Patent ID: 6301618
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
An apparatus for providing forced sequential network access to a user in a computer network capable of establishing multiple concurrent service connections, said apparatus comprising:means for receiving user requested service information from a user in a computer network;means for authorizing said user to access said requested service;means for retrieving from a memory a user service profile associated with the user;means for assessing said user service profile to determine if a ""sequential-only"" network access attribute exists within said user service profile for said requested service;means for determining whether the user has a current network connection established with another service within the computer network; andmeans for allowing, in response to a user request, the user to connect to the desired service of the computer network specified in the user service request if the computer network service provider determines that the user has no then existing network connections to other services within the computer network.