AT&T Labs Research — Leading Invention, Driving Innovation

A system and method are provided for use in establishing secure end-to-end communication links over a VPN gateway via a network interface unit. Illustrative embodiments include establishing and providing secure communication relationships between users (customers) and companies for e-commerce and other business purposes. Each company's data and linkage to users remaining private and secure from the other participating companies as well as from the general public over the Internet. Login by user with network interface units, addressing, authentication, and other configuration operations achieved using a web page-based GUI are applied in establishing tunnels from LAN clients to desired VPN destinations. Required authentication exchanges and required encryption key exchanges facilitate the secure communications. Financial arrangements regarding the provisioning and use of network interface units are also disclosed.

A method and system allow a subscriber to test emergency 911 telephone services routed from the subscriber's location over a network to a response center. An alternative dialing code ( 911) is provided for testing, and when a call placed by a subscriber to the alternative dialing code is received in the network, the network identifies the response center to which a 911 call placed from the subscriber's location is routed. An answering device is provided with status information with respect to the identified response center, and calls placed by the subscriber to the alternative dialing code are routed to the answering device, whereby when a subscriber places a call to the alternative dialing code, the answering device will supply the subscriber with status information with respect to the identified response center that receives a 911 call from the subscriber's location.

A system and method for providing telephony and high-speed data access over a broadband access network, comprising a network interface unit (NIU) coupled to a backup local exchange carrier (LEC) line, the broadband access network coupled to the NIU, an intermediate point-of-presence (IPOP) coupled to the broadband access network, and at least one external access network coupled to the IPOP. The system also provides for a fail-safe mode in which the NIU supports the LEC line for lifeline services.

The preferred embodiments include a method, system or computer-readable storage medium for identifying analog access line impairments in a communications network. The embodiments include determining a ping packet loss count and a ping failure count from digital packet loss data associated with at least one analog access line. The embodiments also include generating a line designation for the at least one analog access line in response to the ping packet loss count exceeding a first threshold and the ping failure count exceeding a second threshold. Also, a plurality of pings can be transmitted during a testing period, the digital packet loss data being generated in response to the plurality of pings. The first threshold can represent at least a three percent ping packet loss. The second threshold can represent the ping failure count being at least ten percent of a total number of the plurality of pings.

A network interface unit is provided for use intermediate a LAN and a public or private network, or a combination of both, for establishing secure links to a VPN gateway. Login by a LAN client with the network interface unit, addressing, authentication, and other configuration operations achieved using a web page-based GUI are applied in establishing tunnels from LAN clients to desired VPN destinations. Illustrative network interface units include a DHCP server and provide encryption-decryption and encapsulation-decapsulation of data packets for communication with VPN nodes. Configuration and connection of a client are further enhanced by a built-in DNS server and other functional servers to provide a high degree of autonomy in establishing connections to a desired VPN gateway via an ISP or other public and/or private network links to. The interface unit then performs required authentication exchanges, and required encryption key exchanges.

A network interface unit is provided for use intermediate a LAN and a public or private network, or a combination of both, for establishing secure links to a VPN gateway. Login by a LAN client with the network interface unit, addressing, authentication, and other configuration operations achieved using a web page-based GUI are applied in establishing tunnels from LAN clients to desired VPN destinations. Illustrative network interface units include a DHCP server and provide encryption-decryption and encapsulation-decapsulation of data packets for communication with VPN nodes. Configuration and connection of a client are further enhanced by a built-in DNS server and other functional servers to provide a high degree of autonomy in establishing connections to a desired VPN gateway via an ISP or other public and/or private network links to. The interface unit then performs required authentication exchanges, and required encryption key exchanges.

A system and method for providing telephony and high speed data access over a broadband access network, comprising a network interface unit (NIU) coupled to a backup local exchange carrier (LEC) line, the broadband access network coupled to the NIU, an intermediate point-of-presence (IPOP) coupled to the broadband access network, and at least one external access network coupled to the IPOP. The system also provides for a fail-safe mode in which the NIU supports the LEC line for lifeline services.

The system of the present invention allows a customer to access a company computer system via a data network and to request contact with a customer service representative. The company computer system automatically selects a customer service center and a customer service representative in accordance with a set of selection criteria, including customer preferences. A monitor, also connected to the company computer system via the data network, may choose to accept or to change the selections made by the company computer system. Once a customer service representative has been selected, the company computer system causes a telecommunication control device to connect the customer, the selected customer service representative, and the monitor via a voice network. If a monitor is not available, the company computer system causes the telecommunication control device to connect the customer and the selected customer service representative, and then records the communication therebetween for future review by a monitor. Optionally, the selected customer service representative may initiate data communication with the customer via the data network. The monitor may readily monitor the data communication between the customer and the customer service representative via the data network.