Providing different network access levels in a network communication system

• US 20050237985A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stewart, Brett B., McClelland, Kathleen E., Thompson, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,472,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1464 using a card, such as credit card, prepay card or SIM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1471 splitting of costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1496 involving discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/004 in the uplink, i.e. towards network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A system and method for providing multiple access levels to users of a wireless network system. The network system includes a plurality of wireless access points coupled to a network. Access points (APs) for the network may be widely distributed in various facilities, such as airports, mass-transit stations, and various businesses. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. A portable computing device (PCD) of a user may store identification information which indicates an access or privilege level for the user of the PCD. The access level may determine the network access and/or services available to the user of the PCD. The identification information may include a System ID of the PCD. Each of the access points may be operable to “listen for” or detect the identification information of the PCD. The network system may store a list of identification information and a corresponding list of access levels. When the access point receives the identification information from a PCD of a user, the access point may determine the appropriate access level for the portable computing device using the identification information. Network access and services may then be provided to the portable computing device at the indicated level. Thus, the local network may provide various local resources which are available to users having a first access level, and users with a second access level may not be entitled to view or utilize these network resources on the network, but may be simply provided external Internet access.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to a distributed wireless network system, wherein the distributed wireless network system includes a plurality of wireless access points coupled to a network, the method comprising:

a first wireless access point receiving identification information from a portable computing device;

determining if the identification information is associated with payment information;

if the identification information is associated with payment information, determining an access level based on the payment information and providing network access based on the determined access level; and

if the identification information is not associated with payment information, providing network access based on a default access level or denying network access.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the identification information includes an IEEE 802.11 system identification (SID).

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the identification information includes a media access control (MAC) identification.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the identification information includes a name associated with a network service provider.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein the identification information includes a digital certificate.

13. The wireless access point of claim 11,

wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to:

access a second memory medium to determine if a received SID of the plurality of SIDs is comprised in a list of SID entries, wherein the second memory medium is operable to store a data structure, wherein the data structure comprises a data structure comprising the list of SID entries each indicating at least one access level.

14. The wireless access point of claim 13,

wherein the second memory medium is coupled to the network.

15. The wireless access point of claim 13,

wherein the wireless access point comprises the second memory medium.

16. The wireless access point of claim 15, wherein the second memory medium is said memory medium.

6. A wireless access point comprising:

a processor; and

a memory medium coupled to the processor;

wherein the wireless access point is operable to be coupled to a network and communicate with one or more portable computing devices in a wireless fashion;

wherein the memory medium is operable to store a data structure, wherein the data structure comprises a list of identification information and a corresponding list of access levels;

wherein the memory medium comprises program instructions which are executable by the processor to;

receive identification information from a portable computing device of the one or more portable computing devices, wherein the identification information indicates an access level of the portable computing device;

determine an access level, wherein, in said determining the access level, the program instructions are further executable by the process to index into the data structure using the identification information to determine the access level stored in the data structure corresponding to the identification information; and

provide network access to the portable computing device at the determined access level.

7. The wireless access point of claim 6,

wherein the identification information includes an IEEE 802.11 system identification.

8. The wireless access point of claim 6,

wherein the identification information includes a media access control (MAC) identification.

9. The wireless access point of claim 6,

wherein the identification includes a name associated with a network service provider.

10. The wireless access point of claim 6,

wherein the identification information includes a digital certificate.

11. A wireless access point for providing network access to a plurality of computing devices, wherein the wireless access point is operable to couple to a network, the wireless access point comprising:

a processor;

a memory medium coupled to the processor, wherein the memory medium comprises program instructions which are executable by the processor to;

receive a plurality of system identifications (SIDs), wherein at least two of the plurality of SIDs are used for providing wireless Ethernet, wherein each system identifier (SID) of the plurality of SIDs indicates an access level;

concurrently utilize the at least two of the plurality of SIDs to communicate with the plurality of computing devices, wherein, in communicating with the plurality of computing devices, the program instructions are further executable by the processor to use wireless Ethernet; and

for each SID of the at least two of the plurality of SIDs, determine the access level indicated by the SID and provide network access at the determined access level to each computing device communicating using the SE).

12. The wireless access point of claim 11,

wherein the plurality SIDs are a plurality of IEEE 802.11 system identifications.

17. The wireless access point of claim 11,

wherein the memory medium further comprises a plurality of SIDs for broadcasting;

wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to;

retrieve at least two SIDs of the plurality of SIDs for broadcasting from the memory medium; and

broadcast the at least two SIDs of the plurality of SIDs for broadcasting.

18. A method for providing access to a distributed wireless network system, wherein the distributed wireless network system includes a plurality of wireless access points coupled to a network, the method comprising:

a first wireless access point of the plurality of wireless access points receiving identification information from a portable computing device, wherein the identification information comprises one or more access levels;

determining at least one access level from the identification information; and

providing network access to the portable computing device based on the at least one access level.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein the identification information includes a digital certificate.

20. A method for providing access to a distributed wireless network system, wherein the distributed wireless network system includes a plurality of wireless access points coupled to a network, the method comprising:

a first wireless access point of the plurality of wireless access points receiving identification information from a portable computing device, wherein the identification information indicates an access level;

determining an access level for the portable computing device after receiving the identification information, wherein the determined access level is independent of a location of the first access point; and

providing network access to the portable computing device based on the determined access level.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the location is a network location.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the location is a geographic location.

23. A method for providing access to a distributed wireless network system, wherein the distributed wireless network system includes a plurality of wireless access points coupled to a network, the method comprising:

a first wireless access point of the plurality of wireless access points receiving identification information from a portable computing device, wherein the identification information indicates an access level;

determining an access level for the portable computing device after receiving the identification information, wherein the determined access level is independent of a location of the portable computing device; and

providing network access to the portable computing device based on the determined access level.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the location is a network location.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the location is a geographic location.

26. A carrier medium comprising program instructions for providing network access to a distributed network system, wherein the distributed network system comprises a plurality of access points, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

receive identification information from a computing device, wherein the identification information is received through a first access point of the plurality of access points;

determine if the identification information is associated with payment information;

if the identification information is associated with payment information, determine an access level based on the payment information and provide network access based on the determined access level; and

if the identification information is not associated with payment information, provide network access based on a default access level or deny network access.

27. The carrier medium of claim 26, wherein the first access point is a wireless access point.

28. The carrier medium of claim 27,

wherein the identification information includes an IEEE 802.11 system identification (SID).

29. The carrier medium of claim 26,

wherein the identification information includes a media access control (MAC) identification.

30. The carrier medium of claim 26,

wherein the identification information includes a name associated with a network service provider.

31. The carrier medium of claim 26,

wherein the identification information includes a digital certificate.

32. The carrier medium of claim 26,

wherein the computing device is a portable computing device.