Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer network managing – Computer network access regulating
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-08
2003-10-21
Geckil, Mehmet B. (Department: 2152)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer network managing
Computer network access regulating
C709S249000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06636894
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a gateway device and, more particularly, to a universal network gateway for redirecting to a portal page a computer transparently accessing a service provider network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order for a computer to function properly in a network environment, the computer must be appropriately configured. Among other things, this configuration process establishes the protocol and other parameters by which the computer transmits and receives data. In one common example, a plurality of computers are networked to create a local area network (LAN). In the LAN, each computer must be appropriately configured in order to exchange data over the network. Since most networks are customized to meet a unique set of requirements, computers that are part of different networks are generally configured in different manners in order to appropriately communicate with their respective networks.
While desktop computers generally remain a part of the same network for a substantial period of time, laptops, handhelds, personal digital assistants (PDAs), cellphones or other portable computers (collectively “portable computers”) are specifically designed to be transportable. As such, portable computers are connected to different networks at different times depending upon the location of the computer. In a common example in which the portable computer serves as an employee's desktop computer, the portable computer is configured to communicate with their employer's network, i.e., the enterprise network. When the employee travels, however, the portable computer may be connected to different networks that communicate in different manners. In this regard, the employee may connect the portable computer to the network maintained by an airport, a hotel, a cellular telephone network operator or any other locale in order to access the enterprise network, the Internet or some other on-line service. The portable computer is also commonly brought to the employee's residence where it is used to access various networks, such as, the enterprise network, a home network, the Internet and the like. Since these other networks are configured somewhat differently, however, the portable computer must also be reconfigured in order to properly communicate with these other networks. Typically, this configuration is performed by the user each time the portable computer is connected to a different network. As will be apparent, this repeated reconfiguration of the portable computer is not only quite time consuming, but is also prone to errors. The reconfiguration procedure may even be beyond the capabilities of many users or in violation of their employer's IT policy. Importantly, special software must also typically be loaded onto the user's computer to support reconfiguration.
As described by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/816,174 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/111,497, 60/160,973, 60/161,189, 60/161,139, 60/160,890 and 60/161,182, a universal subscriber gateway device has been developed by Nomadix, Inc. of Westlake Village, Calif. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. The gateway device serves as an interface connecting the user to a number of networks or other online services. For example, the gateway device can serve as a gateway to the Internet, the enterprise network, or other networks and/or on-line services. In addition to serving as a gateway, the gateway device automatically adapts to a computer, in order that it may communicate with the new network in a manner that is transparent both to the user and the new network. Once the gateway device has appropriately adapted to the user's computer, the computer can appropriately communicate via the new network, such as the network at a hotel, at home, at an airport, or any other location, in order to access other networks, such as the enterprise network, or other online services, such as the Internet.
The portable computer user, and more specifically the remote or laptop user, benefits from being able to access a myriad of computer networks without having to undergo the time-consuming and all-too-often daunting task of reconfiguring their host computer in accordance with network specific configurations. In addition, no additional software need be loaded onto the computer prior to connection to the other network. From another perspective, the network service provider benefits from avoiding “on-site” visits and/or technical support calls from the user who is unable to properly re-configure the portable computer. In this fashion, the gateway device is capable of providing more efficient network access and network maintenance to the user and the network operator.
Gateway devices are typically used to provide network access to the remote portable computer user, such as users in hotels, airports and other location where the remote portable computer user may reside. Additionally, gateway devices have found wide-spread use in multi-resident dwellings as a means of providing the residents an intranet that networks the residents, broadband Internet access and the capability to adapt to the variances of the resident's individual enterprise network needs. With the advent of even smaller portable computing devices, such as handhelds, PDAs, and the like, the locations where these users may reside become almost limitless.
Through gateway devices Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or enterprise network (such as a LAN established by an entity such as a hotel) providers can permit a wide variety of users simple and transparent access to their networks and to other online services. To take advantage of transparent user access to their computer networks and online services enterprise networks or ISPs should be able to redirect users to portal pages that the enterprise or internet service providers wish the user to access or view. For instance, where users are located at an airport, the enterprise network administrator may wish to direct users to a portal page containing arrival and departure information, or to a portal page having the user's itinerary thereon to provide the user an incentive to access the network. ISPs, for example, may wish users to access the ISPs portal page for up to the date news and weather, information regarding the user's Internet service, and paid advertisements.
Homepage redirection has been accomplished in the prior art. For example, America Online (AOL) users, upon accessing the internet, are directed to an AOL homepage from which the users can select a variety of AOL services, and which includes advertising from various companies. Typically, direction of users to such a page benefits the ISP because advertisers pay money to the ISP each time a user accesses the Internet, as subscribers are a captive audience to advertising. Advertisers pay for such advertising not only because of the captive audience, but because advertisers can tailor advertisements based upon the typical audience accessing the internet. Furthermore, AOL may market its services through its homepage, and its homepage may be attractive to potential subscribers. Directing users to a particular. page may serve an additional function. Users may be directed to a particular page, such as a login page, so that the user may enter login information to be authenticated and authorized access on the network. Furthermore, users may wish to establish their own specialized portal page, such as a page including favorite links, a page linking the user to the user's business, or a page including any other items relevant to the user.
However, such redirection of users to homepages has been traditionally based upon software installed on a user's computer and/or configurations of user computers in communication with a home network. For example, where a user's computer is appropriately configured for access to a home network, the user's computer can be configured to access a particular homepage on that network. This can be the cas
Delley Frederic
Logan Mark F.
Pagan Florence C. I.
Short Joel E.
Alston & Bird LLP
Geckil Mehmet B.
Nomadix, Inc.
LandOfFree
Systems and methods for redirecting users having transparent... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Systems and methods for redirecting users having transparent..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Systems and methods for redirecting users having transparent... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3157103