For optimizing Internet access resources, a method and systems for sharing
network access capacities across Internet service providers is disclosed.
According to the method of the invention, a client service provider (CSP)
may hire accesses to points of presence belonging to a master service
provider (MSP) while maintaining a constant security level and providing
connection accounting means. When a CSP's subscriber sends an access
request to a MSP, the MSP analyzes the subscriber's realm and checks the
capacities allocated to the subscriber's CSP. If connection is allowed,
the MSP sends an authentication request to the CSP. If the subscriber is
authenticated, the MSP launches an accounting process based on the
subscriber's realm while the CSP may launch an accounting process
associated with the subscriber identifier. Thus, the MSP does not need to
maintain a database comprising information relative to the CSP's
subscribers.