Patent ID: 7627657

Claim:
A method of upgrading a computer system from a narrowband communication link to a broadband communication link comprising: executing an application on a customer purchased computer system for performing a capability qualification operating over a standard phone line between a customer and a telephone company utilizing a customer's existing analog modem to determine availability of digital subscriber line (DSL) service over the same standard phone line using a combination modem coupled to the customer purchased computer system, wherein the combination modem includes DSL capability and standard phone line capability, wherein the capability qualification includes a test for impediments on the phone line and checks for quality of the phone line due to proximity between the customer and the telephone company, wherein the test for impediments sends one or more test patterns from the telephone company to the customer's existing analog modem; the customer purchased computer system offering to a user one or more DSL service packages upon confirmation that DSL service is available; and in response to a user selection enabling DSL capability of the combination modem coupled to the customer purchased computer system; wherein offering to a user one or more DSL service packages upon confirmation that DSL service is available comprises: providing information on the cost and features of the one or more DSL service packages on the customer purchased computer system; obtaining payment information; and downloading configuration and operation software for DSL and Internet service provider (ISP) services to the customer purchased computer system over the standard phone line.