Providing and receiving network access

• US 20070033197A1
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WEFI Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Contigo Mobility, Inc.
• Inventors: Scherzer, Shimon, Scherzer, Tamir
• Granted Patent: US 8,751,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

Providing network access is disclosed. A request is received for access information. User contribution account acceptability is determined. Access information is provided.

Claims

1. A method of providing network access comprising:

receiving a request for access information;

determining user contribution account acceptability; and

providing access information.

2. The method in claim 1, wherein the request for access information is requested using one or more of the following:

a software client and a web application.

3. The method in claim 2, wherein the software client enables one or more of the following:

a user to monitor use of an access point, a user to control access to an access point, a user to permit use of an access point, a user to view other users connected to an access point, a user to view levels of traffic to or from an access point, and a user to deny use of an access point.

4. The method in claim 1, further comprising causing access to be granted.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein access information can be used to access one or more of the following:

the Internet, the world wide web, network services, wireless network services, broadband wireless network services, broadband wireless network services via Wi-Fi access points, broadband wireless network services via a social network, and broadband wireless network services via a social network that is enabled by a community of collaborative users.

6. The method in claim 1, wherein a first element of access information is calculated from a second element of access information.

7. The method in claim 1, further comprising receiving user registration information.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein registration information includes one or more of the following:

the user'"'"'s access point information to enable a second user to use the user'"'"'s access point, the user'"'"'s identifier information, the user'"'"'s access point SSID, the user'"'"'s access point WEP key, the user'"'"'s access point WPA key, and the user'"'"'s access point bandwidth allocation for a second user.

9. The method in claim 1, further comprising accepting user registration information.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein determining user contribution account acceptability includes checking user contribution account registration information for a user.

11. The method in claim 1, wherein user contribution account acceptability comprises one or more of the following:

having agreed to a trial period and being associated with a temporary user contribution account, having registered and being associated with a temporary user contribution account, having a temporary user contribution account, having a user contribution account, having a user contribution account balance, having a user contribution account balance above a threshold value, having a user contribution account balance below a threshold value, and having a user contribution account balance in a range a values.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein verifying user contribution account acceptability includes verifying that the user has an acceptable user contribution account balance.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein user contribution account balance is added to when bandwidth is used by a second user when accessing the user'"'"'s access point.

14. A method as in claim 12, wherein user contribution account balance is subtracted from when bandwidth is used by the user when accessing a third user'"'"'s access point.

15. The method in claim 12, wherein additions to a user contribution account balance are weighted proportional to a user'"'"'s access point bandwidth allocation to other users.

16. The method in claim 12, wherein additions to a user contribution account balance are weighted proportional to a user'"'"'s access point bandwidth used by a second user.

17. A method as in claim 1, wherein the access information is provided using one or more of the following:

a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and a wireless access point.

18. A method as in claim 1, further comprising receiving connection status information that can be used to select appropriate access point for a user.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein the status information includes one or more of the following:

visible network access points, signal strength for visible network access points, number of users using a visible access points, average transfer rates to or from the visible network access points, bandwidth allocation to a visiting user for visible network access points, retry statistics for visible network access points, the user'"'"'s access point bandwidth allocation for other users, and statistics of return ping delays for visible network access points.

20. A method as in claim 1, further comprising providing connection status information that can be used to select appropriate access point for a user.

21. A method as in claim 20, wherein the status information includes one or more of the following:

visible network access points, signal strength for visible network access points, average transfer rates to or from the visible network access points, bandwidth allocation for visible network access points, retry statistics for visible network access points, the user'"'"'s access point bandwidth allocation for other users, and statistics of return ping delays for visible network access points.

22. A system for providing network access comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;

receive a request for access information;

determine user contribution account acceptability; and

provide access information.

23. A computer program product for providing network access, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a request for access information;

determining user contribution account acceptability; and

providing access information.

24. A method of acquiring network access comprising:

transmitting a request for access information;

requesting user contribution account acceptability; and

receiving access information.

25. The method in claim 24, further comprising requesting access to be granted.

26. A method as in claim 24, wherein access information can be used to access one or more of the following:

the Internet, network services, wireless network services, broadband wireless network services, broadband wireless network services via Wi-Fi Access points, broadband wireless network services via a social network, and broadband wireless network services via a social network that is enabled by a community of collaborative users.

27. The method in claim 24, further comprising transmitting user registration information.

28. A method as in claim 27, wherein registration information includes one or more of the following:

the user'"'"'s access point information to enable a second user to use the 1s user'"'"'s access point, the user'"'"'s identifier information, the user'"'"'s access point SSID, the user'"'"'s access point WEP key, the user'"'"'s access point WPA key, and the user'"'"'s access point bandwidth allocation for a second user.

29. The method in claim 24, wherein a first element of access information is calculated from a second element of access information.

30. The method in claim 24, further comprising requesting acceptance of user registration information.

31. A method as in claim 24, wherein determining user contribution account acceptability includes checking user contribution account registration information for a user.

32. The method in claim 24, wherein user contribution account acceptability comprises one or more of the following:

having agreed to a trial period and being associated with a temporary user contribution account, having registered and being associated with a temporary user contribution account, having a temporary user contribution account, having a user contribution account, having a user contribution account balance, having a user contribution account balance above a threshold value, having a user contribution account balance below a threshold value, and having a user contribution account balance in a range a values.

33. A method as in claim 24, wherein verifying user contribution account acceptability includes verifying that the user has an acceptable user contribution account balance.

34. A method as in claim 33, wherein user contribution account balance is added to when bandwidth is used by a second user when accessing the user'"'"'s access point.

35. A method as in claim 33, wherein user contribution account balance is subtracted from when bandwidth is used by the user when accessing a third user'"'"'s access point.

36. The method in claim 33, wherein additions to a user contribution account balance are weighted proportional to a user'"'"'s access point bandwidth allocation to other users.

37. The method in claim 33, wherein additions to a user contribution account balance are weighted proportional to a user'"'"'s access point bandwidth used by a second user.

38. A method as in claim 24, wherein the access information is provided using one or more of the following:

a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and a wireless access point.

39. A method as in claim 24, further comprising transmitting connection status information that can be used to select appropriate access point for a user.

40. A method as in claim 39, wherein the status information includes one or more of the following:

visible network access points, signal strength for visible network access points, number of users using a visible access points, average transfer rates to or from the visible network access points, bandwidth allocation to a visiting user for visible network access points, retry statistics for visible network access points, and statistics of return ping delays for visible network access points.

41. A method as in claim 24, further comprising receiving connection status information that can be used to select appropriate access point for a user.

42. A method as in claim 41, wherein the status information includes one or more of the following:

visible network access points, signal strength for visible network access points, average transfer rates to or from the visible network access points, bandwidth allocation for visible network access points, retry statistics for visible network access points, and statistics of return ping delays for visible network access points.

43. A system for acquiring network access comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;

transmit a request for access information;

request user contribution account acceptability; and

receive access information.

44. A computer program product for acquiring network access, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

transmitting a request for access information;

requesting user contribution account acceptability; and

receiving access information.