METHOD FOR A HETEROGENEOUS WIRELESS AD HOC MOBILE SERVICE PROVIDER

• US 20090047930A1
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Suri, Atul, Krishnaswamy, Dilip
• Application Number:
  US11/840,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20090047930A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/005 Data network PoA devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

An adhoc service provider includes a user interface. The adhoc service provider is configured to enable a user to wirelessly access a network through the user interface, and provide a wireless access point to the network for a mobile client authenticated by a server.

Claims

1. An adhoc service provider, comprising:

a user interface; and

a processing system configured to enable a user to wirelessly access a network through the user interface, the processing system being further configured to provide a wireless access point to the network for a mobile client authenticated by a server.

2. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to route authentication messages between the mobile client and the server to support the authentication of the mobile client.

3. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to maintain a wireless link with another mobile client, wherein the wireless link is maintained to facilitate handoff of said another mobile client to the another adhoc service provider.

4. The adhoc service provider of claim 3 wherein the processing system is further configured to route authentication messages between the mobile client and the server to pre-authenticate said another mobile client before handoff.

5. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to support an unsecured wireless link with the mobile client during authentication and move the mobile client to a secured wireless link after the mobile client is authenticated.

6. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to broadcast service information from the wireless access point.

7. The adhoc service provider of claim 6 wherein the service information includes cost of service, duration of service, identity of the adhoc service provider, availability of the adhoc service provider, and a quality metric for the adhoc service provider.

8. The adhoc service provider of claim 6 wherein the processing system is further configured to dynamically change the service information

9. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to provide the wireless access point by providing an interconnection between a first wireless access protocol with the mobile client and a second wireless access protocol with the network.

10. The adhoc service provider of claim 9 wherein the first wireless access protocol is different from the second wireless access protocol.

11. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to support a plurality of different wireless access protocols to the network.

12. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to provide the wireless access point to the network for one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server.

13. The adhoc service provider of claim 12 wherein the processing system is further configured to support a plurality of different wireless access protocols with the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients.

14. The adhoc service provider of claim 12 wherein the processing system further comprises a filter configured to ensure that only the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server is provided access to the network through the wireless access point.

15. The adhoc service provider of claim 14 wherein the filter is further configured to manage the amount of content transported through the wireless access point for each of the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server.

16. The adhoc service provider of claim 14 wherein the filter is further configured to manage the amount of content transported through the wireless access point for each of the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server based on priority.

17. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to determine whether it can provide service to the mobile client before providing the mobile client with access to the network.

18. The adhoc service provider of claim 17 wherein the processing system is further configured to determine whether it can provide service to the mobile client based on quality of service requirements, bandwidth requirements, latency requirements, processing requirements, battery usage requirements, or required network access time.

19. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to negotiate a required network access time for the mobile client, the processing system being further configured to notify the mobile client and the server if the processing system later determines that it can no longer support the required network access time for the mobile client.

20. The adhoc service provider of claim 19 wherein the processing system is further configured to support a handoff of the mobile client to another adhoc service provider after notifying the mobile client and server that it can no longer support the required network access time for the mobile client.

21. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to route data between the user interface and the network without the mobile client being able to decipher the data.

22. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is configured to route data between the mobile client and server without being able to decipher the data.

23. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to enable the user to manage the mobile client through the user interface.

24. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system is further configured to manage the mobile client in way that is transparent to the user.

25. The adhoc service provider of claim 1 wherein the processing system further comprises the server to authenticate the mobile client.

26. An adhoc service provider, comprising:

a user interface;

means for enabling a user to wirelessly access a network through the user interface; and

means for providing a wireless access point to the network for a mobile client authenticated by a server.

27. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising means for routing authentication messages between the mobile client and the server to support the authentication of the mobile client.

28. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising means for maintaining a wireless link with another mobile client, wherein the wireless link is maintained to facilitate handoff of said another mobile client to the another adhoc service provider.

29. The adhoc service provider of claim 28 further comprising means for routing authentication messages between the mobile client and the server to pre-authenticate said another mobile client before handoff.

30. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising means for supporting an unsecured wireless link with the mobile client during authentication and means for moving the mobile client to a secured wireless link after the mobile client is authenticated.

31. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising means for broadcasting service information from the wireless access point.

32. The adhoc service provider of claim 31 wherein the service information includes cost of service, duration of service, identity of the adhoc service provider, availability of the adhoc service provider, and a quality metric for the adhoc service provider.

33. The adhoc service provider of claim 31 further comprising means for dynamically changing the service information

34. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 wherein the means for providing a wireless access point to the network further comprises means for providing an interconnection between a first wireless access protocol with the mobile client and a second wireless access protocol with the network.

35. The adhoc service provider of claim 34 wherein the first wireless access protocol is different from the second wireless access protocol.

36. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising means for supporting a plurality of different wireless access protocols to the network.

37. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising means for providing a wireless access point to the network for one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server.

38. The adhoc service provider of claim 37 further comprising means for supporting a plurality of different wireless access protocols with the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients.

39. The adhoc service provider of claim 37 wherein the means for providing a wireless access point to the network further comprises means for ensuring that only the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server is provided access to the network through the wireless access point.

40. The adhoc service provider of claim 39 further comprising means for managing the amount of content transported through the wireless access point for each of the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server.

41. The adhoc service provider of claim 39 further comprising means for managing the amount of content transported through the wireless access point for each of the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server based on priority.

42. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising means for determining whether service can be provided to the mobile client before providing the mobile client with access to the network.

43. The adhoc service provider of claim 42 wherein the means for determining whether service can be provided to the mobile client is based on quality of service requirements, bandwidth requirements, latency requirements, processing requirements, battery usage requirements, or required network access time.

44. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising means for negotiating a required network access time for the mobile client, and means for notifying the mobile client and the server when the required network access time for the mobile client can no longer be supported.

45. The adhoc service provider of claim 44 further comprising means for supporting a handoff of the mobile client to another adhoc service provider after notifying the mobile client and server that the required network access time for the mobile client can no longer be supported.

46. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising means for routing data between the user interface and the network without the mobile client being able to decipher the data.

47. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising means for routing data between the mobile client and server without being able to decipher the data.

48. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising means for enabling the user to manage the mobile client through the user interface.

49. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising means for managing the mobile client in way that is transparent to the user.

50. The adhoc service provider of claim 26 further comprising the server to authenticate the mobile client.

51. A method of providing service from an adhoc service provider having a user interface, the method comprising:

enabling a user to wirelessly access a network through the user interface; and

providing a wireless access point to the network for a mobile client authenticated by a server.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising routing authentication messages between the mobile client and the server to support the authentication of the mobile client.

53. The method of claim 51 further comprising maintaining a wireless link with another mobile client, wherein the wireless link is maintained to facilitate handoff of said another mobile client to the another adhoc service provider.

54. The method of claim 53 further comprising routing authentication messages between the mobile client and the server to pre-authenticate said another mobile client before handoff.

55. The method of claim 51 further comprising supporting an unsecured wireless link with the mobile client during authentication and moving the mobile client to a secured wireless link after the mobile client is authenticated.

56. The method of claim 51 further comprising broadcasting service information from the wireless access point.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the service information includes cost of service, duration of service, identity of the adhoc service provider, availability of the adhoc service provider, and a quality metric for the adhoc service provider.

58. The method of claim 56 further comprising dynamically changing the service information

59. The method of claim 51 wherein the providing of a wireless access point to the network further comprises providing an interconnection between a first wireless access protocol with the mobile client and a second wireless access protocol with the network.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the first wireless access protocol is different from the second wireless access protocol.

61. The method of claim 51 further comprising supporting a plurality of different wireless access protocols to the network.

62. The method of claim 51 further comprising providing a wireless access point to the network for one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server.

63. The method of claim 62 further comprising supporting a plurality of different wireless access protocols with the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients.

64. The method of claim 62 wherein the providing of a wireless access point to the network further comprises ensuring that only the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server is provided access to the network through the wireless access point.

65. The method of claim 64 further comprising managing the amount of content transported through the wireless access point for each of the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server.

66. The method of claim 64 further comprising managing the amount of content transported through the wireless access point for each of the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server based on priority.

67. The method of claim 51 further comprising determining whether service can be provided to the mobile client before providing the mobile client with access to the network.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein the determining of whether service can be provided to the mobile client is based on quality of service requirements, bandwidth requirements, latency requirements, processing requirements, battery usage requirements, or required network access time.

69. The method of claim 51 further comprising negotiating a required network access time for the mobile client, and notifying the mobile client and the server when the required network access time for the mobile client can no longer be supported.

70. The method of claim 69 further comprising supporting a handoff of the mobile client to another adhoc service provider after notifying the mobile client and server that the required network access time for the mobile client can no longer be supported.

71. The method of claim 51 further comprising routing data between the user interface and the network without the mobile client being able to decipher the data.

72. The method of claim 51 further comprising routing data between the mobile client and server without being able to decipher the data.

73. The method of claim 51 further comprising enabling the user to manage the mobile client through the user interface.

74. The method of claim 51 further comprising managing the mobile client in way that is transparent to the user.

75. The method of claim 51 further comprising providing the server to authenticate the mobile client.

76. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a processing system in an adhoc service provider having a user interface, the instructions comprising:

code for enabling a user to wirelessly access a network through the user interface; and

code for providing a wireless access point to the network for a mobile client authenticated by a server.

77. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for routing authentication messages between the mobile client and the server to support the authentication of the mobile client.

78. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for maintaining a wireless link with another mobile client, wherein the wireless link is maintained to facilitate handoff of said another mobile client to the another adhoc service provider.

79. The machine-readable medium of claim 78 wherein the instructions further comprise code for routing authentication messages between the mobile client and the server to pre-authenticate said another mobile client before handoff.

80. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for supporting an unsecured wireless link with the mobile client during authentication and code for moving the mobile client to a secured wireless link after the mobile client is authenticated.

81. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for broadcasting service information from the wireless access point.

82. The machine-readable medium of claim 81 wherein the service information includes cost of service, duration of service, identity of the adhoc service provider, availability of the adhoc service provider, and a quality metric for the adhoc service provider.

83. The machine-readable medium of claim 81 wherein the instructions further comprise code for dynamically changing the service information

84. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the code for providing a wireless access point to the network further comprises code for providing an interconnection between a first wireless access protocol with the mobile client and a second wireless access protocol with the network.

85. The machine-readable medium of claim 84 wherein the first wireless access protocol is different from the second wireless access protocol.

86. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for supporting a plurality of different wireless access protocols to the network.

87. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for providing a wireless access point to the network for one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server.

88. The machine-readable medium of claim 87 wherein the instructions further comprise code for supporting a plurality of different wireless access protocols with the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients.

89. The machine-readable medium of claim 87 wherein the code for providing a wireless access point to the network further comprises code for ensuring that only the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server is provided access to the network through the wireless access point.

90. The machine-readable medium of claim 89 wherein the instructions further comprise code for managing the amount of content transported through the wireless access point for each of the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server.

91. The machine-readable medium of claim 89 wherein the instructions further comprise code for managing the amount of content transported through the wireless access point for each of the mobile client and the one or more additional mobile clients authenticated by the server based on priority.

92. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for determining whether service can be provided to the mobile client before providing the mobile client with access to the network.

93. The machine-readable medium of claim 92 wherein the code for determining whether service can be provided to the mobile client makes such determination based on quality of service requirements, bandwidth requirements, latency requirements, processing requirements, battery usage requirements, or required network access time.

94. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for negotiating a required network access time for the mobile client, and code for notifying the mobile client and the server when the required network access time for the mobile client can no longer be supported.

95. The machine-readable medium of claim 94 wherein the instructions further comprise code for supporting a handoff of the mobile client to another adhoc service provider after notifying the mobile client and server that the required network access time for the mobile client can no longer be supported.

96. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for routing data between the user interface and the network without the mobile client being able to decipher the data.

97. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for routing data between the mobile client and server without being able to decipher the data.

98. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for enabling the user to manage the mobile client through the user interface.

99. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for managing the mobile client in way that is transparent to the user.

100. The machine-readable medium of claim 76 wherein the instructions further comprise code for providing the server to authenticate the mobile client.