Patent ID: 8782247

Claim:
A computer-readable storage device comprising instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: displaying a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface including a form component, wherein the form component includes a text entry component; displaying an advice window with the graphical user interface in response to a user entry of text into the text entry component, wherein the advice window is selectively displayed after the user entry of text fails to match one of a plurality of domain name extensions; in response to the user entry of text being similar to one of the plurality of domain name extensions, automatically changing the user entry of text to the one of the plurality of domain name extensions; accessing a dialer configured to interact with a modem to provide a connection to a service provider; displaying an applications interface configured to: indicate to an external computer program whether a first window is visible, whether the connection is active, a list of users, or any combination thereof; and in response to a request from the external program, set an active user, exit, show a second window, hide a third window, receive a subscription to events, receive an unsubscription to the events, dial a toll free number, disconnect without a prompt, sign in a user, display a sign in dialog, display an edit connection screen, update and refresh a connection pane, or any combination thereof; and determining, at an update manager, after a time period, whether updated software is available and, when updated software is available, downloading and applying the updated software.