Internet service provider preliminary user registration mechanism provided by centralized authority
US6385651B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F7/1008
- WIPO fieldIT methods for management
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
User and network computer client device (NC) registration with an internet service provider (ISP) occurs in two phases: the first phase with the relationship server and the second phase with the ISP. In the first phase, the NC sends the relationship server a unique identifier of the NC manufacturer, such as the manufacturer identification number. In the preferred embodiment, the NC also transmits an enterprise identification number from a smart card uniquely specifying the ISP to which the user wishes to connect. The relationship server queries a relationship database using the manufacturer and enterprise identification numbers. In the preferred embodiment, the relationship server determines whether the specified manufacturer has authorized connection to the specified ISP; if no authorization exists in the relationship server database, then the relationship server disconnects from the NC. Otherwise, the relationship server transmits NC connection information and initial registration contents for the ISP to the NC. The NC preferably writes the initial registration contents to the user's smart card. In the preferred embodiment, the initial registration contents is identical for all u…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.