METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL NETWORK ACCESS FROM A USER DEVICE

• US 20080181239A1
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wood, Anthony, Carloss, Chad, Grantges, James Bert
• Granted Patent: US 8,578,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to control network access from a user device, are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a request from a user device for access to a network, receiving a first password from the user device, determining that the first password is invalid, and sending a second password and a command to the user device to cause the user device to execute an application to store the second password on a network access device associated with the user device.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a user device for network access, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a user device for access to a network;

receiving a first password from the user device;

determining that the first password is invalid; and

sending a second password and a command to the user device to cause the user device to execute an application to store the second password on a network access device associated with the user device.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

sending a webpage that requests a password to the user device;

receiving the second password from the user device; and

determining that the second password is valid, wherein sending the command is performed when the second password is valid.

3. A method as defined in claim 7 wherein causing the user device to execute the application stores the second password on the network access device associated with the application.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising sending the application to the user device.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the application is executed by a web browser.

6. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising determining an operating system associated with the user device, wherein the application is selected to be compatible with the operating system.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising redirecting a request for network access to an automated customer assistance server.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the request includes an identifier of a requested webpage.

9. An article of manufacture storing machine readable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to:

receive a request from a user device for access to a network;

receive a first password from the user device;

determine that the first password is invalid; and

send a second password and a command to the user device to cause the user device to execute an application to store the second password on a network access device associated with the user device.

10. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 9, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to:

send a webpage that requests a password to the user device;

receive the second password from the user device; and

determine that the second password is valid, wherein sending the command is performed when the second password is valid.

11. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 10, wherein causing the user device to execute the application stores the second password on the network access device associated with the application.

12. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 9, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to send the application to the user device.

13. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 12, wherein the application is executed by a web browser.

14. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 12, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to determine an operating system associated with the user device, wherein the application is selected to be compatible with the operating system.

15. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 9, wherein the machine readable instructions further cause the machine to redirect a request for network access to an automated customer assistance server.

16. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the request includes an identifier of a requested webpage.

17. An apparatus for configuring a user device for network access, the apparatus comprising:

a web server to receive a request from a user device for access to a network and to receive a first password from the user device;

a credential validator to determine that the first password is invalid; and

a password resetter to send a second password and a command to the user device to cause the user device to execute an application to store the second password on a network-access device associated with the user device.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the web server is further to send a webpage that requests a password to the user device and to receive the second password from the user device;

and

the credential validator is further to determine that the second password is valid, wherein sending the command is performed when the second password is valid.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein causing the user device to execute the application stores the second password on the network access device associated with the application.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, further wherein the web server is further to send the application to the user device.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the application is executed by a web browser.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 20, wherein the web server is further to determine an operating system associated with the user device, wherein the application is selected to be compatible with the operating system.

23. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, further comprising a connection server to redirect a request for network access to the web server.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein the request includes an identifier of a requested webpage.

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45. A method comprising:

retrieving a first password from a memory in a user device;

sending the first password to a network access provider;

receiving a first message indicating that the first password is invalid and requesting a valid password;

sending a second password to the network access provider;

receiving a second message indicating that the second password is valid; and

when the second message indicates that the second password is valid, storing the second password in the memory in the user device.

46. A method as defined in claim 45, wherein at least one of the first message or the second message is a webpage.

47. A method as defined in claim 45, further comprising receiving from a web server an application that stores the second password in the user device.

48. A method as defined in claim 47, wherein the application is to be executed by a web browser.

49. A method as defined in claim 47, further comprising determining an operating system associated with the customer premise equipment, wherein the application is compatible with the operating system.

50. A method as defined in claim 45, further comprising:

sending a request for a first network resource to the network access provider;

receiving a redirection to a second network resource; and

receiving a web page requesting a password from the second network resource.

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