Mobile, seamless, temporary, wireless network access apparatus and method

• US 20030126298A1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Darrell J. Redford, Hall G. Jeffrey, Mark E. Marrott, Shirlene G. Peck
• Original Assignee: Darrell J. Redford, Hall G. Jeffrey, Mark E. Marrott, Shirlene G. Peck
• Inventors: Marrott, Mark E., Hall, G. Jeffrey, Redford, Darrell J., Peck, Shirlene G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,269,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801

Abstract

A software and hardware “kit” provides users the ability to seamlessly connect to local area networks at temporary accommodations and remote locations. The “kit” provides the end user with the ability to install wireless network interface cards on a computer, while bypassing the standard “Plug and Play” process, and provides the system configuration necessary to enable the hardware functionality. This will also allow the end user to immediately connect to the local area network, such as a wireless local area network, provided that the user'"'"'s system is physically located within signal range. This process may be accomplished without the requirement that hardware actually be present and without rebooting the computer system, thus providing a novel improvement over the standard “Plug and Play” process.

Claims

1. A system for providing network access to a computer of a user temporarily located at a use site remote from and uncontrolled by the business location of the user, the kit comprising:

a network interface card controlled by a network access provider at the use site to interface between a computer of a user and a local area network controlled by the network access provider to provide access to the internet;

computer-readable media containing data structures executable on a computer of a user to support hot insert of the network interface card to a computer of a user, to connect to the local area network, and to bypass a detection system detecting new hardware introduced into a computer of a user; and

instructions effective to support loading of the data structures and installation of the network interface card in a computer of a user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are printed separately from the network interface card and computer-readable medium.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are printed on at least one of the network interface card, the computer-readable media, and a hard copy medium distinct from the network interface card and computer-readable media.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are in embodied in the computer-readable media.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are readable by a user directly in the native language of a user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions are provided orally by a representative of the network access provider.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the network access provider is a management entity responsible for a business site selected from the group consisting of a hotel, a convention center, conference center, business center, a school, a government office, a business office, and a trade show.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the network interface card is selected from the group consisting of a wireless network interface card and a hard-wired network interface card.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a case to couple the network interface card and software into a unitary structure.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the instructions are printed on the case.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the case includes a sheath receptive to an instruction insert.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the network interface card is compliant with a local area network technology selected from the group consisting of ethernet, token ring, and appletalk.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the case includes clasps to engage at least one of the network interface card and the computer readable medium.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, flash memory, a hard disk, and a DVD.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface card is selected from the group consisting of a wireless network interface card and a hard-wired network interface card.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a case to couple the network interface card and software into a unitary structure.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the instructions are printed on the case.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the case includes a sheath receptive to an instruction insert.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the case includes clasps to engage at least one of the network interface card and the computer readable medium.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface card is compliant with a local area network technology selected from the group consisting of ethernet, token ring, and appletalk.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, flash memory, a hard disk, and a DVD.

22. A method for providing network access to a computer of a user temporarily located at a use site remote from and uncontrolled by the business location of the user, the method comprising:

establishing a network access provider substantially and exclusively controlling a local area network providing access to the Internet;

providing by a user, at the use site, a user computer substantially and exclusively controlled by the user;

providing by the network access provider a kit comprising an network interface card and a computer-readable medium containing data structures, the network interface card and data structures being effective to operably connect the user computer to the local area network;

installing, by the user, the kit onto the user computer;

connecting, by the user, the personal computer to the local area network; and

returning, by the user, the kit to the network access provider.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing, to the user, a briefing corresponding to a proper use of the kit.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising agreeing, by the user, to a temporary licensure corresponding to use of the kit.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing damage waiver insurance to the user.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising reading, by the user, instructions pertaining to use of the kit.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein installing further comprises reading the computer-readable medium by the user computer, wherein the computer-readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, flash memory, a hard disk, and a DVD.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein installing further comprises responding, by the user, to selected prompts administered upon installation of the data structures.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein responding to selected prompts includes responding to a prompt selected from the group consisting of enabling file sharing and disabling file sharing.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein responding to selected prompts includes selecting, by the user, a criterion, and wherein original settings of the user computer are restored upon satisfaction of the criterion.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the criterion is selected from the group consisting of a time of day, a date, an event, a status of a user computer, a location, a user-generated interrupt, and a combination thereof.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein installing further comprises bypassing, by the software, a detection system detecting new hardware introduced into a computer of a user.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein installing further comprises selectively enabling, by the user, data encryption of communications between the user computer and the local area network.

34. The method of claim 22, further comprising agreeing, by the user, to a temporary licensure corresponding to use of the kit.

35. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing damage waiver insurance to the user.

36. The method of claim 22, further comprising reading, by the user, instructions pertaining to use of the kit.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein installing further comprises reading the computer-readable medium by the user computer, wherein the computer-readable medium is selected from the group consisting of a CD-ROM, a floppy disk, flash memory, a hard disk, and a DVD.

38. The method of claim 22, wherein installing further comprises responding, by the user, to selected prompts administered upon installation of the data structures.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein responding to selected prompts includes responding to a prompt selected from the group consisting of enabling file sharing and disabling file sharing.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein responding to selected prompts includes selecting, by the user, a criterion, and wherein original settings of the user computer are restored upon satisfaction of the criterion.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the criterion is selected from the group consisting of a time of day, a date, an event, a status of a user computer, a location, a user-generated interrupt, and a combination thereof.

42. The method of claim 22, wherein installing further comprises bypassing, by the software, a detection system detecting new hardware introduced into a computer of a user.

43. The method of claim 22, wherein installing further comprises selectively enabling, by the user, data encryption of communications between the user computer and the local area network.

44. A method for providing temporary access to the Internet by a user having a user computer substantially and exclusively controlled at a use site by a user, the user computer having network settings and the method comprising:

providing, by a network access provider independent from a user, a network at a use site remote from the regular place of business of a user and substantially and exclusively controlled by the network access provider;

installing, by a user, software on the user computer effective to automatically and selectively install and uninstall a temporary network configuration of the network settings effective to connect the user computer to the remote network;

prompting, by the software, the user to specify a criterion to uninstall the temporary network configuration and to restore the original network settings; and

restoring, automatically by the software, the original network settings upon satisfaction of the criterion.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein criterion is selected from the group consisting of a time of day, a date, an event, a status of a user computer, a location, a user-generated interrupt, and a combination thereof.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the network settings include network interface card drivers selected from the group consisting of wireless network interface card drivers and hard-wired network interface card drivers.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the network settings include at least one of the group consisting of driver version, default configuration profile settings, current configuration profile settings, DHCP settings, current network protocol settings, application registry keys, existing driver registry entries, network adapter protocols in the registry, network profiles, selectively disabling proxy settings, enabling file and printer sharing, settings indicating an operating system'"'"'s default browser, and a combination thereof.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein network settings include browser setting selected from the group consisting of browser proxy settings, settings to never dial a connection, settings to dial whenever a network connection is not present, settings to always dial a default connection, offline settings, and a combination thereof.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising prompting the user, after the criterion has been satisfied, to select an option from the group consisting of leaving the temporary network configuration installed for an extended length of time, reverting back to the original configuration, and permanently leaving the temporary network configuration installed.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein installing further comprises bypassing, by the software, a detection system detecting new hardware introduced into a computer of a user.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein installing further comprises selectively enabling data encryption of communication between the user computer and the network.

52. The method of claim 44, wherein the network settings include network interface card drivers selected from the group consisting of wireless network interface card drivers and hard-wired network interface card drivers.

53. The method of claim 44, wherein the network settings include at least one of the group consisting of driver version, default configuration profile settings, current configuration profile settings, DHCP settings, current network protocol settings, application registry keys, existing driver registry entries, network adapter protocols in the registry, network profiles, selectively disabling proxy settings, enabling file and printer sharing, settings indicating an operating system'"'"'s default browser, and a combination thereof.

54. The method of claim 44, wherein network settings include browser setting selected from the group consisting of browser proxy settings, settings to never dial a connection, settings to dial whenever a network connection is not present, settings to always dial a default connection, offline settings, and a combination thereof.

55. The method of claim 44, further comprising prompting the user, after the criterion has been satisfied, to select an option from the group consisting of leaving the temporary network configuration installed for an extended length of time, reverting back to the original configuration, and permanently leaving the temporary network configuration installed.

56. The method of claim 44, wherein installing further comprises bypassing, by the software, a detection system detecting new hardware introduced into a computer of a user.

57. The method of claim 44, wherein installing further comprises selectively enabling data encryption of communication between the user computer and the network.