Patent Publication Number: US-2003223437-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for providing a connection to a data network

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/116,760, filed Jul. 16, 1998, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,022 on Apr. 22, 2003, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates generally to providing a connection to a data network and, more particularly, to providing a connection between a calling station and a data network via a local access node.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The Internet is a data network which is greatly increasing in popularity. There are various ways of connecting to the Internet. Many larger businesses have local area networks which are directly connected to the Internet such that computers on the local area network can gain access to the Internet. However, such a direct connection to the Internet is expensive and therefore not available to small businesses and individuals. As an alternative to the direct connection, there are Internet Service Providers (ISP), which provide access to the Internet via dial-up connections. Currently, an ISP will have a point of presence (POP), which is a network node directly connected to the Internet. The POP is accessible by subscribers to the ISP by a dial-up connection. Thus, a person wanting to connect to the Internet places a modem call to a telephone number assigned to the POP, the call gets routed to the POP, and the POP acts as the gateway to the Internet for the subscriber&#39;s computer. The ISP stores information regarding connection time for each of its subscribers for billing purposes. ISP subscribers are generally billed on a flat rate basis, a connection time basis, or some combination of flat rate and connection time.  
       [0004] If the POP is within the subscriber&#39;s local calling area, then the subscriber is charged for a local telephone call and the dial-up connection is generally routed from the local telephone company switch to the POP. However, when a subscriber is traveling away from home, the telephone call to the POP may result in a long distance call which will result in higher long distance charges. Further, the dial-up call may be routed via several telephone network switches prior to reaching the POP, thus tying up valuable telephone network resources. This long distance routing is generally inefficient for the telephone network, because there is often an Internet connection available to the traveling subscriber which is closer than the subscriber&#39;s home POP. However, since these POPs are operated by other ISPs, the subscriber does not have access to them. In some instances, the traveling subscriber&#39;s ISP may have a POP which is local to the location of the traveling subscriber. However, in order to access such a local POP, the subscriber must know the telephone number for dial-up access to that POP. It is inconvenient for the subscriber to remember the different telephone numbers of all the POPs operated by his/her ISP.  
       [0005] The problem of multiple telephone numbers for information service providers has been addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,146. That patent describes a method for automatically routing calls to customer selected information sources using a dedicated short access number (e.g., 3-digit N11 number). When an N11 number is received by the telephone switch, it triggers special processing of the call. Based on prestored selection data and/or interaction with the user, the call is routed to an appropriate information service provider. This technique is limited to the problem of connecting to information service providers which are directly connected to the telephone network. Thus, the technique described in the &#39;146 patent merely automates the step of determining the correct telephone number to call to access a particular information service provider. Once the telephone number is determined, the call is routed to that information service provider via the telephone network in a conventional manner. In contrast, in one aspect, the present invention is concerned with the problem of connecting a subscriber calling from the telephone network to a separate data network, such as the Internet. The Internet information service providers are not directly available via a telephone call as are the service providers described in the &#39;146 patent.  
       [0006] Thus, there is a need for an improved technique for connecting a computer to a data network via the telephone network, or via another type of local access node, such as a cable television network node.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a voice network node is configured to recognize the receipt of a data network access number (e.g., Internet access number) from a subscriber terminal, and in response, to initiate a connection between the subscriber terminal and a data network (e.g., Internet). The data network access number may be a non-routable number of the format X11. The voice network node may initiate the connection to the data network by connecting to the data network from one of its own output ports, or by routing the call to one or more other voice network nodes and connecting to the data network from an output port of one of the other voice network nodes.  
       [0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, upon receipt of the data network access number, the subscriber is requested to enter subscriber information for authentication purposes. Only if the subscriber is authenticated does the voice network node initiate a connection to the data network. In accordance with one advantage of the invention, part of the subscriber information entered by the subscriber is an identification of the data network service provider with which the subscriber has a data network access account. The voice network node performing the authentication uses this identification to determine the correct data network service provider with which to authenticate the current subscriber. In this manner, various subscribers can access the data network via this voice network node, even if these various subscribers have data network access accounts with different data network service providers.  
       [0009] The invention also provides for advantageous billing arrangements. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the voice network node records connection information for each data network access session for which it is providing, or for which it has initiated, a physical connection to the data network. Upon termination of the connection, the connection information is sent to the subscriber&#39;s data network service provider. This allows for the proper billing of the subscriber by the data network service provider. It also allows for revenue sharing between the data network service provider and the company operating the nodes which provided the physical connection to the data network.  
       [0010] In various embodiments, the steps to be performed in accordance with the inventive technique are performed by a single network node or in a distributed fashion by multiple network nodes. The single network node, or one or more of the nodes in the multiple network node embodiment, may be a local telephone switch. Further, multiple local telephone switches may be configured to recognize the data network access number and upon receipt, to initiate a connection to the data network. In this manner, a subscriber may request connection to the data network using the same data network access number even if the subscriber is away from home.  
       [0011] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the subscriber terminal can obtain access to the data network via a local connection to another type of network, such as a cable television network. In this embodiment, the subscriber terminal does not place a telephone call, so the aspects of the invention related to the data network access number do not apply to this embodiment. However, the authentication and billing aspects of the invention apply to this embodiment.  
       [0012] These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013]FIG. 1 shows a high level block diagram illustrating the principles of the present invention;  
     [0014]FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of network elements illustrating a telephone network embodiment of the invention;  
     [0015]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the steps performed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and  
     [0016]FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of network elements illustrating a cable television network embodiment of the invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0017]FIG. 1 shows a high level block diagram illustrating the principles of the present invention. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a subscriber computer  110  is connected to a local telephone switch  120  via communication link  112 . Link  112  may be a standard twisted pair POTS (plain old telephone service) line. The local switch  120  is connected to the Internet  130  via direct link  122 . As used herein, the term Internet is used to refer to any data network. The local switch  120  would also be connected to other telephone network switches (not shown) in a conventional manner. An Internet Service Provider (ISP)  140  is shown connected to the Internet  130 . The ISP provides Internet access accounts to subscribers wishing to access the Internet  130 . In accordance with the invention, the ISP is an administrative, authentication, and billing entity, and may not provide subscribers with a physical connection to the Internet  130 .  
     [0018] In order to gain access to the Internet  130 , a subscriber using computer  110  places a dial-up telephone call from computer  110  by dialing an Internet Access Number (IAN). The IAN is a predetermined number which, in an advantageous embodiment, is a non-routable three digit number in the form of X11 (e.g. 511). The local switch  120  is configured to recognize the IAN as an indication that computer  110  is requesting access to the Internet  130 . The local switch  120  sends a message to computer  110  via line  112  requesting that the subscriber enter an ISP Identification (ISP-ID), username, and password. Upon receipt of this information from the subscriber, the local switch  120  sends an authorization request message to the ISP identified by the ISP-ID. Assume that the ISP-ID entered by the subscriber corresponds to ISP  140 . Upon receipt of the authorization request message, the ISP  140  looks up the account information of the subscriber identified by the username to determine if such a user is a subscriber of ISP  140  and if the password entered by the subscriber matches the password associated with the account information stored in ISP  140 . If the ISP  140  determines that the subscriber is authorized, the ISP  140  sends an appropriate authorization message to the local switch via the Internet  130 . Upon receipt of the appropriate authorization message, the local switch  120  connects the dial-up telephone call received from computer  110  to the Internet  130 . The local switch monitors the connection time of computer  110  and reports the information to ISP  140  for billing and revenue sharing purposes.  
     [0019] The invention is described in further detail in FIG. 2 which shows one embodiment of the invention. A subscriber wanting to access the Internet is using computer  202  connected to modem  204 . Although modem  204  is shown external to computer  202 , modem  204  could also be internal to computer  202 . The modem  204  is connected to a local switch  208  via POTS line  206 . The local switch  208  is an intelligent switch which includes a computer processor  210  connected to a memory  214  and database  212 . The functions of switch  208  are controlled by processor  210  executing computer program instructions stored in memory  214  and/or database  212 .  
     [0020] Local switch  208  is connected to authentication platform  218 . Authentication platform  218  includes computer processor  220  connected to modem pool  210 , memory  222 , and database  224 . Authentication platform  218  is an intelligent network node which functions under control of computer processor  220  executing computer program instructions stored in memory  222  and/or database  224 . The authentication platform  218  is connected to the Internet  226 . Also connected to the Internet  226  is ISP  228  and ISP  236 . ISP  228  functions under control of processor  230  executing computer program instructions stored in memory  232  and/or database  234 . Similarly, ISP  236  functions under control of processor  238  executing computer program instructions stored in memory  240  and/or database  244 .  
     [0021] Also shown in FIG. 2 is another computer  250  connected to modem  252 . Modem  252  is connected to another local switch  244 . Local switch  244  includes a computer processor  254  connected to memory  256  and database  258 . The functions of switch  244  are controlled by processor  254  executing computer program instructions stored in memory  256  and/or database  258 . Local switch  244  is connected to authentication platform  248  which includes computer processor  262  connected to modem pool  260 , memory  264 , and database  266 . Authentication platform  248  is an intelligent network node which functions under control of computer processor  262  executing computer program instructions stored in memory  264  and/or database  266 . Authentication platform  248  is connected to the Internet  226 . Interexchange switch  242  is shown connecting local switch  208  and local switch  244 .  
     [0022] The method steps performed in accordance with the present invention in order to provide computer  202  with access to the Internet  226  are described below in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 3. In step  302  a subscriber using computer  202  places a dial-up modem call utilizing modem  204  to an Internet access number (IAN). For purposes of this example, the IAN is 511. The IAN digits are transmitted from modem  204  to local switch  208  via POTS line  206 . In step  304  the local switch  208  recognizes the IAN as a non-routable telephone number and as a request for access to the Internet, as distinguished from a request to place an ordinary telephone call. Upon recognizing the IAN, the local switch  208  is configured to connect the call to the authentication platform  218 . The call is received by the authentication platform  218  and is assigned to one of the available modems in the modem pool  210 . In step  306  the authentication platform  218  sends a message to computer  202  requesting authentication information, including an ISP-ID, userid, and password, from the subscriber. In step  308  the subscriber transmits the ISP-ID, userid, and password to the authentication platform  218 .  
     [0023] The ISP-ID entered by the subscriber will identify the ISP with which the subscriber has an Internet access account. For purposes of this example, assume that the subscriber has an Internet access account with ISP  228 , and that the ISP-ID entered by the subscriber identifies ISP  228 . In step  310  the authentication platform  218  sends an authentication request, including the username and password entered by the subscriber, to ISP  228  via the Internet  226 . The ISP  228  has an Internet address which the authentication platform  218  looks up in a database using the ISP-ID. This database could be internal to the authentication platform  218 , or it could be external to the authentication platform (e.g. connected to the Internet).  
     [0024] Upon receipt of the authorization request, in step  312  the ISP  228  determines whether the supplied username and password correspond to an authorized subscriber who has an Internet access account with ISP  228  by performing a database lookup. The ISP  228  stores subscriber profile records in database  234 . These subscriber profile records contain usernames, passwords, and billing information for each subscriber who has an Internet access account with the ISP 228 . Thus, if the supplied username and password correspond to a valid subscriber profile record stored in database  234 , the ISP  228  determines that the subscriber is authorized. In step  314 , the ISP  228  returns an authentication response to the authorization platform  218  indicating whether the subscriber is an authorized subscriber to ISP  228 . In step  316  the authentication platform  218  receives the authentication response.  
     [0025] In step  318  the authentication platform  218  determines whether the subscribe is authorized based on the response received from the ISP  228 . If the authentication message received from the ISP  228  indicates that the subscriber is not authorized, then in step  330  the authentication platform  218  sends a message to the computer  202  indicating that access to the Internet is refused and the method ends in step  328 . If the authentication message received from the ISP  228  indicates that the subscriber is authorized, then in step  320  the authentication platform  218  connects the subscriber to the Internet  226  via an output port of authentication platform  218 .  
     [0026] In step  322  the authentication platform  218  begins recording connection information for the subscriber. When the subscriber terminates the connection with local switch  208  (i.e. hangs up), the authentication platform  218  recognizes that the communication link has been terminated and the test in step  324  is YES and control passes to step  326 . In step  326  the authentication platform  218  sends billing information to the ISP  227  via the Internet  226 . Such billing information includes the username, connection time, and an identification of the telecommunication company operating the local switch  208  and authentication platform  218 . The method ends in step  328 .  
     [0027] The billing information sent to the ISP  228  in step  326  allows for revenue sharing between the ISP  228  and the company operating authentication platform  218  and local switch  208 . As described above, the ISP  228  is an administrative, authentication, and billing entity, and does not provide subscribers with a physical connection to the Internet. The physical connection is provided by local switch  208  and authentication platform  218 , which would typically be operated by a local telephone company. The billing information sent to the ISP  228  allows the ISP  228  to bill the subscriber for access to the Internet. Since the billing information sent to the ISP  228  includes an identification of the telecommunication company operating the local switch  208  and authentication platform  218 , it allows the ISP  228  to share the subscriber revenue with the company providing the physical access to the Internet.  
     [0028] In accordance with one advantage of the invention, the subscriber could travel to a different location and still gain access to the Internet in the same manner as if the subscriber were using his/her home computer  202 . The invention also allows for beneficial billing and revenue sharing as follows. Consider now that the same subscriber that was using computer  202  to connect to the Internet  226  from home is traveling and is using computer  250  which is located outside the area serviced by local switch  208  and authentication platform  218 . Instead, computer  250  is connected to modem  252  which is connected to local switch  244 . Assume that local switch  244  is configured in a manner similar to that of local switch  208  such that it recognizes the dialing of the IAN (e.g. 511) as a request for connection to the Internet  226 . In accordance with the steps described above in connection with FIG. 3, the subscriber now at computer  250  will initiate a dial-up call to the LAN from computer  250 . Upon receipt of the IAN digits, the local switch  244  will recognize that the call is requesting access to the Internet  226 . Thus, local switch  244  connects the call to authentication platform  248 . The call is received by the authentication platform  248  and is assigned to one of the available modems in the modem pool  260 . The authentication platform  248  will request authorization information from the subscriber now using computer  250 . The subscriber enters in the same ISP-ID, userid, and password, as was entered when using computer  202 . Thus, even though the subscriber is at a different computer, he/she dials the same IAN and enters the same authentication information, making accessing the Internet more convenient. In a manner similar to that described above, the authentication information is sent to ISP  228 , the ISP  228  authenticates the subscriber and sends an authentication message to authentication platform  248 , and the subscriber using computer  250  is connected to the Internet.  
     [0029] When the Internet access session is terminated, the authentication platform  248  sends billing information to the ISP  228 . Since the billing information includes the identification of the telecommunication company operating the local switch  244  and authentication platform  248 , the ISP  228  can now share the billing revenue from this Internet access session with the appropriate telecommunications company which provided the physical access to the Internet.  
     [0030] Thus, as can be seen, even though the subscriber has traveled to a different geographic location and is gaining physical access to the Internet from a different local telephone company, the subscriber&#39;s steps to access the Internet are the same as when accessing the Internet from the subscriber&#39;s home computer  202 . Even the telephone number dialed, the IAN, remains the same. The subscriber uses the same ISP and thus billing is simplified. Further, the ISP is able to engage in revenue sharing with the appropriate local telephone company providing physical access to the Internet.  
     [0031] In accordance with another advantage of the Invention, different subscribers having accounts with different ISPs, can use the same computer to connect to the Internet in the same manner, and correct billing will take place. Assume that computer  202  is now being used by another subscriber having an Internet access account with ISP  236  instead of ISP  228 . The subscriber establishes a connection to the Internet  226  in the same way as described above by dialing the IAN. When the subscriber is requested to enter his/her authentication information, the subscriber enters his/her username, password, and ISP-ID identifying ISP  236  as this subscriber&#39;s ISP. The subscriber is authenticated using ISP  236  and is provided with access to the Internet as described above. When the subscriber terminates the connection, the authentication platform  218  sends billing information to ISP  236 , so that ISP  236  can correctly bill the subscriber and share the revenue with the local telephone company operating local switch  208  and authentication platform  218 .  
     [0032] The principles of the present invention may be implemented in many different embodiments by one skilled in the art. For example, referring back to the example discussed above in connection with FIG. 3, it is possible that in step  304  authentication platform  218  may not have any available modems in the modem pool  210  such that no modem can be assigned for use by the subscriber connecting to the Internet. In this case, the authentication platform  218  would send an appropriate message back to the local switch  208 . The local switch could then re-route the call in a conventional manner to another authentication platform, such as an authentication platform  248 , via IXC switch  242  and local switch  244 .  
     [0033] In another alternate embodiment, the authentication platforms  218 ,  248  could be integrated into the local switches  208 ,  244  respectively. Thus, the appropriate computer program instructions could be included in the memory ( 214 ,  256 ) and database ( 212 ,  258 ) of local switches  208 ,  244  respectively, such that the functions of the authentication platforms are performed by the local switches. As would be understood by one skilled in the art, the functions to be performed in accordance with the present invention may be performed by one network node, or in a distributed fashion by multiple network nodes.  
     [0034] In yet another alternate embodiment, although the modem pools  210 ,  260  are shown to be components of authentication platforms  218 ,  248  respectively, such modem pools could be included as components of the local switches  208 ,  244 , or the modem pools could be external to both the authentication platforms  218 ,  248  and the local switches  208 ,  244 .  
     [0035] In yet another alternate embodiment, although the ISPs  228 ,  236  are shown to be separate entities, since these ISPs provide administrative, authentication, and billing functions, and not physical connection to the Internet, they could be placed anywhere within the telecommunication network or within the Internet  226 . All that is needed to provide these functions is an appropriately configured computer system including a computer processor executing appropriate computer program instructions to carry out the ISP functions and appropriate storage (e.g. memory and database). In fact, multiple ISPs could share a single computer system, as long as the information for each ISP is logically separate from the other ISP within such shared computer system. Alternatively, the ISP functions could be integrated into other network nodes.  
     [0036] In another embodiment of the invention, the subscriber terminal is connected to the Internet via a local connection to a cable television network node. Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. A subscriber wanting to access the Internet  412  is using computer  402  connected to cable modem  404 . Cable modem  404  is connected to cable television network node  408  via coax cable  406 . It is noted that cable  406  could also be a combination of coax cable and fiber optic cable. Cable television network node  408  and coax cable  406  are part of the cable television network. Cable television network node  408  is connected to authentication platform  410 . The authentication platform is connected to the Internet  412 . Also connected to the Internet  412  is ISP  414  and ISP  416 . FIG. 4 also shows computer  426  connected to cable modem  424 . Cable modem  424  is connected to cable television network node  420  via coax cable  424 . Cable television network node  420  is also connected to authentication platform  418  which is connected to the Internet  412 .  
     [0037] The elements of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 are very similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 except that the local telephone switches  208  and  244  of FIG. 2 are replaced with cable television network nodes  408  and  420  respectively. Although not shown in FIG. 4, each of the cable television network nodes  408  and  420  would contain a processor, memory, and database, similar to the local switches  208  and  244  of FIG. 2. Of course, cable television network nodes  408  and  420  would also contain other elements appropriate for a cable television node. Each of the authentication platforms  410  and  418  would also contain a modem pool, processor, memory, and database, similar to the authentication platforms  218  and  248  of FIG. 2. The modem pools of authentication platforms  410  and  418  would contain cable modems in order to properly communicate via the cable television network. ISP  414  and ISP  416  are configured, and operate, the same as ISPs  228  and  236  of FIG. 2. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the computers  402  and  426  are connected to the cable television network via cable modems  404  and  424  respectively. The use of cable modems to connect computers to a cable television network is well known in the art.  
     [0038] The method steps performed in accordance with the present invention in order to provide computer  402  with access to the Internet  412  are the same as those described above in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 3. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, steps  302  and  304  would not be performed because computer  402  is not required to place a dial-up call when connecting to the Internet via a cable modem and cable television network. Instead, when computer  402  properly establishes a connection with cable television network node  408 , the cable television network node  408  recognizes that a computer is connecting and the computer  402  is automatically connected to the authentication platform  410 . Otherwise, the steps of FIG. 3 are performed in a similar manner in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.  
     [0039] As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the mobility, authentication, billing, and revenue sharing benefits of the invention, as described above in connection with the embodiment described in connection with FIG. 2, will apply in a similar manner to the embodiment of FIG. 4.  
     [0040] The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in ever respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope of the invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown and described herein are only illustrative of the principles of the present invention and that various modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, although the subscriber terminals are shown connected to the voice and cable networks via wired communication links, these connections could also be provided via wireless communication links.