IP session-based regulation and billing
AssigneeCenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
InventorsJeffrey M. Sweeney, Kelsyn D. S. Rooks, William T. Stelle
Life of this patent
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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 relationship between an Internet service provider (“ISP”) and a customer, a method comprising:
- providing a router electronically connected to a network of the ISP and to at least a first computer operated by the customer, the router providing a connection between the first computer and the network, said router including programming that tracks the number of internet protocol (“IP”) sessions open between the first computer and the network, and includes a predetermined and modifiable number of open IP sessions permitted for the first computer, wherein the number of open IP sessions permitted depends on a level specified by a service plan between the customer and the ISP;
- 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 operated by an Internet service provider (“ISP”) and providing a connection between a network of the ISP and a first computer operated by a customer of the ISP;
- said router including programming that identifies a number of permitted open internet protocol (“IP”) sessions for the computer, wherein the number of permitted open IP sessions permitted depends on a level specified by a service plan between the customer and the ISP, said programming further adapted to maintain a count of the IP sessions open between the first computer and the network, 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.