Methods and apparatus for dynamic internet server selection
First Claim
1. A method of sharing a connection to the Internet among a plurality of computers connected to a local area network, the method comprising:
- (a) determining that a subset of the plurality of computers are available for use as a server;
(b) automatically selecting one of the subset of the plurality of computers to become the server;
(c) repeating steps (a) and (b) when the server becomes unavailable;
(d) establishing a connection between the server and the Internet; and
(e) routing Internet traffic through the server to the Internet.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for dynamically selecting a computer on a local area network to become a server providing shared access to a wide area network, such as the Internet, to all of the computers on the local area network is disclosed. A server may be selected from among any of the computers on the local area network that is currently available (i.e. powered on), and capable of establishing a connection to the wide area network. If the current server shuts down, a new server may be selected and started with only minimal impact on the other computers on the local area network, which are automatically reconfigured to use the new server to route network traffic to the wide area network.
126 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of sharing a connection to the Internet among a plurality of computers connected to a local area network, the method comprising:
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(a) determining that a subset of the plurality of computers are available for use as a server; (b) automatically selecting one of the subset of the plurality of computers to become the server; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) when the server becomes unavailable; (d) establishing a connection between the server and the Internet; and (e) routing Internet traffic through the server to the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for selecting a computer on a local area network to become a server to permit sharing of an Internet connection among a plurality of computers connected to a local area network, the apparatus comprising a local computer connected to the local area network, the local computer programmed to:
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(a) determine that a subset of the plurality of computers are available for use as a server; (b) automatically select one of the subset of the plurality of computers to become the server; (c) repeat steps (a) and (b) when the server becomes unavailable; (d) establish a connection between the local computer and the Internet, and become the server, if the local computer was selected to become the server; and (e) route Internet traffic through the server to the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 38)
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29. Apparatus for sharing an Internet connection among a plurality of computers, the apparatus comprising:
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a local area network interconnecting the plurality of computers; and a communication line permitting a connection between at least one of the plurality of computers and the Internet; wherein each one of the plurality of computers comprises a processor programmed to; (a) determine that a subset of the plurality of computers are available for use as a server; (b) automatically select one of the subset of the plurality of computers to become the server; (c) repeat steps (a) and (b) when the server becomes unavailable; (d) establish a connection between the computer and the Internet, and become the server, if the computer was selected to become the server; and (e) route network traffic through the server to the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39)
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Specification