System for automatic connection to a network
First Claim
1. A computer system for allowing a user to automatically access one of a plurality of network service providers which require information specific to the user and/or the network service provider to be accessed, the computer system comprising:
- a data card which contains the information specific to the user and/or the network service provider to be accessed;
a data card reader adapted to access at least part of the information contained on the data card when the data card is in communication therewith;
a data processor in communication with the data card reader and adapted to be connected to a network; and
an application program resident on the data processor, said application program being configured to automatically retrieve at least part of the information contained on the data card when the data card is in communication with said data card reader and to use said information to gain access to one of the plurality of network service providers via the network by using one of a default access number indicating a designated network service provider and a local access number from a database containing a list of access numbers for the plurality of network service providers along with corresponding location information for each access number in the list, wherein said application program is immediately triggered upon insertion of said data card into said data card reader.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system (10) that allows a user to automatically access one of a plurality of Internet Service Providers which require information specific to the user and/or the ISP (12) to be accessed. A smart card (14) contains the information specific to the user and/or the ISP (12) to be accessed, and a smart card reader (18) reads the information contained on the smart card (14) when inserted into the recess 16 of the smart card reader (18). A computer (24) is provided having a Central Processing Unit CPU (22) that is in communication with the smart card reader (18) and which is also adapted to be connected to the ISP (12) via telephone line (30). An application program (26) resides on the CPU (22) and is configured to automatically retrieve the information contained on the smart card (14) when it is inserted into the smart card reader (18) and to use that information to gain access to one of the plurality of ISPs via the network by using one of a default access number indicating a designated ISP (12) and a local access number from a database (28) containing a list of access numbers for the plurality of ISPs along with corresponding location information for each access number in the list. The computer system (10) may further comprise an online advertising server (82) for serving advertisement information to the user based on profile information of the information specific to the user contained on the smart card (14).
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A computer system for allowing a user to automatically access one of a plurality of network service providers which require information specific to the user and/or the network service provider to be accessed, the computer system comprising:
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a data card which contains the information specific to the user and/or the network service provider to be accessed;
a data card reader adapted to access at least part of the information contained on the data card when the data card is in communication therewith;
a data processor in communication with the data card reader and adapted to be connected to a network; and
an application program resident on the data processor, said application program being configured to automatically retrieve at least part of the information contained on the data card when the data card is in communication with said data card reader and to use said information to gain access to one of the plurality of network service providers via the network by using one of a default access number indicating a designated network service provider and a local access number from a database containing a list of access numbers for the plurality of network service providers along with corresponding location information for each access number in the list, wherein said application program is immediately triggered upon insertion of said data card into said data card reader. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An online advertisement system for providing advertisements to a user, comprising:
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a data card for storing information specific to the user, including user profile information;
a data card reader for accessing the information contained on said data card when said data card is in communication therewith;
a data processor in communication with said data card reader; and
an online advertising server connected to said data processor for serving said advertisements to the user, wherein said advertisements are specifically tailored to the user based on said user profile information.
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15. A method for allowing a user to automatically access one of a plurality of network service providers which require information specific to the user and/or the network service provider to be accessed, comprising the steps of:
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configuring an application program resident on a data processor to automatically retrieve at least part of the information specific to the user and/or the network service provider to be accessed contained on a data card when said data card is in communication with a data card reader and to use said information to gain access to one of the plurality of network service providers via a network by using one of a default access number indicating a designated network service provider and a local access number from a database containing a list of access numbers for the plurality of network service providers along with corresponding location information for each access number in the list; and
immediately triggering said application program upon insertion of said data card into said data card reader. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for providing advertisements to a user, comprising the steps of:
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storing information specific to the user including user profile information on a data card;
accessing the information contained on said data card via a data card reader when said data card is in communication therewith;
communicating with said data card reader via a data processor; and
serving said advertisements to the user, wherein said advertisements are specifically tailored to the user based on said user profile information.
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28. A data card for allowing a user to automatically access one of a plurality of network service providers, comprising:
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a memory for storing information specific to the user and/or the plurality of network service providers and for storing an application program which is immediately triggered and which automatically uses the information to access one of the network service providers via a network when said data card is in communication with a data card reader that is communicating with a data processor;
a microprocessor for processing the information contained on said data card; and
a communications interface for transferring the information from said data card to said data card reader.
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29. A method for automatically transferring information to a network, comprising the steps of:
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storing said information on a data card;
connecting to said network; and
automatically uploading said information stored on said data card to said network upon connection thereto.
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Specification