Importance

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Abstract

A system and method for managing access to the Internet substantially reduces connection time between an Internet service provider (ISP) server and a user by processing user logon and information requests through signaling links or channels of an intelligent telecommunications network, such as Signaling System 7 (SS7). An ISP access manager receives logon and information requests from the user through the signaling link (e.g., ISDN D channel), and instructs the ISP server to process the requests. Once the server processes a information request by retrieving requested information from a World Wide Web (WWW) site, the ISP access manager causes the ISP server to be connected to the user's computer through a transmission link or channel (e.g., ISDN B channel), and the server downloads the retrieved information to the user. The ISP access manager causes the transmission link to be disconnected if the user does not request additional information within a predetermined time interval after information has been downloaded for a previous request. As soon as the user requests additional information, the ISP access manager causes the transmission link to be reestablished when the server is ready to download the requested information to the user. This arrangement eliminates transmission link connect time during logon processing, retrieval of requested information by the server from remote sites, and when a user is reviewing previously downloaded information, thus substantially reducing the transmission link connect time during the user's session.

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First Claim