Universal access multimedia data network

Claim 2

A data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet; a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a router connected by asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) to said customer premises processor terminals; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers; said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCI/IP protocol within said switched data network and in connecting to said customer premises processor terminals; said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name translations when said customer premises processor terminals come on-line.

Claim 3

A network according to claim 1 wherein said other protocol encapsulates said TCP/IP protocol intact.

Claim 4

A data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet; a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections; a router connected to said node; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers; said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network and in connecting to said customer premises processor terminals through said LAN; said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name translations when said customer premises processor terminals come on-line.

Claim 5

A data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet; a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections; a router connected to said node; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers; said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network and in connecting to said customer premises processor terminals through said LAN; said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name translations when said customer premises processor terminals come on-line.

Claim 6

A data network according to claim 3 wherein said node comprises an Ethernet switch.

Claim 7

A data network according to claim 3 wherein said connections between said node and said customer premises processor terminals are dedicated connections.

Claim 8

A data network according to claim 3 wherein said customer premises processor terminals create internetwork protocol (IP) packets with IP addresses encapsulated within a media access control (MAC) protocol layer with a MAC address and send such packets to said node.

Claim 9

A data network according to claim 6 wherein said node recognizes the MAC layer address and sends said packets to said router.

Claim 10

A data network according to claim 7 wherein said router recognizes said IP address and directs such packets to said switched data network pursuant to said IP address.

Claim 11

A data network according to claim 8 wherein said router encapsulates said IP packet in a protocol layer and address which corresponding to the protocol used in said switched data network, said last named address directing the encapsulated packet to the same destination as indicated by said IP address.

Claim 12

A data network according to claim 9 including a second router which strips said switched data network protocol from said IP packet prior to delivery of said packet to its IP address.

Claim 13

A data network according to claim 10 wherein said IP packet remains intact in transmission from said consumers premises processor terminal to its destination as indicated by its IP address.

Claim 14

A data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet; a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections; a router connected to said node; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a storage of Internet addresses segregated by association with Internet service providers; a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers; said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network; said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name to Internet address translations when said customer premises processor terminals come on-line, said Internet addresses being selected from a segregated group in correspondence with the customer premise terminal affiliation with the Internet service provider associated with said group.

Claim 15

A data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet; a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections; a router connected to said node; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a storage of Internet addresses segregated by association with Internet service providers; a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers; said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network; said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name to Internet address translations when said customer premises processor terminals come on-line, said Internet addresses being selected from a segregated group in correspondence with the customer premise terminal affiliation with the Internet service provider associated with said group.

Claim 16

A network according to claim 12 wherein said other protocol encapsulates said TCP/IP protocol intact.

Claim 17

A data network according to claim 12 wherein said connections between said node and said customer premises processor terminals are full time connections.

Claim 18

A data network according to claim 12 wherein said customer premises processor terminals create internetwork protocol (IP) packets with IP addresses encapsulated within a media access control (MAC) protocol layer with a MAC address and send such packets to said node.

Claim 19

A data network according to claim 15 wherein said node recognizes the MAC layer address and sends said packets to said router.

Claim 20

A data network according to claim 16 wherein said router recognizes said IP address and directs such packets to said switched data network pursuant to said IP address.

Claim 21

A data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet; a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections; a router connected to said node; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a storage of Internet addresses segregated by association with Internet service providers; a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers; said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network; said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name to Internet address translations when said customer premises processor terminals come on-line, said Internet addresses being selected from a segregated group in correspondence with the customer premise terminal affiliation with the Internet service provider associated with said group.

Claim 22

A data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet; a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections; a router connected to said node; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a storage of Internet addresses segregated by association with Internet service providers; a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers; said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network; said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name to Internet address translations when said customer premises processor terminals come on-line, said Internet addresses being selected from a segregated group in correspondence with the customer premise terminal affiliation with the Internet service provider associated with said group.

Claim 23

A data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet; a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections; a router connected to said node; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers; said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than said TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network; said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name translations following authentication.

Claim 24

A data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet; a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections; a router connected to said node; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers; said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than said TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network; said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name translations following authentication.

Claim 25

A data network according to claim 19 wherein said authentication includes public/private key encryption between said customer premise terminal and said dynamic host configuration protocol server.

Claim 26

A data network according to claim 19 wherein said telephone Internet service provider network includes multiple domain name service servers connected to said router and multiple storages of domain name to Internet address translation tables, said storages being associated with said domain name service servers, said domain service servers accessing said storages seriatim for the sought domain name to provide said translation.

Claim 27

A data network according to claim 19 wherein said authentication includes delivery of identification signals by said customer premises processor terminals to said dynamic host configuration protocol server.

Claim 28

A data network according to claim 22 wherein said signals correspond to a password.

Claim 29

A data network according to claim 22 wherein said signals correspond to a name and a password.

Claim 30

A data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet; a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections; a router connected to said node; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a storage of domain name to Internet address translations associated with said domain name service server; a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers; said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network; said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name to Internet address translations and updating said storage of said storage of domain name to Internet address translations when an assignment of an Internet address is accepted.

Claim 31

A data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of information providers connected to said Internet; a plurality of Internet service providers providing selective connection to information providers via said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said information providers and said Internet service providers; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN through asymmetric digital subscriber line connections; a router connected to said node; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a storage of domain name to Internet address translations associated with said domain name service server; a switched data network connecting said router to said Internet service providers and said information providers; said telephone Internet service provider network using TCP/IP protocol for connecting to said Internet service providers and said information providers and using protocol other than TCP/IP protocol within said switched data network; said telephone Internet service provider network providing to customer premises processor terminals dynamic assignment of temporary Internet addresses and domain name to Internet address translations and updating said storage of said storage of domain name to Internet address translations when an assignment of an Internet address is accepted.

Claim 34

In a data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of hosts connected to said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said hosts; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN; a router connected to said node; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a storage of domain name to Internet address translations associated with said domain name service server; a switched data network connecting said router to said hosts; a method comprising the steps of: requesting from said dynamic host configuration protocol server with one of said customer premises processor terminals an Internet connection; responding to an authentication request by inputting to said customer premises processor terminal the requested authentication; responding to an Internet address offered by said dynamic host configuration protocol server with an acceptance; updating said domain name service server from said dynamic host configuration protocol server to reflect the assignment of said accepted Internet address to said customer premises processor terminal; requesting from said customer premises processor terminal to said domain name service server connection to said host; and connecting said customer premises processor terminal to said host.

Claim 35

In a data network comprising: a wide area data internetwork (Internet); a plurality of customer premises processor terminals; a plurality of hosts connected to said Internet; a public switched telephone network providing selective connection of said customer premises processor terminals and said hosts; said public switched telephone network including a telephone Internet service provider network which includes: a local area network (LAN) connecting said customer premises processor terminals to a control node in said LAN; a router connected to said node; a domain name service server connected to said router; a dynamic host configuration protocol server connected to said router; a storage of domain name to Internet address translations associated with said domain name service server; a switched data network connecting said router to said hosts; a method comprising the steps of: requesting from said dynamic host configuration protocol server with one of said customer premises processor terminals an Internet connection; responding to an authentication request by inputting to said customer premises processor terminal the requested authentication; responding to an Internet address offered by said dynamic host configuration protocol server with an acceptance; updating said domain name service server from said dynamic host configuration protocol server to reflect the assignment of said accepted Internet address to said customer premises processor terminal; requesting from said customer premises processor terminal to said domain name service server connection to said host; and connecting said customer premises processor terminal to said host.

Claim 36

A method according to claim 27 including the steps of using public/private password encryption between said customer premises processor terminal and said dynamic host configuration protocol server for the steps of: responding to said authentication request by inputting to said customer premises processor terminal the requested authentication; and said Internet address offer by said dynamic host configuration protocol server.

Claim 39

A method according to claim 29 including the steps of using public/private password encryption between said customer premises processor terminal and said dynamic host configuration protocol server for the steps of: transmitting said authentication from said customer premises processor terminal to said dynamic host configuration protocol server via said node; assigning a temporary Internet address to the requesting customer premises processor terminal.