WO1999028826A1

WO1999028826A1 - Network access system

Info

Publication number: WO1999028826A1
Application number: PCT/AU1998/001000
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin Dinn
Original assignee: Netport Systems Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1997-12-01
Filing date: 1998-12-01
Publication date: 1999-06-10
Also published as: AUPP061697A0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for enabling access of a computing device, such as a personal computer, lap top, or palm top to a computer network such as the Internet. The system enables users of computers, particularly users that are travelling, to access a network such as the Internet from any location without it being necessary for them to remotely dial their usual Internet service provider, and without it being necessary for them to set up a network at the location where they are attempting to access the Internet. A serial connection is provided to a serial port of the computer and the system emulates a modem connection with the computer, providing direct local access to the Internet. Any settings on the computing device for a remote ISP are disregarded.

Description

NETWORK ACCESS SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a system and method for enabling access of a computing device to a computer network. Computer networks are now ubiquitous. Access to networks such as the Internet is required for many purposes e.g. obtaining information from the worldwide web, sending and retrieving electronic mail, down loading programs, etc. It would be desirable to be able to have simple and easy access to the Internet from any location, particularly for people who travel widely with their work and require network access from remote locations.

Traditional connections of computing devices to networks are via specialised networking hardware. Some computing devices have this hardware built in and some need it added on, such as in the case of personal computers. A network connection can also be made remotely down a telephone line, using a modem to dial into a modem at the other end of the line which completes the network connection. These are the two main ways that computers are connected to local area networks (LANs) , and wide area networks (WANs) such as the Internet.

These methods of connecting have inherent problems in that they require specific hardware to be brought and installed and they also require arrangements to have been made to provide the access. In the case of an ethernet connection, a network port must be available and the addressing must be set for the local network. For a modem dial in connection, a receiving modem must be available connected to an authenticating system which will allow a connection by the person through a prearranged account.

These problems are particularly an issue for travellers who want to carry their computing device with them and connect to the Internet when they reach their destination. If they do not have local Internet access arranged then they often have to connect by making an interstate or international phone call to their local Internet Service Provider to connect up, browse the web and down load their email. This connection is low quality and low speed and can be very expensive in phone access charges. Thus making the experience slow, stressful and expensive. It also requires the computer owner to be carrying or have access to a modem which is compatible with the local phone system. Further, a computer owner must ensure that the settings (e.g. number to an external line etc.) are correct for the location that they are trying to obtain access to the Internet from.

The present invention provides a system for providing access to a network for a computing device, comprising an interface for enabling a data connection to the computing device, and processing means arranged to emulate a modem connection between the computing device and the network, whereby the computing device is connected to the network. By the term "computing device" we mean any computer but preferably a PC, Apple or the like and more preferably portable-type computer, such as a lap top, palm-top and other types of portable computing devices.

The system preferably controls access to the network regardless of any communications setting which the computing device may be set to. This has the advantage that the owner of the computing device does not have to change any settings on his computing device in order to obtain access to the network. For example, a computing device may have a modem setting for dialling a number in a remote country to enable access to the Internet via the owner's ISP (Internet Service Provider). The system of the present invention is preferably arranged to disregard the communications setting for the remote ISP and instead direct communications to the network via the system. Preferably, the system allows local access to a network, such as the Internet.

This has the advantages that an owner does not have to change his settings to obtain access to a network such as the Internet, and also the Internet connection can be made locally, through a dedicated line to an ISP, for example, so that there are no long distance telephone charges.

The interface with the system preferably comprises a infra-red or standard serial port for receiving a serial data stream (standard for modem communications) . A plurality of interfaces are preferably provided. For example, interfaces may be provided in rooms of a hotel. The system advantageously enables convenient access to a network such as the Internet for any computing device user having access to one of the ports.

Systems in accordance with the present invention may be provided in buildings, such as hotels, conference centres, airport lounges, etc., enabling access of patrons to a network such as the Internet. In a conventional modem to modem connection, the modem connecting to the network (e.g. via an ISP provider) will be provided with an Internet Protocol address. The system of the present invention preferably dynamically allocates IP addresses to the computing devices connecting into the system.

As well as a telephone number to dial for connection to a modem, a computing device may also include other communications settings for facilitating connection with their usual network connection point (e.g. usual ISP). These may include communications settings for computer utilities such as proxy servers and mail servers (and any other computer utility which may be provided by a network) . Preferably, the system in accordance with the present invention, where the computing device has communications settings for other computer utilities, detects these settings but instead of directing the communications to the specified computer utilities, directs the communications to equivalent utilities determined by the system. These may include alternative proxy servers and alternative mail servers. In a preferred embodiment, the system may include a local area network which includes a proxy server and may also include a mail server. The local area network preferably enables a connection to a wide area network, such as the Internet. The system of the present invention takes advantage of the fact that the majority of computing devices have available software operating systems which have the ability to make a PPP connection allowing TCP/IP network communication down a serial port through a modem. Without any further programming, therefore, a computer with such a facility can connect to the system of the present invention via a serial port (or other serial data interface, such as infra-red) . Other brands of computing device also include facilities such as this, e.g., APPLE^®' MACINTOSH^® and NEWTON^®. Palm tops and other smaller computer devices may also include this facility. The invention thus facilitates any type of computing device with this facility to be connected to a network via a local connection without it being necessary to change any communications settings. The present invention yet further provides a system for providing access to a wide area network for a computing device, wherein the computing device is normally set to direct a connection to the network via a predetermined connection point, and wherein the system is arranged to ignore the computing device settings and connect the computing device to the network via a connection point determined by the system.

By "connection point" we mean the part of the network which, or the part which connects to the network, enabling access to the network by the computing device. This would usually be the computing device owners usual ISP hardware, but in the case of this aspect of the present invention, the system determines the hardware which enables access by the computing device to the network. Preferably, as with the preceding aspect of the invention, this aspect of the invention is implemented by emulating a modem connection and the system includes means for emulating a modem connection. The network may be the Internet. This aspect of the invention may have other features of the preceding aspect of the invention which are discussed above.

The present invention yet further provides a method of connecting a computing device to a network, comprising the steps of receiving a communication for a modem connection to the network from the computing device, and emulating a modem connection to the network.

The present invention yet further provides a method for providing access to a wide area network for a computing device, wherein the computing device is normally set to direct a connection to the network via a predetermined connection point, comprising the steps of disregarding the computing device settings and connecting the computing device to the network via an alternative predetermined connection point. An alternative aspect of the invention relates to the implementation of a computer network formed by computing devices being connected together by a system in accordance with this invention.

The present invention further provides a computing system for connecting computing devices together in a network, comprising a processing means for emulating a modem connection between the computing devices, and a plurality of interfaces for connecting the computing devices to the processing means. The plurality of interfaces may preferably comprise a plurality of serial ports or infra-red serial interfaces connecting computing devices, e.g. lap tops, palm tops, etc. together in a network. Network server programs are available which can be loaded onto computing devices such as palm tops, lap tops, etc. so that these machines can talk to each other in a network. Providing a system in accordance with the present invention to connect these computing devices together in the absence of hardware such as an ethernet card, provides significant advantages. A system in accordance with this aspect of the invention, could for example, be provided in a meeting room, conference centre, hotel and if people wish to share information on their computers all they would need to do would be to connect to each other via the system. The system emulates a modem connection in a similar manner to the aspects of the invention discussed above, via a serial data connection to, e.g., a serial port on the computing devices.

As discussed above, computing devices may be arranged to include settings for accessing computing utilities on the network, such as proxy servers and mail servers, to use them for down loading web pages (proxy server) or for e-mail (mail server) . As well as the problems discussed above, including the necessity to connect to the proxy or mail servers from overseas, there is the further problem that some proxy servers and mail servers will not "recognise" a communication which comes from a remote area even though it may have the correct identification. Even where a network connection is provided directly in a hotel or conference centre or the like, therefore (e.g., by ethernet connection) , the computing device may still have difficulty obtaining access to its usual ISP' s proxy and mail servers.

The present invention further provides a system for controlling access to a computer network by a computing device, comprising means arranged to detect a communication from the computing device directed to a particular computer utility on the network and to redirect the communication to an alternative computing utility, selected by the system. Preferably, the computing utility is a proxy or mail server and the system redirects the communications to an alternative proxy or mail server. The computing device may connect to a system such as discussed in the previous aspects of the invention, using a serial connection and utilising modem emulation. This aspect of the invention is, however, also applicable where a standard ethernet connection is used by a travelling computing device user. Where there may be problems with obtaining access to a users normal proxy server or mail server, this aspect of the present invention will ensure access to a proxy server and mail server.

The present invention yet further provides a method for controlling access to a computer network by a computing device, comprising the steps of detecting a communication from the computing device directed to a particular computing utility on the network, and redirecting the communication to an alternative computing utility.

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a block schematic diagram of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention illustrated connecting to two computing devices; Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating a prior art modem connection to a computing device;

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a PC configured to provide a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a typical network layout of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and

Figure 5 shows a system in accordance with the present invention illustrated connecting a number of computing devices together in a network.

Referring firstly to figure 2, this illustrates a conventional modem connection over a telephone system to a remote network. A traveller having a computing device 1 may wish to send email or download documents from a network such as the Internet 2. usually, if the traveller is at a remote destination, he will have to carry his own modem 3 with him and make a conventional modem connection over a telephone system to his ISP. His ISP will usually operate a network which includes a number of modems one of which modem 5 the modem 3 will connect with over the telephone network. The ISP will usually include a network (LAN) of computers including a router 6 for routing modem communications to the LAN (amongst other things like web servers, PDP mail servers), a proxy server 7, an SMTP server 8 and a router 9, for enabling connection to a wide area network, such as the Internet 2.

Conventional modem to modem connections proceed as follows :

1. The computing device 1 has software which enables modem connections. The computing device 1 signals to the modem 3 to cause it to dial a number which will be programmed into the computing device 1 and will be the telephone number of the ISP. 2. The modem 3 dials the number of the ISP.

3. The modem 5 answers, connects to the modem 3 and also provides an Internet Protocol address and possibly other information such as DNS settings which the computing device 1 will use for the Internet session. 4. The modem 3 signals back to the computing device 1 that a connection has been made.

5. Proceeding with the connection to the Internet, computing device 1 provides a user name and a password which is authenticated using PAP authentication by a authentication server 10 on the ISP network, authorising the computing device 1 to access the Internet 2 via the ISP.

6. The router 9 then routes the connection from the computing device through to the Internet 2 (PPP connection) . The problems with this system are as discussed above. The computing device 1 must have access to a modem 3 and it must make a telephone connection to the remote ISP. Telephone connections are unreliable, rate of data transmission is low, and if the user is telephoning from a long distance, can be expensive. A further problem is that the number that the computer owner needs to dial for the ISP will change depending upon the location of the user. It is therefore necessary to reset settings in the computer, which is an irritation.

An alternative conventional system to the system of figure 2, is for the computer user to obtain a network connection in the location that he is travelling to. This is difficult and time consuming, however, and an ethernet connection may be required in the computer. Further, all the settings on the computer (IP address authentication, proxy and SMTP server, etc.) may need to be changed. Many computer users will not have the know-how to do this. The majority of computing devices have serial ports. These include computing devices such as palm tops, lap tops, PC's, Apple Macintosh, etc. Further, the majority of computing devices include software which enables a TCP/IP connection to a modem through a serial port. A preferred embodiment of the present invention takes advantage of this facility to provide a connection via the serial port to a network such as the Internet, regardless of any telephone number which may be programmed to be dialled by modem settings in the computing device, and also to provide a high-speed, relatively low cost, connection.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically an embodiment of the present invention. A system, which may be installed in a building, hotel, or conference centre, comprises a processing means 20 which is connected to provide a connection to a network such as the Internet 21 for a computing device 1, via a serial port on the computing device 1, by emulating a modem connection. The computing device 1 is in fact "fooled" into believing it is making a connection to the Internet via its own ISP when in fact it is connecting to the Internet 21 via the system including the processing means 20.

In more detail, a plurality of serial ports 22 are provided for connecting to corresponding serial ports 23 in computing devices 1. The connection between the serial ports 22 and 23 may be by a serial lead. Note that any alternative may be used for connection as long as a serial data stream can be transferred between the computing device 1 and the processing means 20. Infra-red communications may be used, for example. The computing device requires no re-setting or reprogramming . All that is required is a modem setting to the serial port 23. If a modem setting is not present, it is a simple matter merely to set up the port 23 for modem operation (as would be known to most computer operators) . The computing device 1 then initiates a standard sequence of commands down the serial connection as if it were telling a modem at the other end of the line to dial in and connect to a network, for example, in PPP mode. The processing means 20 is arranged by software to respond to the commands as if there was a modem at the end of the serial line and a successful PPP connection was being negotiated. The speed of communication of the modem setting is also detected and established, as with conventional modem connections.

It does this by looking for a small subset of the usual command set of modems and ignores all the rest. The commands it looks for are:

Thus, at the end of the connection sequence, the computer has established what it thinks is a connection over a phone line via a modem to the network it usually connects to using the computer owner' s usual account username and password. In fact a PPP connection has been set up directly into one of the serial ports 22 of the system. The processing means 20 is in fact connected in a local area network via an ethernet connection 25. A direct line or rented line 26 may make the connection to the Internet 21 via a router 27. The processing means may in fact be a standard PC (figure 3) including an ethernet card 13 and multi-port serial cards 12 for connection to the ports 22.

In this embodiment, the system local area network may also include extra computer utilities such as a proxy server 28 and SMTP mail server 29. Computing devices may also include settings for using their normal ISP proxy and SMTP servers. The processing means of the present invention preferably also deals with these settings by disregarding them (although it does detect that they exist) and routing the requests for proxy and SMTP servers to the local proxy 28 and SMTP 29 servers. Note that the servers need not be local, they could be elsewhere.

The system operates to divert to the proxy SMTP mail server 29 and proxy server 28 from the computer devices usual servers, by watching the appropriate ports and redirecting the data to the local system utilities. The applications of this invention include: Figure 4 shows a typical hotel network application. Hotels can set up a network throughout the hotel 46 which connect several of the processing means 47 together. There are also lines installed 48 to establish serial connections from the networked processing means 47 to serial plug outlets 49 in each room (one per room 40) . The network is connected by some sort of permanent leased line 41 via a router 42 to an IAP (Internet Access Provider) 45 which would provide access to the Internet. Thus a traveller staying in a room would be able to use a serial cable 44 supplied by the hotel to connect their computing device 45 to the Internet by plugging it into the plug in the wall and initiating a dialup connection as if the serial port of the computer was plugged into a modem. The hotel guest does not have to have an account locally arranged and can stay connected continually without running up any excessive phone charges. Similarly an "email filling station" kiosk for lap tops could be set up in places where travelling business people are commonly found wanting to be able to load their email to their lap top. This is especially the case in such places as convention centres and airports. A kiosk which runs one or more of the inventions could allow access to sockets distributed around the kiosk for the travelling business person to plug in their computer, make a PPP connection to the Internet, down load their mail, maybe do some other net related activities then disconnect and read and respond to their mail at their leisure. Perhaps with a later connection at the kiosk to up load their responses to the earlier mail and to down load any subsequent mail received.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein a system including a processing means 20 and a serial port connection 22 is used to connect a plurality of computing devices 1 together in a network. Again connection is made via a serial port and via modem emulation connection created by the processing means 20. Network-server programs are available where computing devices can talk to each other and the system 20 and 22 will facilitate this.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

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Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A system for providing access to a network for a computing device, comprising an interface for enabling a data connection to the computing device, and processing means arranged to emulate a modem connection between the computing device and the network, whereby the computing device is connected to the network.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, comprising a plurality of interfaces for connecting a plurality of computing devices to the network.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the data connection is a serial data link.

4. A system in accordance with claim 3, wherein the data connection is via a serial port of the computing device.

5. A system in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the processing means is arranged to implement the emulation of a modem connection by, on receiving a signal from the computing device indicative of a dialled number in accordance with standard modem connection procedure, the processing means is arranged to disregard the number and establish a connection to the network at a point on the network determined by the system.

6. A system in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the processing means is arranged to provide a connection to a wide area network.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6, where an access to the wide area network by the computing device requires an authentication protocol, but wherein the processing means is arranged so that any authentication protocol information provided by the computing device is disregarded and connection is made to the wide area network via the system.

8. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein the wide area network is the Internet.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8, the processing means being arranged to detect a communication address provided by the computing device for a computing utility and to direct the computing device to an alternative computing utility, disregarding the provided address .

10. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the computing utility is a mail server and the alternative computing utility is a mail server determined by the system.

11. A system in accordance with claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the computing utility is a proxy server and the alternative computing utility is an alternative proxy server determined by the system.

12. A system in accordance with any one of claims 8 to 11, the processing means being arranged to allocate an Internet Protocol address to the computing device.

13. A system in accordance with any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the system includes a local area network including computing utilities and a connection to the wide area network is made via the local area network.

14. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the computing utilities include a mail server.

15. A system in accordance with claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the computing utilities include a proxy server.

16. A system in accordance with claim 13, 14 or 15, the processing means including an ethernet card providing a connection to the local network.

17. A system in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the system is installed in a building, such as a hotel, convention centre or airport lounge, as a commodity for users of computing devices to connect to a network.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein a plurality of interfaces to the system are provided in the form of ports mounted at convenient access locations for users .

19. A system in accordance with any preceding claim, comprising a PC and a plurality of interfaces in the form of serial ports.

20. A system for providing access to a wide area network for a computing device, wherein the computing device is normally set to direct a connection to the network via a predetermined connection point, and wherein the system is arranged to ignore the computing device settings and connect the computing device to the network via a connection point determined by the system.

21. A system in accordance with claim 20, comprising means for emulating a modem connection between the computing device and the network, for connecting a computing device to the network.

22. A system in accordance with claim 20 or claim 21, wherein if the computing device has a setting directing a communication to a computer utility such as a proxy server or mail server, the system is arranged to disregard this setting and direct the communication to a computer utility determined by the system.

23. A system in accordance with claim 20, 21 or 22, wherein the wide area network is the Internet.

24. A system in accordance with any one of claims 20 to 23, the system being provided in a building such as a hotel, airport lounge or conference centre, as a commodity for users of computing devices to access a wide area network.

25. A method of connecting a computing device to a network, comprising the steps of receiving a communication for a modem connection to the network from the computing device, and emulating a modem connection to the network.

26. A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein the step of emulating the modem connection includes the steps of on receiving a signal from the computing device indicative of a dialled number in accordance with standard modem connection procedure, disregarding the number and establishing a connection to the network at a predetermined point.

27. A method in accordance with claim 26, wherein, if access to the network by the computing device requires an authentication protocol, the step of connection to the network further comprises disregarding any authentication protocol information provided by the computing device and making the connection via the predetermined connection point .

28. A method in accordance with claim 25, 26 or 27, comprising the further step of detecting a communication from the computing device for a computing utility and directing the communication to an alternative selected computing utility.

29. A method in accordance with claim 28, wherein the computing utility is a mail server and the alternative computing utility is an alternative mail server.

30. A method in accordance with claim 28 or claim 29, wherein the computing utility is a proxy server and the alternative computing utility is an alternative proxy server.

31. A method in accordance with any one of claims 25 to 30, wherein the network is the Internet and comprising the further step of allocating an Internet Protocol address to the computing device.

32. A method for providing access to a wide area network for a computing device, wherein the computing device is normally set to direct a connection to the network via a predetermined connection point, comprising the steps of disregarding the computing device settings and connecting the computing device to the network via an alternative predetermined connection point.

33. A method in accordance with claim 32, comprising the step of connecting to the network by emulating a modem connection to the network.

34. A method in accordance with claim 32 or claim 33, comprising the further steps of detecting a communication to a computer utility such as a proxy server or mail server, and redirecting the communication to an alternative computer utility, such as an alternative proxy server or alternative mail server.

35. A method in accordance with claims 32, 33 or 34, comprising the step of providing the access to the wide area network from a building such as a hotel, airport lounge or conference centre, as a commodity for users of computing devices to access the wide area network.

36. A computing system for connecting computing devices together in a network, comprising a processing means for emulating a modem connection between the computing devices, and a plurality of interfaces for connecting the computing devices to the processing means.

37. A computing system in accordance with claim 36, wherein the plurality of interfaces comprise a plurality of serial ports.

38. A computing system in accordance with any one of claims 36 and 37, the processing means being arranged to disregard any communications settings on the computing devices and instead connect the computing devices to each other via the emulated modem connection.

39. A method of connecting computing devices together in a network, comprising the steps of emulating a modem connection between the computing devices so as to connect the computing devices together.

40. A method in accordance with claim 39, wherein the step of emulating a modem connection includes the steps of disregarding communication settings of the computing device and instead connecting the computing devices to each other.

41. A system for controlling access to a computer network by a computing device, comprising means arranged to detect a communication from the computing device directed to a particular computer utility on the network and to redirect the communication to an alternative computing utility, selected by the system.

42. A system in accordance with claim 41, wherein the computer network is a wide area network and the computing utility is a proxy server or mail server.

43. A system in accordance with claim 42, wherein the network is the Internet.

44. A method for controlling access to a computer network by a computing device, comprising the steps of detecting a communication from the computing device directed to a particular computing utility on the network, and redirecting the communication to an alternative computing utility.

45. A method in accordance with claim 44, wherein the computer network is a wide area network and the computing utility is a proxy server or a mail server.

46. A method in accordance with claim 45, wherein the computer network is the Internet.