Remote computer communication
First Claim
1. Software stored on a computer readable medium for causing a remote computer to perform the functions of:
- accepting a dialing database, including telephone access numbers;
accepting an identification of a computing resource; and
establishing a data communication path to the computing resource includingdetermining a plurality of access paths for communicating between the remote computer and the computing resource, including retrieving information related to the identified computing resource from the dialing database,determining a cost for each of said plurality of access paths, including evaluating a cost function for each of said plurality of access paths,selecting a first of the access paths based on the cost for each of the access paths, andinitiating establishment of communication over the selected first of the access paths.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user of a remote typically has a choice of multiple access methods and telephone numbers using which the user can connect his remote computer to a local computer or a local area network. The remote user often user faces several problems. These problems include first knowing what numbers and access methods the user has a choice of, and knowing the cost of using those numbers and access methods. This first problem is exasperated by a large number of available access points, changes of access telephone numbers, changes in telephone and network access rates, and changes in quality of service provided by various service providers. Distributing, storing, and searching a comprehensive directory of access numbers and associated costs would, in general, be prohibitive on remote computers with limited storage and computation capacity, such as portable computers typically often used by mobile workers. Furthermore, if the user is not successful in establishing a desired communication path, several courses of action may be available to the user. The user'"'"'s second problem involves choosing an appropriate course of action which, in general, requires a diagnosis of the problem encountered in making the desired connection.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. Software stored on a computer readable medium for causing a remote computer to perform the functions of:
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accepting a dialing database, including telephone access numbers; accepting an identification of a computing resource; and establishing a data communication path to the computing resource including determining a plurality of access paths for communicating between the remote computer and the computing resource, including retrieving information related to the identified computing resource from the dialing database, determining a cost for each of said plurality of access paths, including evaluating a cost function for each of said plurality of access paths, selecting a first of the access paths based on the cost for each of the access paths, and initiating establishment of communication over the selected first of the access paths. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for data communication comprising:
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accepting a dialing database, including telephone access numbers; accepting an identification of the computing resource; and establish a data communication path from a remote computer to a computing resource including determining a plurality of access paths for communicating between the remote computer and the computing resource, including retrieving information related to the identified computing resource from the dialing database, determining a cost for each of said access paths, including evaluating a cost function for each of said access paths, selecting a first of the access paths based on the cost for each of the access paths, and initiating establishment of communication over the selected access path. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. Software stored on a computer readable medium for causing a remote computer to perform the function of establishing a data communication path to a computing resource including:
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accepting an identification of a location of the remote computer; determining a plurality of access paths for communicating between the remote computer and the computing resource wherein each access path includes a dialed telephone channel to a telephone access number associated with that access path; determining a cost for each of said plurality of access paths, including evaluating a cost function for each of said plurality of access paths; selecting a first of the access paths based on the a cost for each of the access paths; and initiating establishment of communication over the selected first of the access paths; wherein determining the plurality of access paths includes determining a plurality of access paths according to telephone charges associated with use of dialed telephone channels from the location of the remote computer to the telephone access numbers associated with said access paths. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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Specification