System and method of controlling network connectivity
First Claim
1. A system for establishing communication between a user computing device and a communication network, the system comprising:
- a user computing device;
a connectivity application resident on the user computing device;
a communication network; and
an access provider comprising one or more access points, wherein each access point includes connection information that may used by the connectivity application to establish communication between the user computing device and the communication network, and a management server which assigns a priority value to the connection information associated with at least some of the one or more access points, wherein the connectivity application accesses the connection information corresponding to one of the one or more access points based on the priority value assigned thereto.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the present invention include a connectivity application for connecting computer devices to communication networks such as the Internet. The connectivity application, such as, for example, a dialer, communicates with an access provider to ensure the connectivity application is using current connection data. Through the management of the connection data for a large number of connectivity applications, a management server advantageously provides a system administrator the ability to manage capacity, quality and traffic flow through hardware and software systems of an access provider. Moreover, the management server advantageously provides the ability to route around access points experiencing service interruptions, disruptions, or the like.
81 Citations
54 Claims
-
1. A system for establishing communication between a user computing device and a communication network, the system comprising:
-
a user computing device;
a connectivity application resident on the user computing device;
a communication network; and
an access provider comprising one or more access points, wherein each access point includes connection information that may used by the connectivity application to establish communication between the user computing device and the communication network, and a management server which assigns a priority value to the connection information associated with at least some of the one or more access points, wherein the connectivity application accesses the connection information corresponding to one of the one or more access points based on the priority value assigned thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20)
-
-
18. A server communicating with one or more connectivity applications resident on one or more computing devices, wherein each connectivity application establishes communication between one of the computing devices and a communication network, the server comprising:
-
connection information corresponding to each of a plurality of communication service providers, wherein the connection information corresponding to one of the communication service providers may be used by a connectivity application resident on a computing device for connecting the computer device to a communications network through the one communication service provider;
a management module which assigns a priority value to the connection information corresponding to at least some of the communication service providers, wherein the priority value for a particular communication service provider relates to at least a cost of using the particular communication service provider; and
a communication module which transfers to at least one of the connectivity applications at least some of the connection information and their corresponding priority values.
-
-
21. A server communicating with one or more connectivity applications resident on one or more computing devices, wherein each connectivity application establishes communication between one of the computing devices and a communication network, the server comprising:
-
connection information corresponding to each of a plurality of communication service providers, wherein the connection information corresponding to one of the communication service providers may be used by a connectivity application resident on a computing device for connecting the computer device to a communications network through the one communication service provider;
a management module which assigns a priority value to the connection information corresponding to at least some of the communication service providers, wherein the priority value for a particular communication service provider relates to at least a measurement of a connection quality of the particular communication service provider; and
a communication module which transfers to at least one of the connectivity applications at least some of the connection information and their corresponding priority values. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
24. A server communicating with one or more connectivity applications resident on one or more computing devices, wherein each connectivity application establishes communication between one of the computing devices and a communication network, the server comprising:
-
connection information corresponding to each of a plurality of communication service providers, wherein the connection information corresponding to one of the communication service providers may be used by a connectivity application resident on a computing device for connecting the computer device to a communications network through the one communication service provider;
a management module which assigns a priority value to the connection information corresponding to at least some of the communication service providers, wherein the priority value for a particular communication service provider relates to at least a measurement of an available capacity of the particular communication service provider; and
a communication module which transfers to at least one of the connectivity applications at least some of the connection information and their corresponding priority values.
-
-
27. A server communicating with one or more connectivity applications resident on one or more computing devices, wherein each connectivity application establishes communication between one of the computing devices and a communication network, the server comprising:
-
connection information corresponding to each of a plurality of communication service providers, wherein the connection information corresponding to one of the communication service providers may be used by a connectivity application resident on a computing device for connecting the computer device to a communications network through the one communication service provider;
a management module which assigns a percentage to the connection information corresponding to at least some of the communication service providers, wherein the percentage at least in part governs the probability that a particular communication service provider will be used by the connectivity application; and
a communication module which transfers to at least one of the connectivity applications at least some of the connection information and their corresponding percentages.
-
-
29. A server communicating with one or more connectivity applications resident on one or more computing devices, wherein each connectivity application establishes communication between one of the computing devices and a communication network, the server comprising:
-
connection information corresponding to each of a plurality of communication service providers, wherein the connection information corresponding to one of the communication service providers may be used by a connectivity application resident on a computing device for establishing communication between the computer device and a communications network through the one communication service provider;
a management module which assigns an order value to the connection information corresponding to at least some of the communication service providers; and
a communication module which transfers to at least one of the connectivity applications at least some of the connection information and their corresponding order values.
-
-
34. A method of controlling a connectivity application, the method comprising:
-
prioritizing connection information associated with a plurality of access points based on an order value for at least some of the access points; and
transferring the connection information to a connectivity application resident on a computing device.
-
-
44. A method of managing connectivity from a computing device to a computer network, the method comprising:
-
processing connection information in a prioritized order, wherein the connection information is associated with a plurality of access points to a communication network; and
using the connection information in priority order to direct a computing device to establish a connection with the communication network through one of the plurality of access points. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 50, 51, 52)
-
-
48. A connectivity application for establishing communication between a computing device and a communication network, the connectivity application comprising:
prioritized connection information corresponding to each of a plurality of access points; and
corresponding to connection information associated with a higher priority than another access point.
-
49. A connectivity application for establishing communication between a computing device and a communication network, the connectivity application comprising:
-
a connectivity database storing prioritized connection information associated with a plurality of access points; and
a connectivity application which directs a computing device to attempt to communicate with a computer network through one of the plurality of access points associated with connection information corresponding to a higher priority.
-
-
53. An internet service provider, comprising one or more access points providing access to a communication network for one or more computing devices, wherein the internet service provider directs at least one of the computing devices to attempt to establish communication through one of the access points having a highest priority value associated therewith.
-
54. A method of providing communication links to a computer network for multiple users through hardware and software systems controlled by a plurality of business entities, the method comprising:
-
agreeing with at least two service providers to allow users to access a computer network from computing devices through a plurality of access points associated with each of the service providers;
receiving connection data from the service providers for the plurality of access points;
ordering the connection data into a preferred order;
transferring the preferred order to at least one of the computing devices.
-
Specification