Methods and apparatus for providing high speed connectivity to a hotel environment

• US 20060187861A1
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guest-tek Interactive Entertainment Ltd.
• Original Assignee: iBAHN General Holdings Corporation (Guest-tek Interactive Entertainment Ltd.)
• Inventors: West, William B., Smith, Wallace Eric, McDaniel, Steven R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4645 Details on frame tagging routing of packets H04L45/00; support for virtual LAN H04L49/354
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/668 Internet protocol [IP] address subnets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/54 Organization of routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/72 Routing based on the source address
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2503 Translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2514 between local and global IP addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5014 using dynamic host configuration protocol [DHCP] or bootstrap protocol [BOOTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5061 Pools of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5084 Providing for device mobility network addressing or numbering for mobility support in wireless networks H04W8/26; mobile IP H04W80/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for providing access to a network via a first one of a plurality of network access nodes in the network. The network access nodes each have a network address associated therewith which is unique on the network, the first network access node having a first network address associated therewith. The first network address is associated with a first computer while the first computer is connected to the first network access node thereby providing access to the network.

Claims

1. A method for restricting access to content on network having a plurality of users associated therewith, comprising:

associating a group identification tag with selected ones of the plurality of users thereby identifying the selected users as members of a specific group;

providing the content on the network; and

restricting access to the content to the selected users using the group identification tag.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the specific group comprises attendees of a conference.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the specific group comprises employees of a specific employer.

4. A method for setting a parameter in a first room in a structure, the structure having a network interconnecting a plurality of network access nodes which facilitate access to the network, selected rooms in the structure having network access nodes, the first room having a first network access node, the method comprising:

transmitting control information corresponding to the parameter to the first network access node;

converting the control information into a control signal for controlling a control system associated with the parameter in the first room; and

controlling the control system to set the parameter in the first room in accordance with the converted control signal.

5. A method for providing information services data in a first room in a structure, the structure having a network interconnecting a plurality of network access nodes which facilitate access to the network, selected rooms in the structure having network access nodes, the first room having a first network access node, the method comprising:

transmitting the information services data to the first network access node; and

display the information services data on a user interface associated with the network access node.

6. A method for automatically customizing a first room in a structure for an individual, the structure having a network interconnecting a plurality of network access nodes which facilitate access to the network, selected rooms in the structure having network access nodes, the first room having a first network access node, the method comprising:

generating a database record corresponding to the individual, the database record comprising information corresponding to a room parameter setting; and

prior to arrival of the individual to a room, transmitting the information to the first network node via the network to effect automatic control of the room parameter setting in accordance with the information.

7. A database record for use in automatically customizing rooms for an individual comprising information corresponding to a room parameter setting which may be transmitted to a room prior to arrival of the individual to effect automatic control of the room parameter setting in accordance with the information.