Hotspot Communication Limiter

• US 20080039102A1
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CradlePoint Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: CradlePoint Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Johnson, Dave, Sewall, Pat
• Granted Patent: US 9,232,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/60 Subscription-based services using application servers or record carriers, e.g. SIM application toolkits
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An embodiment is directed to a method for limiting network communications. The method is implemented at a device through which communications can be routed between client devices and the internet. The method includes receiving a routable communication. A communication type for the routable communication is identified. The communication type may be owner, authorized, or anonymous. Access rules for the identified communication type are identified. The routing of the communication is limited according to the identified access rules.

Claims

1. A method for limiting network communications, the method being implemented at a device through which communications can be routed between client devices and the internet, the method comprising:

receiving a routable communication;

identifying a communication type for the routable communication, the communication type being owner, authorized, or anonymous;

identifying access rules for the identified communication type;

limiting the routing of the communication according to the identified access rules.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein limiting comprises determining if routing the communication to its intended destination will contravene the access rules and routing the communication to its intended destination only if it is determined that the access rules will not be contravened.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein identifying access rules comprise identifying one or more of a term limit, a session limit, a bandwidth limit, and a data transfer limit.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining configuration data and wherein identifying access rules comprises parsing the configuration data to identify the access rules for the identified communication type.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the device connects to the internet via a data exchanger and wherein obtaining comprises obtaining the configuration data from a service provider for the data exchanger.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data exchanger is a data capable cellular device and wherein obtaining comprises causing the data exchanger to establish a data connection with the service provider and receiving the configuration data from the service provider via the data connection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying a communication type comprises identifying the communication type as anonymous, and limiting the routing of the communication comprises:

allowing the communication to be routed if the identified access rules indicate that anonymous communications are allowed; and

preventing the communication from being routed and causing access data to be communicated to the source of the communication if the identified access rules indicate that anonymous communications are not allowed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein causing access data to be communicated comprises causing a user interface for entering payment information to be communicated to the source, the payment information to be communicated to a payment service.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a verification response from the payment service and if the verification response verifies the payment information, identifying subsequent communications from the source as authorized communications to be routed to their intended destinations.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein if the verification response indicates that the payment information is verified, monitoring a session corresponding to the source of the communication and communicating session data to the payment service.

11. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for:

receiving a routable communication;

identifying a communication type for the routable communication, the communication type being owner, authorized, or anonymous;

identifying access rules for the identified communication type;

limiting the routing of the communication according to the identified access rules.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions for limiting include instructions for determining if routing the communication to its intended destination will contravene the access rules and routing the communication to its intended destination only if it is determined that the access rules will not be contravened.

13. The medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions for identifying access rules comprise identifying one or more of a term limit, a session limit, a bandwidth limit, and a data transfer limit.

14. The medium of claim 11, having further instructions for obtaining configuration data and wherein the instructions for identifying access rules include instructions for parsing the configuration data to identify the access rules for the identified communication type.

15. The medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions are executed by a device through which communications can be routed between client devices and the internet via a data exchanger and wherein the instructions for obtaining include instructions for obtaining the configuration data from a service provider for the data exchanger.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions for the data exchanger is a data capable cellular device and wherein the instructions for obtaining include instructions for causing the data exchanger to establish a data connection with the service provider and receiving the configuration data from the service provider via the data connection.

17. The medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions for identifying a communication type include instructions for identifying the communication type as anonymous, and limiting the routing of the communication include instructions for:

allowing the communication to be routed if the identified access rules indicate that anonymous communications are allowed; and

preventing the communication from being routed and causing access data to be communicated to the source of the communication if the identified access rules indicate that anonymous communications are not allowed.

18. The medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions for causing access data to be communicated include instructions for causing a user interface for entering payment information to be communicated to the source, the payment information to be communicated to a payment service.

19. The medium of claim 18, having further instructions for receiving a verification response from the payment service and if the verification response verifies the payment information, identifying subsequent communications from the source as authorized communications to be routed to their intended destinations.

20. The medium of claim 19, having further instructions for monitoring a session corresponding to the source of the communication and communicating session data to the payment service if the verification response indicates that the payment information is verified.

21. A device for routing communications between client devices and the internet comprising:

a router operable to receive a routable communication and to route the communication to an intended destination; and

a limiter operable to;

receiving a routable communication;

identifying a communication type for the routable communication, the communication type being owner, authorized, or anonymous;

identifying access rules for the identified communication type;

limiting the routing of the communication by the router according to the identified access rules.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the limiter is operable to determine if routing the communication to its intended destination will contravene the access rules and route the communication to its intended destination only if it is determined that the access rules will not be contravened.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the limiter is operable to identify access rules that include one or more of a term limit, a session limit, a bandwidth limit, and a data transfer limit.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the limiter is operable to obtain configuration data and identify access by parsing the configuration data to identify the access rules for the identified communication type.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the device connects to the internet via a data exchanger and wherein the limiter is operable to obtain the configuration data from a service provider for the data exchanger.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein:

the data exchanger is a data capable cellular device;

the device comprises a connector operable to cause the data exchanger to establish a data connection with the service provider; and

the limiter is operable to obtain the configuration data from the service provider via the data connection.

27. The device of claim 21, wherein the limiter is operable to identify the communication type as anonymous, and limit the routing of the communication by:

allowing the communication to be routed if the identified access rules indicate that anonymous communications are allowed; and

preventing the communication from being routed and causing access data to be communicated to the source of the communication if the identified access rules indicate that anonymous communications are not allowed.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the limiter is operable to cause access data to be communicated by causing a user interface for entering payment information to be communicated to the source, the payment information to be communicated to a payment service.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the limiter is operable to receive a verification response from the payment service and, if the verification response verifies the payment information, to identify subsequent communications from the source as authorized communications to be routed to their intended destinations.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the limiter is operable to monitor a session corresponding to the source of the communication and communicate session data to the payment service if the verification response indicates that the payment information is verified.