Multiple-level internet protocol accounting
First Claim
1. A method for providing multiple-level accounting to a computer network service provider comprising the steps of:
- generating an internet protocol account logon accounting start request in response to a determination that a subscriber has logged on to said computer network service provider;
forwarding said internet protocol account logon start accounting request to a memory;
generating an internet protocol service accounting start request in response to a determination that said subscriber has logged on to a service and that no other subscribers have a current connection established to said service through the computer network service provider interface;
forwarding said internet protocol service accounting start request to a memory;
generating an internet protocol service accounting stop request in response to a determination that said subscriber has terminated said service and that no other subscribers have a current connection established to said service through the computer network service provider interface; and
forwarding said internet protocol service accounting stop request to a memory.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing computer network access points the capability for multiple-level accounting. A gateway device located at the access point is capable of generating Internet protocol accounting start and stop requests based on various events that need to be accounted for when a user accesses a network. These events include the user account logon, the service establishments and the Point to Point protocol (PPP) connections between the gateway device and public and private domains within the network. The counter is capable of tracking the duration of sessions and connections and the byte-count associated with the specified session or connection. The gateway device communicates with an accounting server which stores the accounting requests and matches start requests with subsequent stop requests.
319 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for providing multiple-level accounting to a computer network service provider comprising the steps of:
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generating an internet protocol account logon accounting start request in response to a determination that a subscriber has logged on to said computer network service provider; forwarding said internet protocol account logon start accounting request to a memory; generating an internet protocol service accounting start request in response to a determination that said subscriber has logged on to a service and that no other subscribers have a current connection established to said service through the computer network service provider interface; forwarding said internet protocol service accounting start request to a memory; generating an internet protocol service accounting stop request in response to a determination that said subscriber has terminated said service and that no other subscribers have a current connection established to said service through the computer network service provider interface; and forwarding said internet protocol service accounting stop request to a memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for providing multiple-level accounting to a computer network service provider comprising the steps of:
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receiving a user account logon access request at said computer network service provider; authorizing and authenticating said user in response to receiving said user account logon request; sending an account logon accounting start request to an accounting server; receiving a user service access request at said computer network service provider to access a requested service; granting user service privileges to said user if said requested service is contained within a service profile of said user; sending a service accounting start request to said accounting server if said computer network service provider interface has not already established a service connection with said requested service; and responsive to a determination that said user has disconnected from said requested service, sending a service accounting stop request to said accounting server if no other hosts have current connections to said requested service. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An accounting metering apparatus for providing multiple-level accounting to a computer network service provider comprising the following:
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a means for receiving a user account logon access request at said computer network service provider; a means for authorizing and authenticating said user in response to receiving said user account logon request; a means for sending an account logon accounting start request to an accounting server; a means for receiving a user service access request at said computer network service provider to access a requested service; a means for granting user service privileges to said user if said requested service is contained within a service profile of said user; a means for sending a service accounting start request to said accounting server if said computer network service provider interface has not already established a service connection with said requested service; and a means for, responsive to a determination that said user has disconnected from said requested service, sending a service accounting stop request to said accounting server if no other hosts have current connections to said requested service. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An accounting metering system for providing multiple-level accounting to a network service provider within a computer network comprising the following:
a gateway device capable of receiving network, service and connection access request packets from a plurality of hosts, said gateway device including; a proxier capable of readying logon authentication request packets and service authorization request packets for verification, a processor capable of granting network access, service establishment and connection access; an accounting request generator capable of generating accounting start request packets and accounting stop request packets for network account logons and logoffs, service establishments and terminations and connection accesses and terminations; an authentication, authorization and accounting server communicating with said gateway device by a network service provider proscribed internet protocol, said authentication, authorization and accounting server consisting of; an authenticator capable of verifying the authenticity of a user based on information contained in memory and comparable information found in said logon authentication request packets; a user specific service profile which contains a listing of the services which the user is authorized to access; and an accounting tabulator capable of storing said accounting start requests and said accounting stop requests received from said gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification