METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING FUNGIBLE INTERCOURSE OVER A NETWORK

US 20020029275A1
Filed: 06/19/1998
Published: 03/07/2002
Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1997
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A method of connecting a user to an NSP (Network Service Provider) comprising the steps of:

providing to a user an initializing set of identification information;

establishing communication with an access SP (Service Provider) on the network through an initialization NSP using the initializing set of identification information;

receiving and storing a customized set of identification information from said access SP for a selected NSP;

breaking communication with said initialization NSP; and

re-establishing communication with the network through said selected NSP using the customized set of identification information.

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Abstract

The present invention comprises a method of and apparatus for simplifying the process of access to a network for a roaming computer user, divides the responsibility of servicing a given user wanting to access the network between multiple parties and minimizes the possibility of improper dissemination of email header data as well as improper use of network resources (including server systems) by non-clients.

104 Citations

31 Claims

1. A method of connecting a user to an NSP (Network Service Provider) comprising the steps of:
- providing to a user an initializing set of identification information;
  
  establishing communication with an access SP (Service Provider) on the network through an initialization NSP using the initializing set of identification information;
  
  receiving and storing a customized set of identification information from said access SP for a selected NSP;
  
  breaking communication with said initialization NSP; and
  
  re-establishing communication with the network through said selected NSP using the customized set of identification information.

2. A method of connecting a user to a given NSP (Network Service Provider) comprising the steps of:
- providing a network device user with an initial use set of log-in information for initially communicating with an access SP via an available NSP;
  
  storing in a database of the Internet device a hidden time shared set of log-in information supplied by said access service for accessing said given ISP; and
  
  causing the network device to reestablish communication with the network via said given NSP using the hidden set of log-in information.
- View Dependent Claims (3)
- - 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of supplying said set of login information for said given NSP to other users contacting said access service.

4. A method of modifying a software database in a computer connected to the network comprising, the steps of:
- the program inserting data into a database of incorporating a program as part of a web page; and
  
  the program inserting data into a database of the computer in response to accessing the web page.
- View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
- - 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:
    - installing software in the computer for reading said database; and
      
      the software generating a custom toolbar in accordance with the data in said database.
  - 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the language of the program is defined in the accessed web page under “
    - mime type”
      
      definitions.

7. A method of displaying representations of advertising material on a computer screen comprising the steps of:
- providing database responsive software as part of a network browser;
  
  displaying a toolbar on a computer screen in accordance with data in said database;
  
  incorporating a program as part of a web page whereby accessing the web page causes the program to insert data into said database of the computer accessing said web page;
  
  refreshing the display on the computer screen to present a toolbar based upon inserted data in said database, said toolbar including representations of advertising material; and
  
  maintaining the toolbar display until new data is inserted in said database.

8. A method of preventing a network user from unauthorized distribution of network access log-in data comprising the steps of:
- supplying a user with initialization log-in data whereby a temporary communication with the network may be established between a network accessing device and an access service;
  
  storing a hidden set of log-in data in said network accessing device obtained from said access service during the temporary communication with the network; and
  
  causing said network accessing device to disconnect from the temporary communication with the network and to re-establish communication with the network using said hidden set of log-in data stored in said network accessing device.

9. A method of providing anonymity to a network user through the dynamic allocation of log-in data to users comprising the steps of:
- storing a hidden set of first log-in data in a network accessing device during a temporary communication with an access service connected to the network; and
  
  storing a modified set of hidden second log-in data in said network accessing device when the user, during a subsequent network log-in attempt, is denied access because another user is presently using said first log-in data.

10. A method of obtaining access to a network comprising the steps of:
- accessing the network using a previously provided set of log-in data;
  
  communicating with an access service;
  
  storing a modified set of log-in data received from said access service;
  
  disconnecting from the network; and
  
  using said modified set of log-in data when next accessing the network.

11. A method of obtaining anonymity on a network comprising the steps of:
- accessing the network using a previously provided set of log-in data;
  
  obtaining a presently unused set of network access data from an access service databank;
  
  modifying said previously provided set of log-in data with the presently unused set of network access data; and
  
  using the last modified set of log-in data when next re-accessing the network.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
- - 14. The method claim 13 comprising in addition:
    - addressing the data packets with the third party as both the sender and recipient.
  - 15. The method of claim 13 comprising in addition:
    - placing the final recipient address data in the message body of at least one of the data packets.
  - 16. The method of claim 15 comprising in addition:
    - encrypting the message body of the data packets before sending to said third party; and
      
      deciphering of the address of the final recipient before forwarding of the data packets by the third party.
  - 17. The method of claim 16 comprising the additional steps of:
    - placing a from party alias, which alias may be known only to said third party, as the from party in the message body before encryption;
      
      placing a recipient party alias, which alias may not be known by said third party, as the actual recipient party in the message body before encryption;
      
      placing the subject matter data in the message body before encryption;
      
      sending the data packets to said third party with the third party also listed in the header as the sending party and having an innocuous subject matter in the header;
      
      deciphering of the message body of received data packets, by the third party, to decrypt the stored TO and FROM header information;
      
      rebuilding the data packet header, by said third party, to list a recipient alias as both the TO and FROM parties; and
      
      sending the data packet, including both the originally encrypted message body and the rebuilt data packet header, to the address of the final recipient.

12. A method of obtaining a set of network access data comprising the steps of:
- modifying stored network access data using new data downloaded from an access provider connected to said network; and
  
  reaccessing the network using the modified network access data.

13. A method of securing the transmission of data over a network comprising the steps of:
- sending data packets to a third party for retransmission to a final recipient;
  
  informing the third party of the address of the final recipient; and
  
  forwarding the data packets from the third party to the address of said final recipient.

18. Apparatus for securing the transmission of data over a network comprising:
- sending party security means for sending data packets from a sending party to a third party for retransmission to a final recipient;
  
  third party security means for obtaining the network address of the final recipient; and
  
  third party means for forwarding the data packets to the network address of said final recipient.

19. Apparatus for providing anonymity relative the transmission of data over a network comprising:
- sending party security means for, transparently to the sending party, modifying header information originating with the sending party, in data packets intended for transmission to a final recipient, by listing a third party as both the sending and receiving party;
  
  means for making available to said third party from the sending party the address of the intended final recipient; and
  
  means for sending the modified data packets from the sending party to said third party for later forwarding to the address of said final recipient.

20. A method of providing anonymity of a given network user in the transmission and reception of data comprising the steps of:
- interacting over the network with a third party for both sending data packets to a final recipient and receiving data packets transmitted from another party;
  
  transmitting outgoing data packets from said given network user to said third party with the third party listed in a header as both the TO and FROM parties;
  
  transmitting incoming data packets to said given network user from said third party with the given network user being listed in a header by an alias, as both the TO and FROM parties; and
  
  changing the alias used for said given network user in accordance with predetermined conditions.
- View Dependent Claims (21)
- - 21. The method of claim 20 comprising the additional steps of:
    - inserting the correct final recipient address information of at least one recipient in the message body before encrypting the message body of outgoing data packets; and
      
      decrypting at least some of the final recipient address information from the message body upon receipt of incoming data packets by said given network user.

22. A method of accessing a digital network comprising the steps of:
- obtaining network access data from a first entity; and
  
  contacting a network service provider second entity in accordance with data obtained from said first entity to obtain a temporarily assigned network address.
- View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 27, 29)
- - 23. The method of claim 22 comprising the additional steps of:
    - obtaining authentication data from said first entity;
      
      periodically contacting said first entity for possible updating of said network service provider access data to be used in next attempting to obtain a temporarily assigned network address.
  - 24. The method of claim 22 comprising the additional steps of:
    - contacting said first entity for possible updating of said network service provider access data before next attempting to obtain a temporarily assigned network address.
  - 27. The method of claim 26 comprising the additional step of:
    - periodically contacting said first entity for providing billing data to the first entity.
  - 29. The method of claim 28 comprising the additional step of:
    - automatically inserting said service provider specific data in a calling program, after selection of said provider by a user of said terminal, preparatory to contacting said service provider.

25. Network access user apparatus for accessing a digital network comprising:
- means for obtaining network service provider access data from a first entity; and
  
  means for contacting a network service provider second entity in accordance with data obtained from said first entity to obtain a temporarily assigned network address.

26. A method of accessing a network comprising the steps of:
- obtaining verification and network service provider access data from a first entity; and
  
  contacting a network service provider second entity in accordance with data obtained from said first entity to obtain a temporarily assigned network address.

28. A method of accessing a network comprising the steps of:
- receiving data from a service entity on the network and storing said data in at least one database of a terminal;
  
  retrieving service provider specific data from said at least one database for use in accessing at least a portion of the network;
  
  contacting said service provider through at least a portion of the network in accordance with the retrieved data to obtain a temporarily assigned network address;
  
  accessing at least a portion of the network through said service provider; and
  
  contacting said service entity and updating said at least one database with data received from said service entity.

30. A method of sending email over a network comprising the steps of:
- composing an email message with at least one original recipient name in the TO portion of a readable header;
  
  requesting at least one recipient alias address from a service provider;
  
  placing at least a portion of the at least one original recipient name in an encrypted message body of the email; and
  
  sending the encrypted email to the recipient alias address.
- View Dependent Claims (31)
- - 31. The method of claim 30 comprising the additional steps of:
    - composing an email message with original subject matter information in the subject matter portion of the readable header;
      
      placing at least a portion of the original email subject matter information in the encrypted message body of the email;
      
      using at least one recipient alias address as both the TO and FROM portions of the readable header and inserting at least one set of substitute subject matter information in the readable header of the email; and
      
      decrypting the email upon receipt by the recipient and substituting the original header information into the readable header of the email message.

Specification

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Current Assignee
MyMail, Ltd. (MyMail Management, LLC)
Original Assignee
MyMail, Ltd. (MyMail Management, LLC)
Inventors
GMUENDER, JOHN EVERETT, MASSING, MICHAEL BRIAN, SELGAS, THOMAS DRENNAN

Granted Patent

US 6,571,290 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

709/227
CPC Class Codes

G06F 21/31   User authentication

G06F 3/0482   Interaction with lists of s...

G06F 3/04847   Interaction techniques to c...

G06Q 30/0277   Online advertisement

H04L 61/00   Network arrangements, proto...

H04L 63/04   for providing a confidentia...

H04L 63/0428   wherein the data content is...

H04L 63/0464   using hop-by-hop encryption...

H04L 63/08   for authentication of entit...

H04L 63/083   using passwords cryptograph...

H04L 67/10   in which an application is ...

H04L 9/40   Network security protocols

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING FUNGIBLE INTERCOURSE OVER A NETWORK

First Claim

5 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

104 Citations

31 Claims

Specification

Solutions

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING FUNGIBLE INTERCOURSE OVER A NETWORK

First Claim

5 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

104 Citations

31 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links