Ad hoc wide area network access method and system

• US 20020071416A1
• Filed: 12/13/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Greg, Bledsoe, James Daren
• Application Number:
  US09/736,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20020071416A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method and system for providing to a non-connected wireless device access to a wide area network through a wireless device having a connection facility (e.g., a wireless connection provider or wireless portal). First, the non-connected wireless device employs a short-range wireless communication link to negotiate with at least one wireless connection provider for connection services. Second, once the non-connected wireless device has selected a particular connection provider, the connection provider provides access to the wide area network resource through the connection facility and measures the usage. Third, the wireless connection provider bills the non-connected wireless device for the provided connection services. Fourth, the non-connected wireless device provides payment information to the wireless connection provider for enabling payment.

Claims

1. A method for providing a non-connected wireless device access to a wide area network comprising:

a) connecting the non-connected wireless device to at least one wireless connection provider by employing a short-range wireless communication link;

wherein the wireless connection provider include a connection facility;

and

b) providing the non-connected wireless device access to the wide are network by employing the connection facility.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting the non-connected wireless device to at least one wireless connection provider by employing a short-range wireless communication link further includes the steps of:

a1) the non-connected wireless device discovering at least one wireless connection provider in range of the short-range wireless communication link;

a2) determining whether at least one wireless connection provider is found;

a3) when no wireless connection provider is found, notifying the user of the non-connected wireless device; and

a4) when a wireless connection provider is found, negotiating the terms of connection services with the wireless connection provider.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of connecting the non-connected wireless device to at least one wireless connection provider by employing a short-range wireless communication link further includes the steps of:

a5) determining whether the negotiation between the non-connected wireless device and the wireless connection provider is successful;

a6) when negotiation is successful, the wireless connection provider providing services to the non-connected wireless device according to the negotiated terms; and

a7) when negotiation is not successful, the non-connected wireless device continuing to discover wireless connection providers in range of the short-range wireless communication link.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

c) the wireless connection provider billing the non-connected wireless device for provided connection services; and

d) the non-connected wireless device paying the wireless connection provider for the connection services.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of negotiating further comprises the steps of:

a4_—

1) the non-connected wireless device sending a request for connection that specifies the terms related to the connection services;

a4_—

2) the wireless connection provider receiving the request for connection;

a4_—

3) determining whether the connected device can provide connection services under the terms provided by the non-connected wireless device;

a4_—

4) when it is determined that the wireless connection provider can satisfy the terms of connection services, sending a reply to the non-connected wireless device specifying the connection service fee; and

a4_—

5) connecting the non-connected wireless device to the wide area network through the connection facilities of the wireless connection provider when the wireless connection provided is selected by the non-connected wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting the non-connected wireless device to at least one wireless connection provider by employing a short-range wireless communication link includes

a1) employing a personal area network to connect the non-connected wireless device to the wireless connection provider.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting the non-connected wireless device to at least one wireless connection provider by employing a short-range wireless communication link includes

a1) employing at least one pair of short-range radio frequency (RF) transceivers to connect the non-connected wireless device to the wireless connection provider.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of the wireless connection provider billing the non-connected wireless device for the connection services further comprises the steps of:

c1) requesting payment information from the non-connected wireless device;

c2) receiving the payment information;

c3) verifying the payment information;

c4) when the payment information is not valid, proceeding to the step (c1) of requesting payment information from the non-connected wireless device;

and

c5) when the payment information is valid, providing wireless connection services, measuring the usage, and billing the non-connected device based on the measured usage and negotiated terms.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of the non-connected wireless device paying for connection services comprises the steps of:

d1) providing payment information to the wireless connection provider.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the payment information includes one of a credit card number and expiration date, debit card authorization number, and system information module (SIM) information.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the wide area network is one of the Internet, intranet, corporate network, and a resource residing on the wide area network.

13. The wireless device of claim 12 further comprising:

d) a metering module for measuring the length of time of the connection services.

14. The wireless device of claim 12 further comprising:

e) a billing module for billing the non-connected wireless device for connection services and handling payment information provided by the non-connected wireless device.

15. The wireless device of claim 12 wherein the terms of service include at least one of availability, speed of connection, and usage cost.

17. The wireless device of claim 16 further comprising:

a payment module for providing payment information for use in paying for connection services.

18. The wireless device of claim 17 wherein the payment information includes one of a credit card number and expiration date, debit card authorization number, and system information module (SIM) information.

19. The wireless device of claim 16 wherein the terms of service include at least one of availability, speed of connection, and usage cost.

12. A wireless device comprising:

a) a radio transceiver for communicating information with other radio transceivers within a predetermined range from the wireless device;

b) connection facilities for connecting to a wide area network; and

c) a wireless portal connection mechanism for providing access to the connection facilities;

wherein the wireless portal connection mechanism includes a service provider for providing information regarding terms of service in response to a service request for connection services and for connecting a non-connected wireless device to the wide area network by employing the connection facilities.

16. A wireless device without connection facilities for connecting to a wide area network comprising:

a radio transceiver for communicating information with other radio transceivers within a predetermined range from the wireless device;

a wireless portal connection mechanism for discovering wireless service providers in range of the radio transceiver, negotiating terms of service with wireless service providers, obtaining access to a wide area network through the wireless connection provider that has connection facilities;

wherein the wireless portal connection mechanism includes a service requester for requesting connection services one predetermined terms of service.