System and method for accessing an internet service provider
First Claim
1. A method for providing Internet access in a network comprising a plurality of user stations, comprising:
- providing a predetermined Internet service access number for use in a network comprising a plurality of user stations, said predetermined Internet service access number corresponding with a predetermined network address;
receiving a message at said network address from a user station in the network, said message corresponding with a request for Internet access;
accessing a listing which includes a plurality of Internet Service Providers station numbers and automatically identifying and selecting one of the Internet Service Provider station numbers, at least two of said Internet Service Provider station numbers corresponding with different Internet Service Providers; and
using said one Internet Service Provider station number to attempt to connect over a telephony network said user station with an Internet Service Provider corresponding with said one Internet Service Provider station number.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An enhanced system and method is provided for network implementation to facilitate network users'"'"' access to an Internet Service Provider. The system and method employ an approach whereby a network user may initiate an Internet access request from the user'"'"'s network interface (e.g., personal computer) and the Internet access service provider (ISAP) may in turn select a station number corresponding with one of a plurality of different Internet Service Providers to provide the desired Internet access. The system and method are particularly apt for use in a telephony environment. In such environment, a central office switch receives a request from a telephony subscriber and suspends processing of the call pending receipt of routing instructions from a service control point. Such service control point selects the telephone number for an ISP from a listing of ISP telephone numbers corresponding with a plurality of different ISPs. Such number is provided to the central office switch to complete call processing. E-mail messaging may be advantageously controlled by an ISAP processor/memory module.
163 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for providing Internet access in a network comprising a plurality of user stations, comprising:
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providing a predetermined Internet service access number for use in a network comprising a plurality of user stations, said predetermined Internet service access number corresponding with a predetermined network address; receiving a message at said network address from a user station in the network, said message corresponding with a request for Internet access; accessing a listing which includes a plurality of Internet Service Providers station numbers and automatically identifying and selecting one of the Internet Service Provider station numbers, at least two of said Internet Service Provider station numbers corresponding with different Internet Service Providers; and using said one Internet Service Provider station number to attempt to connect over a telephony network said user station with an Internet Service Provider corresponding with said one Internet Service Provider station number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing Internet access service to telephony subscribers in a telephony network maintained by a telephony service provider, comprising:
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providing a predetermined Interact service access number to telephony subscribers in a telephony service network; receiving a call from a subscriber station at a central office switch corresponding with said predetermined Interact service access number; accessing a listing of which includes a plurality of Internet Service Provider station numbers and identifying and selecting one of the plurality of Internet Service Provider station numbers, where at least two of said plurality of Internet Service Provider station numbers corresponding with different Internet Service Providers; and using said selected Internet Service Provider station number to attempt to connect over the telephony network said subscriber station with an Internet Service Provider corresponding with said one Internet Service Provider station number. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for providing Internet access service to telephony subscribers in a telephony network maintained by a telephony service provider, comprising:
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a central office switch for receiving a call from a subscriber station within a telephony network, said call corresponding with a request for Internet access and for transmitting a message in response to receipt of said call; and a service control point within said telephony network for receiving said message and for automatically accessing a database containing a listing of a plurality of Internet Service station numbers, and selecting one of the plurality of Internet Service Provider station numbers from a plurality of Internet Service Provider station numbers, at least two of said plurality of Internet Service Provider station numbers corresponding with different Intent Service Providers, wherein said one selected Internet Service Provider station number is transmitted by said service control point to said central office switch to attempt a connection over the telephony network with said selected Internet Service Provider. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification