Method and apparatus to provide tiered wireless network access

• US 7,286,848 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Frisbee, Robert P, Vireday, Richard P
• Primary Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US10/881,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20060003796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 4555541-5542, 455453-454, 455/41.2, 455/500, 455507-517, 455524-525, 455/66.1, 455560-561, 4554321-4323, 455410-411, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/414.1, 455/415, 455418-419, 455/420, 455/462, 455433-434, 4554351-4353, 455436-451, 455/452.1, 455/452.2, 455/455, 455/464, 455/557, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 370/395.5, 370/395.53, 370328-350, 370908-916, 380247-250, 380/241, 713160-179
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

A tiered wireless access point has a number of different network access levels that may be provided to wireless devices seeking network access. The network access levels may differ from one another in factors such as the particular networks that may be accessed, the security level of the network connection, and/or the speed of the connection.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a wireless signal from a remote wireless device attempting to gain network access;

determining whether said wireless signal is tagged with a tag identifying a desired network service;

when said wireless signal is not tagged, providing a default network access level to said remote wireless device; and

when said wireless signal is tagged;

performing an authentication procedure for said remote wireless device; and

when said remote wireless device is determined to be authentic, providing one of a number of network access levels to said remote wireless device based on access rights associated with said remote wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when said remote wireless device is determined to not be authentic, providing said default network access level to said remote wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said default network access level provides at least one of the following;

Internet access only, intranet access only, Internet and intranet access only, access to a neighbor wireless access point only, and denied access.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

said default network access level provides access at less than a maximum possible speed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said default network access level has a lower priority than said other network access levels.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

performing an authentication procedure for said remote wireless device includes determining whether said remote wireless device is the device it claims to be.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said authentication procedure is performed in a manner that is substantially transparent to a user of said remote wireless device.

8. A wireless access point (AP) comprising:

at least one wireless interface device to support wireless communication with one or more remote wireless entities; and

a controller to control access to one or more networks coupled to said AP based on access rights of remote wireless devices seeking access, said controller to;

receive a wireless signal from a remote wireless device attempting to gain network access;

determine whether said wireless signal is tagged with a tag identifying a desired network service;

when said wireless signal is not tagged, provide a default network access level to said remote wireless device; and

when said wireless signal is tagged;

perform an authentication procedure for said remote wireless device; and

when said remote wireless device is determined to be authentic, provide one of a number of network access levels to said remote wireless device based on access rights associated with said remote wireless device.

9. The wireless AP of claim 8, wherein:

said controller is to provide said default network access level to said remote wireless device when said remote wireless device is determined to not be authentic.

10. The wireless AP of claim 8, wherein:

said default network access level provides at least one of the following;

Internet access only, intranet access only, Internet and intranet access only, access to a neighbor wireless access point only, and denied access.

11. The wireless AP of claim 8, wherein:

said default network access level provides access at less than a maximum possible speed.

12. The wireless AP of claim 8, wherein:

said default network access level has a lower priority on a network medium than other network access levels.

13. An article comprising a computer readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computing device, operate to:

receive a wireless signal from a remote wireless device attempting to gain network access;

determine whether said wireless signal is tagged with a tag identifying a desired network service;

when said wireless signal is not tagged, provide a default network access level to said remote wireless device; and

when said wireless signal is tagged;

perform an authentication procedure for said remote wireless device; and

when said remote wireless device is determined to be authentic, provide one of a number of network access levels to said remote wireless device based on access rights associated with said remote wireless device.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein said instructions further operate to:

when said remote wireless device is determined to not be authentic, provide said default network access level to said remote wireless device.

15. The article of claim 13, wherein:

said default network access level provides at least one of the following;

Internet access only, intranet access only, Internet and intranet access only, access to a neighbor wireless access point only, and denied access.

16. The article of claim 13, wherein:

said default network access level provides access at less than a maximum possible speed.

17. The article of claim 13, wherein:

said default network access level has a lower priority on a network medium than other network access levels.