Method for providing wireless services
First Claim
1. A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a wireless service provider; and
the wireless service provider receiving a first payment from a first carrier entity for installation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for providing distributed network access point installation and management. A network provider installs and/or operates a plurality of access points at locations of a retail entity. Each access point may provide services such as Internet access, and/or content such as audio, video, text, and/or graphics, among other types of services. A carrier, such as a telephone or cable company, may compensate the network service provider for installation and operation of the access points. The carrier may in turn charge its subscribers for network access at the retail entity locations. A plurality of different carriers may provide compensation and allow respective subscriber access. The network access points may be configured to allow each carrier to present a point of presence to its subscribers at the retail entity locations. The installed network may also provide service for retail entity back office functions.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a wireless service provider; and
the wireless service provider receiving a first payment from a first carrier entity for installation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a wireless service provider;
a first carrier entity providing a first payment to the wireless service provider for installation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity; and
a computer system operated by the first carrier entity providing invoices to a plurality of users, wherein the invoices charge for wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are operated by a wireless service provider;
a plurality of carrier entities providing payment to the wireless service provider for operation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity; and
for each of the plurality of carrier entities, a computer system operated by a respective carrier entity providing invoices to a respective plurality of users, wherein the invoices charge for wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a wireless service provider, wherein at least a substantial portion of the installation of the plurality of wireless access points is paid for by a first carrier entity; and
a computer system operated by the first carrier entity providing invoices to a plurality of users, wherein the invoices charge for wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity.
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23. A system for providing wireless network services, the system comprising:
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a plurality of wireless access points located at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a wireless service provider;
wherein a first carrier entity is operable to provide a first payment to the wireless service provider for installation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity;
a computer system operated by the first carrier entity which is operable to provide invoices to a plurality of users, wherein the invoices charge for wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity.
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24. A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a wireless service provider;
a first carrier entity providing a first payment to the wireless service provider for installation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity;
a portable computing device operated by a first user communicating with a wireless access point at one of said locations of the at least one retail entity; and
the first user paying an access fee to a computer system operated by the first carrier entity. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a network service provider; and
configuring the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity, thereby allowing a plurality of subscribers of a first carrier to use the plurality of wireless access points.
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27. A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a network service provider; and
a first wireless access point of the a plurality of wireless access points receiving system identification information from a portable computing device, wherein the system identification information indicates a carrier of a plurality of possible carriers, wherein said first access point includes a memory medium which stores a data structure comprising a list of system identification information entries each indicating at least one carrier of the plurality of possible carriers;
determining the carrier for the portable computing device after receiving the system identification information, wherein said determining the carrier for the portable computing device includes accessing the memory medium and using the received system identification information to determine the carrier;
determining one or more services of the carrier after determining the carrier for the portable computing device, wherein said determining the one or more services of the carrier includes accessing a second memory medium and using the determined carrier to determine the one or more services of the carrier; and
providing the one or more services of the carrier determined in said determining one or more services of the carrier to the portable computing device through the first access point. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A network system, comprising:
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a network;
a plurality of access points coupled to the network, wherein the plurality of access points are distributed among a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a network service provider, wherein each of the plurality of access points is operable to communicate with a portable computing device, wherein each of the plurality of access points is configured to receive system identification information from the portable computing device indicating a carrier of a plurality of possible carriers, wherein each of the plurality of access points includes a memory medium which stores a data structure, wherein the data structure comprises a list of system identification information entries and corresponding carriers, wherein each entry indicates a respective carrier of the plurality of possible carriers;
wherein each of the plurality of access points is operable to determine the carrier indicated in the system identification information;
wherein, in determining the carrier for the portable computing device, each of the plurality of access points is operable to access the memory medium and use the received system identification information to determine the carrier;
wherein one or more services of the determined carrier are provided to the portable computing device. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification