Managing connection requests in a dialup computer network

• US 6,119,161 A
• Filed: 02/28/1997
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lita, Christian, Thompson, Joseph Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THONG H
• Application Number:
  US08/808,264
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 395/187.01, 395/200.79, 395/761, 395/200.57, 395/200.09, 395/200.48, 370/85.13, 380/49, 380/24, 379/266, 709/130, 709/131, 709/227, 707/9, 711/213
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/027 involving a payment switch or gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/663 Transport layer addresses, e.g. aspects of transmission control protocol [TCP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method of managing connection requests from an application supported on a client. The client has a modem connectable to at least one server via a dialup computer network. According to the method, a list is maintained of the local Internet Protocol (IP) addresses assigned as modem connections are established to the dialup computer network during a session. The list is preferably in Last In, First Out (LIFO) order and includes a latest IP address as the last entry and one or more stale IP addresses. In response to a connection request associated with a stale IP address, the stale IP address is mapped to the latest IP address. The connection request is then redirected using the latest IP address. Preferably, client supports a proxy server which services the connection request locally if possible to avoid network traffic.

Claims

1. A method of managing connection requests from an application supported on a client, the client having a modem connectable to at least one server via a dialup computer network, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a list of local Internet Protocol (IP) addresses assigned as modem connections are established to the dialup computer network during a session, the list including a latest IP address and one or more stale IP addresses;

in response to a connection request associated with a stale IP address, mapping the stale IP address to a latest IP address; and

redirecting the connection request using the latest IP address.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the latest IP address is an IP address assigned by the server as a current modem connection was established to the dialup computer network during the session.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the list is a Last In, First Out (LIFO) stack and the latest IP address is the Last In entry.

4. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the application is a browser.

5. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the client is Web appliance.

6. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the local IP addresses are assigned by the dialup computer network.

7. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the connection request is serviced using a proxy server supported on the client.

8. A method of managing connection requests from an browser supported on an Internet client, the Internet client having a modem connectable to at least one Internet server via a dialup computer network, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a list of local Internet Protocol (IP) addresses assigned as modem connections are established to the dialup computer network during a browsing session, the list including a latest IP address and one or more stale IP addresses;

determining whether an IP address associated with a connection request is a stale IP address;

if the IP address associated with the connection request is a stale IP address, mapping the IP address associated with the connection request to a latest IP address; and

redirecting the connection request using the latest IP address.

9. The method as described in claim 8 wherein the latest IP address is an IP address assigned by the server as a current modem connection was established to the dialup computer network during the session.

10. The method as described in claim 8 wherein the list is a Last In, First Out (LIFO) stack and the latest IP address is the Last In entry.

11. The method as described in claim 8 wherein the Internet client is a Web appliance.

12. The method as described in claim 8 wherein the connection request is serviced using a proxy server supported on the client.

13. A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for use in managing HTTP connection requests from an browser supported on an Internet client, the Internet client having a modem connectable to at least one Internet server via a dialup computer network, the computer program product comprising:

means for maintaining a list of local Internet Protocol (IP) addresses assigned as modem connections are established to the dialup computer network during a session, the list including a latest IP address and one or more stale IP addresses;

means responsive to a connection request associated with a stale IP address for mapping the stale IP address to a latest IP address; and

means for redirecting the connection request using the latest IP address.

14. The computer program product as described in claim 13 wherein the list is a Last In, First Out (LIFO) stack and the latest IP address is the Last In entry.

15. A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for use in managing HTTP connection requests from an browser supported on an Internet client, the Internet client having a modem connectable to at least one Internet server via a dialup computer network, the computer program product comprising:

means for maintaining a list of local Internet Protocol (IP) addresses assigned as modem connections are established to the dialup computer network during a session, the list including a latest IP address and one or more stale IP addresses;

means for determining whether an IP address associated with an HTTP connection request is a stale IP address;

means responsive to the determining means for mapping the IP address associated with the HTTP connection request to a latest IP address; and

means for redirecting the HTTP connection request using the latest IP address.

16. A client computer connectable to the Internet via a dialup computer network, comprising:

a modem;

a processor having an operating system;

a browser application run by the operating system;

a sockets routine run by the operating system for managing connection requests from the browser application, the sockets routine comprising;

means for maintaining a list of local Internet Protocol (IP) addresses assigned as modem connections are established to the dialup computer network during a session, the list including a latest IP address and one or more stale IP addresses;

means responsive to a connection request associated with a stale IP address for mapping the stale IP address to a latest IP address; and

means for redirecting the connection request using the latest IP address.

17. The client computer as described in claim 16 further including a proxy server.

18. The client computer as described in claim 16 wherein the list is a Last In, First Out (LIFO) stack and each entry in the stack is created upon modem connection to the dialup network during the session.

19. A data processing system, comprising:

a remote control unit; and

a base unit connectable to a monitor for providing Internet access under the control of the remote control unit, the base unit comprising;

a modem;

a processor having an operating system;

a browser application run by the operating system;

a sockets routine run by the operating system for managing connection requests from the browser application, the sockets routine comprising;

means for maintaining a list of local Internet Protocol (IP) addresses assigned as modem connections are established to the dialup computer network during a session, the list including a latest IP address and one or more stale IP addresses;

means responsive to a connection request associated with a stale IP address for mapping the stale IP address to a latest IP address; and

means for redirecting the connection request using the latest IP address.

20. The data processing system as described in claim 19 wherein the base unit further includes a proxy server run by the operating system.

21. The data processing system as described in claim 19 wherein the list is a Last In, First Out (LIFO) stack and each entry in the stack is created upon modem connection to the dialup network during the session.

22. The data processing system as described in claim 19 wherein the monitor is a television.