AUTHORIZATION AND AUTHENTICATION OF USER ACCESS TO A DISTRIBUTED NETWORK COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH ROAMING FEATURE
First Claim
1. A method for providing access to a network, wherein a plurality of access points operated by a network provider are coupled to the network, the method comprising:
- in response to a request from client software on a client computer communicatively coupled to a first access point, returning an activation response message to the client software on the client computer from the network provider, wherein the activation response message comprises a router address;
receiving a username and a password at the router address, wherein the username and password are usable to authorize access to the network for a user account;
sending the username and password from the network provider to a roaming partner to determine whether the user account is authenticated;
if an authentication response from the roaming partner indicates that the user account is authenticated by the roaming partner, the network provider authorizing access to the network for the user account; and
if the authentication response indicates that the user account is not authenticated by the roaming partner, the network provider denying access to the network for the user account.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing roaming access on a network are disclosed. The network includes a plurality of wireless and/or wired access points. A user may access the network by using client software on a client computer (e.g., a portable computing device) to initiate an access procedure. In response, a network management device operated by a network provider may return an activation response message to the client. The client may send the user'"'"'s username and password to the network provider. The network provider may rely on a roaming partner, another network provider with whom the user subscribes for internet access, for authentication of the user. Industry-standard methods such as RADIUS, CHAP, or EAP may be used for authentication. The providers may exchange pricing and service information and account information for the authentication session. A customer may select a pricing and service option from a list of available options.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for providing access to a network, wherein a plurality of access points operated by a network provider are coupled to the network, the method comprising:
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in response to a request from client software on a client computer communicatively coupled to a first access point, returning an activation response message to the client software on the client computer from the network provider, wherein the activation response message comprises a router address;
receiving a username and a password at the router address, wherein the username and password are usable to authorize access to the network for a user account;
sending the username and password from the network provider to a roaming partner to determine whether the user account is authenticated;
if an authentication response from the roaming partner indicates that the user account is authenticated by the roaming partner, the network provider authorizing access to the network for the user account; and
if the authentication response indicates that the user account is not authenticated by the roaming partner, the network provider denying access to the network for the user account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13)
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7. A method for providing access to a network, the method comprising:
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using client software at a first access point on the network to send an access request to a network provider;
the network provider returning a network address to the client software in response to the access request;
the client software sending a username and a password to the network provider at the network address, wherein the username and password correspond to a user account;
sending the username and password from the network provider to a roaming partner;
the roaming partner determining whether the user account is authenticated;
if the user account is authenticated by the roaming partner, the network provider authorizing access to the network for the user account; and
if the user account is not authenticated by the roaming partner, the network provider denying access to the network for the user account. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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14. A system comprising:
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a network, wherein a network provider and a roaming partner are communicatively coupled to the network;
a plurality of access points coupled to the network, wherein at least one of the plurality of access points is operable to communicate with a client computer, wherein the client computer stores client software which is executable by the client computer;
wherein the client software is executable by the client computer to perform a get operation on a server;
wherein the network provider is configured to return an activation response message to the client software in response to the get operation, wherein the activation response message comprises a router address;
wherein the client software is executable by the client computer to send a username and a password to the network provider at the router address, wherein the username and password are usable to authorize access to the network for a user account;
wherein the network provider is configured to send the username and password to the roaming partner;
wherein the roaming partner is configured to determine whether the user account is authenticated and send an authentication response to the network provider;
wherein the network provider is configured to authorize access to the network for the user account if the authentication response indicates that the user account is authenticated by the roaming partner; and
wherein the network provider is configured to deny access to the network for the user account if the authentication response indicates that the user account is not authenticated by the roaming partner. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a network, wherein a network provider and a roaming partner are communicatively coupled to the network;
a plurality of access points coupled to the network, wherein at least one of the plurality of access points is operable to communicate with a client computer, wherein the client computer stores client software which is executable by the client computer;
wherein the client software is executable by the client computer to send an access request to the network provider;
wherein a network provider is configured to return a network address to the client software in response to the get operation;
wherein the client software is executable by the client computer to send a username and a password to the network provider at the network address, wherein the username and password correspond to a user account;
wherein the network provider is configured to send the username and password to the roaming partner;
wherein the roaming partner is configured to determine whether the user account is authenticated;
wherein the network provider is configured to authorize access to the network for the user account if the user account is authenticated by the roaming partner; and
wherein the network provider is configured to deny access to the network for the user account if the user account is not authenticated by the roaming partner. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification