System and method for provisioning broadband service in a PPPoE network using a configuration domain name

• US 7,047,304 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sharma, Manish, Senapati, Ananta Sankar
• Primary Examiner(s): PWU, JEFFREY C
• Application Number:
  US09/929,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20030041151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/218, 709/219, 709/228, 709/229, 709/222, 709/223, 709/224, 709/226, 709/225, 709/203, 709/250, 370/352, 370/401, 370/430, 370/486, 370/389, 370/254, 370/255, 370/395.5, 375220-222, 710/11, 710/105
• US Class Current: 709/229
• 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 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses

Abstract

A modem that includes a configuration domain name associated with a configuration Broadband Service Node (BSN) is firstly provided. A PPPoE session is established, and an authentication request is transmitted, containing the identifier and a generic password, from the modem to a single configuration domain name over the PPPoE network. Authorization is then received from the configuration domain name. The authorization preferably comprises a temporary dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) address. Full configuration details, including a static IP address, are then obtained from an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The invention also provides a system and computer program product for provisioning broadband service in a Point-to-Point Protocol Over Ethernet (PPPoE) network.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for provisioning broadband service in a Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) network, comprising:

transmitting an authentication request from a modern to a single configuration domain name over a PPPoE network; and

receiving authorization from said configuration domain name, comprising acquiring at least one temporary dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) address;

transmitting a configuration request to an Internet Service Provider (ISP), where said configuration request is addressed from said dynamic IP address;

receiving full configuration details from said ISP, where said full configuration details include a static IP address, and where said full configuration details are addressed to said dynamic IP address; and

automatically configuring said modem based on said full configuration details.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to said transmitting step, the step of providing a modem that includes a configuration domain name associated with a configuration Broadband Service Node (BSN).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to said transmitting step, the step of establishing a PPPoE session.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to said transmitting step, the steps of:

requesting only a single identifier from a user of a client computer;

receiving said identifier; and

storing said identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting an authorization request containing said identifier and a generic password to said single configuration domain name.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein said receiving step comprises acquiring at least one temporary dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) address.

7. A system for provisioning broadband service in a Point-to-Point Protocol Over Ethernet (PPPoE) network, comprising:

at least one client computer;

a modem coupled to said client computer, said modem including a memory comprising;

instructions for transmitting an authentication request from a modem to a single configuration domain name over a PPPoE network; and

instructions for receiving authorization from said configuration domain name;

a single configuration Broadband Service Node (BSN) coupled to said modem, where said single configuration domain name is associated with said single configuration BSN;

an authentication server coupled to said single configuration BSN; and

a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexor (DSLAM) coupled between said modem and said single configuration BSN;

an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network coupled between said DSLAM and said single configuration BSN; and

a Broadband Remote Access Server (BRAS) coupled between said ATM network and said single configuration BSN.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

multiple Broadband Service Nodes (BSNs) coupled to said modem, where each of said BSNs is associated with a different domain name; and

an authentication server coupled to each one of said multiple BSNs.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said multiple BSNs are coupled to the Internet.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said memory further comprises a generic password.

11. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system for provisioning broadband service in a Point-to-Point Protocol Over Ethernet (PPPoE) network, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage and a computer program stored therein, the computer program comprising:

instructions for transmitting an authentication request from a modem to a single configuration domain name over a PPPoE network; and

instructions for receiving authorization from said configuration domain name comprising instructions for acquiring at least one temporary dynamic Internet Protocol (IP) address;

transmitting a configuration request to an Internet Service Provider (ISP), where said configuration request is addressed from said dynamic IP address;

receiving full configuration details from said ISP, where said full configuration details include a static IP address, and where said full configuration details are addressed to said dynamic IP address; and

automatically configuring said modem based on said full configuration details.