WO2000060473A1

WO2000060473A1 - Methods and apparatus for economically accessing a remote access server

Info

Publication number: WO2000060473A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/008534
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leo Chien Chang; Baldev Krishan; Ronald L. Lambert
Original assignee: Novaweb Technologies, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-04-02
Filing date: 2000-03-29
Publication date: 2000-10-12
Also published as: AU4054200A

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for establishing dial-up connections between a remote client computer (20) and a remote access server (50) on an as-needed basis. In a system comprising at least one remote client computer (20), a remote access server (50), one or more Internet Service Providers and a Name server (60), the remote access server (50) is configured to receive a notification call from either the remote client computer (20) or Name server (60) and then to establish a temporary Internet (40) connection via a local Internet Service Provider, thus eliminating the need for a continuous Internet (40) connection while incurring little or no toll charge costs.

Description

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ECONOMICALLY ACCESSING A REMOTE ACCESS SERVER

Field Of The Invention

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for economically establishing a connection between a remote client computer and a remote access server via the Internet.

Background Of The Invention

Over the past few years, the Internet has become a major source of information and a common, world-wide means of communication and commerce. The rapid expansion of the World Wide Web (WWW) has made the Internet a primary means by which many businesses provide product information and advertising, and the number of companies conducting business over the

Internet is growing. In addition to business uses, the information resources and entertainment available through the WWW are causing an ever increasing number of households to purchase computer equipment, and establish accounts giving them access to the Internet. With the increasing availability of highspeed access, and low-cost devices designed specifically to provide Internet access, the Internet promises to become the primary communications medium of the next decade. Many businesses are beginning to rely upon the Internet as a primary medium for conducting business, and therefore have established websites on remote access servers ("RAS") having continuous connections to the Internet.

In particular, with the advent of the Internet and tunneling protocols the use of RAS has dramatically increased. A RAS sever connected to the Internet can connect to many different users in many different geographical locations at the same time and over the same connection. To accomplish this, however, the RAS server requires a permanent Internet connection and a fixed IP address.

A remote user wishing to connect to the RAS server connects to the Internet using a locally available dial line any of a number of Internet- connection protocols, such as point-point tunneling protocol ("PPTP"), IPSEC or L2TP. By using the Internet backbone for the long-haul data transmission, the user incurs no long distance toll charge. The user therefore is able to make a local connection to the Internet and connect to the RAS server with the permanent IP address.

At present, there are few good Internet access solutions available for home businesses and smaller businesses that maintain RAS server websites that are infrequently visited, e.g., by only a small segment of the buying public. While such businesses need to have websites that project a "permanent" presence on the Internet, the cost of maintaining a continuous connection is high.

Direct dial line access over the public standard telephone network ("PSTN") has been available for many years. For a remote user to access such servers, however, the remote user typically must (1) know the telephone number of the server and (2) incur a toll charge for the duration of the connection. In addition, a typical dial-up connection may provide only a limited number of incoming lines for simultaneous access to the server.

In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus that enable a RAS server to use a local dial line, when needed and without incurring significant long distance charges, to determine when to selectively establish a temporary Internet connection.

In particular, it would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus that enable a RAS server without a continuous Internet connection to present a "permanent" presence, while using a local dial line to determine when to establish a connection to receive Internet traffic.

It further would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus that enable access to a RAS server with dial-up connections at both ends, without incurring significant long distance charges.

It also would be desirable to provide methods and apparatus that enable a RAS server to selectively establish an Internet connection, for example, to permit access to customer data base for a traveling salesperson, to upload pictures taken from a digital camera, or to permit a file exchange between a home and portable computer using landline or wireless connections. Summary Of The Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus that enable a RAS server to use a local dial line, when needed and without incurring significant long distance charges, to determine when to selectively establish a temporary Internet connection.

It is another object of this invention to provide methods and apparatus that enable a RAS server without a continuous Internet connection to present a "permanent" presence, while using a local dial line to determine when to establish a connection to receive Internet traffic.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide methods and apparatus that enable " access to a RAS server with dial-up connections at both ends, without incurring significant long distance charges .

It also is an object of this invention to provide methods and apparatus that enable a RAS server to selectively establish an Internet connection, for example, to permit access to customer data base for a traveling salesperson, to upload pictures taken from a digital camera, or to permit a file exchange between a home and portable computer using landline or wireless connections.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a system comprising at least one remote client computer, a home or small business RAS server, one or more Internet Service Providers

("ISP"), and a specially configured Name server. The RAS server and one of either the remote client computer or Name server include modems that permit local dial line access. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the RAS server does not maintain a continuous Internet connection, but instead only establishes an Internet connection when specifically requested to do so via dial line call by either the remote computer client or Name server.

In a preferred embodiment, the RAS server is programmed to monitor a local dial line to detect a ring signal, or DTMF tone, generated by a dial line call from either the remote computer or ISP. In response to detection of the signal or tone, the RAS server dials into its ISP via a local telephone call to a local Point of Presence ("POP") . Once the RAS server is connected to the ISP through the dial-up connection, the RAS server obtains an IP Address from an ISP server running the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

("DHCP") . The IP Address is then registered with the Name server. When the remote client dials in and connects to its ISP (which may be the same or a different ISP than that servicing the RAS server) via a local POP, the Name server translates the RAS server' s URL or username into the previously registered dynamically allocated IP Address, thus enabling connection between the RAS server and remote computer via the Internet. Both of the remote client computer and RAS server must be registered with the Name server. In alternative embodiments, the Name server itself may be programmed to recognize a website username or URL as belonging to a RAS server, and generate a dial line call to the RAS server to alert the RAS server to establish a dial-in connection, or directly establish the dial-in connection. Brief Description Of The Drawings

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a network of computers for configured in accordance with the methods of the present invention for connecting a remote computer to a RAS server over the Internet using dial-up connections; FIG. 2 depicts a first method of establishing an Internet connection between a RAS server and a remote client computer using dial-up connections; and FIG. 3 depicts an alternative method of establishing^" an Internet connection between a RAS server and a remote client computer using dial-up connections .

Detailed Description Of The Invention Referring to FIG. 1, a computer system suitable for establishing an Internet connection between a RAS server of a home or small business and a remote client computer via the Internet using dial-up connections is described. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the RAS server selectively establishes a temporary dial-up connection to the Internet, without incurring long distance telephone toll charges or establishing a high-cost continuous connection. In FIG. 1, remote client computer 20, which may be a previously known Pentium-class personal computer, includes, for example, case 21 housing a microprocessor, power supply, memory, various hard and optical disk drives and a modem, keyboard 22, mouse 23 and monitor 24. Remote client computer 20 employs public standard telephone network 30 ("PSTN") to connect to Internet 40 via the modem contained in case 21. Remote Access Server ("RAS") server 50, which may be another personal computer, includes or is coupled to a modem to provide access to Internet 40 via PSTN 30.

Internet 40 includes one or more ISPs providing local POPs to remote client computer 20 and RAS server 50. Name server 60 is programmed to provide translation between a text username or Uniform Resource Locator ("URL") and a dynamically allocated Internet Protocol address ("IP Address") . Internet 40 includes additional servers (not shown) , including at least one server running the DHCP protocol (which may be the Name server) , that dynamically assigns IP Addresses to usernames or URLs registered with the Name server. The one or more ISPs servicing the remote client computer 20 and RAS server 50 must be registered with Name server 60.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, one or both of remote client computer 20 and Name server 60 are programmed to notify RAS server directly via PSTN 30 to establish a connection to Internet 40, so that remote computer 20 then may establish a connection to RAS server 50 using a suitable Internet connection protocol, such as PPP, L2TP or IPSEC. Similarly, RAS server 50 is programmed to monitor a ring or DTMF signal on a dial line connected to PSTN 30 to determine when to establish a dial-up connection to Internet 40 via PSTN 30. Software to program remote computer 20, name server 60, and/or RAS server 50 in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be provided as a plurality of programmed routines on one or more suitable items of removable storage media, such as optical disk 70, or downloaded from other servers connected to Internet 40. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of method 80 of the present invention is described, in which access acknowledgment by RAS server 50 is initiated by remote client computer 20.

At box 81, a user of remote client computer 20 uses the computer, or a previously known telephone set, to make a call to RAS server 50 using a direct dial telephone number. In accordance with the present invention, RAS server 50 includes circuitry for answering a ringing direct dial line and detecting a DTMF tone on the line. When server picks up the call at box 82, the user presses the "#" key on the keypad (or computer 20 simulates the corresponding DTMF tone) , thus notifying the RAS server that a remote client computer is trying to access the server. Although this call may be a long distance toll charge call, the call will last only a fraction of a minute, and therefore be inexpensive. At box 83, the RAS server hangs up the line and initiates a connection to its local ISP ("ISP1") through a dial-up connection. On the remote client end, after the RAS server hangs up, the remote client connects to its local ISP ("ISP2") .

Alternatively, RAS server 50 may include ring detection circuitry that monitors its direct dial line to detect ring signals received from PSTN 30. In this case, the user of remote client computer 20 uses the computer, or a previously known telephone set, to make a call to RAS server 50 via PSTN 30. The RAS server may be programmed, for example, not to answer the line until after the fourth ring. The user (or computer 20) then permits the line to ring twice, indicating that access to RAS server 50 is requested, and then hangs up. Because the RAS server does not actually pick up the call, no toll charge is incurred by the user of remote client computer 20. RAS server 50 is programmed so that when it detects one or two rings and nothing after, it initiates a connection to ISP1 through a dial-up connection over PSTN 30. Remote client computer 20 then makes a connection to Internet 40 via a dial-up connection over PSTN 30. In either case, after RAS server 50 has been notified of an impending request for access to the RAS server, both remote client computer 20 and RAS server 50 make Internet connection protocol connections to the respective local ISPs, ISP1 and ISP2, at boxes 83 and 85. At box 84, through ISP1, RAS server 50 obtains a dynamically allocated IP Address using the DHCP Protocol and registers that IP Address with Name server 60. Remote computer likewise obtains an IP Address and logs into Name server 60. Name server 60 logs the remote client computer's IP Address and the RAS server's IP Address, along with the respective usernames, and records the event. As will of course be understood, the sequence of steps represented by boxes 84-86 are interchangeable. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, Name server 60 acts as a "match maker" to translate a username or URL sent by remote client computer 20 to the IP Address corresponding to RAS server 50. At box 86, Name server 60 receives the request from remote client computer 20 for a URL or username of the RAS server to which access is sought. At box 87, Name server 60 resolves the username or URL to locate the RAS server's IP Address, and returns the RAS server's IP address to remote client computer 20. At box 88, once remote client computer 20 has the RAS server's IP Address, the remote client computer requests communication with RAS server 50. Accordingly, a Internet connection is established between remote client computer 20 and RAS server 50 using dial-up connections to local ISPs, and without incurring significant long distance toll charge calls or a continuous Internet connection.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is described, in which access acknowledgment by RAS server 50 is initiated by Name server 60. In method 90 of FIG. 3, at box 91, remote client computer 20 makes a connection to Internet 40 using a dial-up connection over PSTN 30. Remote client computer 20 transmits the URL or username of the RAS server and requests the corresponding IP Address from ISP2. At box 92, ISP2 transmits that request to Name server 60.

In accordance with this feature of the present invention, at box 93, Name server 60 is programmed to make a direct dial call to RAS server 50 over PSTN 30, ring once or twice, and then hang up. At box 94, RAS server 50 either detects the ring signal, or picks up the line and receives a DTMF tone from Name server 60. At box 95, RAS server 50 then makes a connection to its local ISP, ISP1. Once RAS server 50 is assigned an IP Address and registered with Name server 60, at box 96, the Name server returns the RAS server's IP Address to remote client computer 20 at box 97. At box 98, remote client computer 20 then establishes an Internet connection to RAS server 50, so that both remote client computer 20 and remote access server 50 are connected to Internet 40 via dial-up connections . As a further alternative embodiment, instead of calling RAS server 50 so as to notify that server to establish a dial-up connection, Name server 60 may be programmed to call and establish a connection to RAS server 50. The Name server is particularly well suited to perform this step, since it may already contain information for the RAS server, such as username and phone number. Unlike the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, however, the call from Name server 60 to RAS server 50 may constitute a toll charge call for the Name server, since this call could be a metered business call or a long distance call.

In any of the foregoing embodiments, if the dial line for RAS server 50 is found to be busy when called by remote client computer 20 or Name server 60, the programming of the respective computer may assume that the RAS server already is, or will soon be, connected to the Internet, and skip to the username/URL translation step of the processes depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In addition, in all cases, RAS server 50 preferably is programmed to monitor the level of activity received over the connection to Internet 40, and to terminate the connection once the activity level ceases for a specified interval of time. Accordingly, the methods of the present invention enable the RAS server to selectively establish a dial-up connection to the Internet only for so long as needed to satisfy requests received from the Internet for that server, thereby eliminating the expense of a continuous Internet connection or costly long distance toll charges for direct dial access.

While preferred illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described above, it will be evident to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What Is Claimed Is:

1. A system for selectively establishing a dial-up connection over the Internet between a remote client computer and a remote access server, the system stored as a plurality of programmed routines on one or more items of storage media, the system comprising: a notification routine that causes the remote client computer to place a dial line call to the remote access server; a detection routine that causes the remote access server to detect the dial line call placed by the remote client computer; a first connection routine that causes the remote access server to establish a connection to a first Internet Service Provider; a second connection routine that causes the remote client computer to establish a connection to a second Internet Service Provider; and a matching routine accessible to both the first and second Internet Service Providers that matches a request for access to the remote access server issued by the remote client computer to an IP Address of the remote access server.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the notification routine is programmed to place the call on the dial line, wait for a predetermined number of rings, and hang up, and the detection routing is programmed to detect ring signals on the dial line.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the notification routine is programmed to place the call on the dial line, wait for pick up, and issue a DTMF tone, and the detection routine is programmed to pick up a ringing dial line and detect a DTMF tone.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an IP Address allocation routine, the IP Address allocation routine assigning the IP Address to the remote access server after the first connection routine causes the remote access server to establish the connection to the first Internet Service Provider.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring routine that monitors activity on the connection to the first Internet Service Provider and terminates that connection when activity ceases for a predetermined interval of time.

6. A system for selectively establishing a dial-up connection over the Internet between a remote client computer and a remote access server via a Name server, the system stored as a plurality of programmed routines on one or more items of storage media, the system comprising: a notification routine that causes the Name server to place a dial line call to the remote access server responsive to a request for access to the remote access server issued by the remote client computer; a detection routine that causes the remote access server to detect the dial line call placed by the Name server; a first connection routine that causes the remote access server to establish a connection to a first Internet Service Provider; and a matching routine that matches the request for access to the remote access server issued by the remote client computer to an IP Address of the remote access server.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the notification routine is programmed to place the call on the dial line, wait for a predetermined number of rings, and hang up, and the detection routing is programmed to detect ring signals on the dial line.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the notification routine is programmed to place the call on the dial line, wait for pick up, and issue a DTMF tone, and the detection routine is programmed to pick up a ringing dial line and detect a DTMF tone.

9. The system of claim 6 further comprising an IP Address allocation routine, the IP Address allocation routine assigning the IP Address to the remote access server after the first connection routine causes the remote access server to establish the connection to the first Internet Service Provider.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the first connection routine establishes the connection to a first Internet Service Provider via the Name server after the detection routine that causes the remote access server to detect the dial line call placed by the Name server.

11. A method of selectively establishing a dial-up connection over the Internet between a remote client computer and a remote access server, the method comprising: placing a dial line call to the remote access server; detecting the dial line call at the remote access server; establishing a connection between the remote access server and a first Internet Service Provider; assigning an IP Address to the remote access server; establishing a connection between the remote client computer and a second Internet Service Provider; issuing from the remote client computer a request for access to the remote access server; and matching the request for access to the remote access server issued by the remote client computer to the IP Address assigned to the remote access server.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein placing the dial line call to the remote access server further comprises waiting for a predetermined number of rings and hanging up the dial line and detecting the dial line call further comprises detecting ring signals on the dial line.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein placing the dial line call to the remote access server further comprises waiting for pick up and issuing a DTMF tone and detecting the dial line call further comprises picking up the dial line call and detecting a DTMF tone.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising monitoring activity on the connection between the remote access server and the first Internet Service Provider and terminating that connection when activity ceases for a predetermined interval of time.

15. A method of selectively establishing a dial-up connection over the Internet between a remote client computer and a remote access server via a Name server, the method comprising: issuing from the remote client computer a request for access to the remote access server; placing a dial line call from the Name server to the remote access server responsive to the request for access to the remote access server issued by the remote client computer; detecting the dial line call placed by the Name server at the remote access server; establishing a connection between the remote access server and a first Internet Service Provider; and matching the request for access to the remote access server issued by the remote client computer to an IP Address of the remote access server.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein placing the dial line call further comprises waiting for a predetermined number of rings and hanging up, and detecting the dial line call further comprises detecting ring signals on the dial line.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein placing the dial line call further comprises waiting for pick up of the dial line call and issuing a DTMF tone, and detecting the dial line call further comprises picking up the dial line and detecting a DTMF tone.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising, after establishing the connection between the remote access server and the first Internet Service Provider, assigning the IP Address to the remote access server .

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the connection between the remote access server and the first Internet Service Provider is established via the Name server immediately after detecting the dial line call placed by the Name server.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising monitoring activity on the connection between the remote access server and the first Internet Service Provider and terminating that connection when activity ceases for a predetermined interval of time.