Patent · US Expired

Client connects to an internet access provider using algorithm downloaded from a central server based upon client's desired criteria after disconnected from the server

US5862339A · kind A · utility

317Cited by
31References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 9, 1996
Grant dateJan 19, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 9, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04Q2213/13389
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A database central routing device is provided for routing access requests for internet access among a variety of on-line service providers. The device generally includes a central server having a list of algorithms pertaining to access phone numbers of internet access providers to be chosen from. The central routing device further includes an automatic phone number identifier to identify incoming calls in order to identify the user as a customer. An algorithm generator is also included in order to download algorithms pertaining to particular phone numbers in order to give the user access to a variety of internet access providers. The central routing device allows the user to select from a number of internet access providers depending on the availability of the providers. Factors such as time of day, consistent peak and off peak hours of any particular provider, the time of access, the type of user such as consumer or business user, and other factors in order to make efficient use of a variety of internet access providers.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.