Patent US5598536A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5598536A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus and method for providing remote users with the same unique IP address upon each network access

Assignee: Dialogic Corp Canada
•
Filing: 1994-08-09
•
Granted: 1997-01-28
•
Expires: 2014-08-09
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A remote access server provides a remote user with access to a local computer network. The server receives a user identification string from its communication port, the string having been entered by the remote user at a remote computer which is coupled to the communication port. The string identifies the remote user. The server uses the string to access a database and determine an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the string. The remote computer needs the IP address to communicate on the local computer network. The database includes a user identification string for each remote user and an IP address for each string. The remote access server sends the IP address to the remote computer via the communication port. The server then allows the remote computer to access the local computer network and to communicate on the local computer network using the IP address.

Inventors

  • 👤 Frank G. Slaughter, III
  • 👤 Russell C. Gocht
  • 👤 David McCool

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 15:52
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/40

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 166 words
A method for providing a remote user with access to a computer network, comprising: receiving a user identification string from a communication port, the string having been entered by the remote user at a remote computer which is coupled to the communication port, the string uniquely identifying the remote user; using the user identification string to access a database and retrieve a unique internet protocol (IP) address associated with the user identification string, the remote computer needing the IP address to communicate on the computer network, the database including a unique user identification string for each remote user and a unique IP address for each user identification string such that the same unique IP address is retrieved every time a particular remote user enters the user identification string uniquely identifying that remote user; sending the IP address to the remote computer via the communication port; and allowing the remote computer to access the computer network and to communicate on the computer network using the IP address.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 166 words
A method for providing a remote user with access to a computer network, comprising: receiving a user identification string from a communication port, the string having been entered by the remote user at a remote computer which is coupled to the communication port, the string uniquely identifying the remote user; using the user identification string to access a database and retrieve a unique internet protocol (IP) address associated with the user identification string, the remote computer needing the IP address to communicate on the computer network, the database including a unique user identification string for each remote user and a unique IP address for each user identification string such that the same unique IP address is retrieved every time a particular remote user enters the user identification string uniquely identifying that remote user; sending the IP address to the remote computer via the communication port; and allowing the remote computer to access the computer network and to communicate on the computer network using the IP address.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 10 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining the database.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising coupling a communication device to the communication port for communicating with the remote computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the communication port is a serial port.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the communication 2 device is a modem.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 186 words
A method for providing a remote user with access to a computer network, comprising: providing a communication port to provide for communication with a remote computer; coupling a network port to the computer network to provide for communication with the computer network, the remote computer needing an internet protocol (IP) address to communicate on the computer network; receiving from the communication port a user identification string which was entered by the remote user at the remote computer and which uniquely identifies the remote user; using the unique user identification string to access a database and retrieve a unique IP address associated with the user identification string, the database including a unique user identification string for each remote user and a unique IP address for each user identification string such that the same unique IP address is retrieved every time a particular remote user enters the user identification string uniquely identifying that remote user; sending the IP address to the remote computer via the communication port; and allowing the remote computer to access the computer network and to communicate on the computer network using the IP address.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 186 words
A method for providing a remote user with access to a computer network, comprising: providing a communication port to provide for communication with a remote computer; coupling a network port to the computer network to provide for communication with the computer network, the remote computer needing an internet protocol (IP) address to communicate on the computer network; receiving from the communication port a user identification string which was entered by the remote user at the remote computer and which uniquely identifies the remote user; using the unique user identification string to access a database and retrieve a unique IP address associated with the user identification string, the database including a unique user identification string for each remote user and a unique IP address for each user identification string such that the same unique IP address is retrieved every time a particular remote user enters the user identification string uniquely identifying that remote user; sending the IP address to the remote computer via the communication port; and allowing the remote computer to access the computer network and to communicate on the computer network using the IP address.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising coupling a plurality of communication ports such that a plurality of remote computers are provided simultaneous access to the local computer network after each remote computer is sent an IP address.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 10 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising maintaining the database.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising coupling a communication device to the communication port for communicating with the remote computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the communication port is a serial port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the communication device is a modem.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 204 words
A server for providing a remote user with access to a computer network, comprising: at least one communication port to provide for communication with a remote computer; at least one network port for coupling to the computer network to provide for communication with the computer network, the remote computer needing an internet protocol (IP) address to communicate on the computer network; and processing electronics for: controlling the communication port and the network port, receiving from the communication port a user identification string which was entered by the remote user at the remote computer and which uniquely identifies the remote user, using the user identification string to access a database and retrieve a unique IP address associated with the user identification string, the database including a unique user identification string for each remote user and a unique IP address for each user identification string such that the same unique IP address is retrieved every time a particular remote user enters the user identification string uniquely identifying that remote user, sending the IP address to the remote computer via the communication port, and allowing the remote computer to access the computer network through the server and to communicate on the computer network using the IP address.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 204 words
A server for providing a remote user with access to a computer network, comprising: at least one communication port to provide for communication with a remote computer; at least one network port for coupling to the computer network to provide for communication with the computer network, the remote computer needing an internet protocol (IP) address to communicate on the computer network; and processing electronics for: controlling the communication port and the network port, receiving from the communication port a user identification string which was entered by the remote user at the remote computer and which uniquely identifies the remote user, using the user identification string to access a database and retrieve a unique IP address associated with the user identification string, the database including a unique user identification string for each remote user and a unique IP address for each user identification string such that the same unique IP address is retrieved every time a particular remote user enters the user identification string uniquely identifying that remote user, sending the IP address to the remote computer via the communication port, and allowing the remote computer to access the computer network through the server and to communicate on the computer network using the IP address.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 40 words
The server of claim 12 further comprising a plurality of communication ports such that a plurality of remote computers are provided simultaneous access to the local computer network through the server after each remote computer is sent an IP address.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 14 words
The server of claim 12 wherein the processing electronics includes a microprocessor and memory.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 14 words
The server of claim 12 wherein the database is maintained internally by the server.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 20 words
The server of claim 12 wherein the database is maintained on the local computer network and external from the server.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 21 words
The server of claim 12 further comprising a communication device coupled to the communication port for communicating with the remote computer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 13 words
The server of claim 17 wherein the communication port is a serial port.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 12 words
The server of claim 18 wherein the communication device is a modem.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5355453A Cited
US5309437A Cited
EP0483547A1 Cited
US5159592A Cited
US5442633A Cited
US5245656A Cited
US5416842A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2000-01-28 2000-07-29 2001-01-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2004-01-28 2004-07-29 2005-01-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2008-01-28 2008-07-29 2009-01-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag