System and method for automatic configuration of home network computers

A method for automatic configuration of network client computers comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving requests from the network client computers for autoconfiguration;
• b) receiving caller identification information with each of the requests, wherein the caller identification information includes a telephone number associated with a telephone connection being used to send the request;
• c) using the received caller identification information to determine
• i) local service provider information, selected from information in a predefined directory of local service providers;
• and
• ii) client computer specific data corresponding to the caller identification information, selected from a database of client computer information;
• and
• d) providing instructions for downloading the local service provider information, and the client computer specific data to a respective network client computer;
• wherein
• the caller identification information includes a respective telephone number;
• the respective telephone number includes a first portion that identifies a geographic region in which the network client computer is located;
• and
• the directory of local service providers includes entries suitable for mapping the first portion of the telephone number associated with the network client computer to a local service provider.

A method for automatic configuration of a network client computer, comprising the steps of:

• when the network client computer is powered on, determining whether the network client computer lacks required configuration information, the required configuration information including information concerning a local service provider, and client computer specific data;
• if the network client computer is determined to lack any of the required configuration information, then performing the steps of:
• connecting to an autoconfiguration server;
• sending a configuration request to the autoconfiguration server, the autoconfiguration server receiving caller identification information, provided by a telephone company caller identification service, along with the configuration request;
• receiving from the autoconfiguration server the required configuration information;
• and
• the network client computer using the received configuration information to configure itself;
• and
• when the network client computer has the required configuration information and has been configured therewith, automatically establishing a connection to the local service provider.

An autoconfiguration server for configuring network client computers, comprising:

• a communication interface for receiving requests from the network client computers for autoconfiguration, the communication interface also receiving caller identification information, provided by a telephone company caller identification service, along with each request;
• a data processor, coupled to the communication interface;
• the data processor further coupled to a predefined directory of local service providers and a database of client computer information;
• a memory coupled to the data processor, the memory storing procedures for execution by the data processor;
• the stored procedures including a configuration procedure for using the caller identification information associated with each request to determine local service provider information, selected from information in the predefined directory of local service providers, and to further determine client computer specific data corresponding to the caller identification information, selected from the database of client computer information;
• the configuration procedure further including instructions for downloading the local service provider information, and the client computer specific data to a respective network client computer.

A client configuration system for automatic configuration of a network client computer, comprising:

• a communication interface for sending requests from the network client computer for autoconfiguration;
• a data processor coupled to the communication interface;
• and
• a memory coupled to the data processor, the memory storing procedures for execution by the data processor;
• the stored memory procedures including a client configuration procedure for determining, when the network client computer is powered on, whether the network client computer lacks required configuration information, the required configuration information including information concerning a local service provider, and client computer specific data;
• wherein the client configuration procedure includes instructions that are executed only when the network client computer is determined to lack any of the required configuration information;
• the instructions, when executed, causing the network client computer to:
• send the autoconfiguration request to an autoconfiguration server via the communication interface, the autoconfiguration server receiving caller identification information, provided by a telephone company caller identification service, along with the configuration request;
• receive the required configuration information from the autoconfiguration server;
• use the configuration information received from the autoconfiguration server to configure the network client computer;
• and
• when the network client computer has the required configuration information and been configured therewith, automatically establish a connection to the local service provider.