Method and apparatus for providing internet access to client computers over a lan
First Claim
1. A method for providing client access to the Internet or other network, comprising:
- offering, at a point of service, a Local Area Network (LAN) connected to the Internet or other network;
connecting at least one client computer to said LAN;
configuring networking parameters of each of said at least one client computer;
establishing a secure tunnel between the service provider and each of said at least one client computer, such that the service provider provides Internet or other network service through the secure tunnel to only each one of said at least one client computer;
negotiating, at the point of service, the network usage terms and prices with each one of said at least one client computer; and
providing the Internet or other network service at the point of service to each one of the at least one client computer in accordance with the network usage terms and prices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and associated apparatus for providing access to the Internet or other network is described, where clients may connect their own computers to a LAN supplied by the access provider, who may charge for such access and may use security protocols for denying access to unauthorized or nonpaying users, and where the contract between client and access provider may be established at the point of access, independently of a previous relationship between both parties, and may have term as short as the client desires. in one aspect, the access provider may use the access services of another access provider and may use Network Address Translation (NAT) to reduce access costs. The client may select the desired level of security, usage metrics, usage limits, and payment options, and may monitor and control his or her usage. In one aspect, the client does not need to reveal his or her identity to the access provider. In one aspect, the access provider may present to the client a certificate signed by a Certification Authority that ensures that the access provider is bona fide and secure. In one aspect, the access provider gives the client a receipt that the client may use to recover from client or access provider failures.
58 Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method for providing client access to the Internet or other network, comprising:
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offering, at a point of service, a Local Area Network (LAN) connected to the Internet or other network;
connecting at least one client computer to said LAN;
configuring networking parameters of each of said at least one client computer;
establishing a secure tunnel between the service provider and each of said at least one client computer, such that the service provider provides Internet or other network service through the secure tunnel to only each one of said at least one client computer;
negotiating, at the point of service, the network usage terms and prices with each one of said at least one client computer; and
providing the Internet or other network service at the point of service to each one of the at least one client computer in accordance with the network usage terms and prices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for providing metered access to the Internet, comprising:
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accessing, via a local area network (LAN), the Internet, utilizing a service provider;
establishing a secure tunnel with said service provider by exchanging authentication certificates with said service provider;
negotiating network usage terms with said service provider at a point of access to the Internet; and
accessing said Internet via said service provider according to said negotiated usage terms. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56)
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57. An apparatus for providing client access to the Internet or other network, the apparatus comprising:
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a Local Area Network (LAN) to which client computers can be connected;
a router that connects the LAN to the Internet or other network;
a secure tunnel established between each client computer and the router, such that the router forwards to the Internet or other network only packets sent from the a server computer with which client computers communicate to negotiate, control, and settle access contracts wherein the server computer controls the router to establish or tear down each client computer'"'"'s secure tunnel.
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Specification