Method and system for computer network access using cooperating non-dedicated remote access servers
First Claim
1. A network access system for providing access to a computer network, the network access system comprising:
- a plurality of cooperating non-dedicated remote access servers comprising an integrated remote access system, for providing access to a plurality of first computer networks for a plurality of second network devices on a second computer network, wherein any of the plurality of cooperating non-dedicated remote access servers can provide network access to a first computer network for any of the plurality of second network devices;
a plurality of separate connections, for connecting the plurality of non-dedicated remote access servers comprising the integrated remote access system to each other and for connecting the plurality of non-dedicated remote access servers to the plurality of second network devices on the second computer network; and
one or more unique network identifiers, for identifying the integrated remote access system to the plurality of second network devices on the second network, wherein the one or more unique network identifiers are assigned without allocating any network resources on the plurality of second network devices on the second network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for computer access is provided. The method and system include an integrated remote access system comprising multiple cooperating non-dedicated remote access servers that provide access to a computer network such as the Internet, an intranet or other computer network for a switching office on a Public Switched Telephone Network ("PSTN"). The integrated remote access system is assigned a unique office code and other switching offices in the PSTN route access requests for the computer network to the integrated remote access system as though it were an actual switching office. No actual line numbers or ports are assigned by the PSTN for the integrated remote access system, increasing the number of available lines and ports on actual switching offices. The integrated remote access system eliminates the need for dedicated remote access servers to provide access to a computer network thereby decreasing costs for a network access server provider. The cooperating non-dedicated remote access servers that comprise the integrated remote access system are configured specifically to handle access requests and long duration connections to a computer network such as the Internet. Thus, capacity and performance are increased on the PSTN.
70 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A network access system for providing access to a computer network, the network access system comprising:
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a plurality of cooperating non-dedicated remote access servers comprising an integrated remote access system, for providing access to a plurality of first computer networks for a plurality of second network devices on a second computer network, wherein any of the plurality of cooperating non-dedicated remote access servers can provide network access to a first computer network for any of the plurality of second network devices; a plurality of separate connections, for connecting the plurality of non-dedicated remote access servers comprising the integrated remote access system to each other and for connecting the plurality of non-dedicated remote access servers to the plurality of second network devices on the second computer network; and one or more unique network identifiers, for identifying the integrated remote access system to the plurality of second network devices on the second network, wherein the one or more unique network identifiers are assigned without allocating any network resources on the plurality of second network devices on the second network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of accessing a computer network with an integrated remote access system, the method comprising the following steps:
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providing a unique network identifier to an integrated remote access system from a second computer network, the integrated remote access system having a plurality of cooperating non-dedicated remote access servers, wherein the unique network identifier is assigned to the integrated remote access system without allocating any network resources on on the second computer network; receiving the unique network identifier in an access request on a first remote access server in the integrated remote access system from a second network device on the second computer network to connect the second network device to a first computer network; selecting a second non-dedicated remote access server on the integrated remote access system from the plurality of cooperating non-dedicated remote access servers based on predetermined selection criteria; and providing the second network device access to the first computer network using the selected second non-dedicated remote access server. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification