Dial-up access manager

• US 20030097450A1
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Ogg, Jennifer L., Dosmann, Daniel W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,041,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• 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 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801

Abstract

A network access management tool includes a dialer that connects users to a network, such as the Internet. An integrated phonebook automatically looks-up optimal phone number(s) to dial. The network access management tool may additionally help the user to automate virtual private network (VPN) connections, may include automated software update capabilities, and may take into account corporate policy information when making network connectivity decisions.

Claims

1. A dial-up connection manager comprising:

a dialer component configured to connect to a network using a selected one of a plurality of access numbers; and

a phonebook component configured to store the plurality of access numbers, the phonebook component automatically updating the stored plurality of access numbers from a phonebook server when the dialer component has made a network connection,

wherein the selected access number is selected from the phonebook component based on factors including at least one of cost of the network connection and access speed.

2. The dial-up connection manager of claim 1, wherein the cost of the network connection is based on whether the access numbers are local calls.

3. The dial-up connection manager of claim 1, further comprising:

a client policy component configured to customize the dial-up connection manager based on policy information automatically downloaded over the network from a policy delivery server.

4. The dial-up connection manager of claim 3, wherein the policy information relates to at least one of:

help desk information, and

customized messages.

5. The dial-up connection manager of claim 1, wherein the phonebook includes information relating to a country, a city, a state, a country code, and an ISP name of the access numbers.

6. The dial-up connection manager of claim 1, wherein automatically updating the stored plurality of access numbers includes downloading incremental changes to the phonebook from the phonebook server.

7. The dial-up connection manager of claim 1, further comprising:

a software update component configured to automatically download and install software upgrades to the dial-up connection manager.

8. The dial-up connection manager of claim 1, further comprising:

a virtual private network (VPN) component configured to enable the connection to the network as a VPN connection.

9. A method of generating network access numbers for distribution to a plurality of dial-up managers, the method comprising:

compiling a database that contains the access numbers;

compiling a database that associates area codes/exchanges with those of the access numbers from which the area code/exchange is a local call;

generating a master phonebook from the database that contains the access numbers and the database that associates area codes/exchanges with the access numbers;

generating incremental updates that define changes in the master phonebook; and

transmitting the incremental updates to the dial-up managers when the dial-up managers connect to the network.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

compiling a database containing information relating to information service providers (ISPs) associated with the access numbers.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating a file that indicates modification dates of the master phonebook.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting the master phonebook to the dial-up managers when the dial-up managers connect to the network for a first time in a predetermined time period.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined time period is approximately six months.

14. A dial-up connection manager comprising:

a user interface configured to present network connectivity options to a user and receive commands from the user;

a dialer component configured to connect to a network via a dial-up connection; and

a client policy component configured to automatically obtain policy information created on behalf of an employer of the user when the user connects to the network, the client policy component modifying the user interface based on the policy information.

15. The dial-up connection manager of claim 14, wherein the policy information is obtained from a policy delivery server.

16. The dial-up connection manager of claim 14, wherein the policy information relates to at least one of:

help desk information, and

customized messages.

17. The dial-up connection manager of claim 14, further comprising:

a phonebook component configured to store a plurality of access numbers for the dial-up connection, the phonebook component automatically updating the plurality of access numbers when the dialer component has made a network connection,

wherein at least one access number is selected from the phonebook component based on factors including at least one of cost of the network connection and access speed.

18. The dial-up connection manager of claim 17, wherein the cost of the network connection is based on whether the plurality of access numbers are local calls.

19. The dial-up connection manager of claim 17, wherein for each of the access numbers, the phonebook includes corresponding information relating to a country, a city, a state, a country code, and an ISP name.

20. The dial-up connection manager of claim 17, wherein automatically updating the plurality of access numbers includes downloading incremental changes to the phonebook component.

21. The dial-up connection manager of claim 14, further comprising:

a software update component configured to automatically download and install software upgrades to the dial-up connection manager from a software distribution server.

22. The dial up connection manager of claim 14, further comprising:

a virtual private network (VPN) component configured to enable the connection to the network as a VPN connection.

23. A method implemented by an access manager, comprising:

looking up an appropriate network access number from a phonebook of possible access numbers based on current area code/exchange information;

connecting to a network using the looked-up access number;

automatically downloading updates for the phonebook when connected to the network; and

automatically downloading policy information when connected to the network, the policy information defining customizations to the access manager.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the updates for the phonebook are incremental phonebook updates.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the policy information includes at least one of:

help desk information, and

customized messages.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the phonebook includes information relating to a country, a city, a state, a country code, and an ISP name of the access numbers.