Patent ID: 6920497

Claim:
A method in a computer for locating a computer through which to connect to a network, the method comprising: providing an identification of a portal computer or a plurality of portal computers, the portal computer or the plurality of portal computers having a communications port or communications ports with a call-in port being enabled for communications when the portal computer or the plurality of portal computers is in a state to coordinate the connection of a seeking computer to the network, wherein the call-in port is a type of communications port; selecting the communications port or communications ports of the portal computer or the plurality of portal computers and attempting to communicate with the selected communications port or communications ports until communications with the call-in port is successful, wherein a port ordering algorithm is used to identify the call-in port, and wherein the communications ports selected by the port ordering algorithm may be re-ordered; and using the call-in port to request that the portal computer or the plurality of portal computers coordinate the connecting of the seeking computer to the network.