Wireless trusted point of access to a computer network

• US 7,149,805 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bartolome, Emiliano, Vondran, Gary L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kang, Paul H.
• Application Number:
  US09/999,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 709/219, 709/225, 709/227, 709/229, 709/230, 709/248, 709/223, 709/224, 709/226, 709/246, 709/250, 709/249, 455/432.2, 455/564, 455/420, 380/270, 370/338
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A communication system includes a computer network that includes a plurality of interconnected computer devices. The communication system further includes at least one network device capable of communicating with one or more mobile wireless devices. The network device is part of the computer network and is capable of communicating with a mobile wireless device without the mobile wireless device being a member of the computer network.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a computer network comprising a plurality of interconnected member computer devices; and

at least one of said plurality of member computer devices being a printing device capable of communicating with a mobile wireless device, said printing device being configured to establish and track one or more interactions between said mobile wireless device and said computer network;

wherein said mobile wireless device is capable of communicating with said computer network directly through said printing device without said mobile wireless device being a member of said computer network such that said printing device operates as a proxy for the mobile wireless device with respect to the computer network.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said printing device comprises:

a network card communicating with said computer network over a wire link;

a modem card adapted for communicating with said one or more mobile wireless devices in a wireless manner; and

a bridge communicating with said modem card and with said network card and relaying communications between said modem card and with said network card, said bridge performing protocol conversions.

3. The communication system of claim 2, wherein said bridge performs routing.

4. The communication system of claim 2, further comprising:

a processor; and

a switch connected to said bridge and interposed between said network card and said router, said switch routing communications for said mobile wireless device to said bridge and routing communications for said printing device to said processor;

wherein communications for said mobile wireless device are relayed by said bridge to said wireless modem and then relayed by said wireless manner to said mobile wireless device.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said computer network is capable of communicating with one or more other computer networks.

6. The communication system of claim 2, wherein said modem card and said bridge are housed in an expansion slot of the printing device.

7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said printing device regulates a session-based access of said mobile wireless device to said computer network.

8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said printing device regulates a transaction-based access of said mobile wireless device to said computer network.

9. The communication system of claim 1, wherein said printing device is configured to provide a virtual private network to said mobile wireless device.

10. A communication system, comprising

a computer network comprising a plurality of interconnected member computer devices;

at least one of said plurality of member computer devices being a printing device capable of communicating with a mobile wireless device, said at least one printing device being configured to establish and track one or more interactions between said mobile wireless device and said computer network, with said at least one printing device further comprising;

a network card communicating with said computer network over a wire link;

a modem adapted for communicating with said mobile wireless device in a wireless manner; and

a bridge communicating with said modem and with said network card and relaying communications between said modem and with said network card;

wherein said mobile wireless device is capable of communicating directly with said network through said printing device without said mobile wireless device being a member of said computer network such that said printing device operates as a proxy for the mobile wireless device with respect to the computer network.

11. A wireless access method for a computer network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a communication initiation in a printing device, wherein said printing device is a member of said computer network, said communication initiation being received from a mobile wireless device;

in said printing device, verifying an identity of said mobile wireless device; and

relaying communications between said mobile wireless device and said computer network, with said printing device performing the relaying such that the printing device operates as a proxy for the mobile wireless device with respect to the computer network;

wherein said mobile wireless device communicates with said computer network without being a member of said computer network.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of verifying an identity of a user of said mobile wireless device.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of tracking usage characteristics of said access method by said mobile wireless device, with said printing device performing said tracking.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of routing a communication from said mobile wireless device to another printing device within said computer network.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of relaying said communications to a second computer network through said computer network, with said computer network communicating with said second computer network.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said relaying further comprises performing protocol conversion.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said mobile wireless device possesses a pre-existing access privilege within said computer network.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said mobile wireless device does not possess a pre-existing access privilege within said computer network.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said printing device establishes and tracks an interaction between said mobile wireless device and said computer network.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein said printing device establishes and tracks one or more interactions between said mobile wireless device, said computer network, and one or more other computer networks.