Simultaneous multi-user/single connection internet access...

Details Simultaneous multi-user/single connection internet access... Simultaneous multi-user/single connection internet access...

1999-01-22

2001-06-05

Ton, Dang (Department: 2661)

Multiplex communications

Pathfinding or routing

Switching a message which includes an address header

C379S088170

Reexamination Certificate

active

06243385

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an Internet access method and system, and more particularly to a method and system for sharing a single active phone line across a network for connecting to the Internet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, Internet access is important for email, information search and E-commerce. To provide Internet access for a user, one ISP account, one phone line, one modem, and a personal computer are needed. However, in a simultaneous multi-user system, such as a local area network (LAN) built in an office, it will spend a considerable cost to provide ISP accounts and phone lines for all of the computers. To solve this problem, program products for multi-users to share one modem and single active phone line are developed. The conventional multi-user/single modem system
1
is illustrated in FIG.
1
. There is a plurality of computers
11
,
12
, . . . ,
15
, etc., connected by a local area network (LAN)
10
. There is only one computer, i.e. the computer
12
, which provides Internet access. The computer
12
is connected with a modem
121
and a telephone terminal
122
, and is called a “server”. There is only one server
12
in the multi-user system
1
. The server itself, with no problem, can connect to the Internet with a telephone and an ISP account. Other computers in the network, equipped with no modem, cannot connect to the Internet directly. Instead, data for Internet access are transmitted to the server
12
through LAN
10
. The server
12
converts the private unregistered IP address into the global registered IP address by a network address translator (NAT) technique. The registered IP address is then transmitted to the Internet. Data responded by the Internet is transmitted to the server
12
and the server
12
will identify and send data received from Internet to the right computer of the system
1
.
Since the conventional system
1
has only one fixed server
12
, many problems will happen. If the server
12
is invalid because of being turned off or other reason, all the user of the system
1
will not be able to connect to the Internet. Accordingly, the server
12
must be kept on turned and operated continuously. Such a situation will be inconvenient for the user and the life of the server
12
will be shortened. Additionally, to keep the power turned on continuously is wasteful. It is then attempted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a system for auto-selecting a server from a plurality of computers to provide Internet access.
The other object of the present invention is to provide a method and a system which can automatically select another server for providing Internet access across the network when the present server is invalid.
The method of the present invention is used for a plurality of computers to connect to the Internet by a single active phone line. The method includes steps of: (a) selecting a server from the plurality of computers for providing Internet access to the plurality of computers through the single active phone line; (b) identifying whether the server is valid or not; and (c) selecting another server from the plurality of computers for providing Internet access to the plurality of computers through the single active phone line when the server is not valid.
The server and the another server are preferably connected to at least one modem. The plurality of computers are preferably connected by a network. The steps of the present invention are preferably executed by software installed on each one of the plurality of computers respectively.
The step (b) preferably includes steps of: (b1) requesting the server to respond; and (b2) initiating the step (c) when the server does not respond. The step (b1) preferably includes steps of : (b11) setting a request number; (b12) sending a request signal from one of the plurality of computers to other ones of the plurality of computers and waiting for a response from the server in a period of time; (b13) repeating the step (b12) when the response is not received by the one of the plurality of computers within the period of time; and (b14) initiating the step (c) when the repeated number of the step (b12) exceeds the request number.
Preferably, the method further includes steps of: (b01) checking whether the one of the plurality of computers is the server connected with a modem or not; (b02) checking whether the modem is valid or not; (b03) sending a packet representing that the server is not valid when the modem is not valid; and (b04) initiating the step (c) in the other ones of the plurality of computers in response to the packet representing that the server is not valid.
The step (c) executed in one of the plurality of computers preferably includes steps of: (c1) checking whether the one computer is connected with one modem or not; (c2) checking whether the one computer is selected as the another server or not when the one computer is connected with one modem; and (c3) informing other ones of the plurality of computers that the one computer is the another server when the one computer is selected as the another server.
Preferably, the step (c2) includes steps of: (c21) checking whether the one computer is assigned as the another server or not, and executing the step (c3) when the one computer is assigned as the another server; (c22) broadcasting to the other computers that the one computer requests for being the another server if the one computer is not assigned as the another server; and (c23) executing the step (c3) if no response from the other computers is received.
The step (c22) preferably includes steps of: (c221) setting a broadcasting number; (c222) broadcasting to the other computers that the one computer requests for being the another server; (c223) repeating the step (c222) when no response from the other computer is received; and (c224) executing the step (c23) when the repeated number of the step (c222) exceeds the broadcasting number.
Preferably, the method further includes steps of:
(c2221) identifying whether the another computer is the server or not if a response from another computers is received; and
(c2222) selecting the another server from the one computer and the another computer if the another computer is not the server.
The step (c2222) may include steps of: (c22221) comparing the addresses of the computer and the another computers; and (c22222) determining the another server according to the comparison result of the step (c22221).
There may further include steps for one of the plurality computers other than the server to connect to Internet through the single active phone line: (d) identifying the server from the plurality of computers; (e) setting an parameter for performing Internet access from the one computer through the server; and (f) setting another parameter for performing Internet access from the one computer through the another server if a packet from the another server is received.
The step (d) preferably includes steps of: (d1) checking whether the server is identified by the one computer or not; (d2) requesting the server if the server is not identified by the one computer; and (d3) noticing the user of the one computer if the server is not find in the step (d2).
The step (d2) preferably includes steps of: (d21) setting a request number; (d22) sending a packet to other ones of the computers to request for the server; (d23) executing the step (e) if a packet from the server is received; (d24) repeating the step (d22) if no packet from the server is received; and (d25) executing the step (d3) if the repeated number of the step (d22) exceeds the request number.
The present invention further provides a system for a plurality of computers to connect to the Internet by a single active phone line. The system includes a server including one of the plurality of computers connected with one modem, wherein the plurality of computers are connected to the single active phone line through the server; and at lea

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Simultaneous multi-user/single connection internet access... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Simultaneous multi-user/single connection internet access..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Simultaneous multi-user/single connection internet access... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2456552