System and method of accessing a network by way of different service providers

• US 9,137,240 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MyMail, Ltd. (MyMail Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: MyMail, Ltd. (MyMail Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Selgas, Thomas Drennan, Massing, Michael Brian, Gmuender, John Everett
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrishamkar, Kaveh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kusyk, Janusz
• Application Number:
  US13/871,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20130291069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/50 Address allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0464 using hop-by-hop encryption, i.e. wherein an intermediate entity decrypts the information and re-encrypts it before forwarding it
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for simplifying the process of access to a network for a roaming computer user, divides the responsibility of servicing a given user wanting to access the network between multiple parties wanting to access the network between multiple parties and minimizes the possibility of improper dissemination of email header data as well as improper use of network resources (including server systems) by non-clients.

Claims

1. A method of providing a user device of a user access to the Internet by way of a plurality of different Internet service providers, each Internet service provider (ISP) having respectively different ISP-specific log-in information to enable Internet access for the user device, said method comprising:

enabling bidirectional communication between an access service provider and a first ISP, through the Internet, the access service provider also in bidirectional communication, through the Internet, with the user device, wherein the user device is connected to the Internet through a second ISP;

conveying to the access service provider the ISP-specific log-in information associated with the first ISP in order to enable the ISP-specific log-in information of the first ISP to be conveyed to the user device;

using the first ISP to authenticate the user'"'"'s right to access the Internet by way of the first ISP based solely on the user device submitting the conveyed ISP-specific log-in information of the first ISP, wherein the ISP-specific log-in information is specific to the first ISP and not the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a need to switch Internet service providers for accessing the Internet based on the user device moving to a new geographic location.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a need to switch Internet service providers for accessing the Internet based on reliability of network service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the ISP-specific log-in information comprises one or more passwords.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the ISP-specific log-in information comprises one or more values generated by the first ISP.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a point-to-point connection with the first ISP before the ISP-specific log-in information associated with the first ISP is conveyed to the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ISP-specific log-in information comprises at least one member of a group comprising a PAP ID and a PAP password that are generated or assigned by the first ISP.

8. An apparatus for providing a user access to the Internet by way of any one of a plurality of different Internet service providers, each Internet service provider (ISP) having respectively different ISP-specific log-in information to enable user Internet access, the apparatus comprising:

an access service provider in bidirectional communication through the Internet with a device of said user, and also in bidirectional communication through the Internet with each of said plurality of different Internet service providers;

said access service provider effective to procure, through the Internet, a plurality of ISP-specific log-in information associated with each of the plurality of Internet service providers directly from the respective Internet service providers, and to convey to the device of the user, through the Internet, ISP-specific log-in information that is specific to the one of a plurality of different Internet service providers and not the user; and

said access service provider also effective to enable user access to the Internet by authenticating the user to use the one of a plurality of different Internet service providers based solely on receipt, through the Internet and from the device of said user, of the ISP-specific log-information specific to the one of a plurality of different Internet service providers and not the user.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said bidirectional communication between the device of the user and the access service provider is carried out over a TCP/IP path.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ISP-specific log-in information of the ISP comprises one or more keys for encoding messages.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ISP-specific log-in information of the ISP comprises one or more signatures.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ISP-specific log-in information of the ISP comprises an identifier of a data network to use when establishing an Internet connection using the ISP.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising selecting a second ISP for a user to access the Internet based on at least one member of a group comprising cost and availability associated with network service provided by the second ISP.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said access service provider also authenticates the user through after the user submits a single log-in request.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the ISP-specific log-in information comprises one or more passwords.