Method and apparatus for establishing a personalized connection with a network

• US 6,725,303 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rupert, Amy J., Hoguta, Kenneth J., Sherman, Ronald, Russell, Jesse Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/651,852
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 348/7, 710/305, 710/106, 710/65, 709/227, 709/228, 709/220, 709/221
• US Class Current: 710/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

A method and apparatus for establishing a personalized connection with a network from a variety of different terminals and/or ports connected with the network. Subscribers to the network can be provided with a unique subscriber ID that may be used by the network to identify the subscriber. Furthermore, based on the subscriber ID, the network or a network customizing device can access a subscriber profile in order to personalize a connection with the subscriber. Additionally, the subscriber profile can be used by the network service provider for billing purposes.

Claims

1. A method for customizing a connection to a network for at least one terminal, comprising:

receiving a request to customize the connection to at least one terminal;

retrieving a customized subscriber profile based on the request wherein the customized subscriber profile includes at least one terminal type and at least one subscriber preference or entitlement which corresponds to each of the terminal types of a subscriber, at least one previously stored terminal user interface or functionality attribute, and at least one previously stored service description or service quality attribute; and

customizing the connection with the at least one terminal based on the retrieved subscriber profile, including the subscriber profile includes at least one terminal type and at least one subscriber preference or entitlement which corresponds to each of the terminal types of a subscriber, at least one previously stored terminal user interface or functionality attribute, and at least one previously stored service description or service quality attribute.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the customization of the connection with the at least one terminal further includes transmitting a customization message to the at least one terminal, the customization message having instructions to modify the operation of the at least one terminal which are based on the subscriber profile.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the customization of the connection with the at least one terminal further includes modifying a transmission of data to the at least one terminal from the network based on the subscriber profile.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the customization of the connection with the at least one terminal further includes transmitting a customization message to a network with which the at least one terminal is connected, the customization message having instructions to modify the operation of the network based on the subscriber profile.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the customization of the connection with the at least one terminal further includes transmitting a customization message to at least one communications link, the customization message having instructions to modify the operation of the at least one communications link based on the subscriber profile.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the customization of the connection with the at least one terminal further includes transmitting a customization message to at least one server/storage device, the customization message having instructions to modify the operation of the at least one server/storage device based on the subscriber profile.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one subscriber preference or entitlement includes previously stored data on how to customize the corresponding terminal types.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one subscriber preference or entitlement includes previously stored data on how to custumize the network for connection with the corresponding terminal types.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one subscriber preference or entitlement includes previously stored data on how to customize the at least one communications link for connection with the corresponding terminal types.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one subscriber preference or entitlement includes previously stored data on how to customize the at least one server/storage device.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request to customize the at least one terminal includes a request for a service description or service quality attribute.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request further includes subscriber identification information, said subscriber identification (ID) being a unique identifier of a subscriber.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the subscriber profile further includes billing information for a subscriber.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein customizing the communication with the at least one terminal further includes:

retrieving a service description or service quality attribute from the at least one previously stored service description or service quality attribute, and transmitting the retrieved service description or service quality attribute to one of the at least one terminal, the network, the at least one communications link and the at least one server/storage device.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the subscriber ID includes at least one of a numeric or alphanumeric password, voice data and biometric data.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein retrieving the service description or service quality is based on a type of transaction or session the subscriber is transacting or initiating on the at least one terminal.

17. An apparatus for customizing a connection to a network, for at least one terminal, comprising:

a memory that stores at least one customized subscriber profile including at least one previously stored user interface and at least one previously stored service description or service quality attribute;

a network interface; and

a controller connected with the memory and the network interface that receives a request to customize the connection including a request for a terminal user interface/functionality type and a request for service description or service quality attribute, retrieves a customized subscriber profile from the memory based on the request, and customizes the connection with the at least one terminal based on the subscriber profile.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the controller further transmits a customization message to the at least one terminal, the customization message having instructions to modify the operation of the at least one terminal which are based on the subscriber profile.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the controller modifies a transmission of data between the at least one terminal and the network based on the subscriber profile.

20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the controller transmits a customization message to a network with which the at least one terminal is connection, the customization message having instructions to modify the operation of the network based on the subscriber profile.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the controller transmits a customization message to at least one communications link, the customization message having instructions to modify the operation of the at least-one communications link based on the subscriber profile.

22. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the controller transmits a customization message to at least one server/storage device, the customization message having instructions to modify the operation of the at least one server/storage device based on the subscriber profile.

23. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the subscriber profile includes at least one terminal type and at least one subscriber preference or entitlement corresponding to each of the terminal types of a subscriber.

24. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the controller retrieves a terminal user interface or functionality attribute from the at least one previously stored user interface or functionality attribute, and transmits the retrieved terminal user interface or functionality attribute to one of the at least one terminal the network, at least one communications link and at least one server/storage device.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein retrieving the service description or service quality attribute is based on a type of transaction or session the subscriber is transacting or initiating on the at least one terminal.

26. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the request further includes subscriber identification information, said subscriber ID being a unique identifier of a subscriber.

27. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the at least one subscriber preference or entitlement includes previously stored data on how to customize the corresponding terminal type.

28. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the subscriber profile further includes billing information for a subscriber.

29. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the controller retrieves the terminal user interface or functionality attribute based on a type of transaction or session the subscriber is transacting or initiating on the at least one terminal.

30. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the subscriber ID includes at least one of a numeric or alphanumeric password, voice data and biometric data.

31. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the billing information corresponds to each of the terminal types.