Methods, DSL modems, and computer program products for provisioning DSL service using downloaded username/password

• US 8,064,357 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2006
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Warshawsky, Marc L., Cuberson, Russel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryman; Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): DECKER, CASSANDRA L
• Application Number:
  US11/348,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20070186113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,115 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

A method of providing communications can include transmitting a default username and password for a subscriber account from a Digital Subscriber Link (DSL) modem to an authentication server. The subscriber account is authorized based on the default username and password subscriber. A unique username and password for the subscriber account is transmitted to the DSL modem if the subscriber account is authenticated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at an authentication server, a default username and a default password for a user account from a digital subscriber line modem without a first input of the default username and the default password by a user, wherein the default username and the default password for the user account are stored in the digital subscriber line modem prior to delivery of the digital subscriber line modem to the user;

authenticating the user account based on the default username and the default password for the user account, wherein authenticating the user account comprises;

responsive to the authenticating of the user account having the default username and the default password stored in the digital subscriber line modem, providing a connection between the digital subscriber line modem and a walled garden website providing terms and conditions for the user account, and transmitting an authentication indication to a customer premises equipment management system, the authentication indication including digital subscriber line modem parameters including a unique digital subscriber line modem identifier;

receiving a second input at the walled garden website via the connection indicating acceptance of the terms and conditions for the user account; and

responsive to receiving the second input indicating acceptance of the terms and conditions, transmitting an acceptance indication from the walled garden website to the customer premises equipment management system, the acceptance indication indicating the acceptance of the terms and conditions for the user account; and

transmitting a unique username and a unique password for the user account from the customer premises equipment management system to the digital subscriber line modem responsive to the authenticating of the user account.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

storing the unique username and the unique password for the subscriber account in the digital subscriber line modem.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, at the authentication server, the unique username and the unique password for the user account from the digital subscriber line modem;

determining that the unique username and the unique password for the user account are not the default username and the default password; and

indicating that the unique username and the unique password for the user account are authentic to a network access server so that the network access server can authorize the user account based on the indicating that the unique user name and the unique password are authentic.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein receiving a default username and a default password for a user account comprises uploading the default username and the default password from the digital subscriber line modem to the authentication server using a customer premises equipment initiated notification message including the unique digital subscriber line modem identifier and a digital subscriber line modem manufacturer.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein transmitting the unique username and the unique password for the user account comprises downloading the unique username and the unique password to the digital subscriber line modem using an asynchronous customer premises equipment management system initiated notification message.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the customer premises equipment initiated notification message and the customer premises equipment management system initiated notification message comprise technical report 069 customer premises equipment wide area network management protocol formatted communications.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the default username and the default password comprise n non-unique default username and default password commonly stored in a plurality of digital subscriber line modems prior to delivery to a plurality of different subscribers.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer instructions for:

receiving, at an authentication server, a default username and a default password for a user account from a digital subscriber line modem without a first input of the default username and the default password by a user, wherein the default username and the default password for the user account are stored in the digital subscriber line modem prior to delivery of the digital subscriber line modem to the user;

authenticating the user account based on the default username and the default password for the user account, wherein the authenticating of the user account comprises;

responsive to the authenticating of the user account having the default username and the default password stored in the digital subscriber line modem, providing a connection between the digital subscriber line modem and a walled garden website providing terms and conditions for the user account, and transmitting an authentication indication to a customer premises equipment management system, the authentication indication including digital subscriber line modem parameters including a unique digital subscriber line modem identifier;

receiving a second input at the walled garden website via the connection indicating acceptance of the terms and conditions for the user account;

responsive to receiving the second input indicating acceptance of the terms and conditions, transmitting an acceptance indication from the walled garden website to the customer premises equipment management system, the acceptance indication indicating the acceptance of the terms and conditions for the user account; and

transmitting a unique username and a unique password for the user account from the customer premises equipment management system to the digital subscriber line modem responsive to the authenticating of the user account.