System and method for provisioning broadband service in a PPPoE network using a configuration domain name

• US 20030041151A1
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Sharma, Manish, Senapati, Ananta Sankar
• Granted Patent: US 7,047,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses

Abstract

A modem that includes a configuration domain name associated with a configuration Broadband Service Node (BSN) is firstly provided. A PPPoE session is established, and an authentication request is transmitted, containing the identifier and a generic password, from the modem to a single configuration domain name over the PPPoE network. Authorization is then received from the configuration domain name. The authorization preferably comprises a temporary dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) address. Full configuration details, including a static IP address, are then obtained from an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The invention also provides a system and computer program product for provisioning broadband service in a Point-to-Point Protocol Over Ethernet (PPPoE) network.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for provisioning broadband service in a Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) network, comprising:

transmitting an authentication request from a modem to a single configuration domain name over a PPPoE network; and

receiving authorization from said configuration domain name.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to said transmitting step, the step of providing a modem that includes a configuration domain name associated with a configuration Broadband Service Node (BSN).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to said transmitting step, the step of establishing a PPPoE session.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to said transmitting step, the steps of:

requesting only a single identifier from a user of a client computer;

receiving said identifier; and

storing said identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting an authorization request containing said identifier and a generic password to said single configuration domain name.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein said receiving step comprises acquiring at least one temporary dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) address.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting a configuration request to an Internet Service Provider (ISP), where said configuration request is addressed from said dynamic IP address;

receiving full configuration details from said ISP, where said full configuration details include a static IP address, and where said full configuration details are addressed to said dynamic IP address; and

automatically configuring said modem based on said full configuration details.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

multiple Broadband Service Nodes (BSNs) coupled to said modem, where each of said BSNs is associated with a different domain name; and

an authentication server coupled to each one of said multiple BSNs.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said multiple BSNs are coupled to the Internet.

8. A system for provisioning broadband service in a Point-to-Point Protocol Over Ethernet (PPPoE) network, comprising:

a least one client computer;

a modem coupled to said client computer, said modem including a memory comprising;

instructions for transmitting an authentication request from a modem to a single configuration domain name over a PPPoE network; and

instructions for receiving authorization from said configuration domain name;

a single configuration Broadband Service Node (BSN) coupled to said modem, where said single configuration domain name is associated with said single configuration BSN; and

an authentication server coupled to said single configuration BSN.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexor (DSLAM) coupled between said modem and said single configuration BSN;

an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network coupled between said DSLAM and said single configuration BSN; and

a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) coupled between said ATM network and said single configuration BSN.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said memory further comprises a generic password.

13. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system for provisioning broadband service in a Point-to-Point Protocol Over Ethernet (PPPoE) network, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage and a computer program stored therein, the computer program comprising:

instructions for transmitting an authentication request from a modem to a single configuration domain name over a PPPoE network; and

instructions for receiving authorization from said configuration domain name.