System and method for providing wireless services within a wireless local area network

• US 7,130,612 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2000
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Caceres, Ramon, Blewett, Charles Douglas, Ramming, James Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US09/580,685
• Time in Patent Office: 2,345 Days
• Field of Search: 455405-408, 455/414, 455/445, 705/76, 705/52, 370/352, 370/349, 370/397, 370/121, 709/324
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• 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 15/8207 Time based data metric aspects, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8214 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8242 Transaction based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/106 using commercial credit or debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/14 using commercial credit/debit cards, e.g. VISA, AMEX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7813 Time based data, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/782 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7846 Transaction based

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for providing a temporary wireless service connection to one or more users within a wireless local area network. In-building services and Internet related services are provided to the users over their respective temporary wireless service connections. Each user is charged for their specific usage amounts which may be based on the number of packets transferred, the number of bytes transferred, the number of distinct transactions and/or the time period each user'"'"'s temporary wireless service connection was active.

Claims

1. A method for providing a temporary wireless service connection to one or more users in a wireless local area network, comprising:

receiving a request for temporary wireless service for a predetermined time interval from a user;

establishing a temporary wireless service connection for the user, wherein a dynamic host configuration mechanism apportions an IP address to the user for the predetermined time interval, and terminates the connection when the predetermined time interval expires;

determining a usage amount for the temporary wireless service connection for the user, the usage amount being based at least in part on the number of minutes in the predetermined time interval; and

charging the user for the usage amount for the temporary wireless service connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is charged for the usage amount based on the number of minutes the user was provided with the temporary wireless service connection.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage amount is determined at least in part by the amount of data transferred by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of establishing a temporary wireless service connection for the user includes receiving payment information from the user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of establishing a temporary wireless service connection for the user includes verifying the payment information received from the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the temporary wireless service connection is terminated as requested by the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein charging the user for the usage amount for the temporary wireless service connection includes receiving a payment from the user.