System and Method of User Access Service Levels in a Distributed Network Communication System

• US 20080089295A1
• Filed: 12/10/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ian Fink, James Keeler, Matthew Krenzer
• Original Assignee: Ian Fink, James Keeler, Matthew Krenzer
• Inventors: Fink, Ian, Krenzer, Matthew, Keeler, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/332
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1446 inter-operator billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1467 involving prepayment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• 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 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7442 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A system and method uses a plurality of access points coupled to a network, wherein at least one of the plurality of access points is operable to communicate with a computing device, and a network provider server communicatively coupled to a network. The network provider server is operable to perform initiating communication between a computing device and a network, wherein the computing device is coupled to the network through an access point of the plurality of access points at a geographic location, determining different levels of services apply at the venue, presenting one or more of the different levels of services for selection by a user of the computing device, and delivering a level of service selected by the user, among the different levels of services, over the network to the computing device.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to a network, the method comprising:

initiating communication between a computing device and a network, wherein the computing device is coupled to the network through an access point at a geographic location;

determining different levels of services apply at the venue;

presenting one or more of the different levels of services for selection by a user of the computing device; and

delivering a level of service selected by the user, among the different levels of services, over the network to the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein two or more levels of service of the different levels of services are offered at different prices.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising billing a roaming partner associated with the user for the level of service selected by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining comprises determining the one or more different levels of services dependent upon the geographic location of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the different levels of services presented to the user are dependent upon the roaming partner associated with the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the geographic location is identified by the geographic location of a venue where the computing device is located.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more of the different levels of services presented to the user are dependent upon identification information received from the computing device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the identification information is the service set identifier (SSID) for the network.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the identification information indicates a virtual local area network (VLAN) over which the computing device communicates with the network.

10. A system comprising:

a plurality of access points coupled to a network, wherein at least one of the plurality of access points is operable to communicate with a computing device; and

a network provider server communicatively coupled to a network, wherein the network provider server is operable to perform;

initiating communication between a computing device and a network, wherein the computing device is coupled to the network through an access point of the plurality of access points at a geographic location;

determining different levels of services apply at the venue;

presenting one or more of the different levels of services for selection by a user of the computing device; and

delivering a level of service selected by the user, among the different levels of services, over the network to the computing device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein two or more levels of service of the different levels of services are offered at different prices.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising billing a roaming partner associated with the user for the level of service selected by the user.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein determining comprises determining the one or more different levels of services dependent upon the geographic location of the user.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more of the different levels of services presented to the user are dependent upon the roaming partner associated with the user.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the geographic location is identified by the geographic location of a venue where the computing device is located.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more of the different levels of services presented to the user are dependent upon identification information received from the computing device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the identification information is the service set identifier (SSID) for the network.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the identification information indicates a virtual local area network (VLAN) over which the computing device communicates with the network.

19. A program product comprising a machine-readable medium including program logic therein that when executed cause the functions of:

initiating communication between a computing device and a network, wherein the computing device is coupled to the network through an access point at a geographic location;

determining different levels of services apply at the venue;

presenting one or more of the different levels of services for selection by a user of the computing device; and

delivering a level of service selected by the user, among the different levels of services, over the network to the computing device.

20. The program product of claim 19, wherein two or more levels of service of the different levels of services are offered at different prices.

21. The program product of claim 19, further comprising billing a roaming partner associated with the user for the level of service selected by the user.

22. The program product of claim 19, wherein determining comprises determining the one or more different levels of services dependent upon the geographic location of the user.

23. The program product of claim 19, wherein the one or more of the different levels of services presented to the user are dependent upon the roaming partner associated with the user.

24. The program product of claim 19, wherein the geographic location is identified by the geographic location of a venue where the computing device is located.

25. The program product of claim 19, wherein the one or more of the different levels of services presented to the user are dependent upon identification information received from the computing device.