System and method for bandwidth on demand for internet service providers

• US 7,333,477 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Assets 169 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Poledo Holdings LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TOAN D
• Application Number:
  US10/397,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20030161300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A telecommunications system and method for increasing communications bandwidth for an Internet Service Provider (“ISP”) to accommodate temporary fluctuations in demand. The present invention utilizes an Advanced Intelligent Network (“AIN”) to re-direct calls from a subscriber to an ISP from the ISP'"'"'s modem pools to a shared modem pool operated by a telephone service provider (“telco”) when the ISP needs additional bandwidth. The shared modem pool is controlled by an access server and a remote authentication dial-in user service server managed by the telco. The telco servers identify the identified ISP to receive the call by looking at the original number dialed by the caller. The telco servers then communicate with the proper ISP which determines whether or not the caller is a valid subscriber of the ISP.

Claims

1. A method for allowing an internet service provider to dynamically expand a number of telephone lines and modems available to subscribers to the internet service provider, the method comprising:

activating a trigger provisioned on a trunk group of the internet service provider at a first switching point serving the internet service provider when a subscriber makes a call to access the internet service provider but no lines are available in a trunk connecting the first switching point to the internet service provider to connect the subscriber to the internet service provider;

in response to the trigger, forwarding the call to a second switching point serving a shared modem pool that is non-exclusively shared by the internet service provider with at least one other internet service provider; and

providing the subscriber access to the internet service provider via the second switching point and the shared modem pool.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing access includes the second switching point terminating the call to a multi-line hunt group.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing access includes the multi-line hunt group connecting the call to an access server in communication with a proxy remote authentication dial-in user service server.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the proxy remote authentication dial-in user service server determines the internet service provider the subscriber is trying to access.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the proxy remote authentication dial-in user service server instructs the internet service provider'"'"'s proxy remote authentication dial-in user service server to initiate a protocol session with the subscriber.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the internet service provider has a remote authentication dial-in user service server, and wherein the providing access comprises instructing the internet service provider remote authentication dial-in user service server to initiate a protocol session with the subscriber.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger is an automatic flexible route trigger.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the trigger prompts a query to a control node, and the control node responds to the query by writing the internet service provider'"'"'s telephone access number into a calling party field and a telephone access number for the shared modem pool in a called party field.

9. A system for providing increased bandwidth for an internet service provider comprising:

a control node communicating with a first switch, the first switch provisioned with a trigger on a trunk line for the internet service provider and operated when no line is available between the first switch and the internet service provider, said control node comprising a database for routing a telephone call to a shared modem pool via a second switch, the control node providing for routing a telephone call in response to the trigger, wherein said shared modem pool is non-exclusively shared by the internet service provider with at least one other internet service provider;

a proxy authentication server communicating with an access server, said access server communicating with the shared modem pool,

wherein the telephone call is routed to the shared modem pool, the access server answers the telephone call, and the proxy authentication server communicates with an authentication server for the internet service provider to establish a dial-up session for the telephone call.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an integrated services digital network line to functionally connect a network for the internet service provider to a router adapted to communicate with a network for the access server and the proxy authentication server.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the proxy authentication server is to receive an instruction from the internet service provider, said instruction to authorize changes to the database.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the trigger is an automatic flexible route trigger.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the control node is to write a telephone access number for the trunk line in a calling party number field of a call setup message.

14. A method for allowing an internet service provider to dynamically expand a number of telephone lines and modems available to subscribers to the internet service provider, the method comprising:

activating a trigger provisioned on a trunk group of the internet service provider at a first network component serving the internet service provider when a subscriber makes a call to access the internet service provider but no lines are available in the trunk group of the first network component serving the internet service provider to connect the subscriber to the internet service provider;

in response to the trigger, forwarding the call to a second network component serving a shared modem pool, the shared modem pool non-exclusively shared by the internet service provider with at least one other internet service provider; and

providing the subscriber access to the internet service provider via the second network component and the shared modem pool.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the providing access includes the second network component terminating the call to a multi-line hunt group.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said providing access includes the multi-line hunt group connecting the call to an access server in communication with a proxy authentication server.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the proxy authentication server determines the internet service provider the subscriber is trying to access.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the proxy authentication server instructs the internet service provider'"'"'s authentication server to initiate a protocol session with the subscriber.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the internet service provider has an authentication server, and wherein providing access comprises instructing the internet service provider authentication server to initiate a protocol session with the subscriber.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the trigger is an automatic flexible route trigger.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the trigger prompts a query to a control node, and the control node responds to the query by writing the internet service provider'"'"'s telephone access number into a calling party field and a telephone access number for the shared number in a called party field.

22. A system for providing increased bandwidth for an internet service provider comprising:

a network component communicating with a first switch, said network component comprising a database for routing a telephone call to a shared modem pool via a second switch in response to a trigger provisioned on a trunk line for the internet service provider on the first switch, said trigger operated when no line is available between the first switch and the internet service provider, wherein the shared modem pool is non-exclusively shared by the internet service provider with at least one other internet service provider; and

a proxy authentication server communicating with an access server, said access server communicating with the shared modem pool, wherein when the telephone call is routed to the shared modem pool, the access server answers the telephone call and the proxy authentication server communicates with an authentication server for the internet service provider to establish a dial-up session for the telephone call.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising an integrated services digital network line to functionally connect a network for the internet service provider to a router to be in communication with a network for the access server and the proxy authentication server.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the proxy authentication server receives an instruction from the internet service provider, said instruction to authorize changes to the database.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the trigger is an automatic flexible route trigger.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the network component is to write a telephone access number for the trunk line in a calling party number field of a call setup message.

27. A computer-readable medium containing program code that, when executed by one or more computer systems, causes the one or more computer systems to implement a method of dynamically increasing bandwidth for access to an internet service provider, the method comprising:

activating a trigger provisioned on a trunk group of the internet service provider at a first network component serving the internet service provider when a subscriber makes a call to access the internet service provider but no lines are available in a trunk group of the first network component serving the internet service provider to connect the subscriber to the internet service provider;

in response to the trigger, forwarding the call to a second network component serving a shared modem pool, the shared modem pool non-exclusively shared by the internet service provider with at least one other internet service provider; and

providing the subscriber access to the internet service provider via the second network component and the shared modem pool.

28. The medium of claim 27, wherein the providing access includes the second network component terminating the call to a multi-line hunt group.

29. The medium of claim 28, wherein the providing access further includes the multi-line hunt group connecting the call to an access server in communication with a proxy authentication server.

30. The medium of claim 29, wherein the providing access further includes the proxy authentication server instructing an authentication server of the internet service provider'"'"'s to initiate a protocol session with the subscriber.

31. The medium of claim 27, wherein the providing access comprises instructing an authentication server of the internet service provider to initiate a protocol session with the subscriber.

32. The medium of claim 27, wherein the trigger is an automatic flexible route trigger.

33. The medium of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises:

prompting a query to a control node in response to the trigger, wherein the control node responds to the query by writing the internet service provider'"'"'s telephone access number into a calling party field and a telephone access number for the shared number in a called party field.