Method and apparatus for providing simplified access to the internet

• US 20060031752A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beny Alagem, Ira Thomas Traves, Samuel Surloff, Steven Mcrae
• Original Assignee: Beny Alagem, Ira Thomas Traves, Samuel Surloff, Steven Mcrae
• Inventors: Alagem, Beny, Surloff, Samuel, Traves, Ira Thomas, McRae, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0395 Mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/12 specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/00 Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus

Abstract

A system for providing access to a computer network comprises a first computer operatively coupled to the computer network and a second computer operatively coupled to the computer network. A peripheral device, which is coupled to the first computer, includes a plurality of buttons. If one of the plurality of buttons is activated, the first computer responds by communicating a signal to the second computer over the computer network. The second computer is constructed and arranged to respond to the signal communicated from the first computer by redirecting the signal to a third computer to establish a network connection between the first computer and the third computer over the computer network.

Claims

1. A system for providing access to a computer network, the system comprising:

a first computer operatively coupled to the computer network;

a second computer operatively coupled to the computer network;

a peripheral device, coupled to the first computer and having a plurality of buttons;

wherein the first computer is constructed and arranged to respond to activation by a user of one of the plurality of buttons by signaling the second computer over the computer network; and

wherein the second computer is constructed and arranged to respond to the signal by the first computer by redirecting the first computer to a third computer to establish a network connection between the first computer and the third computer over the computer network.