WTV ARCHIVES: REGISTRATION & LOGIN
Updated 9-29-99
This page and the uninformed speculations within, © 1999 ulTRAX@webtv.net




INITIAL REGISTRATION PROCESS:
WebTV is supposed to be as simple to use as a toaster. But this simplicity conceals some fairly amazing technial wizardy.

This technical sophistication begins with the initial login of a new box.

When a WebTV box is first connected, it automatically dials a pre-programmed WTV 800# number. Involved in this process are two WebTV "services", wtv-1800 and wtv-register, which are similar to the other services on the Client"ShowServices IP list.... only these are not used again after the box is registered. In normal service the only exception seems to be when trying to connect to BYOISP, in which case you will be taken to a wtv-1800 prompt page indicating the IP is stll active in the Ccient but does not show up on the IP list after a noral connection ha sbeen esablihsed.

A bank of modems at one of the WebTV data centers answers, and a TCP connection is established. This initiates the process of creating a Tellyscript. The TellyScript process verifies that the call is coming from a WebTV box (using the SSID?) and then connects to an Automatic Number Identifcation (ANI) server. The server uses user's phone, which is embeded in all 800# calls. This is used to determine the user's area code and telephone local exchange. That data is then used to access a database of local dialup numbers. This and other connection parameters are downloaded to the box. (Note: Anyone who has ever visited JIFFYPOP-O-RAMA has seen the cost calculations for all the local Points of Presence (POP) dialups in one's area.)

Downloaded parameters include an encryption key. Just what the function of this key is, is not known. Also downloaded is the IP addresses and TCP port numbers of all WebTV services. If you are a Plus user, your current list is available at Client:ShowServices. While this IP list must also exist on the Classic, no one has yet been able to access it.

After downloading this information, the WebTV server stores a one-time, scratchpad authentication and encryption key and the ANI information in a master database. This database controls all future access between that particular box and the WebTV servers.

Here is an example of the parametes on the scratchpad:

Once the TellyScript creation process has been completed, the box disconnects from the 800#. It then uses the TellyScript information to make a call to one of the local POP dialups. WTV has over 500 in the United States alone. Here, one is assigned a Client IP# and is connected to WebTV. The Tellyscript has provided the box with several local numbers where they are available and to roll over to a 800# number if the local numbers are busy. The intent is so customer is almost always connected.

If ever a box loses and later regains electrical power, it asks the user if it is connected to a different phone number. If the user answers, "Yes," the box repeats the TellyScript creation process, obtaining a new TellyScript and dialing the best POP number at the new location. This feature allows the user to easily move the box from one location to another. WebTV servers also automatically download new TellyScripts that reflect additions and changes in access numbers. Unlike a computer user who must update dial-in configuration information for each such change, the user doesn't even need to know when changes occur.

Once the WebTV Internet terminal has its TellyScript and dials-in locally to WebTV's service, it connects to a process called "headwaiter." This process knows the locations of all the other WTV services the terminal needs to deliver to the customer. It picks a set of servers for all the various WTV services (see Client:ShowServices IP List) These servers are assigned for use by the terminal during a single session. If this is the customer's first connection, a registration service is invoked to create a user name and password and to acquire billing information. The registration server stores this information in the master database and creates a directory on a file server to store the user's e-mail, favorite Web sites, and other user-specific information. All of this happens behind the scenes with minimal delay and frustration to the user.


LOGIN: Since this process is completly concealed the best we can do is piece together the bits of evidence we have and speculate about the proper sequence. The post below was he latest in a series and no doubt is whoefully inaccurate.