Broadband multi-service proxy server system and method of operation for internet services of user's choice

• US 6,912,567 B1
• Filed: 12/27/1999
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Allard, David J., Dunn, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHAU T
• Application Number:
  US09/472,602
• Time in Patent Office: 2,010 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/226, 709/222, 709/219, 709/203, 709/212, 709/213, 709/223, 709/227, 709/230, 709/229, 709/238, 370/352, 370/401, 370/260
• US Class Current: 709/223
• 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: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

A broadband multi-server proxy server (BMPS) enables customers to select an ISP of their choice from the Internet. The BMPS has a database and is coupled to a router. In operation, the cable customers register with a selected ISP of their choice. The selected ISP sends the customers a customer ID, password, a log on script and updates its database and the database of the BMPS with the customer information. The BMPS sends a customer logon request to the requested ISP using the customer ID, password and the BMPS as the source address for any customer message. The ISP verifies the customer address against its database and updates the router address tables to accept customer messages with the new address. Future customer messages are sent directly to the selected ISP bypassing the standard Internet DHCP protocol.

Claims

1. A broadband Internet Protocol (IP) based network, comprising:

at least one customer coupled to the network via a broadband multi service proxy server (BMPS) including a database and a router;

means for registering the at least one customer with a selected Internet Service Provider (ISP) for all IP services, prior to receiving the services;

means responsive to the ISP registration for storing in the database a customer identification, ID and password generated by the ISP;

means for generating a DHCP message including an extended portion, which contains an ISP service name, a BMPS name, an end user ID and password, identifying the selected ISP in a customer request for all IP services with the BMPS serving as a proxy for the selected Internet Services Provider (ISP);

means for receiving and routing the customer request and extended DHCP request to the selected ISP for providing a unique customer IP address and all IP services to the customer after updating routing tables in the router by the ISP;

means mapping the unique customer IP address to the DHCP request; and

means for directing future customer requests for and responses from all IP services directly to the selected ISP or any internet service based on the updated routing tables.

2. The broadband network of claim 1 further comprising:

modem means for coupling the customer to the network; and

means for generating the unique customer IP address as part of the DHCP request.

3. The broadband network of claim 1 further comprising:

means for storing customer IP address information in the database.

4. The broadband network of claim 1 further comprising:

routing means coupled to the BMPS for serving a plurality of ISPs.

5. A broadband multi service proxy server (BMPS), comprising:

means coupling the server via a router to a broadband IP based network serving a plurality of customers;

means coupling the server and the router to an IP network via at least one Internet Service Providers (ISP) in a plurality of ISPs, the server providing proxy services of the ISP;

means for generating a customer request including an extended DHCP message for access to the IP network, the extended DHCP message including an ISP service name, a BMPS name, an end user ID and password of a selected ISP for all ISP services;

ISP means for sending the server a unique customer IP address in response to the extended DHCP message;

means for mapping the unique customer IP address to the DHCP request;

means enabling the customer to access the selected ISP of choice for IP network services; and

means for directing future customer requests for and response from IP services directly to the selected ISP or any selected internet service after updating routing tables in the router.

6. The server of claim 5 further comprising:

means for storing the unique customer IP address in the server as an origination source for a customer request.

7. The server of claim 5 further comprising:

means for pre-registering a customer for IP service with an ISP prior to generating a customer request; and

means for sending the server a customer ID and password for customers registered by the ISP.

8. The server of claim 5 further comprising:

means for sending a DHCP and unique customer IP address in a customer request for access to the IP network;

means for receiving the customer request and storing the unique customer IP address in a database couple to the server.

9. The server of claim 5 further comprising:

means for sending the server an extended DHCP response and customer assigned IP address for customer requests validated by the ISP.

10. The server of claim 5 further comprising:

means for mapping validated customer requests to the unique customer IP address; and

means emulating the ISP and sending the customer a DHCP response to the customer request.

11. The server of claim 5 further comprising:

means for validating a customer request for access to the IP network at the ISP of customer choice.

12. In a broadband IP based network including server means coupled to the network and to a plurality of ISPs via a switching means, a method of providing IP services to network customers via an ISP of their choice, comprising the steps of:

registering a customer for IP services from a selected Internet service provider (ISP);

generating a request by the customer including a DHCP message for IP services from the selected ISP;

sending the request and DHCP message to a server for processing to determine if the customer is approved by the network for receiving IP services, the server providing proxy services for the ISP;

sending the request and an extended DHCP message containing an ISP service name, a BMPS name, an end user ID and password for IP service to the selected ISP for all ISP services;

returning the extended DHCP message to the server with a customer IP address and updating tables in a switching means to provide the customer with IP services directly from the selected ISP;

mapping the unique customer IP address to the DHCP request; and

directing future customer requests for and responses from IP services directly to the selected ISP or selected internet service;

emulating the ISP by the server means and sending a DHCP reply to the customer followed by updating the switching means to allow the customer to access the ISP of choice.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

checking the extended DHCP message by the ISP to determine if the customer is approved to receive IP services.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

notifying the server when the ISP determines the customer is not approved to receive IP services.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

sending the server a customer ID and password for customers registered by the ISP.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

sending the server an extended DHCP response and customer assigned IP address for customer requests validated by the ISP.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the unique customer IP address expires upon customer log off.