Method and apparatus for enabling and rewarding wireless resource sharing
First Claim
1. A wireless apparatus operative for communication with a wireless local area network communication system and also operative for communication with a wireless wide areas communication system comprising:
- a circuit operative to receive data representing whether a user desires to participate in allowing a wireless apparatus to share its wireless resources with proximal wireless units;
operative to generate a message for the WAN indicating whether the wireless apparatus will allow shared use of its local area network wireless resources with proximal wireless units that are in the wireless local area network; and
operative to enable the wireless apparatus to share its local area network wireless resources in response to the data representing whether a user desires to participate in allowing the wireless apparatus to share its wireless resources.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus determines whether a wireless apparatus (106a) that is operative to communicate over both a wireless wide area network (104) and a wireless local area network (102), will allow shared use of its short range wireless resources, such as LAN radio frequency bandwidth, optical bandwidth or other local area wireless resources, with other proximal wireless units (106b–106n) in the wireless local area network (102). In addition, the method and apparatus generated reward data (116) to provide a reward, such as free telephone calls, account credits, price reductions, or other rewards, so that a billing system is updated when a wireless apparatus (106a–106n) has been designated as allowing shared use of its wireless resources by other proximal wireless units.
27 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A wireless apparatus operative for communication with a wireless local area network communication system and also operative for communication with a wireless wide areas communication system comprising:
a circuit operative to receive data representing whether a user desires to participate in allowing a wireless apparatus to share its wireless resources with proximal wireless units;
operative to generate a message for the WAN indicating whether the wireless apparatus will allow shared use of its local area network wireless resources with proximal wireless units that are in the wireless local area network; and
operative to enable the wireless apparatus to share its local area network wireless resources in response to the data representing whether a user desires to participate in allowing the wireless apparatus to share its wireless resources.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Specification