Authentication methods and systems for accessing networks authentication methods and systems for accessing the internet
First Claim
1. An authentication system comprising:
- host network means configured to provide access to the Internet from a public location;
means associated with the host network means, for enabling authentication of individual users so that they can access the Internet through the host network, authentication being configured to take place in a manner that is independent of any user affiliation with any Internet Service Providers (ISPs);
means for enabling a user to access the host network; and
means for containing user information that can be used to authenticate a user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing network access, e.g. Internet access, are described. An architecture includes a host organization network through which network access is provided. The host organization network can be advantageously deployed in public areas such as airports and shopping malls. An authentication/negotiation component is provided for authenticating various users and negotiating for services with service providers on behalf of the system users. The authentication/negotiation component can include one or more specialized servers and a policy manager that contains policies that govern user access to the Internet. An authentication database is provided and authenticates various users of the system. An access module is provided through which individual client computing devices can access the Internet. In one embodiment, the access module comprises individual wireless access points that permit the client computing devices to wirelessly communicate data packets that are intended for the Internet. In one aspect, users are given a variety of choices of different service levels that they can use for accessing the Internet. The service levels can vary in such things as bandwidth allocation and security measures. The various service levels can be purchased by the users using their computing devices.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. An authentication system comprising:
- host network means configured to provide access to the Internet from a public location;
means associated with the host network means, for enabling authentication of individual users so that they can access the Internet through the host network, authentication being configured to take place in a manner that is independent of any user affiliation with any Internet Service Providers (ISPs);
means for enabling a user to access the host network; and
means for containing user information that can be used to authenticate a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- host network means configured to provide access to the Internet from a public location;
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14. An authentication system for providing authentication for users who desire to access the Internet, the system comprising:
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at least one host organization network means configured to access the Internet, the host organization network means comprising one or more subnets each of which comprising;
means for receiving data packets from individual client computing devices and transmitting the data packets to the Internet; and
public means for receiving wireless communication from a user that is using a client computing device to wirelessly transmit data packets that are intended for the Internet and providing the wirelessly transmitted data packets to the means for receiving before the data packets are transmitted to the Internet; and
globally accessible authentication means for containing information that can be used by the authentication means to authenticate a user without requiring the user to be affiliated with at least one Internet Service Provider (ISP). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An authentication system for providing authentication for users who desire to access the Internet, the system comprising:
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wireless node means through which the Internet can be accessed;
access point means with which the wireless node means can communicate;
server means configured to receive wireless communication from the access point means, the server means configured to enable authentication of various users; and
global authentication database means that contains user information that can be used to authenticate the users without requiring the users to be affiliated with at least one Internet Service Provider (ISP). - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system comprising:
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means for establishing a communication link between a mobile computing device and a server that is configured to provide Internet access;
means for contacting a global authentication database that contains user information that can be used to authenticate one or more users;
means for authenticating a user using the information that is contained in the global authentication database, independent of any user affiliation with any Internet Service Providers (ISPs);
means for notifying the server that the user has been authenticated; and
means for issuing a unique token to the user for use when sending data packets to the server for transmission to the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A system comprising:
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means for configuring multiple access points to receive wireless communication from multiple wireless nodes through which the Internet can be accessed, the multiple wireless nodes being capable of communicating data packets that are intended for transmission to the Internet;
means for configuring a server to wirelessly receive the data packets that are communicated to the multiple access points; and
means for configuring a globally accessible database that includes information that can be used to authenticate one or more users that desire to access the Internet, authentication taking place in a manner that does not require the one or more users to be affiliated with at least one Internet Service Provider (ISP). - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification