Method and system for providing network access and services using access codes
First Claim
1. A method for providing access to a second network comprised in a network system, wherein the network system includes one or more access points coupled to a first network, the method comprising:
- generating one or more access codes;
receiving an access code of the one or more access codes from a computing device coupled to a first access point of the one or more access points;
determining if the access code is valid; and
if the access code is valid, providing access to the second network for the computing device, wherein said access to the second network includes access to one or more services of the second network.
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Abstract
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to an authorization and access control system for a venue or a geographic region comprising a plurality of venues. The authorization and access control system provides one or more computing devices selective access to one or more networks and/or services available in a network communications system by distributing a substantially unique string of characters (an “access code”) to each user of a computing device. The access code can then be entered via an input device, such as a keyboard or its equivalent, of the computing device. This enables the computing device to gain access to one or more networks and/or services at a venue or in geographic region with the network communications system. Various embodiments are useful and may have several advantages in several venues, such as coffee shops, hotels, train stations, law offices, marinas, truck stops, fueling stations, restaurants, and stores, among others. Additional embodiments may be advantageous in a geographic region which may comprise a plurality of possible venues.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. A method for providing access to a second network comprised in a network system, wherein the network system includes one or more access points coupled to a first network, the method comprising:
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generating one or more access codes;
receiving an access code of the one or more access codes from a computing device coupled to a first access point of the one or more access points;
determining if the access code is valid; and
if the access code is valid, providing access to the second network for the computing device, wherein said access to the second network includes access to one or more services of the second network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer system for providing and controlling access to a second network from a first network, the computer system comprising:
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a first network interface coupled to the first network;
a second network interface coupled to the second network;
a CPU;
a memory coupled to the CPU, wherein the memory stores program instructions which are executable by the CPU to;
receive an access code from a computing device coupled to the first network;
determine if the access code is valid; and
provide access to the second network for the computing device if the access code is valid, wherein providing access to the second network includes controlling access between the first network interface and the second network interface;
wherein said access to the second network includes access to one or more services of the second network. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A network system, comprising:
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a first network;
a second network;
a computer system, wherein the computer system is coupled to the first network, wherein the computer system is coupled to the second network;
one or more access points coupled to the first network, wherein each of the one or more access points is operable to communicate with a computing device;
wherein the computing device communicates through a first access point of the one or more access points;
wherein the computer system is operable to receive an access code from the computing device, determine if the access code is valid, and provide access to the second network for the computing device if the access code is valid;
wherein said access to the second network includes access to one or more services of the second network. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A carrier medium comprising program instructions for providing access to a second network to a computing device coupled to a first network, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:
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generating one or more access codes;
receiving an access code of the one or more access codes from the computing device coupled to the first network;
determining if the access code is valid; and
providing access to the second network for the computing device if the access code is valid, wherein said access to the second network includes access to one or more services of the second network. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A business method for providing network access, comprising:
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a venue entity forming a contractual relationship with at least one ally, said contractual relationship having terms whereby said ally delivers access codes to its subscribers;
using an access code of said access codes to provide network access to a subscriber of the ally at a location of the venue entity. - View Dependent Claims (79)
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Specification