Abstract

The MykroSystem describes the methods and apparatus to easily and securely interconnect a server computer with interchangeable client computer devices over a common transit internetwork using portable storage media to store the operating system and interconnection information for the client computer devices.

(yes this is very abstract… What you are reading here is the text from a provisional patent that I filed in 2006… )

Description

In an embodiment of the MykroSystem, a user carries a single portable storage media device such as a USB flash memory drive, for example. The media is configured to boot almost any contemporary computer and securely interconnect the computer with a specific server over the Internet. The booted computer will automatically authenticate the user, connect to the Internet, locate the appropriate server and securely interconnect with the server.

The client and server are securely interconnected, and the user may access the data, software, applications, resources and services available to the client and server computers as their credentials allow. In order to change to a different computer, the user simply plugs the portable storage media into that computer and boots up. In a short time this client will interconnect with appropriate server.

The following is a list of components that may be included in an embodiment of the MykroSystem.

• A Server such as an Internet connected Workstation, Server, home PC or multi-user computer.
• A Client – a thin-client or fat-client computer that can boot the client operating system from portable storage media and have a means to connect to the common transit internetwork. This would include most contemporary computers.
• Operating System – an operating system, in an embodiment, that is small enough to fit on the portable storage media and may boot a client computer to run the MykroSystem.
• Portable Storage Media – any portable media or media set that the contemporary computers may boot from; currently favoring USB flash memory.
  • The media is made bootable. It stores a modified operating system and applications used to boot a client computer, authenticate the user and connect the client computer to a common transit internetwork – typically the Internet – using fixed or mobile, wired or wireless technologies.
  • The media also stores configuration data that matches, and is unique to, a specific server’s configuration. The configuration data is used to find, authenticate and securely interconnect with the specific server.
• A Common Transit Internetwork – a common network to which the server and client computers connect. In some embodiments, it is the Internet but could be any common internetwork.
• Dynamic DNS (DDNS) ­­– a common DDNS system such as dyndns.com that the client and server use to update their respective host records with current IP address information.
• DDNS update software – an application such as Inadyn that updates the DDNS records.
• VPN Authentication – including, but not limited to, a certificate or pre-shared key.
• VPN software – an application including, but not limited to, an OpenVPN that runs on both a server and a client computer.
• Compression Software – an application including, but not limited to, LZO compression that runs on both a server and client computer.
• Client Scripts – executable files used by the client’s operating system to complete functions of the MykroSystem.
• Configuration files – a matched set of files stored on the server and portable storage media containing unique interconnection data.