System for supporting multiple internet service providers on a single network

• US 6,603,758 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1999
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WebTV Networks Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Sears, Stephan Bartlett Jr., Schmuelling, Guenther
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, CHUONG T
• Application Number:
  US09/411,012
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354-356, 370/401, 370/227, 370/244, 370/351, 713/201, 713/202, 713/200, 713/156, 713/157, 709/227, 709/228, 709/229, 709/225, 709/226, 709/249, 709/217, 709/239, 703/172, 703/175, 703/161, 703/176
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2872 Termination of subscriber connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5045 Making service definitions prior to deployment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10015 Access to distributed or replicated servers, e.g. using brokers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1038 Load balancing arrangements to avoid a single path through a load balancer

Abstract

Described are methods and apparatus that allow cable customers who wish to add a cable modem (or other device) to a local network to choose both the cable modem through which they access the Internet and the Internet Service Provider (ISP) that will provide them that access. A system of hardware connects the local network to the Internet. This hardware includes cable-modem infrastructure that denies Internet access to devices on the local network that are not registered with an authorized ISP. The hardware also facilitates the registration process, allowing devices new to the local network to establish Internet-access agreements with ISPs, and thereby gain access to the Internet.

Claims

1. In a communication infrastructure contained in a second network, a method for initiating a service agreement between a user of a network device that is network connectable to a first network and one of a plurality of service providers having corresponding servers that are network connectable to the second network, wherein the network device includes an identification code unique to the first network, the method comprising:

a. receiving the code from the network device;

b. in response to receiving the code, transmitting u message to the network device, the message including a list of a plurality of service providers having corresponding servers that are network connectable to the second network by being connected to a third network, which is external to both the first network and the second network, and that can authorize the network device to access the third network;

c. prompting the user to establish a service agreement by selecting a service provider from among the service providers; and

d. receiving a notice from the selected service provider, the notice indicating that the selected service provider authorized the network device to access the third network; and

assigning the network device a global address that can be used to communicate with other components that are network connectable to the first network, the second network, and the third network.

2. A system for establishing communication between a network computer connected to a first network and a remote information store, the system comprising:

a. a plurality of service provider computers connected to a third network, which is external to the first network and a local network, each of the service provider computers adapted to authorize network computers connected to the first network to access the third network;

b. a server connected to the local network and adapted to;

i. receive a unique identifier from the network computer and, in response, assign a non-routable address to the network computer, wherein the non-routable address can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the local network;

ii. in response to receiving the unique identifier, transmit a list, which contains a plurality of service providers that arc network connectable to the local network by being connected to the third network and that can authorize communication to the third network that would otherwise be blocked by components of the local network, to the network device; and

iii. store the unique identifier in a database identifying the network computer as a registered network computer;

c. an address server connected to the local network and adapted to assign a routable IP address to the registered network computer.

3. In a cable modem infrastructure that is contained in a local network, a method of establishing communication between a network computer that is network connectable to a first network and a remote information store that is network connectable to the local network, the method comprising:

a. receiving a unique identifier from the network computer;

b. determining, based on the unique identifier from the network computer, that the network computer does not have authority to access a third network, which is external to the first network and the local network; and

c. in response to the determination that the network computer does not have authority to access the third network,

i. providing a non-routable address to the network computer, wherein the non-routable address can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the local network;

ii. facilitating an agreement between a user of the network computer and one of a plurality of entities authorized to grant network computers access to the third network, wherein each of the entities have corresponding service provider computers that are network connectable to the local network by being connected to the third network; and

iii. providing the network computer a routable address that can be used to communicate with components connected to the first network, the local network, and the third network, upon completion of the agreement.

4. A method of establishing communication between a network computer connected to a first network and that is network connectable to a local network and a remote information store, the method comprising:

a. broadcasting a unique identifier;

b. receiving a non-routable address that can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the local network;

c. receiving, from a component included in the local network, a list identifying a plurality of service providers that are network connectable to the local network by being connected to a third network, which is external to the first network and the local network, and that can each authorize network computers contained in the first network to send communications to the third network that would otherwise be blocked by components of the local network; and

d. selecting one of the plurality of service providers; and

receiving a routable address that can be used to communicate with components that are network connectable to the first network, the local network, and tho third network.

5. In a communications infrastructure that is contained in a second network and that is network connectable to a first network, wherein the communications infrastructure can store a list containing a plurality of service providers that can authorize access to networks, wherein a network device that is network connectable to the first network can register with a service provider from among the plurality of service providers, and if authorized by a service provider to access a network, can access the network, and wherein the communications infrastructure can store device identifiers, each device identifier identifying a unique network device, a method for initiating a registration process for a network device so as to provide the network device with access to a network, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a device identifier from a network device;

in response to receiving the device identifier, transmitting to the network device a list, which contains a plurality of service providers that are network connectable to the second network by being connected to a third network, which is external to the first network and the second network, and that can authorize access to tie third networks;

receiving an indication that a service provider, from among the plurality of service providers, was selected at the network device; and

receiving a notice that the selected service provider has authorized the network device to access the third network; and

assigning the network device a global address that can be used to communicate with other components that are network connectable to the first network, the second network, and the third network.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the act of receiving a device identifier from a network device comprises all act of receiving a MAC address.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the act of receiving a device identifier from a network device comprises an act of receiving a device identifier from a cable modem.

8. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the act of receiving a device identifier from a network device comprises an act of intercepting a request for an IP address.

9. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the act of receiving a notice that the selected service provider has authorized the network device to access the third network comprises an act of receiving a notice that the selected service provider has authorized the network device to access the Internet.

10. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the act of receiving a notice that the selected service provider has authorized the network device to access the third network comprises an act of receiving a token that was previously transferred to the network device along with the list from a registration server.

11. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

an act of routing the received indication from the first network, through a portion of the second network and through a portion of the third network, to the service provider that was selected from among the plurality of service providers.

12. The method as recited hi claim 11, wherein the act of routing the received indication from the first network, through a portion of the second network and through a position of the third network, to the service provider that was selected from among the plurality of service providers comprises the following:

an act of routing the received indication from a cable subnet, through a portion of the second network and through a portion of the Internet, to a service provider computer associated with the service provider that was selected from among the plurality of service providers.

13. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

act of storing at least a portion of the notice.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the act of storing at least a portion of the notice comprises an act of modifying an entry in a database that corresponds to the received device identifier to indicate that the network device is registered with the selected service provider.

15. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

an act of assigning the network device a local address that can be used to communicate with other components contained in the first network and second network.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the act of assigning the network device an address that can be used to communicate with other devices contained in the first network and the second network comprises an act of assigning a non-routable IP address to the network device.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

an act of transferring the local address to the network device.

18. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the act of assigning the network device a global address that can be used to communicate with other components that are network connectable to the first network, the second network, and the third network comprises an act of assigning the network device a routable IP address.

19. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

an act of prompting the user to select one of the service providers contained in the list.

20. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

an act of transmitting a token, which when presented to the selected service provider indicates to the selected service provider that the network device has initiated a registration process, to the network device.

21. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising;

in response to receiving die notice, enabling the network device to send communications, which would otherwise be blocked by components of the second network, to the third network.

22. In a cable modem infrastructure that is contained in a second network, that is network connectable to a network computer on a first network, and that is network connectable to a plurality of service provider computers, a method for authorizing the network computer to access a network, the method comprising the acts of:

receiving a unique identifier from the network computer;

determining, based on the unique identifier received from the network computer, that the network computer is not authorized to access a third network, which is external to the first network and the second network; and

in response to the determination that the network computer is not authorized to access the third network, registering the network computer with a service provider computer, including;

providing the network computer with a non-routable address that can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the second network;

transmitting a list containing a plurality of service providers that are network connectable to the second network by being connected to the third network and can authorize access to the third network;

routing a selection of one of the service providers contained in the list from the first network, across a portion of the second network and across a portion of the third network, to a service provider computer; and

providing the network computer a routable address that can be used to communicate with components that are network connectable to the first network, the second network, and the third network.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of determining, based on the unique identifier received from the network computer, that the network computer is not authorized to access the third network, comprises the following:

an act of determining that the unique identifier received from the network computer is not included in a database of computers that are authorized to access the third network.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of determining, based on the unique identifier received from the network computer, that the network computer is not authorized to access the third network, comprises the following:

an act of determining that the network computer is not registered with any one of a plurality of service providers that can authorize a computer to access the third network.

25. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of providing the network computer with a non-routable address that can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the second network comprises the following:

an act of providing the network computer with a non-routable IP address that can be used to communicate with components contained in a cable subnet and the second network.

26. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the act of providing the network computer a routable address that can be used to communicate with components that are network connectable to the first network, the second network, and the third network comprises tile following:

an act of providing a routable IP address to the network computer that can be used to communicate with components that are network connectable to a cable subnet, the second network, and the Internet.

27. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

an act of receiving a token that indicates the network computer successfully registered with one of the plurality of service providers that can authorize access to the third network.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising:

an act of storing the token in a database to indicate that the network computer is authorized to access the third network.

29. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

an act of sending a request to the network computer to release the non-routable address.

30. In a network device that is connected to a first network and that is network connectable to a second network, a method for registering the network device to access a network through one of a plurality of service provider computers that can authorize network devices to access networks, the method comprising the acts of:

sending a unique identifier to the second network;

receiving data from a component included in the second network including;

a non-routable address that can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the second network; and

a list containing a plurality of service providers that are network connectable to the second network by being connected to a third network, which is external to the first network and the second network, and that can each authorize that can each authorize network computers contained in the first network to send communications to the third network that would otherwise be blocked by components of the second network; and

selecting a service provider form among the plurality of service providers contained in the list; and

receiving a routable address that can be used to communicate with components that are network connectable to the first network, the second network, and the third network.

31. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein sending a unique identifier to the second network comprises the following:

an act of sending a MAC address.

32. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein sending a unique identifier to the second network comprises the following:

an act of a cable modern sending a unique identifier.

33. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein a list containing a plurality of service providers that arc network connectable to the second network by being connected to third network, which is external to the first network and the second network, and that call each authorize network devices contained in the first network to access the third network comprises the following:

a list containing a plurality of service providers that are network connectable to the cable network head end by being connected to a third network, which is external to a cable subnet and a cable network head end, and that can each authorize network devices connected to a cable subnet to access the third network.

34. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein receiving data from a component included in the second network further includes:

an act or receiving a token that can indicate to one of the plurality of service providers that the network device is in the process of registering for access to the third network.

35. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

an act of sending a token, which indicates the network device is in the process of registering for access to the third network, to the selected service provider.

36. The method as recited in claim 30, wherein the act of receiving a routable address that can be used to communicate with components that are network connectable to the first network, the second network, and the third network comprises the following:

an act of receiving a routable IP address that can be used to communicate with components that are network connectable to a cable subnet, the second network, and the Internet.

37. The method as recited in claim 30, further comprising:

an act of, subsequent to selecting a service provider, receiving a request to release the non-routable address.

38. A computer program product for use in a communications infrastructure that is contained in a second network and that is network connectable to a first network and a third network, wherein the communications infrastructure call store a list containing a plurality or service providers that can authorize access to networks, wherein a network device that is network connectable to the first network can register with a service provider from among the plurality of service providers, and if authorized by a service provider to access a network, can access the network, and wherein the communications infrastructure can store device identifiers, each device identifier identifying a unique network device, the computer program product for implementing a method for initiating a registration process for a network device so as to provide the network device with access to a network, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable media carrying computer-executable instructions, that when executed at the communications infrastructure, cause the communications infrastructure to perform the method, including;

receiving a device identifier from a network device;

in response to receiving the device identifier, transmitting to the network device a list, which contains a plurality of service providers that arc network connectable to the second network by being connected to a third network, which is external to the first network and the second network, and that can authorize access to the third network;

receiving an indication that a service provider, from among the plurality of service providers, was selected at the network device; and

receiving a notice that the selected service provider has authorized the network device to access the third network; and

assigning the network device a global address that can be used to communicate with other components that are network connectable to the first network, the second network, and the third network.

39. The computer program product as recited in claim 38, wherein the one or more computer readable media include physical storage media.

40. A computer program product for use in a network device that is connected to a first network and that is network connectable to a second network, the computer program product for implementing a method for registering the network device to access network through one of a plurality of service provider computers that can authorize network devices to access networks, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable media carrying computer-executable instructions, that when executed at the network device, cause the network device to perform the method, including;

sending a unique identifier to the second network;

receiving data from a component included in the second network including;

a non-routable address that can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the second network; and

a list containing a plurality of service providers that are network connectable to the second network by being connected to a third network, which is external to the first network and the second network, and can each authorize network computers contained in the first network to send communications to the third network that would otherwise be blocked by components of the second network; and

selecting a service provider form among the plurality of service providers contained in the list; and

receiving a routable address that can be used to communicate with components that are network connectable to the list network, the second network, and the third network.

41. The computer program product as recited in claim 40, wherein the one or more computer readable media include physical storage media.

42. In a network environment that includes a plurality of Internet Service Providers and a local network that is capable of connecting to the plurality of Internet Service Providers over the Internet, a method for a local device on the local network to register with one of the Internet Service Providers notwithstanding that that the local device is not previously registered with any Internet Service Provider and is thus not capable of communicating over the Internet to directly register with that Internet Service Provider, the method comprising the following:

an act of receiving a request to access the Internet from the local device over the local network,

an act of determining that the local device has not previously registered with any of the plurality of Internet Service Providers and thus cannot directly access the Internet in response to the request;

an act of transmitting a response to the request in the form of a list of the plurality of Internet Service Providers, the response further causing the local device to prompt the user to select one of the plurality of Internet Service Providers and to establish a service agreement with the selected Internet Service Provider;

an act of receiving a notice from the selected Internet Service Provider that the user has established a service agreement with the selected Internet Service Provider; and

act of receiving a routable address that can be used to communicate with the selected Internet Service provider.

43. A method in accordance with claim 42, further comprising the following:

a step for facilitating communication between the local device and the selected Internet Service Provider to establish the service agreement.

44. A method in accordance with claim 42, wherein the local network comprises a cable subnet, the request including a Media-Access Control (MAC) address.

45. A method in accordance with claim 42, wherein the act of transmitting a response comprises the following:

an act of additionally transmitting a non-routable IP address that allows the local device to communicate with resources on the local network, but not with resources on the Internet.

46. A method in accordance with claim 42, wherein the response causes the local device to prompt the user to select one of the plurality of Internet Service Provider and to establish a service agreement with the selected Internet Service Provider using a login page.

47. A computer program product for use in a network environment that includes a plurality of Internet Service Providers and a local network that is capable of connecting to the plurality of Internet Service Providers over the Internet, the computer program product for implementing a method for a local device on the local network to register with one of the Internet Service Providers notwithstanding that that the local device is not previously registered with any Internet Service Provider and is thus not capable of communicating over the Internet to directly register with that Internet Service Provider, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a server computing system in the local network to perform the following:

an act of detecting receipt of a request to access the Internet from the local device over the local network;

an act of determining that the local device has not previously registered with any of the plurality of Internet Service Providers and thus cannot directly access the Internet in response to the request;

an act of causing a response to the request to be transmitted in the form of a list of the plurality of Internet Service Providers, the response further causing the local device to prompt the user to select one of the plurality of Internet Service Providers and to establish a service agreement with the selected Internet Service Provider;

an act of detecting receipt of a notice from the selected Internet Service Provider that the user has established a service agreement with the selected Internet Service Provider; and

an act or detecting receipt of a routable address that can be used to communicate with the selected Internet Service provider.