System and method for triggering actions at a host computer by telephone

Abstract

A system and method for remotely triggering a predetermined program at a host computer system using a telephone ring signal is disclosed. The host computer system includes a ring detection and triggering circuit, a control monitor program, and at least one activation script, wherein the activation script could be a series of commands which create a connection between the host system and the Internet. A ring signal on a phone line connected to the host system is detected by the ring detection circuitry, and subsequently a trigger signal is generated by a trigger circuit which is detected by the control monitor program running on the host system. The control monitor program responds to the trigger signal and executes the activation script, thereby causing a connection to be established between the host system and the Internet. Other features, such as multiple activation scripts, remote user authentication, and feedback validation tones are also disclosed. Further disclosed is a method of operating an ISP server computer for detecting whether a connection is being requested of a customer's host computer system, of determining whether the host computer system is presently connected to the Internet, and if the host system is not connected, of dialing a phone number which triggers an activation program stored at the host system, thereby causing the host system to connect to the Internet so that it can be accessed.