Toll-free internet service

• US 6,181,690 B1
• Filed: 07/18/1997
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Civanlar, Mehmet Reha
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOAKYE, ALEXANDER O
• Application Number:
  US08/896,370
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/383, 370/389, 370/390, 370/392, 370/401, 370/408, 379/212
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2872 Termination of subscriber connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

A method is provided for establishing a toll-free connection between an end user and a site provider associated with a data-network connected device. The method includes the steps of: receiving predefined log-in information from the end user; identifying a site provider associated with the log-in information as belonging to a class of site providers offering toll-free data network access to end users; establishing a data network connection to the device associated with the site provider while preventing the end user from communicating over the data network with any party other than those parties authorized by the site provider; and allocating charges associated with the data network connection to the site provider.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a toll-free connection between an end user and a site provider associated with a data-network connected device, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving predefined log-in information from the end user;

identifying a site provider associated with said log-in information as belonging to a class of site providers offering toll-free data network access to end users;

establishing a data network connection to said device associated with said site provider while preventing said end user from communicating over said data network with any party other than those parties authorized by said site provider;

allocating charges associated with said data network connection to said site provider.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said data network is the Internet.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said log-in information address is received over a public switched telephone network.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the preventing step is performed by an application level gateway.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein charges associated with transmitting said address over the public switched telephone network are allocated to said site provider.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said log-in information is received from said end user via a point-of-presence local to said end user.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said user employs a world wide web browser and further comprising the step of providing a web page to said end user in conformance with a requirement of said browser.