Connectivity to public domain services of wireless local area networks
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- broadcasting a synchronization signal from a wireless access point device indicating one of a plurality of modes of operation for the access point, the plurality of modes of operation including a private mode of operation for authorized devices and a public mode of operation for authorized or non-authorized devices;
broadcasting available public network services if the mode of operation is the public mode of operation;
receiving a request for establishment of a connection from a non-authorized mobile device in response to the broadcast of a synchronization signal for the public mode of operation; and
establishing a connection between the non-authorized mobile device and the access point device;
wherein establishing a connection in the private mode comprises use of a secure authentication process, and wherein establishing a connection in the public mode comprises use of a registration process.
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Abstract
A method and/or apparatus to permit non-authorized wireless mobile devices access to public domain services of a local area network. One embodiment of the invention provides a wireless access point device, with a wireless port and a wired network port, with at least two modes of operation to permit authorized mobile devices access to network services and non-authorized mobile devices access to a particular set of network services. A list of free and/or pay-per-use network services is provided to non-authorized mobile devices to select the desired service(s). For pay-per-use services, a mobile device user can provide a form of payment for validation.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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broadcasting a synchronization signal from a wireless access point device indicating one of a plurality of modes of operation for the access point, the plurality of modes of operation including a private mode of operation for authorized devices and a public mode of operation for authorized or non-authorized devices; broadcasting available public network services if the mode of operation is the public mode of operation; receiving a request for establishment of a connection from a non-authorized mobile device in response to the broadcast of a synchronization signal for the public mode of operation; and establishing a connection between the non-authorized mobile device and the access point device; wherein establishing a connection in the private mode comprises use of a secure authentication process, and wherein establishing a connection in the public mode comprises use of a registration process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 28, 29, 32)
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16. A machine-readable medium having one or more instructions for enabling a non-authorized user to wirelessly access a number of network services, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:
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wirelessly transmitting a synchronization signal indicating one of a plurality of modes of operation for an access point, the plurality of modes of operation including a private mode of operation for authorized devices and a public mode of operation for authorized or non-authorized devices; wirelessly transmitting available network services if the mode of operation is the public mode of operation; receiving a request for connection establishment from a non-authorized user in response to the transmission of a synchronization signal for the public mode of operation; establishing a connection with the non-authorized user; receiving a request for access to a selected network service, from among the available network services, by the non-authorized user; and providing the non-authorized user access to the selected network service; wherein establishing a connection in the private mode comprises use of authentication and association handshakes, and wherein establishing a connection in the public mode comprises use of a registration process. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 30, 31, 33)
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21. An apparatus comprising:
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a transceiver port for wirelessly communicating with mobile devices; a network communications port communicatively coupled to the transceiver port, the network communications port for coupling to a network; and a control unit coupled to the transceiver port and the network communications port, the control unit configured to control access from the transceiver port to the network communications port and provide at least two modes of operation, a first mode of operation to provide authorized mobile devices private access to the network communications port, and a second mode of operation to provide authorized and non-authorized mobile devices public access to the network communications port wherein the control unit is to use the transceiver port to broadcast a synchronization signal indicating one of the modes of operation and, for the second mode of operation, available network services, and to receive a response from an unauthorized mobile device in response to the broadcast of the synchronization signal; and wherein the control unit is to establish a connection in the private mode through use of authentication and association handshakes, and to establish a connection in the public through use of a registration process. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34)
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Specification