Method for monitoring connection of a remote computer via a communication network

METHOD OF MONITORING CONNECTION OF A REMOTE COMPUTER VIA

A COMMUNICATION NETWORK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0004This invention relates to a monitoring device for, and method of, monitoring connection of a remote computer via a communication network. It also relates to a computer program product including software for executing the method.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

0006In conventional Internet application software such as WINDOWS 95™, WINDOWS 98™, or the like, a dial-up network (DUN) component and a web browser is provided for a user to connect to the Internet. Upon installation of the software, a default telephone number is stored for the DUN component to establish a connection via a MODEM and a communication network to a server of an Internet Service Provider. However, in certain circumstances, further telephone numbers may be stored on a user's computer without knowledge of the user, e.g. by way of a cookie or the like. Thus, circumstances may arise in which the DUN component makes a telephone call to a destination telephone number, e.g. an international call which may be subject to considerably higher charge rates, without knowledge of the user. For the purposes of this specification, the application of the invention in an Internet environment should be predominantly, but not exclusively, borne in mind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0008According to the invention, there is provided a method of monitoring connection of a remote computer via a communication network, the method including monitoring when a dial-up network component is activated to make a telephone call via the communication network; determining a selected telephone number which the dial-up networK component is requested to call; comparing the selected telephone number with at least one reference telephone number; and providing a screen display requiring user input dependent upon the outcome of the comparison.

0009The screen display may be provided before, during or after the dial-up network component is activated.

0010The method may include obtaining user input in the form of confirmation from a user prior to the dial-up network component dialing the selected telephone number. In certain embodiments, the method includes comparing the selected telephone number with a plurality of reference telephone numbers, the reference telephone numbers including flagged telephone numbers which require confirmation from the user prior to being dialed by the dial-up network component. The flagged telephone numbers are typically at least one of an area code and an international dialing code.

0011The method may include comparing at least part of the selected telephone number, e.g. on a digit-by-digit basis, with the reference telephone number. For example, the method may include comparing the telephone numbers from the beginning of the number thereby to determine if one an area code and international dialing code is present.

0012The method preferably includes providing the user with a display screen which informs the user of the nature of the selected telephone number and, monitoring when an appropriate button is activated before dialing the number failing which the call is terminated.

0013In certain embodiments, the method includes: comparing the selected telephone number with at least one reference telephone number of a dial-up connection of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) with which the user is associated; and prompting a user to sign-on to the ISP prior to dialing the selected telephone number if the selected telephone number does not correspond with the reference telephone number.

0014Prompting the user to sign-on may include providing a sign-on screen of the ISP in an automated fashion and obtaining sign-on data defined by at least one of a username and a password.

0015The method may include launching a browser application and passing a URL of the ISP to the browser application if the user fails to sign on to the ISP. The browser application may be launched after a predetermined time duration has lapsed if which the user has failed to sign on. The URL typically corresponds to a home page of the ISP.

0016The dial-up network component may operate in combination with a default stand-alone Internet Explorer browser from Microsoft™.

0017Typically, a plurality of reference telephone numbers are provided, at least one of which is the dial-up telephone network number of the ISP. The method may include making a connection via the dial-up network component and an e-mail facility of the ISP. In certain embodiments, the dial-up network component is integrated with a mail component.

0018Further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a computer program product for monitoring connection of a remote computer via a communication network, the product including a machine readable medium which, when run on a computer, causes the computer to: monitor when a dial-up network component is activated to make a telephone call via the communication network; determine a selected telephone number which the dial-up network component is requested to call; compare the selected telephone number with at least one reference telephone number; and provide a screen display requiring user input dependent upon the outcome of the comparison.

0019The product may obtain user input in the form of confirmation from a user prior to the dial-up network component dialing the selected telephone number. The product may compare the selected telephone number with a plurality of reference telephone numbers, the reference telephone numbers including flagged telephone numbers which require confirmation from the user prior to being dialed by the dial-up network component. The flagged telephone numbers are typically at least one of an area code and an international dialing code.

0020The product may compare at least part of the selected telephone number with the reference telephone number. In certain embodiments, the product compares the telephone numbers from the beginning of the number thereby to determine if one an area code and international dialing code is present.

0021The product may provide the user with a display screen which informs the user of the nature of the selected telephone number, and monitor when an appropriate button is activated before dialing the number failing which the call is terminated.

0022In certain embodiments, the product: compares the selected telephone number with at least one reference telephone number of a dial-up connection of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) with which the user is associated; and prompts a user to sign-on to the ISP prior to dialing the selected telephone number if the selected telephone number does not correspond with the reference telephone number. Prompting the user to sign-on may include providing a sign-on screen of the ISP in an automated fashion and obtaining sign-on data defined by at least one of a usemame and/or a password.

0023The product may launch a browser application and pass a URL of the ISP to the browser application if the user fails to sign on to the ISP. The product may launch the browser application after a predetermined time duration has lapsed if the user has failed to sign on. The URL typically corresponds to a home page of the ISP.

0024The dial-up network component typically operates in combination with a default stand-alone Internet Explorer browser from Microsoft™.

0025A plurality of reference telephone numbers are typically provided, at least one of which is the dial-up telephone network number of the ISP.

0026The product may make a connection via the dial-up network component and an e-mail facility of the ISP. The dial-up network may be integrated with a mail component.

0027Still further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a monitoring device for monitoring connection of a remote computer via a communication network, the device including: a monitoring component for monitoring when a dial-up network component is activated to make a telephone call via the communication network to a selected telephone number; memory for storing at least one reference telephone number; a comparator for comparing the selected telephone number and the reference telephone number; and a screen display component requiring user input dependent upon the outcome of the comparison. Accordingly, the screen display may require a user to click on an appropriate button to proceed with establishment of the connection. It is to be appreciated that the comparator may compare part of the telephone number to be dialed by the DUN component e.g. an area code, international dialing code, or the like with a reference telephone number. It is however important to appreciate that the method may monitor any call made from the computer and not only telephone numbers for establishing an Internet connection but also any connections made via the Internet in its broadest sense.

0028Typically, the comparator compares the number on a digit basis starting from the end of the number. In certain embodiments, in order to monitor the dialing of long distance calls, the comparator may compare numbers from the beginning of the number thereby to determine if a particular area code, international dialing code or the like, is present. When the actual number dialed (excluding its dialing code) is to be checked, the comparator may then compare the numbers from the end.

0029In certain embodiments, the computer program product may include a spell checker and/or a mail client for IMAP4 and SMTP. Rich text editing may be provided by an IE5™ editor.

0030The computer program product may include an installation routine for setting up the computer so that the method can be executed. The installation routine may check for DUN entries associated with a service provider supplying the computer program product. The computer program product may be distributed by way of a CD ROM, an on-line download, or the like.

0031Other features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0032The invention is now described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

0033In the drawings,

0034Figure 1 shows a typical arrangement of hardware forming part of the Internet, the hardware including a plurality of personal computers connected via a telecommunication network to an Internet Seπ/ice Provider;

0035Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of a method, in accordance with the invention, of monitoring connection of a remote computer to the Internet;

0036Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of a method, in accordance with the invention, of monitoring connection of a remote computer to the Internet;

0037Figure 4 shows a screen display generated by the method of Figures 3 and 4;

0038Figure 5 shows a schematic flow chart of an installation procedure of a computer program product, in accordance with the invention, for executing the method of Figures 2 and 3;

0039Figure 6 shows a schematic flow chart of the various method steps executed by the computer program product according to one embodiment of the invention;

0040Figure 7 shows a schematic flow chart of the various method steps executed by the computer program product according to a further embodiment of the invention; and

0041Figure 8 shows a schematic block diagram of a computer for running the computer program product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0043In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

0044Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates an arrangement of hardware for connecting a plurality of personal computers (PCs) to the Internet. The hardware includes PCs 12 connected via dial-up modems 14 and the Internet 16 to a plurality of servers 18 of an Internet Service Provider. The service provider includes separate servers 18 for different services offered and, accordingly, includes a network authentication, server 20, a personalized content server/database 22 linked to a content database 24, and a mail server 26 linked to a mail database 28. It is however to be appreciated that the servers 18 may be combined into a single server provided at the service provider or at any other location. As described in more detail below, each PC 12 includes a computer program product including software for executing a method, in accordance with the invention, for connecting the PCs 12 to the Internet 16.

0045The method is carried out by software in the computer program product 30 (see Figure 2), in accordance with the invention. The computer program product 30 interfaces with a dial-up network (DUN) component 32 which, in the embodiment depicted in the drawings, is integrally formed with a proprietary browser which is loaded on the PC 12. The PC 12 further includes an application dialing routine 34 for dialing a user's Internet Service Provider and which interfaces to the DUN component 32 as shown by line 36. The computer program product 30 defines a dial monitor which monitors activation of the DUN component 30 and, as described in more detail below, compares the telephone number to be dialed by the DUN component 30 with a list of reference telephone numbers stored in memory 38. If the telephone number to be dialed by the DUN component 32 matches a reference telephone number in the memory 38 then the user is forced to sign on by means of a display screen 40 (see in particular Figure 4) to the ISPs website. Once the user has signed on, the DUN component 32 establishes a connection to the servers 18 of the Internet Service Provider. Thus, the product 30 may force a user to connect to a particular seπ/ice provider's portal.

0046Referring in particular to Figure 3 of the drawings, a further embodiment of the method of monitoring connection of the PCs 12 to the Internet 16 is shown. The method depicted in Figure 3 substantially resembles the method depicted in Figure 2 and, accordingly, like reference numerals have been used to indicate the same or similar features unless otherwise indicated.

0047In this embodiment, the computer program product 30 interfaces to a DUN component 42 which may be generic and not included or form an integral part of the browser. In a similar fashion to that described above, the computer program product 30 monitors and detects when the DUN component 42 attempts to make a telephone call on instruction from the application dialing routine 34. The product 30 then interrogates the memory 38 in which reference telephones numbers including international dialing codes and area codes are provided, and compares the number to be dialed by the DUN component 42 with reference telephone numbers stored in the memory 38. Reference telephone numbers such as international dialing codes, area codes, telephone numbers of content providers deemed unsuitable by the primary user, or the like may thus define "flagged" telephone numbers which require confirmation or the entry of a password by the user. If a match is found, then the product 30 generates a screen display which requests the user to confirm connection of the PC 12 to the destination telephone number. Accordingly, prior to the DUN component 42 making a long distance or international call, with its associated higher costs, the user is requested to confirm that the connection to the remote server must in fact be made. The display screen typically includes a message warning the user of the international call and provides a button which a user may then click to confirm that the number must in fact be dialed.

0048The computer program product 30 may be downloaded off the Internet onto the PC 12 and/or be supplied in the form of a CD-Rom. In order for the product 30 to operate on the PC 12, an installation procedure 44 (see Figure 5) is executed. The installation procedure 44 first sets up the installation directories as shown at block 46 where after it checks for DUN entries of the service provider, as shown at block 48, and compares telephone numbers in the DUN entries to a list of telephone numbers provided in the computer program product 30 as shown at block 50. Thereafter, if a list of DUN entries is found on the PC 12 (see block 52), a user may select one of the listed DUN entries as shown at decision block 54. The product 30 allows a user to select and see all configured DUN entries on the PC 12 as shown at blocks 56 and 58.

0049Thereafter, the installation procedure 44 displays a username and password used in the DUN entries as shown at block 60 and a user is then required to accept or reject the username and password as shown at decision block 62. If the user does not accept the username and the password, the user is required to enter a new username and password as shown at block 64. If, however, the user accepts the username and password, the installation procedure 44 then requires the user to confirm that the username and password is the same for the mailbox, as shown at block 66, and then requested to ascertain whether or not the same username and password should be used as shown at decision block 68. If the same username and password is not selected by the user, the user is required to enter a new username and password to be used for the mailbox as shown at block 70. If, however, the user selects or decides to use the same username and password then the installation is completed as shown at block 72. During installation, a Microsoft™ object is written into the registry containing a new toolbar which includes the read mail, write mail and switch username buttons.

0050The operation of the computer program product 30, as described above with reference to Figures 2 and 3, is now described in more detail with reference to Figure 6 which shows a schematic flow chart 73 of the method of operation of the product 30. As shown at step 74, when a client application is launched, the product 30 monitors to ascertain whether or not a call has been made from the DUN component 32, 42 (see Figures 2 and 3). If a call has not been made, the computer program product 30 or dial monitor goes into a loop to determine when a call is in fact made from the DUN component 32, 42. When the DUN component 32, 42 attempts to make a call, the computer program product 30 retrieves international dial codes and area dial codes from cache (see step 78). If the telephone number dialed is an international call (see decision step 80), then the product 30 displays a dialog or screen display advising the user of the international call as shown at step 82. The user may then select to continue with the call (see decision step 84) where after the computer program product 30 clears the display and effects the connection to the service provider as shown at step 86. if, however, the user selects not to continue with the call, the display is cleared and no further action is taken as shown at step 88.

0051Referring to Figure 7 of the drawings, reference numeral 100 generally indicates a further embodiment of a schematic flow chart of the method of operation of the computer program product 30. The flow chart 100 substantially resembles the flow chart 73 and, accordingly, like reference numerals have been used to indicate the same or similar features. As show at step 74, the client application is first launched where after, as shown at decision step 76, the method determines whether or not a call is being requested from the dial-up network component 32, 42. If, a call has not been requested, then the method loops until a call is requested as shown by line 102. If, however, a call has been requested from the dial-up network component 32, 42 then the method determines whether or not the call is an international call as shown at decision step 80 and, if so, a display screen is provided to the user in order for the user to confirm that the call must in fact be made as shown at 82. Thereafter, if a user selects to continue with the call (see decision step 84) then the display is cleared as shown at step 86 and the method returns to decision step 76 as shown by line by 104. If, however, the user now being aware that the international call is being requested decides not to proceed with the call by clicking an appropriate button on the display screen, the display screen is then cleared and the connection is terminated as shown at step 88.

0052Returning to decision step 80, if an international call is not being made, then the method checks to see whether or not a national call is being requested as shown at decision step 88. If a national call is being requested then the method proceeds to the procedure starting at step 82 as described above. If, however, a national call is not being requested the method then determines whether or not an approved application is making the call as shown at decision step 106. An approved application is typically an application provided by an Internet Service Provider of the primary user and is typically a propriety browser or the like. If an approved application is making the call, then the call is considered a legitimate call, as shown at step 108, and a loop is entered as shown at decision step 110 until the call is terminated. Once the call has terminated the method then returns to step 76.

0053Returning to decision step 106, if the call is not being made by an approved application, the method proceeds to step 90 in which it checks to see whether the number being dialed is included in a list of allowable numbers. As shown at step 92, the number is compared with each number in the list of numbers by starting with the back or last digits of the number and comparing them sequentially digit for digit until all the digits of the number have been checked or compared. Thereafter, as shown at decision step 94, if there is no match, the method then proceeds to decision step 108 to determine whether or not the last number in the list has been compared to the number dialed. If the last number has been checked, then the system is not dialing through to the ISP but directly to another network and, accordingly, the method proceeds decision step 110 as described above. The system thus checks to see if the ISP's network is being used and, if not, the call is considered to be a legitimate call which can thus be made. If, however, the number dialed by the dial-up network component 32, 42 is not located in the list stored in the memory 38, the method then informs the user to sign on to the specific network associated with the Internet Service Provider or approved by the Internet Service Provider as shown at step 112. If the user agrees to sign on to the network (see decision step 114), then a sign- on screen of the approved application is opened or launched as shown at step 96. The method then proceeds to decision step 110 and a loop is entered until the call is terminated as described above.

0054If, however, the user declines to sign on to the network using the approved application, a timer is started as shown step 114 and, once the timer has expired (see step 116), a propriety browser application is opened in which a URL of the homepage of the Internet Service Provider is passed to the browser as shown at step 118.

0055The invention as illustrated, thus performs certain checks or comparisons on a telephone number dialed by a dial-up network component 32, 42. The number dialed by the dial-up network component 32, 42 is then checked or compared with reference telephone numbers or access numbers provided by the Internet Service Provider and stored in memory 38. The computer program 30 then checks to see whether an approved application program is making the call and if so, the procedure allows the call to be made, or the computer program product checks to see if the number being dialed is a long distance call such as an international call or national call. Such calls are typically subject to higher charge rates and, prior to activating the dial-up network component 32, the user is thus required to confirm execution of the call.

0056In particular, referring to decision step 80, if an international call is not being made, then the computer program product 30 determines whether or not a national call is being made (see decision step 88) and, if so, then the routine commencing at step 82 is once again followed. If, however, a national call is not being made, then the computer program product 30 or dial monitor obtains the first telephone number from a telephone list (see step 90) and, thereafter, compares the number which defines a reference number with the number dialed by the DUN component (see step 92). If the numbers do not match, then the routine reverts to step 90 (see decision step 94). If, however, the numbers do match, the sign-on screen 40 (see Figure 4 and step 96 in Figure 6) and a sign-on procedure is then followed as shown at step 98.

0057Figure 8 shows a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the exemplary form of a computer system 200 within which a set of instructions, for causing the machine to perform any one of the methodologies discussed above, may be executed. In alternative embodiments, the machine may comprise a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance or any machine capable of executing a sequence of instructions that specify actions to be taken by that machine.

0058The computer system 200 includes a processor 202, a main memory 204 and a static memory 206, which communicate with each other via a bus 208. The computer system 200 may further include a video display unit 210 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system 200 also includes an alphanumeric input device 212 (e.g. a keyboard), a cursor control device 214 (e.g. a mouse), a disk drive unit 216, a signal generation device 218 (e.g. a speaker) and a network interface device 220.

0059The disk drive unit 216 includes a machine-readable medium 222 on which is stored a set of .instructions (software) 224 embodying any one, or all, of the methodologies described above. The software 224 is also shown to reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 204 and/or within the processor 202. The software 224 may further be transmitted or received via the network interface device 220. For the purposes of this specification, the term " machine-readable medium" shall be taken to include any medium which is capable of storing or encoding a sequence of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one of the methodologies of the present invention. The term "machine-readable medium" shall accordingly be taken to included, but not be limited to, solid- state memories, optical and magnetic disks, and carrier wave signals.

0060Thus, a method and system for monitoring connection of a remote computer device to the Internet have been described. Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.