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.

Abstract: A system for managing distributed information system applications employs an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) telecommunications network based upon the industry standard, Signalling System 7 (SS7). SS7 employs intelligent, computer based service control points which cause interconnections to be made among switching nodes in the network to facilitate communications between the various nodes. In the system of the present invention, a plurality of information storage, retrieval and/or management devices, such as applications computers, are selectively interconnected with one another via the telecommunications network. In order to more efficiently manage these interconnections, an applications manager computer is interfaced to one of the service control points and controls which interconnections are to be made by the service control point.