being a first connection, wherein said user establishes said local authentication at said second computing device via a second connection that is different from said first connection.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said first and second computing devices are operable to encrypt communications over said first and second connections, respectively, while access is provided to said resource.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein said encrypted communications are conducted via said encryption keys.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein said resource is a virtual private network that connects to said server.
25. A method of providing secure access to a computing resource comprising:
following local authentication of a user at a first computing device, sending a digital certificate from said first computing device to a server;
performing remote user authentication at said server based on data received from said first computing device and determining if said remote user authentication is valid;
terminating said method if said remote user authentication is not valid;
generating security keys at said server and delivering a requisite portion of said security keys to said first computing device;
conducting communications between said server and said first computing device using said security keys; and
following termination of said local authentication at said first computing device and following local authentication of said user at a second computing device different from said first computing device:
delivering said requisite portion of said security keys to said second computing device; and
conducting communications between said server and said second computing device using said security keys.
26. The method of claim 19, further comprising:
detecting presence of a removable memory device at the first computing device, the removable memory device storing cryptographic data;
responsive to local authentication at the first computing device being successful, retrieving the cryptographic data from the removable memory device and sending the cryptographic data to the authentication server;
wherein remote authentication and transmittal of said subset of said encryption keys to the first computing device are performed after receipt of the cryptographic data from the first computing device.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
terminating said local authentication at the first computing device responsive to detecting removal of the removable memory device from the first computing device.
28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:
detecting presence of the removable memory device at the second computing device;
responsive to local authentication at the second computing device being successful, retrieving the cryptographic data from the removable memory device and sending the cryptographic data to the authentication server;
wherein transmittal of said subset of said encryption keys is performed in response to receipt of the cryptographic data from the second computing device.
29. The method of claim 27, further comprising said first computing device rendering said cryptographic data inaccessible upon termination of said local authentication at the first computing device.
30. The method of claim 26, wherein said cryptographic data comprises a digital certificate.
31. The method of claim 26, wherein the first computing device and the second computing device are different.
32. The method of claim 26, wherein the first computing device and the second computing device are the same.
33. The system of claim 8, wherein said first computing device is operable to render said digital certificate inaccessible upon termination of said local authentication at the first computing device.
34. The system of claim 8, wherein said cryptographic data includes a digital certificate.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An Internet-website-client-server-assisted system, relating to providing on-location electronics troubleshooting services, comprising the steps of:
a) registering customer information relating to at least one customer;
b) registering technician information relating to at least one technician having electronics-technician abilities relating to providing such on-location electronics troubleshooting services;
c) maintaining a database, on at least one Internet website client server, of such customer information relating to such at least one customer;
d) maintaining a database, on such at least one Internet website client server, of such technician information relating to such at least one technician;
e) collecting automatically, using such at least one Internet website client server, at least one fee from such at least one customer relating to such on-location electronics troubleshooting services;
f) receiving, on such at least one Internet website client server, requests relating to such on-location electronics troubleshooting services from such at least one customer;
g) notifying automatically, using such at least one Internet website client server, such at least one technician to provide such on-location electronics troubleshooting services requested by such at least one customer;
h) receiving on-location electronics troubleshooting service information, on at least one Internet website client server, from such at least one technician; and
i) maintaining a database, on such at least one Internet website client server, of such on-location electronics troubleshooting service information
j) receiving indication of any need relating to repair service, on such at least one Internet website client server, from such selected at least one technician;
k) receiving indication of selected type of such repair service, on such at least one Internet website client server, from such selected at least one technician;
l) storing such indication of any need relating to repair service on such at least one Internet website client server;
m) storing such selected type of such repair service, on such at least one Internet website client server;
n) selecting such at least one repair service of such selected type of repair service; and
o) notifying such selected at least one repair service to contact such at least one customer;
p) wherein such at least one customer and such at least one technician are sufficiently co-located within geographical areas to provide appropriate response times; and
q) wherein such step of receiving on-location electronics troubleshooting service information by such at least one technician comprises the steps of:
i) receiving start time of such on-location electronics troubleshooting service, on such at least one Internet website client server, from selected such at least one technician;
ii) receiving end time of such on-location electronics troubleshooting services, on such at least one Internet website client server, from selected such at least one technician;
iii) storing such start time of such on-location electronics troubleshooting service on such at least one Internet website client server; and
iv) storing such end time of such on-location electronics troubleshooting service on such at least one Internet website client server.
2. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
a) receiving customer satisfaction evaluation from such selected at least one technician; and
b) storing such customer satisfaction evaluation.
3. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 1, wherein such step of collecting automatically, using such at least one Internet website client server, at least one fee from such at least one customer relating to such on-location electronics troubleshooting services comprises the steps of:
a) agreeing to at least one payment of a specified amount by such at least one customer; and
b) receiving such at least one payment.
4. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 3, wherein such step of receiving such at least one payment comprises the steps of;
a) providing of credit card account information by such at least one customer;
b) storing such at least one credit card account information, on at least one Internet website client server, relating to such at least one customer;
c) authorizing at least one charge to such credit card account of such at least one customer;
d) storing such authorization of at least one charge to such credit card account, on at least one Internet website client server, of such at least one customer;
e) requesting at least one payment from such at least one credit card account on behalf of such at least one customer; and
f) recording such at least one payment, on at least one Internet website client server, on behalf of such at least one customer.
5. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 4, wherein such step of requesting at least one payment from such at least one credit card account on behalf of such at least one customer comprises the step of requesting such at least one payment from such at least one credit card account on behalf of such at least one customer substantially automatically at predetermined intervals.
6. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 4, wherein such step of requesting at least one payment from such at least one credit card account on behalf of such at least one customer comprises the step of requesting such at least one payment from such at least one credit card account on behalf of such at least one customer at completion of on-location electronics troubleshooting services by such at least one technician.
7. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
a) notifying such at least one customer requesting such on-location electronics troubleshooting services of estimated time of arrival of notified such at least one technician; and
b) providing such on-location electronics troubleshooting services to such at least one customer.
8. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 7 wherein such step of notifying such at least one customer requesting such on-location electronics troubleshooting services of estimated time of arrival of notified such at least one technician comprises the steps of:
a) providing to such at least one customer such estimated time of arrival by such notified such at least one technician; and
b) recording such estimated time of arrival provided by such notified such at least one technician.
9. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 7 further comprising the steps of:
a) providing such on-location electronics troubleshooting services to such at least one customer at any time of day; and
b) providing such on-location electronics troubleshooting services to such at least one customer on any day.
10. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 1, wherein such step of registering customer information relating to at least one customer further comprises the steps of:
a) recruiting such at least one customer;
b) obtaining agreement from such at least one customer to pay for such on-location electronics troubleshooting services;
c) recording such customer information, on at least one Internet website client server, relating to such at least one customer;
d) wherein such customer information comprises
i) service location address;
ii) at least one contact name;
iii) at least one contact telephone number; and
e) assigning such service location address to at least one geographic dispatch area.
11. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 10, wherein such customer information further comprises:
a) customer name;
b) customer billing address;
c) customer email address;
d) customer credit card number; and
e) customer credit card number expiration date.
12. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 10 further comprising the steps of:
a) providing on-location assistance relating to implementation of such on-site customer interface module of such Internet-website-client-server-assisted system to such at least one customer; and
b) providing on-location usage training relating to such on-site customer interface module of such Internet-website-client-server-assisted system to such at least one customer.
13. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 1, wherein such step of registering technician information relating to at least one technician having electronics-technician abilities relating to providing such on-location electronics troubleshooting services comprises the steps of:
a) establishing a plurality of qualification criteria relating to selecting such at least one technician;
b) wherein such qualification criteria comprise
i) geographic location of residence of such at least one technician, and
ii) required minimum competency levels relating to electronics-technician abilities; and
c) recruiting such at least one technician; and
d) recording technician information, on at least one Internet website client server, relating to selected such at least one technician;
e) wherein such technician information comprises
i) technician name,
ii) technician home address,
iii) technician home telephone number,
iv) technician email address, and
v) technician electronics-technician skills;
f) selecting such at least one technicians using such plurality of qualification criteria;
g) assigning such selected at least one technician a unique identification number;
h) assigning such technician home address to at least one geographic dispatch area; and
i) implementing at least one technician user interface module of such Internet-website-client-server-assisted system.
14. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 13, wherein such technician information further comprises:
a) technician cellular phone number; and
b) technician pager number.
15. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 1 wherein such step of receiving, on such at least one Internet website client server, requests relating to such on-location electronics troubleshooting services from such at least one customer comprises the steps of:
a) inputting of login identification information, on such at least one Internet website client server, from such at least one customer;
b) validating login identification information from such at least one customer;
c) receiving confirmation of accuracy, on such at least one Internet website client server, of such customer information;
d) receiving contact information, on such at least one Internet website client server, relating to such current at least one on-location electronics troubleshooting request;
e) submitting of at least one problem description relating to such current at least one on-location electronics troubleshooting request by such at least one customer; and
f) receiving of such at least one problem description relating to such current at least one on-location electronics troubleshooting request, on such at least one Internet website client server, from such at least one customer.
16. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 1, wherein such step of notifying automatically, using such at least one Internet website client server, such at least one technician to provide such on-location electronics troubleshooting services requested by such at least one customer comprises the steps of:
a) selecting such at least one technician using dispatch selection criteria;
b) wherein such dispatch selection criteria comprises
i) identifying at least one of such at least one technician assigned to such same geographic dispatch area as such service location of such at least one customer requesting on-location electronics troubleshooting services, and
ii) identifying at least one such technician having greatest elapsed time since such last notification; and
c) notifying such at least one technician to provide such on-location electronics troubleshooting services requested by such at least one customer; and
d) recording time of such notification, on such at least one Internet website client server, of such at least one technician.
17. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
a) receiving at least one work shift start request, on such at least one Internet website client server, from such at least one technician;
b) storing time of day and date of receipt of such work shift start request, on such at least one Internet website client server, from such at least one technician;
c) sending confirmation of start of work shift to such at least one technician;
d) receiving at least one end of work shift request, on such at least one Internet website client server, from such at least one technici
e) storing time of day and date of receipt of such at least one end of work shift request, on such at least one Internet website client server, from such at least one technician; and
f) sending confirmation of end of work shift to such at least one technician.
18. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 17 further comprising the step of presenting planned shift scheduling to such at least one technician.
19. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
a) preparing text-based reports; and
b) preparing graphical reports.
20. An Internet website client-server computer system relating to providing on-location electronics troubleshooting services comprising, in combination:
a) computer interface and storage means for registering customer data relating to at least one customer;
b) computer interface and storage means for registering technician data relating to at least one technician having electronics-technician abilities relating to providing such on-location electronics troubleshooting services;
c) database means for maintaining a database of such customer data relating to such at least one customer;
d) database means for maintaining a database of such technician data relating to such at least one technician;
e) computer processor means for managing collecting at least one fee from such at least one customer relating to such on-location electronics troubleshooting services;
f) computer interface and storage means for receiving requests relating to such on-location electronics troubleshooting services from such at least one customer;
g) computer processor and communications-device means for automatically notifying such at least one technician to provide such on-location electronics troubleshooting services requested by such at least one customer;
h) computer interface and storage means for recording on-location electronics troubleshooting service information; and
i) computer processor means for substantially fully automating such dispatching of such at least one technician to such at least one customer relating to such on-location troubleshooting.
21. The Internet website client-server computer system according to claim 20 further comprising:
a) computer processing means for selecting such at least one technician using dispatch selection criteria;
b) wherein such dispatch selection criteria comprises
i) such at least one technician assigned to such same geographic dispatch area of such at least one customer requesting on-location electronics troubleshooting services, and
ii) such at least one technician having greatest elapsed time since last such dispatch; and
c) communications device means for notifying such at least one technician to provide such on-location electronics troubleshooting services requested by such at least one customer; and
d) computer processor means for recording time of such notification of such at least one technician.
22. The Internet website client-server computer system according to claim 20, wherein such computer processor means for managing collecting at least one fee from such at least one customer relating to such on-location electronics troubleshooting services further comprises:
a) computer interface and storage means for receiving credit card account information from such at least one customer;
b) computer processor and communications means for requesting payment from such at least one credit card account on behalf of such at least one customer; and
c) computer processor means for recording such payment on behalf of such at least one customer.
23. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 22, wherein such computer processor and communications means for requesting payment from such at least one credit card account on behalf of such at least one customer comprises computer processor and communications means for requesting such at least one payment from such at least one credit card account on behalf of such at least one customer substantially automatically at pre-determined intervals.
24. The Internet-website-client-server-assisted system according to claim 22, wherein such computer processor and communications means for requesting payment from such at least one credit card account on behalf of such at least one customer comprises computer processor and communications means for requesting such at least one payment from such at least one credit card account on behalf of such at least one customer at completion of on-location electronics troubleshooting services by such at least one technician.
25. The Internet website client-server computer system according to claim 20, wherein such computer interface and storage means for receiving requests relating to such on-location electronics troubleshooting services from such at least one customer further comprises:
a) computer interface means for inputting login identification information by such at least one customer;
b) computer processing means for validating login identification information from such at least one customer;
c) computer interface means for receiving confirmation of accuracy of such customer information;
d) computer interface and storage means for receiving contact information relating to such current at least one on-location electronics troubleshooting request; and
e) computer interface and storage means for receiving at least one problem description relating to such current at least one on-location electronics troubleshooting request by such at least one customer.
26. The Internet website client-server computer system according to claim 20, further comprising:
a) computer interface and storage means for receiving at least one work shift start request from such at least one technician;
b) computer interface means for presenting confirmation of start of work shift to such at least one technician;
c) computer interface and storage means for receiving at least one end of work shift request from such at least one technician;
d) computer interface means for presenting confirmation of end of work shift to such at least one technician;
e) computer interface means for presenting planned shift scheduling to such at least one technician;
f) computer interface and processor means for presenting text reports; and
g) computer interface and processor means for presenting graphical reports.
27. The Internet website client-server computer system according to claim 20, wherein such computer interface and storage means for recording on-location electronics troubleshooting service information further comprises:
a) computer interface and storage means for receiving start time of such on-location electronics troubleshooting service from such selected at least one technician;
b) computer interface and storage means for receiving end time of such on-location electronics troubleshooting services from such selected at least one technician;
c) computer interface and storage means for receiving indication of any need relating to repair service from such selected at least one technician;
d) computer interface and storage means for receiving indication of selected type of such repair service from such selected at least one technician;
e) computer processor means for selecting such at least one repair service of such selected type of repair service;
f) communications device means for notifying such selected at least one repair service to contact such at least one customer; and
g) computer interface and storage means for receiving customer satisfaction evaluation.