System and method for providing network and service access independent of an internet service provider

• US 7,099,944 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Anschutz, Thomas, Cassanova, Jeffrey P., Zhang, Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiley, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/905,010
• Time in Patent Office: 1,873 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/250, 709/230, 709/245, 709225-228, 709/224, 713/153, 710/105, 707 9- 10, 707/103.R, 370/252, 370/352, 370/230, 370/351, 703/172
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2557 Translation policies or rules
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/162 at the data link layer

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing personalized internet protocol (IP) services to an IP enabled device residing on a local area network (LAN) are disclosed. The systems and methods utilize an access device in communication with an access provider network, and involve communicating a first IP address to the access device, the first address allowing the access device to communicate with a first plurality of IP service devices through an Internet service provider (ISP), and communicating a second IP address to the access device, the second address allowing the access device to communicate with a second plurality of IP service devices in the access provider network. When the access device receives IP traffic from the IP enabled device it determines whether the IP traffic is addressed to one of the second IP service devices. If yes, the IP traffic is forwarded to the one of the second IP service devices with the second address as a return address. Otherwise, the IP traffic is forwarded to the ISP with the first address as the return address.

Claims

1. A system for providing Internet Protocol (IP) services from different Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to a plurality of different IP enabled devices via an access provider network, the system comprising:

a plurality of different IP enabled devices;

an access provider network connected to said different ISPs; and

an access device which connects said different IP enabled devices to said access provider network;

wherein said access provider network assigns a first IP address to said access device;

wherein said access device establishes a service session with one of said plurality of different ISPs by assigning a second IP address from said one of said plurality of different ISPs to said access device;

wherein when said access device receives IP traffic from one of said different IP enabled devices, said access device determines whether a destination IP address associated with said IP traffic is associated with said access provider network;

wherein said access device forwards, if said destination IP address is not associated with said access provider network, said IP traffic to said one of said plurality of different ISPs using said second IP address as a source address of said IP traffic;

wherein said access device otherwise, if said destination IP address is associated with said access provider network, forwards said IP traffic to said access provider network using said first IP address as said source address of said IP traffic;

wherein said access device receives additional IP traffic from one of said different ISPs;

wherein said access device determines which one of said plurality of different IP enabled devices is an intended recipient of said additional IP traffic by consulting a mapping table which maps said one of said plurality of different IP enabled devices to said one of said different ISPs based on previously exchanged traffic; and

wherein said additional IP traffic is forwarded to said one of said plurality of different IP enabled devices.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the different IP enabled devices includes an IP telephone, and the access provider network further comprises a telephone network gateway.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the different IP enabled devices include a personal computer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the different IP enabled devices include an IP enabled appliance.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the access provider network further comprises a user network management system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the access provider network further comprises a streaming media server.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the access provider network further comprises a broadband access interface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different IP enabled devices reside on a local area network (LAN) in communication with the access device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the access device utilizes Network Address Translation (NAT) protocol to provide the second IP address.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the access provider network further comprises a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the access provider network further comprises a Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) server.

12. A method for providing Internet Protocol (IP) services from different Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to a plurality of different IP enabled devices via an access provider network, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting said plurality of different IP enabled devices to said access provider network via an access device;

assigning a first IP address from said access provider network to said access device;

establishing, by said access device, a service session with one of said plurality of different ISPs by assigning a second IP address from said one of said plurality of different ISPs to said access device;

receiving, by said access device, IP traffic from one of said different IP enabled devices;

determining whether a destination IP address associated with said IP traffic is associated with said access provider network;

forwarding, if said destination IP address is not associated with said access provider network, said IP traffic to said one of said plurality of different ISPs using said second IP address as a source address of said IP traffic; and

otherwise, if said destination IP address is associated with said access provider network, forwarding said IP traffic to said access provider network using said first IP address as said source address of said IP traffic;

receiving, by said access device, additional IP traffic from one of said different ISPs;

determining, by said access device, which one of said Plurality of different IP enabled devices is an intended recipient of said additional IP traffic; and

forwarding said additional IP traffic to said one of said plurality of different IP enabled devices;

wherein said step of determining, by said access device, which one of said plurality of different IP enabled devices is an intended recipient of said additional IP traffic further comprises the step of;

consulting a mapping table which maps said one of said plurality of different IP enabled devices to said one of said different ISPs based on previously exchanged IP traffic.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of assigning the second IP address is accomplished using Network Address Translation (NAT) protocol.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the different IP enabled devices includes an IP telephone, and the access provider network further comprises a telephone network gateway.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the different IP enabled devices include a personal computer.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the different IP enabled devices include an IP enabled appliance.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the access provider network further comprises a user network management system.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the access provider network further comprises a streaming media server.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the access provider network further comprises a broadband access interface.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of different IP enabled devices reside on a local area network (LAN) in communication with the access device.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the access device utilizes Network Address Translation (NAT) protocol to provide the second IP address.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the access provider network further comprises a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the access provider network further comprises a Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) server.