System for reconfiguring and registering a new IP address for a computer to access a different network without user intervention

• US 7,007,080 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SolutionInc Limited
• Original Assignee: Solution Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilson, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US09/742,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,894 Days
• Field of Search: 709/221, 709/220, 709/222, 709/245, 709/227, 709/228, 709/219, 709/223, 370/354, 370/338, 370/401, 379/88.17, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/221
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1414 in real-time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1428 Invoice generation, e.g. customization, lay-out, database processing, algorithms for calculating the bill or formatting invoices as WWW pages invoicing in general G06Q30/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1453 Methods or systems for payment or settlement of the charges for data transmission involving significant interaction with the data transmission network
• 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 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/663 Transport layer addresses, e.g. aspects of transmission control protocol [TCP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• 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 61/5061 Pools of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/162 involving adaptations of sockets based mechanisms secure socket layer H04L63/168
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 : Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 : Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 : Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

A server and method is provided that allows a computer configured for a different network to access a network without hardware or software configuration changes to the computer. The invention allows users to plug into the network and access not only the network that their computer is connected to but also to the Internet, the Worldwide Web and the individual'"'"'s email. This is particularly useful to visitors to multiple unit buildings such as hotels. Not only can the service be provided by the server and method of the invention connected to and carried out on the network but it does not require manual configuration changes to the computer or new software or hardware for the computer. In situations where access is to be controlled this is done through a registration driver and module. Only registered guests have access to the network and the services and access it provides. The invention determines and assigns addressing information to properly direct traffic to and from the computer. The invention provides for the storage and maintenance of the addressing data. Registration status information and billing information is collected and maintained to determine access to and billing for services.

Claims

1. A method of providing a user access to a network for a computer configured for a different network, the method being implemented by a server to allow the computer to access the network via a foreign network without user initiated software or hardware configuration changes, the method comprising the steps of;

automatically determining and assigning an Internet Protocol (IP) address for the computer connected on the foreign network;

registering the computer in association with addressing information including the assigned IP address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the computer;

storing and maintaining the addressing information for registered computers; and

filtering packets to permit only the registered computers to access the network; and

translating an IP address in a packet based on the MAC address, and transparently directing traffic to and from the computer from and to the network based on the addressing information; and

wherein the step of registering comprises the step of collecting and maintaining billing and registration status information, wherein the step of collecting and maintaining comprises the step of identifying the computer for billing purposes by using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and a network switching architecture to identify a switch port to which the computer is connected.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically determining and assigning comprises the step of examining whether an incoming packet from the computer is an IP or ARP packet, and the step of determining the assigned IP address based on the IP or ARP packet.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of automatically assigning comprises the step of assigning an IP address to the computer from a pool of IP addresses for the foreign network.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of registering comprises the step of fixing a registration period during which the computer is permitted access to the foreign network.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of maintaining comprises the step of unregistering the computer when the registration period has expired.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of maintaining billing information comprises the step of storing the collected information in a database.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of maintaining the addressing, billing and registration status information comprises the step of periodically backing up the said information.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of maintaining the addressing, billing and registration status information comprises the step of reloading the most current backup information in the event of a computer failure.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of collecting and maintaining comprises the step of identifying the computer for billing purposes through use of a preissued access code.

10. A computer readable medium containing the computer instructions which when executed on a computer carries out the steps of claim 1.