System and method for selecting internet service providers from a workstation that is connected to a local area network
AssigneeAccelerated Networks
InventorsDavid R. Monachello, Mark de Lange, Sean Finlay
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Abstract
A method for dynamically selecting a network service provider is disclosed. The method allows a user to select a default route for an internet connection in a network configuration having a local area network workstations coupled to the network, customer premises equipment and a central office. Multiple network service providers may be selected for an individual workstation. The method may include simultaneously connecting the workstation to the network service providers.
Claims20
A method of a workstation in a local area network (LAN) for accessing a wide area network (WAN), the method comprising:
- receiving a request to select a network service provider (NSP) from a workstation, the request using a first IP address of the workstation assigned by a customer premise equipment (CPE) located on premises of a customer having one or more workstations coupled to the CPE;
- presenting, in response to the request via a Web server capable of serving requests from the first IP address, a list of at least one NSP to a user of the workstation;
- selecting by the user at a Web page maintained by the Web server at least one NSP from the list independently from other workstations of the LAN, wherein the selection of the at least one NSP is maintained by a central office (CO) communicatively coupled to the CPE and one or more NSPs of the list over a network;
- switching the workstation's IP address from the first IP address to a second IP address assigned by the selected at least one NSP without rebooting the workstation;
- and
- thereafter accessing the WAN through the selected at least one NSP using the second IP address, wherein requests for accessing the WAN are routed to the selected at least one NSP by the CO based on the NSP selection information maintained by the CO.
An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable code stored thereon, which, when executed by a system, causes the system to:
- receive a request to select a network service provider (NSP) from a workstation, the request using a first IP address of the workstation assigned by a customer premise equipment (CPE) located on premises of a customer having one or more workstations coupled to the CPE;
- present, in response to the request via a Web server capable of serving requests from the first IP address, a list of at least one NSP to a user of the workstation;
- select by the user at a Web page maintained by the Web server at least one NSP from the list independently from other workstations of the LAN, wherein the selection of the at least one NSP is maintained by a central office (CO) communicatively coupled to the CPE and one or more NSPs of the list over a network;
- switch the workstation's IP address from the first IP address to a second IP address assigned by the selected at least one NSP without rebooting the workstation;
- and
- thereafter access the WAN through the selected at least one NSP using the second IP address, wherein requests for accessing the WAN are routed to the selected at least one NSP by the CO based on the NSP selection information maintained by the CO.
An apparatus of a workstation in a local area network (LAN) for accessing a wide area network (WAN), the apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving a request to select a network service provider (NSP) from a workstation, the request using a first IP address of the workstation assigned by a customer premise equipment (CPE) located on premises of a customer having one or more workstations coupled to the CPE;
- means for presenting, in response to the request via a Web server capable of serving requests from the first IP address, a list of at least one NSP to a user of the workstation;
- means for selecting by the user at a Web page maintained by the Web server at least one NSP from the list independently from other workstations of the LAN, wherein the selection of the at least one NSP is maintained by a central office (CO) communicatively coupled to the CPE and one or more NSPs of the list over a network;
- means for switching the workstation's IP address from the first IP address to a second IP address assigned by the selected at least one NSP without rebooting the workstation;
- and
- thereafter means for accessing the WAN through the selected at least one NSP using the second IP address, wherein requests for accessing the WAN are routed to the selected at least one NSP by the CO based on the NSP selection information maintained by the CO.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.