Billing control methods in wireless hot spots
First Claim
1. A process of billing for access to and use of a wireless hotspot by a portable device, said process comprising:
- detecting a signal from the wireless hotspot;
requesting access to the wireless hotspot;
awaiting a reply to the access request from the wireless hotspot;
supplying account information to an access providing entity;
awaiting a billing authorization from the access providing entity; and
exchanging data with the wireless hotspot by the portable device when a billing authorized is received from the access providing entity;
wherein the account information is used to keep track of charges accrued through the access to and use of the wireless hotspot by the portable device.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process of billing for access to and use of a wireless hotspot by a portable device is disclosed. A signal from the wireless hotspot is detected and access to the wireless hotspot is requested. The portable device awaits reply to the access request from the wireless hotspot and supplies account information to an access providing entity. Next, the portable device awaits a billing authorization from the access providing entity and, thereafter, data is exchanged with the wireless hotspot by the portable device when a billing authorized is received from the access providing entity. The account information is used to keep track of charges accrued through the access to and use of the wireless hotspot by the portable device.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. A process of billing for access to and use of a wireless hotspot by a portable device, said process comprising:
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detecting a signal from the wireless hotspot;
requesting access to the wireless hotspot;
awaiting a reply to the access request from the wireless hotspot;
supplying account information to an access providing entity;
awaiting a billing authorization from the access providing entity; and
exchanging data with the wireless hotspot by the portable device when a billing authorized is received from the access providing entity;
wherein the account information is used to keep track of charges accrued through the access to and use of the wireless hotspot by the portable device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A process of billing for access to and use of a wireless hotspot by a portable device, said process comprising:
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sending a signal inviting portable devices to seek access to the wireless hotspot;
awaiting a reply to the signal from the portable device;
requesting account information with the account information being specific to an access providing entity;
receiving authorization information from one of the portable device and the access providing entity;
authorizing access to the wireless hotspot by the portable device, when the received authorization information is determined to authorize access to the wireless hotspot;
exchanging data with the wireless hotspot by the portable device subsequent to authorizing access to the wireless hotspot;
wherein the account information is used to keep track of charges accrued through the access to and use of the wireless hotspot by the portable device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A billing processor for billing of access to and use of a wireless hotspot by a portable device, said billing processor comprising:
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detecting means for detecting a signal from the wireless hotspot;
requesting means for requesting access to the wireless hotspot;
first timing means for awaiting a reply to the access request from the wireless hotspot;
supplying means for supplying account information to an access providing entity;
second timing means for awaiting a billing authorization from the access providing entity; and
communication means for exchanging data with the wireless hotspot by the portable device when a billing authorized is received from the access providing entity;
wherein the account information is used to keep track of charges accrued through the access to and use of the wireless hotspot by the portable device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A billing processor for billing of access to and use of a wireless hotspot by a portable device, said billing processor comprising:
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sending means for sending a signal inviting portable devices to seek access to the wireless hotspot;
timing means for awaiting a reply to the signal from the portable device;
requesting means for requesting account information with the account information being specific to an access providing entity;
receiving means for receiving authorization information from one of the portable device and the access providing entity;
authorizing means for authorizing access to the wireless hotspot by the portable device, when the received authorization information is determined to authorize access to the wireless hotspot;
communications means for exchanging data with the wireless hotspot by the portable device subsequent to authorizing access to the wireless hotspot;
wherein the account information is used to keep track of charges accrued through the access to and use of the wireless hotspot by the portable device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A billing processor for billing of access to and use of a wireless hotspot by a portable device, said billing processor comprising:
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a detector for detecting a signal from the wireless hotspot;
a requestor for requesting access to the wireless hotspot;
a first timer for awaiting a reply to the access request from the wireless hotspot;
a first supplier for supplying account information to an access providing entity;
a second timer for awaiting a billing authorization from the access providing entity; and
a communicator for exchanging data with the wireless hotspot by the portable device when a billing authorized is received from the access providing entity;
wherein the account information is used to keep track of charges accrued through the access to and use of the wireless hotspot by the portable device. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A billing processor for billing of access to and use of a wireless hotspot by a portable device, said billing processor comprising:
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a sender for sending a signal inviting portable devices to seek access to the wireless hotspot; and
a timer for awaiting a reply to the signal from the portable device;
a requester for requesting account information with the account information being specific to an access providing entity;
a receiver for receiving authorization information from one of the portable device and the access providing entity;
an authorizer for authorizing access to the wireless hotspot by the portable device, when the received authorization information is determined to authorize access to the wireless hotspot; and
a communicator for exchanging data with the wireless hotspot by the portable device subsequent to authorizing access to the wireless hotspot;
wherein the account information is used to keep track of charges accrued through the access to and use of the wireless hotspot by the portable device. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification