The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 02, 2001
Joy A. Mundy, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Andrew T. McFadden, Cupertino, CA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
Selecting points-of-presence (POPs) to be used by client systems when accessing network resources. An access monitoring system capable of monitoring client system usage compiles usage profiles for client systems as POPs are used to access the Internet. The POPs may charge for Internet access according a flat periodic fee, hourly rates, per-port rates, or other arrangements. Periodically, the access monitoring system evaluates the usage profiles to determine whether the client systems could have obtained access for lower access costs if different POPs had been used. If so, the access monitoring system identifies the appropriate, cost-effective POPs and generates information enabling the client systems to use the appropriate POPs. To subsequently access the Internet, the client systems use the information to establish communication with the appropriate POPs. POP selection can also be conducted to balance load between various POPs based on the usage patterns described by the usage profiles.