Patent ID: 7027432
Filing Date: 2006-04-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of configuring a network access device having a first network address allocated to a first subscriber of services of a service provider, with a second network address allocated to a second subscriber of services of the service provider, wherein the network access device is connected by a common broadband connection to an access network providing access to a plurality of service providers, the method comprising: selecting a service provider from a list of service providers stored by the network access device; sending, from the network access device to the access network, a request to access the service provider, the request including user credentials for the second subscriber retrieved from account configuration data stored on the network access device; receiving a response from the access network; and initiating a network address change using a configuration protocol, in which the first network address is released and the second network address allocated to the second subscriber of services of the service provider is assigned by the access network to the network access device, the second network address used by the network access device to communicate data packets to the service provider over the access network.