JP2002111744A - Network access device, program recording medium, access service providing system and access service providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network access device, a program recording medium, an access service providing system and an access service providing method by which contents of service can easily be changed without requiring the user to perform complicated operations and without excessively increasing the load on the hardware to the access service provider. SOLUTION: A user terminal is provided with a means for inputting a user ID and a password and selecting the purpose of use and a means for generating a new user ID corresponding to the purpose by adding the information peculiar to the purpose of use to the user ID and a means for transmitting the user ID and the password corresponding to the purpose to a server computer at an access point. The server computer is provided with an authenticating means for judging whether the user terminal can be connected to the network by the original user ID and the password from the user ID corresponding to the purpose and a means for changing the contents of service according to the obtained information on the purpose of use.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a network connection device capable of dial-up connection to a network access point, a program recording medium storing a program capable of dial-up connection to a network access point, and a user terminal. And a connection service providing method for providing a connection service to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art
When an Internet connection provider provides a connection service to a user, the content of the service has not been changed in accordance with the purpose of use of the user. That is, whether the user normally uses the Internet or browses a website provided by the Internet connection provider, the user can change or confirm the contents of the user registration with the Internet connection provider. And so on, the connection fee was the same.

In order to change the contents of the service according to the purpose of use of the user, it is conceivable to assign a plurality of user IDs for each purpose of use to the user. In this case, the user recognizes each user ID and recognizes each user ID. It is necessary to use properly
There is a problem that the operation of connecting to the Internet is complicated. In addition, the server computer on the Internet connection provider side also needs to register a plurality of user IDs for each purpose for each user, which causes a problem that the load on hardware increases.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to easily change the contents of a service without requesting a user to perform complicated operations and without increasing the load on the hardware of the connection service provider. It is an object of the present invention to provide a network connection device, a program recording medium, a connection service providing system, and a connection service providing method that can be performed.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a network connection device according to the present invention is a network connection device capable of making a dial-up connection to a network access point. And a means for generating identification information specific to the selected purpose of use, and a means for transmitting the generated identification information to a server computer installed at an access point of a network. It is characterized by the following (claim 1).

The "network" can be exemplified mainly by the Internet, but the present invention is not limited to this. Examples of the “network connection device” include a personal computer having a modem, a terminal adapter, a router, and the like, a mobile phone having a function of connecting to a network, and a PHS (Personal Handy Phone S).
and personal digital assistants (PDAs), and components used for them. The “purpose of use” includes, for example, the purpose of normal use of the Internet, the purpose of browsing websites provided by an Internet service provider, and the purpose of changing and confirming the contents of user registration with an Internet service provider. is there.

According to the above invention (claim 1), the network connection device generates unique identification information for each purpose of use, so that it is not necessary to assign a plurality of pieces of identification information for each purpose of use to the user. It is possible to receive a service for each purpose of use only by selecting a purpose of use, without performing the complicated work of recognizing and identifying the purpose-specific identification information one by one.

[0008] Further, the network connection device of the present invention comprises:
A network connection device capable of making a dial-up connection to an access point of a network, comprising means for allowing a user to input a user ID and a password and for selecting a purpose of use, and information unique to the selected purpose of use. Means for generating a new purpose-specific user ID by adding to the user ID, and means for transmitting the generated purpose-specific user ID and the password to a server computer installed at an access point of a network. It is characterized by having (claim 2).

According to this invention (claim 2), since the network connection device generates the purpose-specific user ID, there is no need to assign a plurality of purpose-specific user IDs to the user.
Therefore, the user can receive the service for each purpose of use only by selecting the purpose of use, without performing the complicated work of separately using the user ID for each purpose. The purpose-specific user ID is obtained by adding information specific to the purpose of use to the user ID. Therefore, the server computer installed at the access point of the network also performs a user ID by purpose when performing authentication or the like. The original user ID can be easily obtained from
There is no need to store a plurality of purpose-specific user IDs for each user, and it is possible to suppress an increase in hardware load.

[0010] The computer-readable recording medium of the present invention allows a user to select a purpose of use,
A program for causing a computer to execute a step of generating identification information specific to the selected purpose of use and a step of transmitting the generated identification information to a server computer installed at an access point of a network. It is recorded (claim 3).

Examples of the type of the “recording medium” include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a compact disk,
Optical disk, magneto-optical disk, DVD (Digital Versat
ile Disc), hard disk, various memories, etc.
There is no particular limitation. In the present invention, a transmission medium that can be downloaded and uploaded, and a program itself are also included in the scope of the present invention as equivalent to a recording medium.

According to this invention (claim 3), since the program generates identification information specific to each purpose of use, it is not necessary to give the user a plurality of pieces of identification information for each purpose of use. It is possible to receive a service for each purpose of use only by selecting a purpose of use, without performing the complicated work of recognizing and using the identification information one by one.

[0013] The computer-readable recording medium of the present invention allows a user to input a user ID and a password and to select a purpose of use, and to store information unique to the selected purpose of use to the user. Generating a new purpose-specific user ID by adding the ID to the ID and transmitting the generated purpose-specific user ID and the password to a server computer installed at an access point of a network to the computer. A program for causing the program to be executed is recorded (claim 4).

According to this invention (claim 4), since the program generates the purpose-specific user ID, there is no need to assign a plurality of purpose-specific user IDs to the user, and thus the user uses the purpose-specific user ID one by one. It is possible to receive a service for each purpose of use only by selecting the purpose of use without performing such complicated work. The purpose-specific user ID is information specific to the purpose of use.
D, the server computer installed at the access point of the network can easily acquire the original user ID from the purpose-specific user ID when performing authentication or the like. It is not necessary to store a plurality of purpose-specific user IDs, and an increase in hardware load can be suppressed.

A connection service providing system according to the present invention is a system for providing a network connection service to a user terminal. The system provides user identification information and usage information based on identification information specific to each purpose of use transmitted from the user terminal. Means for acquiring purpose information, authentication means for determining whether or not the user terminal can be connected to the network using the acquired user identification information, and service Means for changing the contents.

As the type of the “user terminal”, for example,
Examples include a personal computer, a portable telephone having a function of connecting to a network, and a portable information terminal such as a PHS and a PDA. "Changing the content of the service" means, for example, to allow access only to the computer having a predetermined address, restrict the connection time, change the calculation method of the usage time, and change the connection fee system. Changing or changing the service points to be added.

According to the above invention (claim 5), the identification information of the user and the use purpose information can be obtained from the identification information specific to each use purpose transmitted from the user terminal. Authentication can be easily performed without storing a plurality of identification information for each purpose of use, and an increase in hardware load on the connection service providing system can be suppressed. Can be easily changed.

Further, the connection service providing system of the present invention is a system for providing a network connection service to a user terminal, wherein information specific to each purpose of use transmitted from the user terminal is added to the user ID. Means for acquiring the original user ID and the purpose of use information from the purpose-specific user ID, means for acquiring the password transmitted from the user terminal, and means for acquiring the user by the acquired original user ID and password. An authentication unit for judging whether or not the terminal can be connected to the network, and a unit for changing the contents of the service according to the obtained use purpose information are provided (claim 6).

According to this invention (claim 6), the original user ID and the use purpose information can be obtained from the purpose-specific user ID transmitted from the user terminal. Authentication can be easily performed without storing another user ID, and an increase in hardware load on the connection service providing system can be suppressed.
You can easily change the content of the service.

In the above invention (claims 5 and 6), an access restricting means for permitting access only to a computer having a predetermined address is provided, and the access restriction is performed in accordance with the obtained use purpose information. (Claim 7).

According to this invention (claim 7), for example, if the purpose of use is to browse a website provided by an Internet connection provider, access is permitted only to the computer storing the data of the website. And
If the purpose of use is to change or confirm the contents of user registration with an Internet connection provider, access restrictions such as permitting access only to the computer that stores the data on the user registration change / confirmation page may be implemented. it can.

In the above inventions (claims 5 to 7), means for limiting the connection time according to the obtained use purpose information may be provided (claim 8). In the invention (claim 8), a storage unit storing a connectable time and / or an idle time in association with the use purpose information is provided, and the connection is disconnected when the connectable time or the idle time elapses. (Claim 9). The “connectable time” refers to a time that can be continuously used in one connection, and the “idle time” refers to the time when the connection is disconnected when there is no input for a fixed time.

According to the above inventions (claims 8 and 9), for example, if the purpose of use is browsing of a website provided by an Internet connection provider, the connection is cut off when the connection time elapses. , If the purpose of use is to change or confirm the contents of user registration with an Internet connection provider,
It is possible to limit the connection time, such as disconnecting the connection after the connection time has elapsed. According to the above invention (claim 9), a proper idle time can be set for each purpose of use, so that unnecessary connections are automatically cut off to reduce congestion of network lines and to reduce connection charges and lines. It is possible to not only save the usage fee, but also prevent the connection from being unduly disconnected during the use of the network.

In the above invention (claims 5 to 9), means for accumulating the usage time of each user for a fixed period,
Means for changing the calculation method of the usage time according to the obtained usage purpose information may be provided (claim 10).
Further, in the invention (claim 10), a storage unit for storing a rate associated with the use purpose information is provided, and the actual rate of connection is multiplied by the rate corresponding to the acquired use purpose information. The use time may be set as the use time and the use time may be accumulated (claim 11). “Usage time” basically refers to the time spent using the connection service,
The time is not necessarily the actual connection time, but may be a time obtained by performing a predetermined calculation process on the actual connection time, and may be used as a reference for charging or providing some service.

According to the invention (claims 10 and 11), for example, if the purpose of use is the normal use of the Internet, the actual connection time is stored as it is as the use time, and the purpose of use is provided by an Internet connection provider. If you are browsing a website that you want to use, accumulate the actual connection time multiplied by XX as the usage time, and if the purpose of use is to change or confirm the contents of user registration with the Internet connection provider, It is possible to accumulate the time multiplied by xx as the use time.

In the above invention (claims 5 to 11),
A means for changing a connection fee system according to the acquired usage purpose information may be provided (claim 12). According to this invention (claim 12), for example, if the purpose of use is the normal use of the Internet, a normal connection fee is used. If the use purpose is browsing of a website provided by an Internet connection provider, the normal connection charge is used. If the charge is XX discount and the purpose of use is to change or confirm the contents of the user registration with the Internet connection provider, the connection charge can be free.

In the above invention (claims 5 to 12),
A recording unit for recording service points for each user, and means for calculating or adding service points to the recording unit in accordance with the obtained purpose-of-use information may be provided. 13).

According to this invention (claim 13), for example, if the purpose of use is the normal use of the Internet, the service point XX is added at every predetermined connection time or every connection, and the purpose of use is the Internet connection business. If you are browsing the website provided by the service provider, add service points XX for each predetermined connection time or connection, and if the purpose of use is to change or confirm the contents of user registration with the Internet connection provider, Do not add points,
You can do something like that. The network connection provider can provide various services (not limited to connection services) to the user based on the service points.

The connection service providing method according to the present invention is a method for providing a user terminal with a connection service to a network. The method includes providing user identification information and usage information based on identification information specific to each purpose of use transmitted from the user terminal. Acquiring the purpose information; determining whether the user terminal can be connected to the network by using the acquired user identification information; and performing a connection service according to the acquired use purpose information. And a step (claim 14).

According to this invention (claim 14), the user identification information and the use purpose information can be obtained from the identification information specific to each use purpose transmitted from the user terminal. Authentication can be easily performed without storing multiple pieces of identification information for each purpose of use,
While it is possible to suppress an increase in hardware load in the connection service providing system, it is also possible to easily change the content of the connection service based on the acquired use purpose information.

Further, the connection service providing method of the present invention comprises:
A method for providing a network connection service to a user terminal, wherein the original user ID and the usage are obtained from a purpose-specific user ID transmitted from the user terminal and added to the user ID by information specific to the purpose of use. Acquiring the target information and the password transmitted from the user terminal; and
A step of determining whether the user terminal can be connected to a network based on D and a password, and a step of providing a connection service in accordance with the acquired use purpose information (claim 15).

According to the invention (claim 15), the original user ID and the use purpose information can be obtained from the purpose-specific user ID transmitted from the user terminal. Authentication can be easily performed without storing another user ID, and an increase in hardware load on the connection service providing system can be suppressed.
The content of the connection service can be easily changed.

In the above invention (claims 14 and 15), in the step of performing the connection service, access may be permitted only to a computer having a predetermined address according to the obtained use purpose information. (Claim 16). According to this invention (claim 16), for example, if the purpose of use is to browse a website provided by an Internet connection provider, access is permitted only to a computer storing data of the website, and If the purpose is to change / confirm the contents of the user registration with the Internet connection carrier, it is possible to restrict access such as permitting access only to the computer storing the data of the user registration change / confirmation page. .

In the above invention (claims 14 to 16), the step of determining a connectable time and / or an idle time according to the obtained use purpose information, and the determined connectable time or idle time elapses. Then, a step of disconnecting the connection may be provided (claim 17).

According to this invention (claim 17), in the case of browsing a website, the connection is cut off after the connection time has elapsed, and the purpose of use is to determine the content of the user registration with the Internet connection provider. In the case of the change / confirmation, the connection time can be limited such that the connection is disconnected after the connection time elapses. In addition, since a reasonable idle time can be set for each purpose of use, not only can unnecessary connections be automatically disconnected to reduce congestion on the network line, and connection and line usage fees can be saved, It is possible to prevent disconnection of the connection unduly during use of the network.

In the above inventions (claims 14 to 17), a step of determining a usage time calculation method according to the obtained usage purpose information, a step of calculating a usage time by the determined calculation method, Accumulating the calculated usage time for each user (claim 18). Further, the above inventions (claims 14 to 14)
In 17), a step of determining a rate in accordance with the obtained use purpose information, a step of multiplying the determined rate by an actual connection time and using the actual connection time as a use time, And accumulating each time (claim 19).

According to this invention (claims 18 and 19), for example, if the purpose of use is the normal use of the Internet, the actual connection time is stored as the use time as it is, and the purpose of use is provided by the Internet connection company. If you are browsing a website that you want to use, accumulate the actual connection time multiplied by XX as the usage time, and if the purpose of use is to change or confirm the contents of user registration with the Internet connection provider, It is possible to accumulate the time multiplied by xx as the use time.

In the above inventions (Claims 14 to 19), there may be provided a step of determining a connection fee system according to the acquired use purpose information (Claim 20).
According to this invention (claim 20), for example, if the purpose of use is the normal use of the Internet, a normal connection fee is used, and if the purpose of use is browsing of a website provided by an Internet connection provider, the normal connection charge is used. XX discount on charges, if the purpose of use is to change or confirm the contents of user registration with an Internet connection provider, the connection fee is free,
You can do something like that.

In the above inventions (claims 14 to 20), the step of determining a service point according to the obtained use purpose information includes the step of calculating or not calculating the determined service point for each user. And accumulating the data in the storage device (claim 21).

According to this invention (claim 21), for example, if the purpose of use is the normal use of the Internet, the service point XX is added at every predetermined connection time or every connection, and the purpose of use is the Internet connection business. If you are browsing the website provided by the service provider, add service points XX for each predetermined connection time or connection, and if the purpose of use is to change or confirm the contents of user registration with the Internet connection provider, Do not add points,
You can do something like that.

[0041]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a connection service providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The connection service providing system according to the present embodiment includes a remote access server (RAS) 20 installed at an access point of an Internet connection provider,
Authentication server 3 connected to remote access server 20 via a network dedicated to an Internet connection provider
0, and a user terminal (in this embodiment, a personal computer) 10 connected to the remote access server 20 via a public line. The remote access server 20 has a number of WWW servers 41 and 42 via the Internet. , 43.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the authentication server 30.
The authentication server 30 has a CPU (Central Processing Uni
t) 31, a first storage unit 32, and a second storage unit 33
, A third storage unit 34 and a fourth storage unit 35, and the CPU 31 controls each unit and transmits and receives data to and from the remote access server 20.

The first to fourth storage units 32 to 35 are provided in the hard disk, respectively.
2, a main program 321 is stored.
A storage unit 33 stores a user ID database 331, a third storage unit 34 stores a case-specific condition ID database 341, and a fourth storage unit 35.
Stores a use time / point database 351 for each user.

The main program 321 receives a packet including a case-specific user ID and a password, and obtains a user ID and a case number from the case-specific user ID, and determines whether the obtained user ID and password are correct. An authentication program to determine whether or not
There are a program that determines a connection condition based on the acquired case number and transmits a packet including the connection condition, a program that receives a packet including the connection time, calculates a use time and a service point, and accumulates the packet.

The user ID database 331 stores user IDs (eg, abc @ ba2, lmn @ ca2, xyz @ da2...)
And the password (ab) associated with each user ID
cd, lmno, wxyz...), and the case number (case) is stored in the case-specific condition ID database 341.
1, case2, case3) and an IP address, a connectable time, an idle time, a charge rate, and a service point associated with each case number. The user-specific use time / point database 351 stores: User I
D, the use time and the service point associated with each user ID are stored.

Although the configuration of the remote access server 20 is not specifically shown, the remote access server 20 is provided only for a program for generating / transmitting / receiving packets, a program for storing case-specific user IDs, and a WWW server having a predetermined IP address. The storage unit stores a program for permitting access, a program for measuring connection time, a program for disconnecting connection after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the like.

On the other hand, the user terminal 10 has a configuration similar to that of a normal personal computer, but displays a screen as shown in FIG. 7 to allow the user to input a user ID and a password, as well as an access point and an access point. A program for selecting a purpose of use, a program for generating a new case-specific user ID by adding a case number to a user ID for each selected purpose of use, and a packet including the generated purpose-specific user ID and password are transmitted to the selected access. A dialer having a program and the like to be transmitted to the remote access server 20 installed at the point, and a WWW browser capable of displaying a web page are provided.

Next, the processing operation of the connection service providing system will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, when the user activates the dialer of the user terminal 10, the user terminal 10 outputs and displays a dialer screen 50 as shown in FIG. 7 on the display (SU01). The dialer screen 50 includes a text box 51 for inputting a user ID, a text box 52 for inputting a password, a pull-down menu 53 for selecting an access point, a command button 54 for selecting a purpose of use, and a connection button 55. The purpose of use is “normal use”, “provider content use” and “change / confirm user registration details”.
There are three.

The “normal use” is selected when the Internet to be used is normally used without any restriction on the website to be accessed. This is selected when using only the contents provided by the Internet connection provider, and "change / confirmation of the user registration contents" means that the user is registered with the Internet connection provider. This is selected only when the registered contents (for example, address, telephone number, E-mail address, credit card information, etc.) are changed or confirmed.

The user uses the input device (keyboard, mouse, etc.) of the user terminal 10 to enter a user ID and a password in the text boxes 51 and 52 of the dialer screen 50, and specifies an access point by a pull-down menu 53. When the user terminal is selected and the use purpose is selected with the command button 54 and the connection button 55 is clicked with the cursor (mouse pointer), the user terminal 10 reads the input information (SU02).

Then, the user terminal 10 adds a case number to the user ID for each selected purpose of use to generate a new case-specific user ID (SU03). For example, if the user ID is "abc @ ba2" and the purpose of use is "normal use", a case-specific user ID "abc @ ba2% case1" is generated, and the user ID is "lmn @ ca2" and the purpose of use is " For “provider content use”, case-specific user ID “lm
n @ ca2% case2 ", and if the user ID is" xyz @ da2 "and the purpose of use is" change / confirm user registration ", a case-specific user ID" xyz @ da2% case3 "is generated.

The user terminal 10 generates the case-specific user IDs (abc @ ba2% case1, lmn @ ca2% case
2, xyz @ da2% case3 ...) and the authentication packet containing the password (abcd, lmno, wxyz ...) entered above to the access point selected above via the public line. It transmits to the installed remote access server 20 (SU04).

The remote access server 20 receiving the authentication packet from the user terminal 10 transmits the authentication packet to the authentication server 30 via the network dedicated to the Internet connection company (SR01), and includes the authentication packet. Another user ID (abc @ ba
2% case1, lmn @ ca2% case2, xyz @ da2% case3...) Are stored and held in a predetermined storage unit (SR02).

The authentication server 30 receives the authentication packet from the remote access server 20 (SC01), and uses the case-specific user ID (abc @ ba2%) included in the authentication packet.
case1, lmn @ ca2% case2, xyz @ da2% case3 ...)
Acquire user IDs (abc @ ba2, lmn @ ca2, xyz @ da2 ...) and case numbers (case1, case2, case3) (SC
02). Then, referring to the user ID database 331, the acquired user ID and password (abcd, lm
No, wxyz...) are correct, and authentication is performed (SC03).

If it is determined that the user ID and the password are correct, the authentication server 30 refers to the case-specific condition database 341 and refers to the case number (case
Determine connection conditions based on (1, case2, case3) (SC
04). For example, if the case number is "case1,"
"IP address: no limit, connectable time: no limit,
Judgment as idle time: no limit "and case number" ca
In the case of “se2”, “IP address: xxx.xxxxxx.
○○. ○ (IP address of WWW server storing contents provided by the Internet connection provider), connectable time: 1800 (seconds), idle time:
1200 (seconds) ”and if the case number is“ case3 ”,“ IP address: xxx.xxx.xxx.xx ”
(WWW where the user registration change / confirmation page is stored
Server IP address), connectable time: 600
(Seconds), idle time: 120 (seconds). " The authentication server 30 generates a reply packet including the information of the connection condition based on the case number, and transmits the reply packet to the remote access server 20 (SC05).

When the remote access server 20 receives the reply packet from the authentication server 30 (SR03), it generates an accounting start packet and sends it to the authentication server 30 (SR04), and starts measuring the connection time of the user terminal 10. (SR05). In the charging start packet, in addition to the case-specific user ID stored and held by the remote access server 20, the session ID, the user terminal 10
IP address assigned to the remote access server 2
0 IP address and so on.

Further, upon receiving the reply packet, the remote access server 20 permits the user terminal 10 to access the Internet based on the connection conditions included in the reply packet (SR06). That is, the user terminal 10 establishes a connection to the Internet (SU05), accesses a WWW server having a predetermined IP address under the above connection conditions, and uses a WWW browser to store a web stored in the WWW server. The page can be browsed (SU06).

For example, if the connection conditions received by the remote access server 20 indicate that the IP address is unrestricted, the user terminal 10 sends the WWW to be accessed.
Various web pages can be browsed without any restrictions on the server, and the IP address is XXX. In the connection condition received by the remote access server 20. ○○
○. ○○. If the mark is ○, from the user terminal 10,
IP address is xxx. ○○○. ○○. ○ WWW
Only the content provided by the Internet connection provider can be browsed, and the IP address of the XXX. Xx
X. Xx. If it is x, from the user terminal 10,
If the IP address is xxx. ×××. Xx. WWW that is ×
Only the server can be accessed, so that only the user registration change / confirmation page can be viewed.

Here, when the user voluntarily cuts off the connection to the Internet at the user terminal 10 (S
U107, see FIG. 5), the remote access server 20
Terminates the measurement of the connection time (SR10
7), generate an accounting end packet and send it to authentication server 30 (SR108). The charging end packet includes the case-specific user ID stored and held by the remote access server 20, the connection time (seconds) measured by the remote access server 20, the session ID, the IP address assigned to the user terminal 10, the remote The IP address of the access server 20 and the like are entered.

When the authentication server 30 receives the accounting end packet from the remote access server 20 (SC10
7), user IDs by case included in the charging end packet (abc @ ba2% case1, lmn @ ca2% case2, xyz @ da2% case3)
...) from the user ID (abc @ ba2, lmn @ ca2, xyz @ da
2) and the case number (case1, case2, case3) are acquired (SC108).

Next, the authentication server 30 refers to the user ID database 331 and obtains the acquired case number (ca
se1, case2, case3), determine the service charge and service point, and multiply the connection time obtained from the charging end packet by the service charge to determine the service time. The service points to be added are calculated by multiplication (SC109).

For example, when the connection time is 300 seconds and the unit of the connection time for counting the service points is 600 seconds, if the case number is “case 1”, “account rate: 1, service point: 10” The use time is (300 seconds × 1 =) 300 seconds, and the service point to be added is ((300 seconds / 600 seconds) × 10 =) 5.
When the case number is “case2”, “the rate: 0.
5, service point: 20 "and the usage time is (3
00 seconds × 0.5 =) 150 seconds, and the service point to be added is ((300 seconds / 600 seconds) × 20 =) 10. Further, when the case number is “case3”, “account rate: 0.2, service point: 0”, the use time is (300 seconds × 0.2 =) 60 seconds, and the service point to be added is ( (300 seconds / 600 seconds) × 0 =) 0. The authentication server 30 accumulates the usage time thus calculated and the service point in the user-specific usage time / point database 351 (SC110).

On the other hand, if the remote access server 20 recognizes that the connectable time or the idle time has elapsed before the user voluntarily disconnects the connection to the Internet at the user terminal 10 (SR207, see FIG. 6), The remote access server 20 terminates the measurement of the connection time and disconnects the user terminal 10 from the Internet (SR208). For example, when the case number is “case2”, the connection time has elapsed 1800 seconds, or the idle time has elapsed 1200 seconds (if there is no input for 1200 seconds in the user terminal 10), or the case number is “ case3 "
When the connection time has passed 600 seconds or the idle time has passed 120 seconds (in the user terminal 10, 120 seconds).
If there is no input for a second), the remote access server 20 performs the above processing.

By the above processing of the remote access server 20, the connection to the Internet is cut off at the user terminal 10 (SU207), and a message such as "The connection to the Internet has been cut off" is displayed on the display. You.

Next, the remote access server 20
An accounting end packet is generated and transmitted to the authentication server 30 (SR209). The charging end packet includes the user I by case stored and held by the remote access server 20.
D, in addition to the connection time (seconds) measured by the remote access server 20, the session ID, the IP address assigned to the user terminal 10, and the IP of the remote access server 20
Contains the address etc.

When the authentication server 30 receives the accounting end packet from the remote access server 20 (SC 20
7) In the same manner as in steps SC108 and SC109, acquisition of user ID / case number and calculation of use time / service point are performed (SC208, SC2).
09), the calculated usage time and service point are
It is stored in the usage time / point database 351 for each user (SC210).

The Internet connection service provider, for example, uses the user-specific use time / point database 35 every month.
1 can be charged to each user based on the usage time stored in the storage unit 1, and various services can be provided to each user based on the service points stored in the usage time / point database 351 for each user. can do. As such a service, for example, a service that gives a right to obtain a product or the like sold with the content provided by the Internet connection provider free of charge in accordance with the accumulated service points is given.

If the Internet connection provider has a plurality of access points, the authentication server 30
Transmits / receives the above-described data to / from the remote access server 20 installed at each access point.

In the connection service providing system described above, since the user terminal 10 generates a case-specific user ID, there is no need to assign a plurality of case-specific user IDs to the user. It is possible to receive a service for each purpose of use only by selecting the purpose of use on the display, without performing the complicated task of separately using each one.

According to the authentication server 30 of the connection service providing system, the original user ID and the case number can be obtained from the case-specific user ID transmitted from the user terminal 10. Authentication can be easily performed without storing a plurality of case-specific user IDs, and an increase in hardware load on the authentication server 30 can be suppressed. Further, based on the acquired case number, the contents of the service (accessible IP address, connectable time, idle time, charge rate for calculating the use time, service points to be added) can be easily changed. Can also.

The embodiments described above are described for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and are not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the connection service providing system according to the above embodiment, the remote access server 20 and the authentication server 30 are used as the server.
The number of servers may be one, or three or more.

[0075]

As described above, according to the program recording medium of the present invention, the contents of the service can be easily changed without requiring the user to perform a complicated operation. Further, according to the connection service providing system or the connection service providing method of the present invention, the content of the service can be easily changed without increasing the load on the hardware of the connection service provider.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a connection service providing system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an authentication server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing operation in the connection service providing system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing operation in the connection service providing system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing operation in the connection service providing system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing operation in the connection service providing system according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a dialer screen according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... User terminal 20 ... Remote access server 30 ... Authentication server 31 ... CPU 32, 33, 34, 35 ... Storage part 41, 42, 43 ... WWW server

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B049 BB00 CC31 CC36 DD01 DD05 EE23 FF03 FF04 FF09 GG04 GG07 5K030 GA05 HA01 HA08 HC01 JL08 JT03 KA01 KA04 KA07 KA13 LB02 LD19

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. A network connection device capable of making a dial-up connection to an access point of a network, comprising means for allowing a user to select a purpose of use, and generating unique identification information for each of the selected purposes of use. And a means for transmitting the generated identification information to a server computer installed at an access point of the network. 2. A network connection device capable of making a dial-up connection to an access point of a network, comprising: means for allowing a user to input a user ID and a password and selecting a purpose of use; User-specific information for each purpose
A means for generating a new purpose-specific user ID in addition to D, and means for transmitting the generated purpose-specific user ID and the password to a server computer installed at an access point of a network. A network connection device characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. A step of allowing a user to select a purpose of use, a step of generating identification information specific to the selected purpose of use, and a step of providing the generated identification information to a server installed at an access point of a network. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the steps of transmitting to a computer is recorded. 4. A step of prompting a user to input a user ID and a password, and selecting a purpose of use.
Generating a new purpose-specific user ID in addition to D, and transmitting the generated purpose-specific user ID and the password to a server computer installed at an access point of the network. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute is recorded. 5. A system for providing a user terminal with a connection service to a network, comprising: means for acquiring user identification information and usage purpose information from identification information unique to each usage purpose transmitted from the user terminal. An authentication unit that determines whether or not the user terminal can be connected to a network using the obtained user identification information; and a unit that changes a service content according to the obtained use purpose information. A connection service providing system comprising: 6. A system for providing a user terminal with a connection service to a network, comprising: a user ID for each purpose, which is transmitted from the user terminal and has specific information for each purpose of use added to the user ID; Means for acquiring the user ID and the purpose of use information, means for acquiring the password transmitted from the user terminal, and the acquired original user ID and password,
A connection service providing system, comprising: an authentication unit that determines whether the user terminal can be connected to a network; and a unit that changes the content of a service according to the acquired use purpose information. 7. The access control device according to claim 5, further comprising an access control unit for permitting access only to a computer having a predetermined address, wherein the access control is performed in accordance with the obtained use purpose information. Connection service providing system. 8. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising means for restricting a connection time according to the acquired use purpose information.
8. The connection service providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. A storage unit for storing a connectable time and / or an idle time corresponding to the use purpose information, and disconnecting the connection when the connectable time or the idle time elapses. Item 9. A connection service providing system according to item 8. 10. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: means for accumulating the usage time of each user for a predetermined period; and means for changing a calculation method of the usage time according to the obtained usage purpose information.
9. The connection service providing system according to any one of 9. 11. A storage unit for storing a charge rate corresponding to the use purpose information, wherein a use time is obtained by multiplying the obtained connection rate corresponding to the obtained use purpose information by an actual connection time. The connection service providing system according to claim 10, wherein the use time is accumulated. 12. The connection service providing system according to claim 5, further comprising: means for changing a connection fee system according to the acquired use purpose information. 13. A recording unit for recording a service point for each user, and means for calculating or adding a service point to the recording unit in accordance with the obtained purpose-of-use information. The connection service providing system according to claim 5, wherein: 14. A method for providing a user terminal with a connection service to a network, comprising: obtaining user identification information and usage purpose information from identification information specific to each usage purpose transmitted from the user terminal. Using the acquired user identification information to determine whether the user terminal can be connected to a network; and performing a connection service according to the acquired use purpose information. Characteristic connection service providing method. 15. A method for providing a connection service to a network to a user terminal, the method comprising: transmitting a user ID specific to each use purpose, which is transmitted from the user terminal, to a user ID; Acquiring the user ID and the purpose of use information, and acquiring the password transmitted from the user terminal; and by using the acquired original user ID and password,
A connection service providing method, comprising: a step of determining whether or not the user terminal can connect to a network; and a step of performing a connection service according to the obtained use purpose information. 16. The connection service according to claim 14, wherein, in the step of performing the connection service, access is permitted only to a computer having a predetermined address according to the acquired purpose-of-use information. Delivery method. 17. According to the obtained use purpose information,
17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: determining a connectable time and / or an idle time; and disconnecting the connection when the determined connectable time or the idle time elapses. How to provide connection services. 18. A step of determining a usage time calculation method according to the obtained usage purpose information, a step of calculating a usage time by the determined calculation method, and calculating the calculated usage time for each user. 18. The connection service providing method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of storing. 19. A step of determining a rate based on the obtained use purpose information; a step of multiplying the determined rate by an actual connection time to obtain a use time; 18. The connection service providing method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of storing the connection service every time. 20. The connection service providing method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of determining a connection fee system according to the obtained use purpose information. 21. A method for determining a service point according to the obtained use purpose information, and calculating or not calculating the determined service point for each user. The connection service providing method according to any one of claims 14 to 20, wherein: