System and method for controlling data access in a computer network

• US 5,909,671 A
• Filed: 02/04/1997
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Byford, Derrick John, Boydell, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): Peeso, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US08/794,940
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26, 705/18, 705/27, 395/200.47, 395/200.49, 395/200.61, 395/200.33
• US Class Current: 705/26.8
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/438 The ring being spiro-condensed with carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring systems
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 491/10 Spiro-condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1453 Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1457 using an account
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1482 involving use of telephony infrastructure for billing for the transport of data, e.g. call detail record [CDR] or intelligent network infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal

Abstract

A system for controlling data access in a computer network comprises first means for establishing a first communication link between a client computer and a server computer. The client sends a request to the server for supply of a data item from the server to the client. The server selects the requested data item from a store of data items in response to the request from the client. The server associates each data item in the store with a service telephone number. The server also identifies a subscriber telephone number associated with the request. A second communication link is then established between the server and a telephone utility. The server instructs the telephone utility to register a telephone call from the subscriber telephone number to the service telephone number associated with the requested data item. The requested data item is supplied from the server to the client on receipt by the server of confirmation from the telephone utility that the telephone call is registered.

Claims

1. A system for controlling data access in a computer network, the system comprising:

first means for establishing a first communication link between a client computer and a server computer;

means in the client for sending a request from the client to the server for supply of a data item from the server to the client;

means in the server for selecting the requested data item from a store of data items in response to the request from the client;

means in the server for associating each data item in the store with a service telephone number;

means in the server for identifying a subscriber telephone number associated with the request;

second means in the server for establishing a second communication link between the server and a telephone utility;

means in the server for instructing the telephone utility to register a virtual telephone call from the subscriber telephone number to the service telephone number associated with the requested data item; and

, means for supplying the requested data item from the server to the client on receipt by the server of confirmation from the telephone utility that the telephone call is registered.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first establishing means comprises a web browser for establishing the first communication link via the Internet.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the store comprises a memory in the server system.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the associating means comprises a look-up table stored in a memory of the server system.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the client comprises means for identifying the subscriber telephone number to the server.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the identifying means comprises a user input field for receiving a personal identification number from a user of the client.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the service telephone number comprises a premium rate telephone number.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second establishing means generates the communication link between the server and the telephone utility via the Internet.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data item comprises a weather forecast.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the client comprises means for specifying to the server the geographical location, day, and time desired for the weather forecast.

11. A method for controlling data access in a computer network, the method comprising:

establishing a first communication link between a client computer and a server computer;

sending a request from the client to the server for supply of a data item from the server to the client;

selecting the requested data item from a store of data items in response to the request from the client;

associating each data item in the store with a service telephone number;

identifying a subscriber telephone number associated with the request;

establishing a second communication link between the server and a telephone utility;

instructing the telephone utility to register a virtual telephone call from the subscriber telephone number to the service telephone number associated with the requested data item; and

, supplying the requested data item from the server to the client on receipt by the server of confirmation from the telephone utility that the telephone call is registered.

12. A personal weather forecasting system comprising:

means for establishing a communication link between a client computer and a server computer;

means in a client computer for sending a request from the client to the server for supply of a weather forecast from the server to the client;

means in the server for selecting the requested weather forecast from a store of weather forecasts in response to the request from the client; and

, means for supplying the requested weather forecast from the server to the client.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the client comprises means for specifying to the server the geographical location, day, and time desired for the weather forecast.

14. A server computer system for controlling data access in a computer network, the system comprising:

first means for establishing a first communication link to a client computer;

means for receiving a request from the client for supply of a data item from the server to the client;

means for selecting the requested data item from a store of data items in response to the request from the client;

means for associating each data item in the store with a service telephone number;

means for identifying a subscriber telephone number associated with the request;

second means in said server for establishing a second communication link to a telephone utility;

means for instructing the telephone utility to register a virtual telephone call from the subscriber telephone number to the service telephone number associated with the requested data item; and

, means for supplying the requested data item to the client on receipt of confirmation from the telephone utility that the telephone call is registered.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, having a memory comprising the store.

16. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the associating means comprises a look-up table stored in a memory of the server.

17. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the service telephone number comprises a premium rate telephone number.

18. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second establishing means generates the communication link between the server and the telephone utility via the Internet.