System and method for bandwidth on demand for internet service providers

• US 6,618,370 B1
• Filed: 11/16/1999
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Benhov GmbH, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hsu, Alpus H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TOAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/440,848
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/352, 370/356, 370/410, 370/389, 370/463, 709/203, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A telecommunications system and method for increasing communications bandwidth for an Internet Service Provider (“ISP”) to accommodate temporary fluctuations in demand. The present invention utilizes an Advanced Intelligent Network (“AIN”) to re-direct calls from a subscriber to an ISP from the ISP'"'"'s modem pools to a shared modem pool operated by a telephone service provider (“telco”) when the ISP needs additional bandwidth. The shared modem pool is controlled by an access server and a remote authentication dial-in user service server managed by the telco. The telco servers identify the identified ISP to receive the call by looking at the original number dialed by the caller. The telco servers then communicate with the proper ISP which determines whether or not the caller is a valid subscriber of the ISP.

Claims

1. A system for providing increased bandwidth for dial-up connections into an internet service provider on a temporary basis in response to customer demand comprising:

(a) a first switch in communication with a service control point, a second switch and a shared modem pool, said first switch having a first telephone access number and said second switch having a second telephone access number provisioned with a trigger; and

(b) a first remote authentication dial-in user service server in communication with an access server and a second remote authentication dial-in user service server, said access server in communication with the shared modem pool,

wherein when a call is received at the second switch having the second telephone access number in a called party field, if the call cannot be terminated, the second switch sends a query message to the service control point,

wherein the service control point sends a response to the second switch comprising the second telephone access number in a calling party number field, and the first telephone access number in the called party field,

wherein when the first switch terminates the call to the first telephone access number, the access server retrieves the second telephone access number from the calling party number field, the access server answers the call on the shared modem pool, the access server receives a plurality of data, the access server transmits the plurality of data and the second telephone access number to the first remote authentication dial-in user service server,

wherein the first remote authentication dial-in user service server identifies the second remote authentication dial-in user service server according to the second telephone access number and transmits the plurality of data to the second remote authentication dial-in user service server,

wherein the second remote authentication dial-in user service server verifies the plurality of data and provides a connection instruction to the first remote authentication dial-in user service server,

wherein the first remote authentication dial-in user service server transmits the connection instruction to the access server, and

wherein the access server sets up a dial-up connection according to the connection instruction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection instruction comprises a notice of a valid user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the dial-up connection comprises a point-to-point protocol connection.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the connection instruction comprises a notice of an invalid user.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the dial-up connection comprises the notice of an invalid user and a disconnection from the shared modem pool.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the response from the service control point to the switch further comprises a continue message and a termination notification request message.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the trigger is an automatic flexible route trigger.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the service control point further comprises a database for logging each call connected to the shared modem pool.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a means for generating a bill for using the shared modem pool.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for generating a plurality of reports.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a frame relay circuit for communications between the first and second remote authentication dial-in user service servers.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the service control point communicates with the switch via a Common Channel Signaling System 7 network.

13. A method for providing increased bandwidth for dial-up connections into an internet service provider on a temporary basis, in response to customer demand comprising the steps of:

(a) provisioning a trigger on a first telephone access number on a switch;

(b) when a call is received at the switch having the first telephone access number in a called party field, if the call cannot be terminated, sending a query message from the switch to a service control point in response to the trigger;

(c) sending a response from the service control point to the switch, said response comprising the first telephone access number in a calling party number field, and a second telephone access number in the called party field;

(d) terminating the call to the second telephone access number according to the response thereby connecting the call to a shared modem pool in communication with an access server;

(e) retrieving the first telephone access number from the calling party number field at the access server, answering the call, and receiving a plurality of data;

(f) transmitting the plurality of data and the first telephone access number from the access server to a first remote authentication dial-in user service server;

(g) identifying a second remote authentication dial-in user service server according to the first telephone access number;

(h) transmitting the plurality of data to the second remote authentication dial-in user service server;

(i) verifying the plurality of data at the second remote authentication dial-in user service server, and sending a connection instruction to the first remote authentication dial-in user service server;

(j) transmitting the connection instruction from the first remote authentication dial-in user service server to the access server; and

(k) setting up a dial-up connection on the access server according to the connection instruction.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the response from the service control point to the switch further comprises a continue message and a termination notification request message.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the trigger is an automatic flexible route trigger.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of logging each call connected to the shared modem pool in a database on the service control point.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of generating a bill for using the shared modem pool.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of generating a plurality of reports.