Patent · US Expired

Adaptive modem connection lifetimes

US6487596B1 · kind B1 · utility

10Cited by
8References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 1999
Grant dateNov 26, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 5, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L12/2856
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In an arrangement where users are connected to an ISP through a bank of modems, a time-out threshold is then selected for the user based on the user's connection pattern. The threshold is varied dynamically in response to access patterns, in an attempt to trade the benefit accrued by using the ISP's modem and phone line for a shorter period of time, against the inconvenience to the user from having to reestablish a connection to the ISP. Specifically, the time interval between the last disconnection by the user and the time of reconnection is evaluated, and when this time interval is shorter than a preselected threshold, then the time-out threshold is increased. When this time interval is longer than the preselected threshold, then the time-out threshold is decreased. Typically, when the time-out threshold is decreased, it is decreased by a significantly smaller amount that the amount by which it is increased, when it is increased.

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