Intelligent autodialer
First Claim
1. A method for maximizing qualities of a user network access number (NAN) list, the user NAN list comprising plural NANs, the NANs for use by a user'"'"'s client device in connecting to a data network under control of a server system, the method comprisingstoring in the server system an available NAN list of NANs available for the client device to connect to the data network, wherein the user NAN list comprises a subset of the available NAN liststoring in the server system connection information about connecting from the NANs in the available NAN list to the data networkconnecting the client device to the server systemsetting the NANs in the user NAN list based upon the available NAN list, wherein the setting includes transmitting an identification of the NANs in the user NAN list from the client device to the server systemsetting an order for selecting the NANs in the user NAN list based upon the connection information, wherein the order is set outside of the user'"'"'s controldisconnecting the client device from the server system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention describes an automatic dialer for determining relative rankings of network access numbers from within a group of available network access numbers known as an available NAN list, and for facilitating selection of a network access number to use for a connection from a client device to a data network. Various factors are considered in determining the rankings of the network access numbers. The factors include connection costs, quality of connection.
9 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for maximizing qualities of a user network access number (NAN) list, the user NAN list comprising plural NANs, the NANs for use by a user'"'"'s client device in connecting to a data network under control of a server system, the method comprising
storing in the server system an available NAN list of NANs available for the client device to connect to the data network, wherein the user NAN list comprises a subset of the available NAN list storing in the server system connection information about connecting from the NANs in the available NAN list to the data network connecting the client device to the server system setting the NANs in the user NAN list based upon the available NAN list, wherein the setting includes transmitting an identification of the NANs in the user NAN list from the client device to the server system setting an order for selecting the NANs in the user NAN list based upon the connection information, wherein the order is set outside of the user'"'"'s control disconnecting the client device from the server system.
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12. A method of setting an order for using network access numbers (NANs) in a user NAN list, the user NAN list comprising plural NANs, the NANs for use by the user'"'"'s client device in connecting to a data network under control of an online service provider server system, wherein a connection from the client device to the data network comprises a front end portion and a back end portion, the front end portion comprising a first connection from the client device to a public switch, and the back end portion comprising a second connection from the public switch to a point of presence under control of one of plural back end providers plus a third connection from the point of presence to the data network, wherein authorization for the back end provider to establish the back end portion is by the online service provider server system, and each NAN is associated with one of the back end providers, the method comprising
storing in the online service provider server system an available NAN list of NANs available for the user'"'"'s client device to connect to the data network, wherein the user NAN list comprises a subset of the available NAN list storing in the online service provider server system connection information for connecting from the NANs in the available NAN list to the data network, the connection information comprising at least one of (a) quality of connection information for the back end portion and (b) costs information for the back end portion establishing a connection from the client device to the online service provider server system transmitting an identification of the NANs in the user NAN list from the client device to the online service provider server system setting an order for selecting the NANs in the user NAN list based upon at least one of (a) the stored quality of connection information for the back end portion and (b) costs information for the back end portion.
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26. An online service provider server system for controlling a connection between a user'"'"'s client device and a data network, wherein the user'"'"'s client device attempts connection to the data network using network access numbers in a user network access number (NAN) list comprising plural NANs. the online service provider server system comprising
a first memory storing an available NAN list of NANs available for the client device to connect to the data network, wherein the user NAN list comprises a subset of the available NAN list a second memory storing connection information about connecting from the NANs in the available NAN list to the data network computer program code which when executed causes the online service provider server system to perform operations including connecting to the user'"'"'s client device setting the NANs in the user NAN list based upon the available NAN list, wherein the setting includes transmitting an identification of the NANs in the user NAN list from the client device to the online service provider server system setting an order for selecting the NANs in the user NAN list based upon the connection information, wherein the order is set outside of the user'"'"'s control disconnecting from the client device.
Specification