163 results about "Cable Internet access" patented technology

Multiple access internet portal billing systems are provided. A representative system, among others, includes a communication facility, a wireless internet server, and a transaction billing system. The communication facility includes a billing platform, and is operable to connect to a plurality of wireless device platforms through a mobile network, and to connect to the wireless internet server. The wireless internet server provides internet access to the wireless devices and communicate at least one billing information record including a usage time to a transaction billing system. The transaction billing system receives the billing information record from the wireless internet server, formats the billing information record, and communicates the formatted record to the communication facility billing platform. Methods and other systems for multiple access internet portals are also provided.

An device for receiving streaming audio or other audio sources netcast in analogous fashion to a radio broadcast, said device providing an interface analogous to a radio receiver, eliminating the necessity of an intervening personal computer system.

A portable communication device plug connectable to an external port of a computing device for enabling the computing device access to a variety of services such as Internet access, Internet sharing and phone calling. Upon plug connecting the portable communication device to the computing device, a software application running at the computing device is enabled by employing at least in part a protected data stored in the portable communication device. In one exemplary application, the portable communication device enables wireless communication and Internet access to the computing device by plug connecting the communication device to the computing device. In a second exemplary application, the portable communication device enables phone calling from the computing device and facilitates installation of a phone calling software running at the computing device upon plug connecting the communication device to the computing device.

A wireless method for Internet access and a phone calling method is disclosed. Each method uses a portable communication device that is plug connectable to an external port of a computing device for enabling the computing device Internet access, Internet sharing, and or phone calling. Upon plug connecting the portable communication device to the computing device, a software application running at the computing device is enabled by employing at least in part a protected data stored in the portable communication device. In a first exemplary application, the portable communication device enables wireless communication and Internet access to the computing device. In a second exemplary application, the portable communication device enables phone calling from the computing device and facilitates installation of a phone calling software running at the computing device upon plug connecting the communication device to the computing device.

A system and method for secure internet access by children that assigns each child a Safe Card Scanner with integral fingerprint scanner and a Caddy-Pilot for Kids (intelligent card reader and docking station) into which the Safe Card Scanner docks for biometric-secure internet access for children. Both the Safe Card Scanner and Caddy-Pilot for Kids have internal memory and device ID numbers stored therein. At registration each child is assigned a user ID corresponding with card ID number and a registration record is compiled including the assigned user ID and photo data plus the Safe Card Scanner and Caddy-Pilot for Kids ID numbers. Parents author a parental ruleset for their child and the ruleset is stored by a host ASP. The child then activates their Safe Card scanner by an initial fingerprint scan, a portion of which is stored locally on the Safe Card scanner (along with the assigned device ID number). Given a registered / activated Safe Card scanner, the child can access the internet from any web-enabled computer simply by plugging the Caddy-Pilot for Kids into the computer's USB port. The Caddy-Pilot for Kids automatically opens a browser program and loads the URL of the sponsoring ASP. The child than inserts their Safe Card scanner into the Caddy-Pilot for Kids, which automatically initiates a scan of their fingerprint, which instantaneously captures a portion of their fingerprint minutia and compares it to the minutia stored previously at enrollment activation, thereby authenticating that child as the authorized user of that Safe Card Scanner. Once a local authentication has taken place the Safe Card scanner checks the assigned user ID plus the Safe Card Scanner and Caddy-Pilot for Kids ID numbers to the registration record, authenticates the child user, and pre-loads the parental control ruleset. The child-users then have a restricted safe and secure but full internet experience including online shopping malls, Chat Rooms, Libraries, games, sports, etc.

A method and arrangement is provided for the multicasting of streaming digital content to a plurality of Internet users. Streaming digital audio, video or other digital data content that is to be multicast to Internet users is formatted into IP protocol at a head-end content source transmission site. The streaming IP digital data is transmitted from the head-end transmission site to at least one distant / remote routing station of an Internet service provider (i.e., a provider-edge router or Internet point of presence) via a bandwidth portion of a digital communications data transport service or transmission medium that is substantially unaffected by conventional Internet communications traffic. The Internet service provider (ISP) maintains at least one access router for providing Internet access via its Internet domain for its customers accessing the Internet via conventional two-way IP connection. The streaming IP digital data received from the content source transmission site by the ISP routing station may then be multicast via the IPS's existing infrastructure to one or more of its Internet access customer.

A method of operating software configured for Internet access on a remote computer includes opening a virtual machine on a remote computer from a user computer and sending user preferences from the user computer to the virtual machine. The method includes sending a request to operate the software configured for Internet access, and receiving user preferences from the virtual machine upon shutdown. A method of operating software configured for Internet access remote from a user computer includes opening a virtual machine on a remote computer and receiving user preferences at the virtual machine from the user computer. The method further includes receiving a request from the user computer at the remote computer and requesting at least one web page from the virtual machine and receiving a close command at the virtual machine from the user computer and sending the user preferences to the user computer in response to the shutdown.

Voice and data streams transmitted from a conventional DSVD modem are interfaced directly to a network access server through a modified DSVD modem according to the invention. The voice and data is formatted into network data packets that are then routed directly to different endpoints through the network access server. The modified DSVD modem includes a packet framer that removes conventionally transmitted V.76 DSVD framing formats and stuffs bytes into the voice and data to form network packets. The network access server then routes the voice and data packets to the different endpoints identified in a packet header. Since the voice and data are output from the DSVD modem in data packets, the voice and data can be routed more efficiently to different network endpoints.

A set of system configurations adapted to provide data communications to and from a set of client modems connected to one or more central modems through a tree and branch network such as exists in buildings, hotels, multiple dwelling units and the like to distribute cable television signals to individual rooms. The set of one or more central modems is connected directly or indirectly to one or more networks such as the Internet. Optionally, some components of this system can be placed at the cable television head-end for ease of access for maintenance.

Techniques for efficiently and economically providing data transfer through wireless data networks. These techniques are particularly suitable for Internet data transfers. In one aspect, mobile devices are able to be allocated additional wireless channels to obtain increased data transfer capabilities. The additional wireless channels can be used for unicast, multicast or broadcast of data. These techniques provide additional wireless bandwidth to mobile devices and allows control over allocation of the additional wireless bandwidth.