System for supporting multiple internet service providers on a single network

A system for establishing communication between a network computer connected to a first network and a remote information store, the system comprising:

• a. a plurality of service provider computers connected to a third network, which is external to the first network and a local network, each of the service provider computers adapted to authorize network computers connected to the first network to access the third network;
• b. a server connected to the local network and adapted to:
• i. receive a unique identifier from the network computer and, in response, assign a non-routable address to the network computer, wherein the non-routable address can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the local network;
• ii. in response to receiving the unique identifier, transmit a list, which contains a plurality of service providers that arc network connectable to the local network by being connected to the third network and that can authorize communication to the third network that would otherwise be blocked by components of the local network, to the network device;
• and
• iii. store the unique identifier in a database identifying the network computer as a registered network computer;
• c. an address server connected to the local network and adapted to assign a routable IP address to the registered network computer.

In a cable modem infrastructure that is contained in a local network, a method of establishing communication between a network computer that is network connectable to a first network and a remote information store that is network connectable to the local network, the method comprising:

• a. receiving a unique identifier from the network computer;
• b. determining, based on the unique identifier from the network computer, that the network computer does not have authority to access a third network, which is external to the first network and the local network;
• and
• c. in response to the determination that the network computer does not have authority to access the third network,
• i. providing a non-routable address to the network computer, wherein the non-routable address can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the local network;
• ii. facilitating an agreement between a user of the network computer and one of a plurality of entities authorized to grant network computers access to the third network, wherein each of the entities have corresponding service provider computers that are network connectable to the local network by being connected to the third network;
• and
• iii. providing the network computer a routable address that can be used to communicate with components connected to the first network, the local network, and the third network, upon completion of the agreement.

A method of establishing communication between a network computer connected to a first network and that is network connectable to a local network and a remote information store, the method comprising:

• a. broadcasting a unique identifier;
• b. receiving a non-routable address that can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the local network;
• c. receiving, from a component included in the local network, a list identifying a plurality of service providers that are network connectable to the local network by being connected to a third network, which is external to the first network and the local network, and that can each authorize network computers contained in the first network to send communications to the third network that would otherwise be blocked by components of the local network;
• and
• d. selecting one of the plurality of service providers;
• and receiving a routable address that can be used to communicate with components that are network connectable to the first network, the local network, and tho third network.

In a communications infrastructure that is contained in a second network and that is network connectable to a first network, wherein the communications infrastructure can store a list containing a plurality of service providers that can authorize access to networks, wherein a network device that is network connectable to the first network can register with a service provider from among the plurality of service providers, and if authorized by a service provider to access a network, can access the network, and wherein the communications infrastructure can store device identifiers, each device identifier identifying a unique network device, a method for initiating a registration process for a network device so as to provide the network device with access to a network, the method comprising the acts of:

• receiving a device identifier from a network device;
• in response to receiving the device identifier, transmitting to the network device a list, which contains a plurality of service providers that are network connectable to the second network by being connected to a third network, which is external to the first network and the second network, and that can authorize access to tie third networks;
• receiving an indication that a service provider, from among the plurality of service providers, was selected at the network device;
• and
• receiving a notice that the selected service provider has authorized the network device to access the third network;
• and
• assigning the network device a global address that can be used to communicate with other components that are network connectable to the first network, the second network, and the third network.

In a cable modem infrastructure that is contained in a second network, that is network connectable to a network computer on a first network, and that is network connectable to a plurality of service provider computers, a method for authorizing the network computer to access a network, the method comprising the acts of:

• receiving a unique identifier from the network computer;
• determining, based on the unique identifier received from the network computer, that the network computer is not authorized to access a third network, which is external to the first network and the second network;
• and
• in response to the determination that the network computer is not authorized to access the third network, registering the network computer with a service provider computer, including:
• providing the network computer with a non-routable address that can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the second network;
• transmitting a list containing a plurality of service providers that are network connectable to the second network by being connected to the third network and can authorize access to the third network;
• routing a selection of one of the service providers contained in the list from the first network, across a portion of the second network and across a portion of the third network, to a service provider computer;
• and
• providing the network computer a routable address that can be used to communicate with components that are network connectable to the first network, the second network, and the third network.

In a network device that is connected to a first network and that is network connectable to a second network, a method for registering the network device to access a network through one of a plurality of service provider computers that can authorize network devices to access networks, the method comprising the acts of:

• sending a unique identifier to the second network;
• receiving data from a component included in the second network including:
• a non-routable address that can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the second network;
• and
• a list containing a plurality of service providers that are network connectable to the second network by being connected to a third network, which is external to the first network and the second network, and that can each authorize that can each authorize network computers contained in the first network to send communications to the third network that would otherwise be blocked by components of the second network;
• and
• selecting a service provider form among the plurality of service providers contained in the list;
• and
• receiving a routable address that can be used to communicate with components that are network connectable to the first network, the second network, and the third network.

A computer program product for use in a communications infrastructure that is contained in a second network and that is network connectable to a first network and a third network, wherein the communications infrastructure call store a list containing a plurality or service providers that can authorize access to networks, wherein a network device that is network connectable to the first network can register with a service provider from among the plurality of service providers, and if authorized by a service provider to access a network, can access the network, and wherein the communications infrastructure can store device identifiers, each device identifier identifying a unique network device, the computer program product for implementing a method for initiating a registration process for a network device so as to provide the network device with access to a network, the computer program product comprising:

• one or more computer-readable media carrying computer-executable instructions, that when executed at the communications infrastructure, cause the communications infrastructure to perform the method, including:
• receiving a device identifier from a network device;
• in response to receiving the device identifier, transmitting to the network device a list, which contains a plurality of service providers that arc network connectable to the second network by being connected to a third network, which is external to the first network and the second network, and that can authorize access to the third network;
• receiving an indication that a service provider, from among the plurality of service providers, was selected at the network device;
• and
• receiving a notice that the selected service provider has authorized the network device to access the third network;
• and
• assigning the network device a global address that can be used to communicate with other components that are network connectable to the first network, the second network, and the third network.

A computer program product for use in a network device that is connected to a first network and that is network connectable to a second network, the computer program product for implementing a method for registering the network device to access network through one of a plurality of service provider computers that can authorize network devices to access networks, the computer program product comprising:

• one or more computer-readable media carrying computer-executable instructions, that when executed at the network device, cause the network device to perform the method, including:
• sending a unique identifier to the second network;
• receiving data from a component included in the second network including:
• a non-routable address that can be used to communicate with components contained in the first network and the second network;
• and
• a list containing a plurality of service providers that are network connectable to the second network by being connected to a third network, which is external to the first network and the second network, and can each authorize network computers contained in the first network to send communications to the third network that would otherwise be blocked by components of the second network;
• and
• selecting a service provider form among the plurality of service providers contained in the list;
• and
• receiving a routable address that can be used to communicate with components that are network connectable to the list network, the second network, and the third network.

In a network environment that includes a plurality of Internet Service Providers and a local network that is capable of connecting to the plurality of Internet Service Providers over the Internet, a method for a local device on the local network to register with one of the Internet Service Providers notwithstanding that that the local device is not previously registered with any Internet Service Provider and is thus not capable of communicating over the Internet to directly register with that Internet Service Provider, the method comprising the following:

• an act of receiving a request to access the Internet from the local device over the local network,
• an act of determining that the local device has not previously registered with any of the plurality of Internet Service Providers and thus cannot directly access the Internet in response to the request;
• an act of transmitting a response to the request in the form of a list of the plurality of Internet Service Providers, the response further causing the local device to prompt the user to select one of the plurality of Internet Service Providers and to establish a service agreement with the selected Internet Service Provider;
• an act of receiving a notice from the selected Internet Service Provider that the user has established a service agreement with the selected Internet Service Provider;
• and
• act of receiving a routable address that can be used to communicate with the selected Internet Service provider.

A computer program product for use in a network environment that includes a plurality of Internet Service Providers and a local network that is capable of connecting to the plurality of Internet Service Providers over the Internet, the computer program product for implementing a method for a local device on the local network to register with one of the Internet Service Providers notwithstanding that that the local device is not previously registered with any Internet Service Provider and is thus not capable of communicating over the Internet to directly register with that Internet Service Provider, the computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a server computing system in the local network to perform the following:

• an act of detecting receipt of a request to access the Internet from the local device over the local network;
• an act of determining that the local device has not previously registered with any of the plurality of Internet Service Providers and thus cannot directly access the Internet in response to the request;
• an act of causing a response to the request to be transmitted in the form of a list of the plurality of Internet Service Providers, the response further causing the local device to prompt the user to select one of the plurality of Internet Service Providers and to establish a service agreement with the selected Internet Service Provider;
• an act of detecting receipt of a notice from the selected Internet Service Provider that the user has established a service agreement with the selected Internet Service Provider;
• and
• an act or detecting receipt of a routable address that can be used to communicate with the selected Internet Service provider.