Method and system for access to data and/or communication networks via wireless access points, as well as a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium

• US 20050175181A1
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Djamshid Tavangarian, Magnus H. Bergs
• Original Assignee: Djamshid Tavangarian, Magnus H. Bergs
• Inventors: Tavangarian, Djamshid, Bergs, Magnus H.
• Application Number:
  US10/936,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20050175181A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1446 inter-operator billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0853 using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/50 for cross-charging network operators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/72 by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8005 Flat-fee
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8207 Time based data metric aspects, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8228 Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• 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 2215/28 SMS billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/52 Interconnection, inter-exchange, reseller billing, billing agreements between different operators, e.g. billing identifier added on the CDR in order to cross charge the other operator, inter-operator accounting, reconciliation, bill directly resellers customers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7036 : Administer via user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 : Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7813 : Time based data, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7833 : Session based
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 : Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 : using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 : using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system for access to data and/or communication networks via wireless access points, as well as a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which can be employed, in particular, to enable roaming with mobile terminals between hotspots in the hotspot network of an individual provider and/or between hotspots of different providers. The invention further provides a central support, service and organization center, which includes billing, authentication and accounting systems (BAA). In this way, users of mobile communication terminals obtain standardized, secure, mobile Internet access when changing WLAN hotspots. Existing hotspots are used for access to the Internet. An operator (provider) of a hotspot gains additional customers. Users registered with the BAA system obtain standardized Internet access. In addition to simple access, other value-added services can also be offered. The services are billed via the BAA system.

Claims

1. Method for access to data and/or communication networks via wireless access points, such as for example hotspots, characterized in that

a first computer program is installed on at least one data processing device connected with the data and/or communication network(s) as a central management system for controlling a standardized usage of the data and/or communication network(s), and a corresponding second computer program is installed in at least a portion of the access points to the data and/or communication network(s), wherein the second computer program enables communication terminals to log on the (a) data and/or communication network with access data that are independent of the providers of the access points and adapted to the central management system (transparent access), wherein the second computer program sets up a connection (session) between the terminal of a user and the central management system depending on the access data of the user of the data and/or communication network(s), and

a transition (roaming) between access points is transparently controlled by the first and/or second computer program for communication terminals.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that

at least one data and/or communication network is implemented as

a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN),

anUltra-Wideband-Net and/or

a mobile telephone network

and/or includes communication links in

Bluetooth and/or

other wireless technologies, such as for example WiMAX.

3. Method according to one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that

roaming occurs between access points of different providers.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the data and/or communication networks are accessed via a WLAN, Bluetooth, or WiMAX interface.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

when a user logs on, the second computer program installed at the access point that is used for the login attempts authentication at the central management system.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

after successful authentication, the data required for billing of utilized services, such as the duration of the session or the volume of the transmitted data, are determined and stored in a central database.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the central management system provides added-value services, such as e-mail accounts, video streaming, audio streaming and/or added-value services for telephony via the Internet, such as for example telephony via Voice over IP (VoIP) and/or messaging via Short Message System (SMS).

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

a user, after logging on to the central management system, is enabled, depending on the access data, to use services provided by a provider of an access point to the data and/or communication networks.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

the central management system comprises an inherent billing system, wherein the billing system automatically generates invoices, performs financial transactions, monitors payment transactions and/or sends out dunning letters.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that

the billing system bills for the use of services, which are provided by a provider of an access point to the data and/or communication networks, but not by the central management system.

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

at least a portion of the user data stored in databases of the central management system can be processed by the user (customer self-care).

12. System for access to data and/or communication networks via wireless access points, such as for example hotspots, the system comprising:

at least one data processing device which is connected with the data and/or communication network(s) and configured as a central management system for controlling a standardized usage of the data and/or communication network(s),

access points to the data and/or communication network(s), which are configured so as to enable communication terminals to log on the data and/or communication network(s) with access data that are independent of the providers of the access points and adapted to the central management system (transparent access), in that a connection (session) is established by the second computer program between the terminal of a user and the central management system depending on the access data of the user of the data and/or communication network(s),

and data processing device(s) and/or access points are arranged so that a transition (roaming) between access points for communication terminals is implemented transparently.

13. System according to claim 12, characterized in that

the system comprises the following components:

a central management system implemented as a support and service center and comprising;

at least one access server with firewall functionality,

at least one database for storing data and profiles of registered users and/or of data of the access points encompassed by the system,

at least one release server with RADIUS functionality for unblocking services, for providing resources and/or for information from billing systems,

at least one application server for providing services,

at least one call-by-call gateway for access to at least one landline telephone network and/or mobile telephone network,

at least one billing system with a billing and/or accounting server for billing and/or invoicing of used services and/or for paying providers of the access points, and/or

at least one server for performing accounting operations and/or for collecting charges,

at least one access point to the data and/or communication networks, each access point having

at least one WLAN access point (AP) and

at least one interface to the Internet.

16. Method for operating a system according to one of the claims 12 or 13, characterized in that

the central management system is provided by an operator,

the operator enters into agreements with the providers of the access points to the data and/or communication networks regarding usage of the access points by the operator and/or into agreements about usage by the providers of the services provided by the central management system, wherein the agreements include corresponding payment agreements,

the operator enters into agreements with users (clients) of the data and/or communication networks concerning access and use of the network, wherein the agreement includes distributing to the user(s) access data adapted to the central management system for transparent access to the data and/or communication networks and performing a transparent transition (roaming) by the operator between access points of different providers, as well as corresponding payment agreements.

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that

the agreement between the operator and the provider is implemented as a contract for a predetermined time duration, wherein the contract stipulates an amount to be paid by the operator to the provider, said amount resulting from

the resources of the provider utilized by the operator and the transmitted data volume,

as a flat sum payment for each client of the operator working at an access point of the provider, and/or

as a portion of the revenue of the operator from flat sum payments of the clients.

18. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that

the agreement between the operator and the client is implemented as a contract for a predetermined time duration, wherein the contract provides

distribution of access data free of charge by the operator to the client, and

payment of usage fees by the client to the operator.

19. Method according to one of the claims 16 to 18, characterized in that

the amount of the usage fees to be paid by the client to the operator is determined as follows:

as a monthly flat fee which includes free usage of the offered services and user access,

from the number of the services used by the client and/or the transmitted data volume and/or

from the online time of the client.

20. Method according to one of the claims 16 to 19, characterized in that

the services offered by the central management system include

access to at least one landline telephone network and/or mobile telephone network,

leasing of telephone call times and/or

providing telephony services free of charge, such as for example telephony via Voice over IP (VoIP) and/or messaging via Short Message System (SMS).

14. Computer program which enables a computer, after the computer program is loaded into the memory of the computer, to execute a method for accessing data and/or communication networks via wireless access points, such as for example hotspots, wherein

log-on of the communication terminals to the (a) data and/or communication network is enabled with access data which are independent of the providers of the access points and adapted to the central management system (transparent access),

a connection (session) between the terminal of a user and the central management system is set up depending on the access data of the user of the data and/or communication network(s), and

a transition (roaming) between access points is transparently controlled by the first and/or second computer program for communication terminals.

21. Method, wherein a computer program according to claim 14 is downloaded from an electronic data network, such as for example from the Internet, to a data processing device connected to the data network.

15. Computer-readable storage medium, on which a program is stored which enables a computer, after the computer program is loaded into the memory of the computer, to execute a method for accessing data and/or communication networks via wireless access points, such as for example hotspots, wherein

log-on of the communication terminals to the (a) data and/or communication network is enabled with access data which are independent of the providers of the access points and adapted to the central management system (transparent access),

a connection (session) between the terminal of a user and the central management system is set up depending on the access data of the user of the data and/or communication network(s), and

a transition (roaming) between access points is transparently controlled by the first and/or second computer program for communication terminals.