Intelligent autodialer
AssigneeNetZero, Inc.
InventorMarwan Zebian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention describes an automatic dialer for determining relative rankings of network access numbers from within a group of available network access numbers known as an available NAN list, and for facilitating selection of a network access number to use for a connection from a client device to a data network. Various factors are considered in determining the rankings of the network access numbers. The factors include connection costs, quality of connection.
Claims40
A method for maximizing qualities of a user network access number (NAN) list, the user NAN list comprising plural NANs, the NANs for use by a user's client device in connecting to a data network under control of a server system, the method comprising
- storing in the server system an available NAN list of NANs available for the client device to connect to the data network, wherein the user NAN list comprises a subset of the available NAN list
- storing in the server system connection information about connecting from the NANs in the available NAN list to the data network
- connecting the client device to the server system
- setting the NANs in the user NAN list based upon the available NAN list
- setting an order for selecting the NANs in the user NAN list based upon the
- connection information, wherein the order is set outside of the user's control disconnecting the client device from the server system.
A method of setting an order for using network access numbers (NANs) in a user NAN list, the user NAN list comprising plural NANs, the NANs for use by the user's client device in connecting to a data network under control of an online service provider server system, wherein a connection from the client device to the data network comprises a front end portion and a back end portion, the front end portion comprising a first connection from the client device to a public switch, and the back end portion comprising a second connection from the public switch to a point of presence under control of one of plural back end providers plus a third connection from the point of presence to the data network, wherein authorization for the back end provider to establish the back end portion is by the online service provider server system, and each NAN is associated with one of the back end providers, the method comprising
- storing in the online service provider server system an available NAN list of NANs available for the user's client device to connect to the data network, wherein the user NAN list comprises a subset of the available NAN list
- storing in the online service provider server system connection information for connecting from the NANs in the available NAN list to the data network, the connection information comprising at least one of (a) quality of connection information for the back end portion and (b) costs information for the back end portion
- establishing a connection from the client device to the online service provider server system
- transmitting an identification of the NANs in the user NAN list from the client device to the online service provider server system
- setting an order for selecting the NANs in the user NAN list based upon at least one of (a) the stored quality of connection information for the back end portion and (b) costs information for the back end portion.
A method of connecting from a client device to a data network under control of an online service provider server, wherein a connection from the client device to the data network comprises a front end portion and a back end portion, the front end portion comprising a first connection from the client device to a public switch, and the back end portion comprising a second connection from the public switch to a point of presence under control of one of plural back end providers plus a third connection from the point of presence to the data network, wherein authorization of the back end portion is by the online service provider server system, and each NAN is associated with one of the back end providers, the method comprising
- storing a user network access number (NAN) list in the client device
- sequentially dialing NANs from the user NAN list based upon an order of selection until the front end portion is established and the back end portion is authorized
- wherein the order is based upon the cost of the back end portion and historical quality of connection statistics for the back end.
An online service provider server system for controlling a connection between a user's client device and a data network, wherein the user's client device attempts connection to the data network using network access numbers in a network access number (NAN) list comprising plural NANs, the online service provider server system comprising
- first memory storing an available NAN list of NANs available for the client device to connect to the data network, wherein the user NAN list comprises a subset of the available NAN list
- second memory storing connection information about connecting from the NANs in the available NAN list to the data network
- computer program code for connecting to the user's client device
- computer program code for setting the NANs in the user NAN list based upon the available NAN list
- computer program code for setting an order for selecting the NANs in the user NAN list based upon the connection information, wherein the order is set outside of the user's control
- computer program code disconnecting from the client device.
A client device for connecting to a data network under control of an online service provider server, wherein the connection from the client device to the data network comprises a front end portion and a back end portion, the front end portion comprising a first connection from the client device to a public switch, and the back end portion comprising a second connection from the public switch to a point of presence under control of one of plural back end providers plus a third connection from the point of presence to the data network, wherein authorization of the back end portion is by the online service provider server system, the client device comprising
- computer program code for storing a user network access number (NAN) list in the client device, wherein the NAN is associated with one of the back end providers
- computer program code for sequentially dialing NANs from the user NAN list based upon an order of selection until the front end portion is established and the back end portion is authorized, wherein the order is based upon the cost of the back end portion and historical quality of connection statistics for the back end.
A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for connecting a client device to a data network under control of an online service provider server, wherein a connection from the client device to the data network comprises a front end portion and a back end portion, the front end portion comprising a first connection from the client device to a public switch, and the back end portion comprising a second connection from the public switch to a point of presence under control of one of plural back end providers plus a third connection from the point of presence to the data network, wherein authorization of the back end portion is by the online service provider server system, and each NAN is associated with one of the back end providers, the computer readable program code for operating the client device to
- store a user network access number (NAN) list
- sequentially dial NANs from the user NAN list based upon an order of selection until the front end portion is established and the back end portion is authorized
- wherein the order is based upon the cost of the back end portion and historical quality of connection statistics for the back end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.