A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GAINING ACCESS

Abstract: A method for logging a user, connected via a telephone network (2) and a dial-in server (3) to a network (5), into a network server (4) likewise connected to the network (5). The network server (4) asks the user (1) for his subscriber number and postal code. The server then checks whether the stated subscriber number corresponds to the stated postal code. The dial-in server (3) then checks whether the user actually uses the stated subscriber number. If the above has been found in order, the network server then transmits a password to the user, to be used for later gaining access to a service offered by the server (4) connected to the network (5). Billing information can be sent via the dial-in server (3) to a billing system (6) of the telephone operator. If desired, the validity of the password given by the server (4) has a limited duration.

Description: Title: A method and system for gaining access BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method and system for logging a user into a server of a network. Before access can be gained to a server - for instance an Internet server for a paid service - a user name and a password must be logged in. The user name and the password are then used as a means for reliable exploitation of services offered by a server. Different logging-in procedures are known. In these procedures the user must usually state a number of personal data, such as name and address and, to effect payment, for instance a credit card number. Moreover, membership is often required to gain access to the server. These procedures have the drawback that sensitive private information is asked from the user, transported over the network and stored in the server. Especially the transfer of credit card information is not tamper-proof. Moreover, not every user possesses a credit card. This limits the group of users. Because of the relatively large number of data to be supplied, the user can get impatient and prematurely abandon the logging-in attempt, so that "impulse use" is inhibited. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention has for its object to remove the above drawbacks. To this end, the invention provides a method for logging a user into a server connected to the network, which server asks the user for his telephone number and his postal code . The server then checks whether the stated subscriber number corresponds to the stated postal code. Moreover, a dial-in server, via which the user reaches the network, checks whether the user actually uses the stated subscriber number. Subsequently, if the above has been found in order, a password is sent to the user, so that - if required for a limited period of time - access can be gained to the server connected to the network. Billing information can be sent via the dial-in server to the billing system of the telephone operator, so that the bill for the use of the server is added to the telephone bill of the user. The exchange of personal and credit card data is rendered superfluous in the manner proposed by the invention. Tamper- proofness of the payment transactions is greatly enhanced, because no credit card data can be transmitted. The privacy of the user also remains fully guaranteed. The access process can be rapidly completed, so that impulse purchases are not inhibited. EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a figure, which represents an exemplary embodiment. Fig. 1 is a diagram which schematically shows the method according to the invention. With a terminal 1 a user establishes a connection via a telephone network 2 with a dial-in server (ISP) 3 connected to the Internet 5. Via the dial-in server 3 the user establishes a connection with the network server 4 to be consulted. Contained in the network server 4 is commercial information, such as, for instance, product information, pictures, news reports, weather reports, games, business information. To consult or utilize the above, a financial compensation is asked. The network server 4 asks the user whether he wishes to gain access to the server by means of a password. The user is now asked to state the subscriber number, by means of which he is connected with the dial-in server 3, and his postal code. The network server 4 asks the user for the desired period of validity. The network server 4 checks - by means of a telephone number/postal code database with a concordance system, incorporated into the server 4 - whether subscriber number and postal code correspond to each other. If this is the case, the network server 4 produces a password and transmits it together with the subscriber number stated by the user to the dial-in server 3. In the dial-in server 3 it is checked by means of a number identification service of the telephone network 4 whether the subscriber number stated by the user and the telephone number, by means of which the user maintains a dial-in connection with the network, correspond to each other. If this is the case, the password is transmitted to the user on terminal 1, who thus gains access to the network server 4. The billing information of the user can be stored in the dial-in server 3 or directly transmitted to a billing server 6 of the telephone network 2 where the telephone bills are made. The user thus pays via his telephone bill for the information, products or services asked from the network server 4.

Claims: Claims 1. A method for logging a user, connected via a telephone network (2) and a dial-in server (3) to a network (5), into a network server (4) likewise connected to the network (5) , characterized in that - the network server (4) asks the user (1) for his subscriber number and postal code; - the server then checks whether the stated subscriber number corresponds to the stated postal code; - the dial-in server (3) then checks whether the user actually uses the stated subscriber number; - the network server then, if the telephone number and the postal code correspond to each other and the user actually uses the stated telephone number, transmits a password to the user, to be used for later gaining access to a service offered by the server (4) connected to the network (5) . 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that billing information for the service offered by the server (4) , which the user has utilized, is sent via the dial-in server (3) to a billing system (6) of the telephone operator. 3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the validity of the password given by the server (4) has a limited duration. 4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the validity of the password has a maximum duration equal to the time during which the user is uninterruptedly connected via the telephone network (2) to the dial-in server.

Inventors: JANSEN ALEXANDER THEODORUS, JANSEN, ALEXANDER, THEODORUS
Applicants: JANSEN ALEXANDER THEODORUS, JANSEN, ALEXANDER, THEODORUS
Application year: 1999
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06Q20, G06Q30, H04L12, H04M15, H04Q3