Ip session-based regulation and billing
AssigneeCenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
InventorsJeffrey M. Sweeney, Kelsyn D.S. Rooks, William T. Stelle
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Abstract
Among other things, there are disclosed structures, systems and methods for monitoring and regulating access by consumers to computer network bandwidth, particularly with regard to peer-to-peer file sharing. A router (in certain embodiments, a core router) is programmed with a predetermined number of open or open and active internet protocol (IP) sessions a particular computer is allowed. Requests to open sessions that do not exceed that number are permitted. Requests to open sessions that exceed that number may be rejected, or an offer obtain additional session(s), perhaps with additional payment, may be made.
Claims17
In a computer network, a method comprising:
- providing a router electronically connected to the network and to at least a first computer, said router including programming that tracks the number of internet protocol sessions open to the first computer, and includes a predetermined and modifiable number of open IP sessions permitted for the first computer;
- receiving at said router a request from the first computer to open at least one new IP session;
- determining with said programming whether the opening of the at least one new IP session would result in the number of open IP sessions to the first computer being greater than the number of open IP sessions permitted for the first computer;
- and
- when the programming determines that the number of open IP sessions permitted for the first computer will not be exceeded, opening the at least one requested new IP session.
An apparatus for use in a computer network, comprising:
- a router having an input from one or more computers in the network;
- said router including programming that identifies a number of permitted open IP sessions for a first of the computers, said programming further adapted to maintain a count of the IP sessions open to the first computer, receive requests from the first computer to open IP sessions, and compare requests to open IP sessions from the first computer and the number of then-existing open IP sessions with the number of permitted open IP sessions, in determining whether to permit opening additional IP sessions to the first computer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.