Wireless network access system

• US 20040110487A1
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Creamer, Thomas E., Moore, Victor S., Katz, Neil A.
• Application Number:
  US10/314,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20040110487A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• 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 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/854 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/8166 Available credit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

A method for granting access to a wireless network can include receiving a connection request from a mobile computing device for access to a wireless network. The mobile computing device can be prompted for a telephone number. The telephone number can be contacted resulting in a connection response. The mobile computing device can be granted access to the wireless network according to the connection response.

Claims

1. A method for granting access to a wireless network comprising the steps of:

receiving a connection request from a mobile computing device for access to a wireless network;

prompting said mobile computing device for a telephone number;

contacting said telephone number;

receiving a connection response from a telephone device associated with said telephone number; and

,

providing said mobile computing device access to said wireless network according to said connection response.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

presenting billing information for accessing said wireless network; and

,

receiving an authorization response from said telephone device, wherein said authorization response denotes a willingness to pay for local wireless connectivity.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of charging a service account associated with said telephone device for local wireless connectivity according to said authorization response.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of charging an account local to said wireless network for local wireless connectivity according to said authorization response.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

prompting for an authorized billing account to which charges for said wireless local network can be applied;

receiving said authorized billing account information; and

,

charging said billing amount to said authorized billing account according to said authorization response.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said telephone device is a cellular device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile computing device and said telephone device are the same device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said connection response is an automated response not requiring human interaction.

9. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising the step of querying for user information based on said telephone number.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said connection response is selected from the group consisting of a user voice response, a keypad entry, and a browser response.

11. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising the step of prompting said telephone device for said connection response via an audio prompt provided over a telephony channel.

12. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising the step of prompting said telephone device for said connection response via a visual prompt provided over a data channel.

13. A system providing wireless network access comprising:

an access server configured to provide access to a public network;

a wireless access point configured to transport data between a wireless computing device and said access server; and

,

an application server, configured to transmit a connection request to a telephone device and receive a connection response from said telephone device,

wherein access to said access server through said wireless access point is dependant upon said connection response.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising an authentication server, wherein said authentication server authenticates said connection response and authorizes access to said access server.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said wireless computing device is connected to said access server using an 802.11 compliant protocol.

16. The system of claim 13, said system further comprising a billing repository for determining access charges.

17. A machine readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having a plurality of code sections, said code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

receiving a connection request from a mobile computing device for access to a wireless network;

prompting said mobile computing device for a telephone number;

contacting said telephone number;

receiving a connection response from a telephone device associated with said telephone number; and

,

providing said mobile computing device access to said wireless network according to said connection response.

18. The machine readable storage of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

presenting billing information for accessing said wireless network; and

,

receiving an authorization response from said telephone device, wherein said authorization response denotes a willingness to pay a for local wireless connectivity.

19. The machine readable storage of claim 18, further comprising the step of charging a service account associated with said telephone device for local wireless connectivity according to said authorization response.

20. The machine readable storage of claim 18, further comprising the step of charging an account local to said wireless network for local wireless connectivity according to said authorization response.

21. The machine readable storage of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

prompting for an authorized billing account to which charges for said wireless local network can be applied;

receiving said authorized billing account information; and

,

charging said billing amount to said authorized billing account according to said authorization response.

22. The machine readable storage of claim 17, wherein said telephone device is a cellular device.

23. The machine readable storage of claim 17, wherein said mobile computing device and said telephone device are the same device.

24. The machine readable storage of claim 17, wherein said connection response is an automated response not requiring human interaction.

25. The machine readable storage of claim 17, further comprising the step of querying for user information based on said telephone number.

26. The machine readable storage of claim 17, wherein said connection response is selected from the group consisting of a user voice response, a keypad entry, and a browser response.

27. The machine readable storage of claim 17, further comprising the step of prompting said telephone device for said connection response via an audio prompt provided over a telephony channel.

28. The machine readable storage of claim 17, further comprising the step of prompting said telephone device for said connection response via a visual prompt provided over a data channel.