Method and system for broadband network access

A method of authenticating a subscriber request for a service, comprising:

• receiving the subscriber request on a port of a remote server;
• transferring a subscriber identifier obtained from the subscriber request to a provider of the service;
• transferring to the provider a line identifier corresponding to the port;
• and
• authenticating the service request based on the subscriber identifier and the line identifier.

A system for providing a line identifier to a service provider, comprising:

• means for associating the line identifier with a port assigned to a subscriber, the line identifier being usable to authenticate a service request;
• means for storing the line identifier in a database;
• means for receiving the service request from the subscriber on the port;
• means for retrieving the line identifier from the database in response to the service request;
• and
• means for transferring the line identifier to the service provider.

A remote access server, comprising:

• a port for communicating with a subscriber;
• a management interface for associating a line identifier with the port;
• a database, operatively associated with the management interface, for storing the line identifier;
• a database interface for retrieving the line identifier in response to receiving a subscriber service request on the port;
• and
• a network interface for transferring the retrieved line identifier to a service provider.

A system for accessing a network service, comprising:

• a provider of the network service;
• a subscriber unit configured to present a user interface for selecting the network service;
• an access server including a port for communicating with the subscriber unit and for associating a line identifier with the subscriber unit;
• a database, operatively associated with the access server, for storing the line identifier;
• a database interface for retrieving the line identifier in response to receiving a request for the network service on the port;
• and
• a network for transferring the retrieved line identifier to the provider;
• wherein the provider authorizes access to the service based on the retrieved line identifier.

A computer-usable medium storing a computer program for directing a programmable device to perform a method comprising:

• associating the line identifier with a port assigned to a subscriber, the line identifier being usable to authenticate a service request;
• storing the line identifier in a database;
• receiving the service request from the subscriber on the port;
• retrieving the line identifier from the database in response to the service request;
• and
• transferring the line identifier to the service provider.

A system for providing access to a network service, comprising:

• a service provider for providing the network service;
• a subscriber unit having a user interface for selecting the network service;
• a remote access server including a port for communicating with the subscriber unit and a management interface for associating a line identifier with the subscriber unit;
• a broadband network connecting the subscriber unit and the remote access server;
• a database, operatively associated with the access server, for storing the line identifier;
• a database interface for retrieving the line identifier in response to receiving a subscriber request for the network service on the port;
• and
• a network for transferring to the service provider the retrieved line identifier and a subscriber identifier obtained from the subscriber request;
• wherein the service provider authorizes access to the network service based on the retrieved line identifier and the subscriber identifier.