Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for communicating at least one real-time specially-composed bulletin message to at least one subscriber of a provider of Internet services, comprising a first device, and a second device communicably coupled to the first device, wherein the first device: accesses only subscriber upstream traffic to a destination web site requested by the subscriber, wherein the first device inter-connects between the at least one subscriber and the destination web site, identifies the at least one subscriber's unique identification based on the accessed subscriber upstream traffic automatically provided by the subscriber, and provides the unique subscriber identification to the second device located at the provider of Internet services providing data services and management control to the first device, wherein the second device determines the subscriber associated with the unique subscriber identification, and if the specially-composed bulletin message for the subscriber is desir

Abstract: A technique for processing a telephone call from a calling party without accepting the call and subsequently, in response, initiating a call to the calling party. Utilizing this technique on an ISDN connection in which a customer is connected to an Internet Service Provider, calls initiated by the Internet Service Provider will not be answered by the customer, but the customer will be alerted and, in response, will place a call to the Internet Service Provider.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for connecting a plurality of LAN workstations to the internet via an on-line server/interface that does not require a PC operating system dedicated to the server. The server operates in TCP/IP protocol for communication over the Internet. Only a single connection to the Internet is required in order to permit the entire LAN to operate simultaneously on the Internet. Specifically, only a single phone line is required to simultaneously serve all LAN workstations. The system is equally well suited to connect via a telephone line connection to an Internet providers's slip or PPP or via an Ethernet connection to a router or direct connection by any available means. The system does not disturb the native LAN protocol, while communicating via the internet protocol such as, by way of example, TCP/IP. The LAN is provided with a complete internet protocol service, supporting functions not generally available in the dedicated stacks previously provided for individual PCs.

Abstract: A method of managing access to a distributive network provides both time and site access restraints for users or groups of users on a LAN or WAN adapted for accessing the network through a common network access interface system. The method utilizes the LAN server to develop and monitor the constraints, minimizing the utilization of the access interface system. The management parameters for each group or individual having access to the distributive network via the LAN or WAN is entered into the interface box by the administrator as a compact reference, a series of pointers to the larger database of users and groups stored in the existing LAN server directory services. The existing database of users and groups and their relationships exist already in the LAN servers as a normal consequence of LAN operation and a simple, graphical user interface in the preferred embodiment of the invention permits familiar selection of objects of that database and assignment of access constraints.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for connecting a plurality of LAN workstations to the internet via an on-line server/interface that does not require a PC operating system dedicated to the server. The server operates in TCP/IP protocol for communication over the Internet. Only a single connection to the Internet is required in order to permit the entire LAN to operate simultaneously on the Internet. Specifically, only a single phone line is required to simultaneously serve all LAN workstations. The system is equally well suited to connect via a telephone line connection to an Internet providers's slip or PPP or via an Ethernet connection to a router or direct connection by any available means. The system does not disturb the native LAN protocol, while communicating via the internet protocol such as, by way of example, TCP/IP. The LAN is provided with a complete internet protocol service, supporting functions not generally available in the dedicated stacks previously provided for individual PCs.