SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A CONNECTION BETWEEN TWO OR MORE COMPUTERS

Abstract: A system for providing a connection between a user computer and a server which are connected to a network, in particular the Internet. An external dial-up connection is installed on the user computer, in which dial-up data of an ISP are programmed, by means of which dial-up data the user computer is capable of making a connection with the Internet via a telephone number forming part of the dial-up data. A browser programme is available in the computer. Further a switching programme is available in the computer, which switching programme is capable of making a connection with a specific server by configuring dial-up data including a specific telephone number of the server in question in the dial-up connection and starting the browser programme once the connection with said server is made, wherein the switching programme connects to URL address from the specific server or from another server via the browser programme.

Description: System for providing a connection between two or more computers The invention relates to a system for providing a connection between a user computer and a server which are connected to a network, wherein an external dial-up connection is installed on the user computer, in which dial-up data of an ISP are configured, by means of which dial-up data the user computer is capable of making a connection with the Internet via a telephone number forming part of the dial-up data, and wherein a browser programme is available in the computer. It is known that the user of a PC can surf the World Wide Web via a connection to the Internet, using a suitable browser programme, whereby various websites can be visited. Generally the user will have connected a modem to his PC and have installed a so-called dial-up connection, wherein the data of the internet service provider (ISP) are stored in the settings of said dial-up connection. If a company wishes to operate a website commercially, it is at the moment usual for a visitor of this website to have to go through a credit card registration procedure, whilst the operator of the website has to install the required software. W09917512 discloses a system which uses software which is downloaded into the PC of a visitor of a website when he clicks on a button on a web page. Said software installs a completely new dial-up connection on the PC, in which a special access telephone number is stored. Then said software will set up a new connection between the user's PC and the operator's server via said new dial-up connection. The automatic installation of a new dial-up connection easily leads to errors, which result in failure to make the connection or in the user's computer to lock-up. Another limitation of this prior art system is that it is only possible to switch from the connection that has been made by means of the user-configured dial-up data to a new connection if the user first visits a particular website, that is, when the user is online. The object of the invention is to provide a system of the kind referred to in the introduction wherein the switching from a connection in accordance with the user-configured dial- up data can take place in several ways, in particular when the user is offline. According to the invention, in order to accomplish that objective, a system of the kind referred to in the introduction is used, wherein a switching programme is available in the computer, which switching programme is capable of making a connection with a specific server by configuring dial-up data including a specific telephone number of the server in question in the dial-up connection and starting the browser programme once the connection with said server has been made, wherein the switching programme connects to a URL address from said specific server or from another server via the browser programme . According to the invention, advantageous use is made of the existing dial-up connection which the user has installed on the computer, wherein the switching programme is capable of making a connection when a connection to the network is not available, using dial-up data other than those that have been configured by the user. A service provider can draw the users' attention to websites which are attractive to the users by regularly supplying the users with switch files which provide new connections with websites. Advantageous embodiments of the system according to the invention are defined in the subclaims . The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, which is a very schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 very schematically shows the Internet with a number of user computers and servers, wherein an embodiment of the system according to the invention is used, wherein a usual connection between a user computer and the Internet is available. Figure 2 is a representation of the Internet similar to Figure 1, wherein the system according to the invention has made a new connection between a user computer and a specific server . Figure 3 shows the screen of a user computer, wherein the system of Figure 1 is used. Figures 4 and 5 each show a diagram to explain the operation of the system according to Figure 1. A large number of user computers or PC's 1 are connected to the Internet 4 (schematically indicated) via various internet service providers (ISP's) 3, 5, 8 and 9. Furthermore, websites 7, 11 are placed on the Internet by website operators via servers 6, 10, which websites can be visited by the PC's 1. It is noted that the term website as used herein is understood to include all forms of offering information on the Internet or an intranet. The website may for example be a so-called web portal. In Figure 2 it is indicated that ISP 9 makes a website 11 available via a web server 10. Only a few PC's, ISP's and web servers are shown in the drawing . When a PC 1 wishes to gain access to the Internet 4, the user will install a browser programme and a so-called dial- up connection on his PC. It is not that the term "dial-up connection" is used to indicate a programme known per se, which controls the modem that is connected to PC 1. The dial-up connection includes the dial-up data or settings which are required to gain access to the Internet via ISP 3. One of the data that are used for this purpose is a, usually local, telephone number, by means of which a connection can be made with the server 3 of the ISP. A switching programme comprising one or more switch files is installed on PC 1 with a view to using the system according to the invention. A switch file contains dial-up data, by means of which the switching programme is capable of making a connection with a specific server 9 via a particular telephone number. Said dial-up data are configured in the dial- up connection by the switching programme. When the user starts the switching programme, the programme makes a connection with server 9 and connects to the URL address of a specific website which is included in the switching programme. Once a connection with server 9 is made, the user-configured dial-up data are restored . The switching programme displays the websites that can be chosen on the desktop of the PC in the form of a navigator bar comprising buttons, wherein each button represents a particular website. Furthermore, various dial-up data of various servers may be associated with the various buttons. An example of a navigator bar is indicated at 12 in Figure 3, which navigator bar includes a few buttons 13. The website 7, 11 associated with a button 13 can be indicated by a name or an illustration or the like displayed near the button. By clicking on a button 13, the switching programme is started using the switch file associated with said button and a connection with a specific website is made via a particular telephone number. The telephone number is for example a payment telephone number, via which the charges for visiting the website or for receiving certain information from the website are settled. The switching programme can be started automatically when the PC 1 is started up, so that the navigator bar 12 will be displayed on the desktop. The operation of the switching programme is schematically shown in Figure 4. Alternatively, the switch file may form part of an e- mail message addressed to the user. In said e-mail message, the user is for example informed about the possibility of perusing certain information on a service provider's website. By clicking on a part of the e-mail message or on an attachment, the switching programme containing the data of this switch file is activated and the switching programme makes the desired connection with the website designated by the URL address in the above-described manner via the associated telephone number. In the case of users who have not installed the switching programme on their PC 1 before yet, the e-mail message may also contain said programme in the form of an attachment. The e-mail message may include the URL address from which the switching programme can be downloaded. The operation of the system described herein, wherein use is made of an e-mail message, is schematically shown in Figure 4. In another application of the invention, the switching programme and one or more switch files may be stored on a carrier, such as a CD. The switching programme is capable of installing the navigator bar on the desktop. Said CD may also include information, a game etc., which can only be used when a key is available. Said key can be retrieved from a server by reading the switch file. The PC makes the connection in the above-described manner, with payment again being guaranteed via the telephone number. In all cases the switching programme is so configured that while the user of PC 1 is perusing the contents of the website of the URL address contained in the switch file, the switching programme makes a connection with a predetermined URL address in the background so as to automatically download new switch files containing new URL addresses and possibly new telephone numbers. As soon as the user has terminated the online session, the switching programme automatically adapts the navigator bar 12 by displaying buttons relating to the new websites therein. When an ordinary connection with the Internet 4 exists, with a random website being visited, the switching programme is also capable of seeking contact with the predetermined URL address in the background for the purpose of downloading new switch files. When an Internet connection exists, it is also possible to have the switching programme check whether an update of the switching programme is available, of course. If this is the case, the update will be downloaded and installed. Furthermore it is possible for the system to download other messages, for example a video presentation, from said predetermined URL address to the user's PC 1. These messages can be displayed on the user's desktop in any desired manner. The message, for example the video presentation, may include a button, which, when clicked on, will start the switching programme so as to make a connection with a website, from which further information can be obtained. When the user visits a website 7, 11 with PC 1 , at which website information can be perused against payment, the system described herein can be used for making a connection via a particular payment telephone number. The user clicks on an icon, thus indicating that he wishes to make use of the information being offered and that he is willing to pay for this. The system then checks whether the required software is installed on PC 1. If this is not the case, a message will be displayed on the screen of PC 1, which tells the user that he has to install the software as yet. Furthermore the system checks whether the correct version of the software is present, and if this is not the case, a message telling the user to download the software as yet will be displayed on the screen of PC 1 in this case as well. If the correct software is indeed installed on PC 1, said PC 1 will receive from server 9 a switch file containing data relating to a new telephone number to be connected to, the URL data of the website at which the desired information is to be found and the URL data of the website being visited by the user at that moment. Once these data have been received, the software installed on PC 1 will break the existing connection with ISP 3 and make a new connection via the same dial-up connection by dialling the telephone number that has just been received. Thus PC 1 makes a connection with another server 9 with an intranet or the like via the payment telephone number that has been made available by the telephone company, after which contact is made with the website 7, 11 via the new URL data that have been received, and access is gained to the information that is required. Thus it is ensured that the information being supplied will be paid for without there being a need to send credit card data over the Internet . As soon as the user of PC 1 wishes to leave the web pages that he has visited via the special telephone number, he will click on a "back" button, after which a switch file will be downloaded, which contains the instruction that indicate to the software that is installed on PC 1 that the existing connection must be broken, after which the connection with the Internet 4 will be restored via the original telephone number of the ISP which is stored in the dial-up connection. Then a connection is made with the access page again by means of the URL data of said access page. It is noted that the files which are downloaded to PC 1 by server 9 may be partially or entirely encoded, so that they cannot be perused by third parties. The software installed on PC 1 contains the right key for decoding the received switch file. A received switch file, which contains the telephone number which must be used to make a connection by means of the switching programme, may include one or more telephone numbers which the switching programme must use when it is not possible to make a connection via the first number. It will be apparent that the system described herein makes advantageous use of the existing dial-up connection which the user has installed on the computer, wherein the switch programme is capable of making a connection if no connection with the network exists, using dial-up data other than those configured by the user. A service provider can draw the users' attention to websites that are attractive to them by regularly supplying the users with switch files which provide new connections with websites. The system furthermore makes it possible to provide a connection between a PC 1 and a service provider's website via a connection selected by the service provider, so that the service provider can control traffic. In particular when information is made available against payment, this has the advantage that the service provider knows exactly via which channel the web pages are consulted, so that adequate protection is possible. The system switches the PC which first makes contact with the website which is accessible via the Internet from the usual Internet connection over to an intranet or extranet connection, and vice versa. Since the system described herein uses the modem and dial-up settings which the user has configured on his PC, it is not necessary to set up a new dial-up connection. Thus the correct operation of the system is ensured and the user of the PC is not burdened with unnecessary new settings on his PC. The system described herein can furthermore be used advantageously in the following manner. When a user of a PC, in particular of the notebook type or the like, is abroad and makes a connection with the Internet via his usual internet service provider, he will have to programme the international dialling code of the country where he is located at that moment into his dial-up connection. When a switch file is downloaded, the software will check the existing modem setting and establish by means of the international dialling code which country the user is in. The software will then input a dial-up number into the switch file, via which a connection with the Internet can be made in the country in question. Such an application is for example important for a multinational. When an employee abroad makes a connection with the company's intranet via his ISP, it is possible in this manner to make a connection with the company's own intranet via a local dial-up number . It is noted that the system according to the invention is not only suitable for obtaining information against payment. As already indicated before, the system also makes it possible to make connections via desired channels. The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments, which can be varied in several ways without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A system for providing a connection between a user computer and a server which are connected to a network, in particular the Internet, wherein an external dial-up connection is installed on the user computer, in which dial-up data of an ISP are configured, by means of which dial-up data the user computer is capable of making a connection with the Internet via a telephone number forming part of the dial-up data, and wherein a browser programme is available in the computer, characterized in that a switching programme is available in the computer, which switching programme is capable of making a connection with a specific server by configuring dial-up data including a specific telephone number of the server in question in the dial-up connection and starting the browser programme once the connection with said server has been made, wherein the switching programme connects to a URL address from said specific server or from another server via the browser programme . 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the switching programme displays a navigator bar on the monitor of the computer, showing one or more buttons of websites, wherein the switching programme can be started by a user by clicking on the button of the navigator bar, wherein the switching programme uses a switch file associated with the selected button for providing the connection, which switch file contains dial-up data of a server and an URL address. 3. A system in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 or claim 1 or 2 , wherein a server sends an e-mail message including a switching programme and/or a switch file intended for the switching programme, which switch file contains dial-up data of a server and an URL address, wherein the switching programme is started by opening the e-mail message or an attachment thereto, and wherein the switching programme is capable of making a connection by configuring dial-up data comprising a specific telephone number of the server received via the e-mail message in the dial-up connection and of starting the browser programme once the connection with the network is made, wherein the switching programme connects to a URL address of the server via the browser programme . 4. A system in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 or claim 1, 2 or 3 , wherein a carrier is used, on which there is stored a switching programme and/or a switch file intended for the switching programme, which switch file contains dial-up data of a server and an URL address, which switching programme is capable of making a connection by configuring dial-up data comprising a specific telephone number of the carrier which are stored on the carrier in the dial-up connection and of starting the browser programme once the connection with the network is made, wherein the switching programme connects to a URL address of the server via the browser programme. 5. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the switching programme makes a connection with a specific URL address in the background when a connection with the network exists, and downloads new switch files containing dial-up data and URL addresses via said URL address, wherein at least some of the new switch files are displayed as buttons in the navigator bar. 6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the switching programme of a URL address downloads a video presentation, which video presentation comprises a switch file, which starts the switching programme when a button in said presentation is clicked on so as to make a connection by means of data from said switch file. 7. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the switching programme comprises a number of back-up telephone numbers, which are used successively by the computer when a connection cannot be made via the first telephone number.

Inventors: MEIJERS ALEXANDER, POULUS ROBERT, TERWINDT JOHANNES GERARDUS HEN, MEIJERS, ALEXANDER, POULUS, ROBERT, TERWINDT, JOHANNES, GERARDUS, HENDRICUS
Applicants: MEIJERS ALEXANDER, POULUS ROBERT, TERWINDT JOHANNES GERARDUS HEN, MEIJERS, ALEXANDER, POULUS, ROBERT, TERWINDT, JOHANNES, GERARDUS, HENDRICUS
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H04L29
IPC codes: H04L12, H04L29