2889 results about "Internet access" patented technology

The Wireless Integrated Network Sensor Next Generation (WINS NG) nodes provide distributed network and Internet access to sensors, controls, and processors that are deeply embedded in equipment, facilities, and the environment. The WINS NG network is a new monitoring and control capability for applications in transportation, manufacturing, health care, environmental monitoring, and safety and security. The WINS NG nodes combine microsensor technology, low power distributed signal processing, low power computation, and low power, low cost wireless and/or wired networking capability in a compact system. The WINS NG networks provide sensing, local control, remote reconfigurability, and embedded intelligent systems in structures, materials, and environments.

The invention comprises a wireless camera apparatus and system for automatic capture and delivery of digital image “messages” to a remote system at a predefined destination address. Initial transmission occurs via a wireless network, and the apparatus process allows the simultaneous capture of new messages while transmissions are occurring. The destination address may correspond to an e-mail account, or may correspond to a remote server from which the image and data can be efficiently processed and/or further distributed. In the latter case, data packaged with the digital message is used to control processing of the message at the server, based on a combination of pre-defined system and user options. Secured Internet access to the server allows flexible user access to system parameters for configuration of message handling and distribution options, including the option to build named distribution lists which are downloaded to the wireless camera. For example, configuration data specified on the server may be downloaded to the wireless camera to allow users to quickly specify storage and distribution options for each message, such as archival for later retrieval, forwarding to recipients in a distribution list group, and/or immediate presentation to a monitoring station for analysis and follow-up. The apparatus and system is designed to provide quick and simple digital image capture and delivery for business and personal use.

A computing environment with methods for monitoring access to an open network such as the Internet, is described. The system includes one or more client computers, each operating applications (e.g., Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer) requiring access to an open network, such as a WAN or the Internet, and a router or other equipment that serves a routing function (e.g., a cable modem) for the client computers. A centralized security enforcement module on the router maintains access rules for the client computers and verifies the existence and proper operation of a client-based security module on each client computer. The router-side security module periodically sends out a router challenge via Internet broadcast to the local computers on the network. If the client-side security module is installed and properly operating, the client-side security module responds to the router challenge. The responses received by the router-side security module are maintained in a table. Each time the router receives a request from a client computer to connect to the Internet, the router-side security module reviews the table and analyzes whether or not the computer requesting a connection to the Internet properly responded to the most recent router challenge. If it determines that the computer has properly responded to the router challenge, then it permits the computer to connect to the Internet. If a computer has not properly responded or if a computer has not answered the router challenge, then the computer is not allowed to connect to the Internet as requested.

The present invention advantageously provides to Internet Service Providers (ISP) precise control over who receives an advertisement. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, an ISP provider may now offer advertisers precision advertising. An ISP provider has access to precise demographic data on each of the ISP's customers. The ISP provider also has access to data on the periods of usage, including the type of customers accessing the Internet during such periods of usage. With this information, which is available only to the ISP provider, a profile may be compiled by the ISP provider that provides precise information on the ISP customers (e.g., demographic data) and the periods of heaviest Internet access by the various different ISP customer groups (e.g., 20-35 year old males, retired persons, children, etc.).

A personal e-mail system comprises an ad-hoc computer host platform loaded with a personal e-mail application program. The host has Internet access and a user has previously established e-mail accounts at a variety of provider sites. The user is periodically delivered e-mail messages that are collected from such provider sites, and such are displayed according to any display limitations that exist with the particular host platform. The personal e-mail application program automatically and dynamically adjusts the protocols it uses to suit the particular provider site it is accessing, and uses user-provided user names and passwords to access the provider site to appear as if the user themselves has properly logged in. The personal e-mail application program then can send responses or issue new messages that are accepted by the provider site and issued by it as if originated from there.

Advanced features for interactive television applications are described, including a back feature, a forward feature, a history feature, a go to feature, an extras feature, a reminder feature, a favorites feature, a parental control feature, and a search feature. Features may be inter-resource. Support for multiple data paths, Internet access, interactive services, and user profiles are also described.

A system for providing communications with a plurality of power distribution equipment via a broadband over power line communication system that provides broadband internet access to a plurality of consumers is provided. In one embodiment, the system may include a computer system having executable program code executable to generate control messages for controlling the plurality of power distribution automation equipment and a plurality of interface devices, wherein each interface device is communicatively coupled to one or more of the plurality of power distribution equipment. The computer system may be configured to transmit control messages to the plurality of power distribution equipment via a communication path that includes the broadband over power line communication system and the plurality of interface devices.

The present invention applies speech recognition technology to remote access, verification, and identification applications. Speech recognition is used to raise the security level of many types of transaction systems which previously had serious safety drawbacks, including: point of sale systems, home authorization systems, systems for establishing a call to a called party (including prison telephone systems), internet access systems, web site access systems, systems for obtaining access to protected computer networks, systems for accessing a restricted hyperlink, desktop computer security systems, and systems for gaining access to a networked server. A general speech recognition system using communication is also presented. Further, different types of speech recognition methodologies are useful with the present invention, such as "simple" security methods and systems, multi-tiered security methods and systems, conditional multi-tiered security methods and systems, and randomly prompted voice token methods and systems.

An Internet access control system is defined using a client-server architecture. The computer program installed on the client computer validates/identifies the user and user specific information is passed to the client computer. All user requests to access the Internet are intercepted by an application executing on the client computer. The URL extracted from the internet access request is sent to the Internet access control web server to determine if the URL is in a master list of previously evaluated websites. If the URL is found, the website ratings and subject matter categories are sent to the client computer for determination of whether or not the website contains information appropriate for the user attempting to access the Internet using web access settings defined by, for example, a parent or employer. If the URL is determined to be appropriate, the Internet access request is sent to the computer networking layer to which the request was originally routed; otherwise, the Internet access request is edited and is sent to the computer networking layer to which the request was originally routed for redirection of the transmission request.

The invention provides apparatus and methods for monitoring and controlling hydrocarbon production wells and/or injection wells from a remote location. The apparatus for monitoring and controlling one or more hydrocarbon production wells or injection wells from a remote location comprises one or more surface control and data acquisition systems; one or more sensors disposed in communication with the one or more control and data acquisition systems; one or more downhole flow control devices disposed in communication with the one or more control and data acquisition systems; and one or more remote controllers disposed in communication with the one or more control and data acquisition systems. Preferably, the remote controller comprises a computer having an internet access disposed in communication with the one or more control and data acquisition systems through a communication device comprising an internet web site server. The method for monitoring and controlling a downhole hydrocarbon production well or an injection well comprises: transmitting data collected by a downhole sensor module to a control and data acquisition system; evaluating downhole operating conditions and optimizing downhole operating parameters utilizing an optimization software program disposed in communication with the control and data acquisition system; and transmitting signals between the control and data acquisition system system and a remote controller utilizing a satellite communication system, the remote controller comprising a computer and an internet browser control access adapted to display operating conditions and parameters and to accept instructions to change operating parameters.

A device and method for allocating the same Internet protocol (IP) address to all information terminals or hosts connected to a specific local network, which allows the hosts in the local network to gain access to the Internet while the hosts share a single IP address. The device includes a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) client, a local access point, and a DHCP server spoofer. The DHCP client is allocated an IP address through a DHCP message communication with an Internet service provider. The Internet service provider includes a DHCP server for allocating IP addresses to the hosts and an Internet access gateway. The local access point includes a hardware address port translation (HAPT) module and a local IP address translation (LIAT) module. The HAPT module modifies a source medium access control (MAC) II address and port number of a frame received from each host, stores the modified result in a HAPT table, and recovers a destination MAC address and port number of a frame received from the Internet service provider, referring to the HAPT table. The LIAT module prevents a collision occurring because the hosts have the same public IP address. The DHCP server spoofer implements a DHCP server function to allocate an IP address to each host.

An existing video game system is modified to include additional communication and storage capability via a modem and hard disk drive. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the primary system security features are incorporated into a video game system expansion device having a hard disk drive. The security system does not rely on the relatively insecure video game system. The present exemplary embodiment focuses security control in a disk drive/mass media controlling engine which is physically disposed within the expansion device housing as close as possible to the hard disk drive and the downloaded video games and other data it is designed to protect. Security features are incorporated into, for example, a disk drive controlling processing engine to provide security features which extend far beyond simplistic password systems which have heretofore been utilized in conjunction with disk drive controllers. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the disk controller also incorporates an encrypting engine which encrypts in accordance with a highly secure encrypting algorithm. A further level of security is provided in the illustrative embodiments by partitioning the hard drive into various partitions whose security/accessibility is tightly controlled. Each application program, e.g., a video game, has a predetermined number of private partitions, including a read only encrypted partition.

A digital mobile communication system is provided with a facility by means of which it can establish a connection to the Internet network (12) via an Internet access point (14, 15). IAP settings needed for establishing a connection are stored in a mobile station (MS). When a mobile station (MS) roams, the closest point may, however, change, and IAP settings should be updated in the mobile station (MS). The invention comprises dividing the mobile communication system into IAP areas, which are given preferred IAPs. An IAP area may be e.g. a mobile communication network (11, 17). Mobile communication networks broadcast system information on the basis of which a mobile station may detect that the IAP area has changed and start a procedure for updating IAP settings. Updating may comprise retrieval of IAP settings from a special server (13) in the network maintained by an Internet service provider. Retrieval can be done e.g. via a short message service center (10). In one embodiment the mobile communication network broadcasts messages giving recommended IAP settings to mobile stations.

Methods and apparatus for selecting a cellular network to provide one or more communication services for a mobile communication device are disclosed. A scanning operation is performed by the mobile device to identify a plurality of cellular networks that support a voice communication service in a geographic coverage area. The mobile device then identifies which of the cellular networks makes a data communication service available to it. Advantageously, the mobile device assigns priority to or selects a cellular network that makes the data communication service available over a network that fails to make the data communication service available, and may register with that network. The data communication service may include, as examples, an e-mail communication service or an Internet access service. Preferably, the cellular network operates in accordance with GSM (Global System for Mobile) and GPRS (Generalized Packet Radio Service).