Wireless local communication network, access control method for a wireless local communication network and devices suitable therefor

• US 20030140256A1
• Filed: 01/23/2003
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Original Assignee: Swisscom Mobile AG (Government of Switzerland)
• Inventors: Hauenstein, Felix, Lauper, Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/349,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20030140256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

In a wireless local communication network, a so-called Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) a prepaid value code is transmitted from a wireless communication terminal via an air interface to an access point unit of the wireless local communication network, a so-called access point. The validity of the received value code is checked in a value code database by a centralized access control server. If applicable, the access to the wireless local communication network and to communication networks connected thereto, for example the Internet, is cleared for the wireless communication terminal. After the clearance, a monetary amount is credited to the operator of the access point unit and the validated value code is cancelled in the value code database.

Claims

1. A wireless local communication network, comprising:

at least one wireless communication terminal,

at least one access point unit with a transceiver for communication with the wireless communication terminal via an air interface,

an access control server, connected to the access point unit, with an access control module for checking the access authorization of the wireless communication terminal,

an access control module for checking the access authorization of the wireless communication terminal,

a request module, in the wireless communication terminal, for transmission of a prepaid value code via the air interface to the access point unit,

a value code database,

a validation module, in the access control module, for validation of the received value code in the value code database,

a clearance module, in the access control module, for clearance of access to access-controlled communication network modules for the wireless communication terminal, and

a cancellation module, in the access control module, for cancellation of the received validated value code in the value code database,

whereby the access point unit comprises a communication module for transmission to the access control server of the prepaid value code and of an operator identification.

2. The wireless local communication network according to claim 1, wherein the access control server comprises a billing module for crediting a monetary amount to the operator of the access point unit identified through the operator identification.

3. The wireless local communication network according to claim 1, wherein the access control module comprises a blocking module for determining blocking conditions based on the received value code and for blocking access for the wireless communication terminal to the access-controlled communication network modules upon fulfillment of the determined blocking conditions.

4. The wireless local communication network according to claim 1, wherein the access control module comprises a blocking module for blocking access for the wireless communication terminal to the access-controlled communication network modules according to a predetermined clearance time or according to a predetermined data volume.

5. The wireless local communication network according to claim 1, wherein the access-controlled communication modules comprise a communication module for data communication with other communication units over the wireless local communication network.

6. An access control method for a wireless local communication network, comprising:

transmission of a prepaid value code by a wireless communication terminal via an air interface of the wireless local communication network to an access point unit of the wireless local communication network,

validation of the received value code for checking the access authorization of the wireless communication terminal in a value code data base,

clearance for access to access-controlled communication network modules for the wireless communication terminal and cancellation of the received validated value code in the value code database, and

transmission of the prepaid value code and of an operator identification from the access point unit to an access control server.

7. The access control method according to claim 6, comprising crediting of a monetary amount by the access control server to the operator of the access point unit identified through the operator identification.

8. The access control method according to claim 6, comprising determination of blocking conditions based on the received value code and blocking of access for the wireless communication terminal to the access-controlled communication network modules upon fulfillment of the determined blocking conditions.

9. An access control server, which is connectible to a wireless local communication network, which comprises a value code database and which comprises an access control module for checking the access authorization of a wireless communication terminal to the wireless local communication network, the access control module comprising a validation module for validating in a value code database a prepaid value code received from the wireless communication terminal via an air interface of the wireless local communication network, the access control module comprising a clearance module for clearing access to the wireless local communication network for the wireless communication terminal, and the access control module comprising a cancellation module for cancelling the received validated value code in the value code database, and

wherein the access control server comprises a billing module for crediting a monetary amount to an operator of an access point unit of the wireless local communication network identified through the operator identification received from the access point unit which has transmitted the prepaid value code to the access control server.

10. The access control server according to claim 9, wherein the access control module comprises a blocking module for determining blocking conditions based on the received value code and for blocking access to the wireless local communication network for the wireless communication terminal upon fulfillment of the determined blocking conditions.

11. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium with computer program code means, contained therein, for control of a processor of an access control server connectible to a wireless local communication network in such a way that the access control server validates in a value code database a prepaid value code received from a wireless communication terminal over an air interface of the wireless local communication network, wherein the access control server clears access to the wireless local communication network for the wireless communication terminal and wherein the access control server cancels in the value code database the received validated value code, and

wherein the computer program product comprises further computer program code means which control the processor of the access control server in such a way that the access control server credits a monetary amount to an operator of an access point unit of the wireless local communication network, which operator is identified through an operator identification which has been received from the access point unit which has transmitted the prepaid value code to the access control server.

12. The computer program product according to claim 11, comprising further computer program code means which control the processor of the access control server in such a way that the access control server determines blocking conditions based on the received value code and blocks access to the wireless local communication network for the wireless communication terminal upon fulfillment of the determined blocking conditions.