US5862339A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Client connects to an internet access provider using algorithm downloaded from a central server based upon client's desired criteria after disconnected from the server
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 1996-07-09
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Granted: 1999-01-19
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Expires: 2016-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A database central routing device is provided for routing access requests for internet access among a variety of on-line service providers. The device generally includes a central server having a list of algorithms pertaining to access phone numbers of internet access providers to be chosen from. The central routing device further includes an automatic phone number identifier to identify incoming calls in order to identify the user as a customer. An algorithm generator is also included in order to download algorithms pertaining to particular phone numbers in order to give the user access to a variety of internet access providers. The central routing device allows the user to select from a number of internet access providers depending on the availability of the providers. Factors such as time of day, consistent peak and off peak hours of any particular provider, the time of access, the type of user such as consumer or business user, and other factors in order to make efficient use of a variety of internet access providers.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick P. Bonnaure
- 👤 Tom J. Ziola
- 👤 William C. Herman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2854; H04L12/2856; H04L12/2869; H04L12/287; H04L12/2874; H04L67/00; H04L67/50; H04L67/52; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/49; H04M15/51; H04M15/80; H04M15/8044; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/4228; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0435; H04Q11/0471; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0029; H04L67/01; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/22; H04M2215/42; H04M2215/46; H04M2215/54; H04M2215/74; H04M2215/745; H04M7/00; H04M7/12; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13056; H04Q2213/13091; H04Q2213/13097; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/13141; H04Q2213/13175; H04Q2213/13202; H04Q2213/13209; H04Q2213/13298; H04Q2213/13332; H04Q2213/13376; H04Q2213/13389
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
In a system comprising a central access server having information identifying a plurality of internet access providers and a client system capable of utilizing one of the plurality of internet access providers to connect to the internet, a method of selecting an internet access provider, comprising the steps of: connecting the client system to the central access server; obtaining, by the central access server, client information relating to the client system; selecting, by the central access server, a subset of the plurality of internet access providers based on the client information and transferring information identifying said subset of the plurality of internet access providers to the client system; transferring, by the central access server, an internet access provider selection algorithm to the client system for use by the client system when connecting to the internet; disconnecting the client system from the central access server; executing, by the client system, said internet access provider selection algorithm to select an internet access provider from among said subset of internet access providers identified by the central access server; and using, by the client system, the selected internet access provider to connect to the internet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
In a system comprising a central access server having information identifying a plurality of internet access providers and a client system capable of utilizing one of the plurality of internet access providers to connect to the internet, a method of selecting an internet access provider, comprising the steps of: connecting the client system to the central access server; obtaining, by the central access server, client information relating to the client system; selecting, by the central access server, a subset of the plurality of internet access providers based on the client information and transferring information identifying said subset of the plurality of internet access providers to the client system; transferring, by the central access server, an internet access provider selection algorithm to the client system for use by the client system when connecting to the internet; disconnecting the client system from the central access server; executing, by the client system, said internet access provider selection algorithm to select an internet access provider from among said subset of internet access providers identified by the central access server; and using, by the client system, the selected internet access provider to connect to the internet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the client information includes geographical information associated with a location of the client system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining client information relating to the client system comprises the step of obtaining automatic number identification information associated with the client system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of executing said internet access provider selection algorithm comprises the step of selecting said internet access provider from among said subset of internet access providers based at least in part on the current time of day.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of executing said internet access provider selection algorithm comprises the step of selecting said internet access provider from among said subset of internet access providers based at least in part on the current day of the week.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
193 words
In a central access server having information identifying a plurality of internet access providers, a method for identifying to a client system a subset of said plurality of internet access providers and transmitting an internet access provider selection algorithm to said client system, comprising the steps of: receiving, from said client system, client information relating to said client system; comparing said client information with said information identifying said plurality of internet access providers so as to select a subset of said plurality of internet access providers according to desired criteria; transferring data identifying said subset of said plurality of internet access providers to said client system; and providing an internet access provider selection algorithm and transferring said algorithm to said client system, wherein said internet access provider selection algorithm provides instructions to said client system for selecting an internet access provider from among said subset of said plurality of internet access providers, so that thereafter said client system is disconnected from the said central access server and, by executing said selection algorithm, is able to select an internet access provider which can then be used to connect the client system to the internet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
193 words
In a central access server having information identifying a plurality of internet access providers, a method for identifying to a client system a subset of said plurality of internet access providers and transmitting an internet access provider selection algorithm to said client system, comprising the steps of: receiving, from said client system, client information relating to said client system; comparing said client information with said information identifying said plurality of internet access providers so as to select a subset of said plurality of internet access providers according to desired criteria; transferring data identifying said subset of said plurality of internet access providers to said client system; and providing an internet access provider selection algorithm and transferring said algorithm to said client system, wherein said internet access provider selection algorithm provides instructions to said client system for selecting an internet access provider from among said subset of said plurality of internet access providers, so that thereafter said client system is disconnected from the said central access server and, by executing said selection algorithm, is able to select an internet access provider which can then be used to connect the client system to the internet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the step of receiving client information relating to said client system comprises the step of receiving automatic number information associated with said client system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in claim 7, wherein said subset of said plurality of internet access providers includes two or more internet access providers having phone numbers that are local with respect to the client system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said subset of said plurality of internet access providers includes two or more internet access providers selected based at least in part on a reliability of performance of said two or more internet access providers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said subset of said plurality of internet access providers includes two or more internet access providers selected based at least in part on a frequency of busy signals associated with said two or more internet access providers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a client system capable of connecting to the internet, a method for selecting an internet access provider comprising the steps of: establishing communication with a central access server; transmitting, to said central access, server client information relating to said client system; receiving, from said central access server, information identifying one or more internet access providers; receiving, from said central access server, an internet access provider selection algorithm; discontinuing said communication with said central access server; executing said internet access provider selection algorithm, whereby an internet access provider is selected from among said one or more internet access providers; and connecting to the internet using said selected internet access provider.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a client system capable of connecting to the internet, a method for selecting an internet access provider comprising the steps of: establishing communication with a central access server; transmitting, to said central access, server client information relating to said client system; receiving, from said central access server, information identifying one or more internet access providers; receiving, from said central access server, an internet access provider selection algorithm; discontinuing said communication with said central access server; executing said internet access provider selection algorithm, whereby an internet access provider is selected from among said one or more internet access providers; and connecting to the internet using said selected internet access provider.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the step of executing said internet access provider selection algorithm comprises the step of selecting said internet access provider based at least in part on the current time of day.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the step of executing said internet access provider selection algorithm comprises the step of selecting said internet access provider based at least on the current day of the week.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the step of executing said internet access provider selection algorithm comprises the step of selecting said internet access provider based at least on an accumulated connect time associated with the client system during a current accounting period.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the step of executing said internet access provider selection algorithm comprises the steps of: selecting a first internet access provider from said one or more internet access providers; determining that a phone number associated with said first internet access provider is busy; and selecting a second internet access provider from said one or more internet access providers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a client system capable of connecting to the internet, a computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: establishing communication with a central access server; transmitting, to said central access server, client information relating to said client system; receiving, from said central access server, an internet access provider selection algorithm; disconnecting from said central access server and executing said internet access provider selection algorithm, whereby an internet access provider is selected from among said one or more internet access providers; and after said communication with said central access server is discontinued, connecting to the internet using said selected internet access provider.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a client system capable of connecting to the internet, a computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: establishing communication with a central access server; transmitting, to said central access server, client information relating to said client system; receiving, from said central access server, an internet access provider selection algorithm; disconnecting from said central access server and executing said internet access provider selection algorithm, whereby an internet access provider is selected from among said one or more internet access providers; and after said communication with said central access server is discontinued, connecting to the internet using said selected internet access provider.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as defined in claim 16, wherein the step of executing said internet access provider selection algorithm comprises the step of selecting said internet access provider based at least in part on the current time of day.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as defined in claim 16, wherein the step of executing said internet access provider selection algorithm comprises the step of selecting said internet access provider based at least on the current day of the week.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as defined in claim 16, wherein the step of executing said internet access provider selection algorithm comprises the step of selecting said internet access provider based at least on an accumulated connect time associated with the client system during a current accounting period.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
70 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as defined in claim 16, wherein the step of executing said internet access provider selection algorithm comprises the steps of: selecting a first interact access provider from said one or more internet access providers; and after determining that a phone number associated with said first internet access provider is busy, selecting a second internet access provider from said one or more internet access providers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a central access server connected to a client system and having information identifying a plurality of internet access providers, a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: receiving, from said client system, client information relating to said client system; comparing said client information with said information identifying said plurality of internet access providers so as to select a subset of said plurality of internet access providers according to desired criteria; transferring data identifying said subset of said plurality of internet access providers to said client system; and providing an internet access provider selection algorithm and transferring said algorithm to said client system, wherein said internet access provider selection algorithm provides instructions to said client system for selecting an internet access provider from among said subset of said plurality of internet access providers, so that thereafter said client system is disconnected from the said central access server and, by executing said selection algorithm, is able to select an internet access provider which can then be used to connect the client system to the internet.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a central access server connected to a client system and having information identifying a plurality of internet access providers, a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: receiving, from said client system, client information relating to said client system; comparing said client information with said information identifying said plurality of internet access providers so as to select a subset of said plurality of internet access providers according to desired criteria; transferring data identifying said subset of said plurality of internet access providers to said client system; and providing an internet access provider selection algorithm and transferring said algorithm to said client system, wherein said internet access provider selection algorithm provides instructions to said client system for selecting an internet access provider from among said subset of said plurality of internet access providers, so that thereafter said client system is disconnected from the said central access server and, by executing said selection algorithm, is able to select an internet access provider which can then be used to connect the client system to the internet.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as defined in claim 21, wherein the step of receiving client information relating to said client system comprises the step of receiving automatic number information associated with said client system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as defined in claim 22, wherein said subset of said plurality of internet access providers includes two or more internet access providers having phone numbers that are local with respect to the client system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as defined in claim 21, wherein said subset of said plurality of internet access providers includes two or more internet access providers selected based at least in part on a reliability of performance of said two or more internet access providers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as defined in claim 21, wherein said subset of said plurality of internet access providers includes two or more internet access providers selected based at least in part on a frequency of busy signals associated with said two or more internet access providers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a system comprising a central access server having information identifying a plurality of internet access providers and a client system capable of utilizing one of the plurality of internet access providers to connect to the internet, a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: connecting the client system to the central access server; obtaining, by the central access server, client information relating to the client system; selecting, by the central access server, a subset of the plurality of internet access providers based on the client information and transferring information identifying said subset of the plurality of internet access providers to the client system; transferring, by the central access server, an internet access provider selection algorithm to the client system for use by the client system when connecting to the internet; disconnecting the client system from the central access server; executing, by the client system, said internet access provider selection algorithm to select an internet access provider from among said subset of internet access providers identified by the central access server; and using, by the client system, the selected internet access provider to connect to the internet.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
190 words
In a system comprising a central access server having information identifying a plurality of internet access providers and a client system capable of utilizing one of the plurality of internet access providers to connect to the internet, a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of: connecting the client system to the central access server; obtaining, by the central access server, client information relating to the client system; selecting, by the central access server, a subset of the plurality of internet access providers based on the client information and transferring information identifying said subset of the plurality of internet access providers to the client system; transferring, by the central access server, an internet access provider selection algorithm to the client system for use by the client system when connecting to the internet; disconnecting the client system from the central access server; executing, by the client system, said internet access provider selection algorithm to select an internet access provider from among said subset of internet access providers identified by the central access server; and using, by the client system, the selected internet access provider to connect to the internet.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as defined in claim 26, wherein the client information includes geographical information associated with a location of the client system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as defined in claim 26, wherein the step of obtaining client information relating to the client system comprises the step of obtaining automatic number identification information associated with the client system.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as defined in claim 26, wherein the step of executing said internet access provider selection algorithm comprises the step of selecting said internet access provider from among said subset of internet access providers based at least in part on the current time of day.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
51 words
A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions as defined in claim 26, wherein the step of executing said internet access provider selection algorithm comprises the step of selecting said internet access provider from among said subset of internet access providers based at least in part on the current day of the week.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-18 | 2002-07-20 | 2003-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-18 | 2006-07-20 | 2007-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-18 | 2010-07-20 | 2011-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |