System to extend service, expand access and protect user data across wireless networks

• US 20070082654A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Speedus Corp.
• Original Assignee: Speedus Corp.
• Inventors: Hovnanian, Shant, Lara, Marcos
• Application Number:
  US11/245,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20070082654A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/73 Access point logical identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/10 between terminal device and access point, i.e. wireless air interface

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for more easily managing secure access to local area net works, so that a member of a community of trusted users is able to have secure, accountable access to the Internet from either their own, home, wireless access point or while roaming via other community-affiliated wireless access points. A communications module running on the wireless device manages the access using an access key that may be determined by a combination of the network name and a community identifier. The communications manager may hide this ability to access the Internet from the user while performing further security checks. Based on whether the user is at home or roaming, the user may be given different access permission such as different levels of quality of service, including different levels of bandwidth throttling.

Claims

1. A method of managing internet access, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a communications manager module, running on a wireless enabled device;

receiving, by said communications manager module, one or more broadcast variables from a wireless access point, affiliated to said community;

determining, by said communications manager module, an access key to said wireless access point, using said one or more broadcast variables.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication manager module further comprises a common community identifier;

wherein said wireless access point further comprises a selected privately operated internet wireless access point;

wherein said one or more broadcast variables comprise a unique hardware identifier of said wireless access point, and a network name; and

wherein determining an access key further comprises combining said hardware identifier and said common community identifier.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing, by said communications manager running on said wireless enabled device and using said wireless access point, a user identity at a community server.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising receiving, by said communications manager running on said wireless enabled device, a user authorization from said community server.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said secure wireless access point further comprises a unique hardware identifier supplied to said community server by said communications manager running on said wireless enabled device;

and wherein said user authorization is one of a roving user and a home user, based in part on said unique hardware identifier.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising setting, by said communications manager running on said wireless enabled device, a quality of service.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said setting a quality of service comprises bandwidth throttling when said user authorization corresponds to said roving user.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising gathering, by said communications manager, a spectrum congestion level;

and resetting a broadcast frequency of said wireless access point to a least congested channel determined using said spectrum congestion level.

9. A system of managing internet access, said method comprising:

a communications manager module, running on a wireless enabled device;

a wireless access point, affiliated to said community;

one or more variables broadcast by said wireless access point and received by said communications manager module;

an access key to said wireless access point, said access key being determined by said communications manager module using said one or more broadcast variables.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said communication manager module further comprises a common community identifier;

wherein said wireless access point further comprises a selected privately operated internet wireless access point;

wherein said one or more broadcast variables comprise a unique hardware identifier of said wireless access point, and a network name; and

wherein said access key is determined by combining said hardware identifier and said common community identifier.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising a user identity at a community server, said user identity being established by said communications manager running on said wireless enabled device and using said wireless access point.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a user authorization, received from said community server by said communications manager running on said wireless enabled device.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said secure wireless access point further comprises a unique hardware identifier supplied to said community server by said communications manager running on said wireless enabled device;

and wherein said user authorization is one of a roving user and a home user, based in part on said unique hardware identifier.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a quality of service, said quality of service set by said communications manager running on said wireless enabled device.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said setting a quality of service comprises bandwidth throttling when said user authorization corresponds to said roving user.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a spectrum congestion level, gathered by said communications manager;

and wherein a broadcast frequency of said wireless access point is reset to a least congested channel, as determined using said spectrum congestion level.