Getting address from a second entity

• US 20030204606A1
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MyMail, Ltd. (MyMail Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: MyMail, Ltd. (MyMail Management, LLC)
• Inventors: Selgas, Thomas Drennan, Massing, Michael Brian, Gmuender, John Everett
• Granted Patent: US 7,975,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• 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 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method of 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 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 accessing a digital network comprising the steps of:

obtaining network access data from a first entity; and

contacting a network service provider second entity in accordance with data obtained from said first entity to obtain a temporarily assigned network address.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

obtaining authentication data from said first entity;

periodically contacting said first entity for possible updating of said network service provider access data to be used in next attempting to obtain a temporarily assigned network address.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

contacting said first entity for possible updating of said network service provider access data before next attempting to obtain a temporarily assigned network address.

4. Network access user apparatus for accessing a digital network comprising:

means for obtaining network service provider access data from a first entity; and

means for contacting a network service provider second entity in accordance with data obtained from said first entity to obtain a temporarily assigned network address.

5. A method of accessing a network comprising the steps of:

obtaining verification and network service provider access data from a first entity; and

contacting a network service provider second entity in accordance with data obtained from said first entity to obtain a temporarily assigned network address.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising the additional step of:

periodically contacting said first entity for providing billing data to the first entity.

7. A method of updating an ISP connection information of a user comprising the steps of:

connecting the user to a first ISP;

sending pinger header information to the first ISP; and

sending updated connection information to the user for one or more ISPs.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the connection information comprises at least one of a PAP ID, PAP password, ISP, dial-in locations, dial-in numbers, network routing information, adapters, and protocol.