Internet interface service system and method providing public internet access to users carrying mobile terminals

• US 7,444,411 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sang-Hoon, Sung, Jun-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Kang; Paul H
• Application Number:
  US09/752,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20020038369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,855 Days
• Field of Search: 705/40, 705/35, 709/227, 709/200, 709/225, 709/229, 709/203, 709/217, 709/246, 709/250, 379/144, 379/211.02, 340/995
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1464 using a card, such as credit card, prepay card or SIM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

An internet interface service system and method are capable of connecting portable mobile terminals of users (such as notebook computers, palm top computers, network computers, PDAs, and the like) to a communication (or internet) network in public places (such as airports, conference places, bus terminals and the like). In accordance with the system and method, the mobile terminals are connected via the communication network to any of a plurality of information providing servers for receiving information. A settlement server is provided for performing electronic settlements of communication connection charges for the mobile terminals. An internet interface unit is provided for enabling the mobile terminals to be connected to the communication network and for charging the users of the mobile terminals for the usage of the internet interface service system. A central management server manages the internet interface unit, allocates dynamic IP addresses when the mobile terminals of users are connected to the internet interface unit, and releases the allocated addresses upon termination of communication of the mobile terminals.

Claims

1. An internet interface service system providing high-speed connection services to mobile terminals carried by respective users in public places, said system comprising:

an internet network for providing the high-speed connection services;

plural interface units, one for each of said mobile terminals, for connecting the mobile terminals of said respective users to the internet network so as to provide the respective users with internet services; and

a central management server connected to the internet network and responsive to the input into the interface units of settlement information relating to the mobile terminals for carrying out usage authentications of the mobile terminals by performing data communications with an external settlement server which carries out settlements upon reception of the settlement information from the interface units, said central management server allocating dynamic IP addresses enabling the mobile terminals to carry out internet searches, and said central management server being responsive to reception, by a given mobile terminal from a corresponding interface unit, of a signal terminating a corresponding internet connection for releasing a corresponding dynamic IP address allocated to the given mobile terminal and for transmitting charge information with respect to a corresponding internet connection service of the given mobile terminal.

2. The internet interface service system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile terminals are at least one of notebook computers, palm top computers, network computers and PDAs.

3. The internet interface service system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each interface unit comprises:

a first communication unit connected to a corresponding mobile terminal;

a second communication unit connected to the internet network for performing communications with the central management server via the internet network, for transmitting a mobile terminal-requested signal to the internet network, and for enabling said each interface unit to receive a signal comprising information searched in the internet network;

a storage unit for storing at least one of communication port activation data for said each interface unit, settlement information, encryption data, and deciphering data, and for storing operating programs for carrying out input and output with respect to usage information of the corresponding mobile terminal;

a settlement unit responsive to user input of settlement information into the corresponding mobile terminal in order to settle charges for the use of said each interface unit of the corresponding mobile terminal for reading and transmitting the settlement information from the corresponding mobile terminal;

an output unit responsive to connection of the corresponding mobile terminal to said each interface unit, input of the settlement information by the user, approval of the settlement information by the central management server, conduct of work through the internet network, and termination of the conducted work, for outputting a statement of usage charges with respect to the usage times of the corresponding mobile terminal;

liquid crystal display (LCD) means for displaying the statement outputted by the output unit for visual confirmation of the user, and for performing a function as a user interface for the user; and

a control unit responsive to connection of the corresponding mobile terminal to the first communication unit for activating a communication channel for the corresponding mobile terminal, for transmitting to the external settlement server the settlement information of the user, responsive to an approval signal for receiving the dynamic IP addresses from the central management server for allocation to the corresponding mobile terminal, for storing in the storage unit charge information with respect to the connections of the corresponding mobile terminal, for outputting the charge information from the storage unit to the output unit and the liquid crystal display means while, at the same time, transmitting the charge information to the central management server and the settlement server through the second communication unit when the connections of the corresponding mobile terminal and said each internet interface unit are terminated, and for transmitting to the central management server a signal releasing the allocated dynamic IP addresses.

4. The internet interface service system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a local area network (LAN) cable for connection between the first communication unit and the corresponding mobile terminal.

5. The internet interface service system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the LAN cable is connected to a LAN card mounted in the corresponding mobile terminal.

6. The internet interface service system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the storage unit stores driver information for at least one LAN card provided in said each interface unit.

7. The internet interface service system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the storage unit stores programs for performing charges for the corresponding mobile terminal.

8. The internet interface service system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the settlement unit is a card reader for reading a credit card.

9. The internet interface service system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second communication unit carries out wireless communications.

10. An internet interface service method providing high-speed connection services to mobile terminals carried by respective users in public places, comprising the steps of:

when a mobile terminal of a user and an internet interface unit are connected by any of a local area network (LAN) cable provided in a first communication unit and a LAN cable connected to a LAN card, establishing a communication channel with the mobile terminal by use of a control unit so as to activate a communication unit in the mobile terminal, the control unit being included in the internet interface unit;

outputting from the control unit a message requesting user entry of settlement information in order to settle charges for use of the internet interface unit by the mobile terminal of the user after the establishment of the communication channel, and, when the user enters the settlement information, reading the settlement information, transmitting the settlement information to a settlement server through a central management server, and receiving a settlement approval from the settlement server;

after receiving the settlement approval, receiving a dynamic IP address from the central management server, allocating the received dynamic IP address to the mobile terminal, and performing data communications by means of the data terminal through the internet interface unit and an internet network connected to the internet interface unit; and

when a predetermined connection termination signal is inputted to the internet interface unit by a connection termination menu provided in one of the mobile terminal and the internet interface unit, terminating the communication channel of the mobile terminal by means of the control unit, outputting charge information stored in a storage unit to an output unit and a display unit while, at the same time, transmitting the charge information by means of the control unit to the central management server and the settlement server through a second communication unit, thereby performing a charging function.

11. An interface service system for use with a network providing high-speed connection service to mobile terminals carried by users in public places, said system comprising:

plural interface units, one for each mobile terminal, for connecting said each mobile terminal to the network; and

a central management server for controlling use of the interface units by the mobile terminals;

wherein said central management server is responsive to entry of settlement information by users via the mobile terminals for carrying out usage authentications of the mobile terminals, and for allocating addresses to the mobile terminals in order for the mobile terminals to carry out network searches;

wherein said central management server is responsive to a given mobile terminal receiving, from a corresponding interface unit, a signal relating to termination of connections for releasing the addresses allocated to the given mobile terminal; and

wherein said central management server transmits charge information with respect to the network connection services of the mobile terminals.

12. The interface service system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said central management server carries out the usage authentications by communicating with an external settlement server.

13. The interface service system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said central management server transmits the charge information to an external settlement server.

14. The interface service system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said central management server remotely manages the plural interface units.

15. The interface service system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each interface unit comprises:

a first communication unit connected to a corresponding mobile terminal; and

a second communication unit connected to the network for performing communications with the central management server via the network, for transmitting a mobile terminal-requested signal to the network, and for enabling said each interface unit to receive a signal comprising information searched in the network.

16. The interface service system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each interface unit comprises:

a storage unit for storing at least one of communication port activation data for said each interface unit, settlement information, encryption data and deciphering data, and for storing operating programs for carrying out input and output with respect to usage information of a corresponding mobile terminal.

17. The interface service system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each interface unit comprises:

a settlement unit responsive to user input of settlement information into a corresponding mobile terminal in order to settle charges for the use of said each interface unit of the corresponding mobile terminal for reading and transmitting the settlement information from the corresponding mobile terminal.

18. The interface service system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each interface unit comprises:

an output unit responsive to connection of a corresponding mobile terminal to said each interface unit, input of the settlement information by the user, approval of the settlement information by the central management server, conduct of work through the network, and termination of the conducted work for outputting a statement of usage charges with respect to the usage times of the corresponding mobile terminal.

19. The interface service system as claimed in claim 18, wherein each interface unit comprises:

liquid crystal display (LCD) means for displaying the statement outputted by the output unit for visual confirmation of the user, and for performing a function as a user interface for the user.

20. The interface service system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each interface unit comprises:

a control unit responsive to connection of a corresponding mobile terminal to the first communication unit for activating communication channels for the corresponding mobile terminal.

21. The interface service system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each interface unit comprises:

a control unit for transmitting, to an external settlement server, the settlement information input by the user.

22. The interface service system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each interface unit comprises:

a control unit responsive to an approval signal for receiving the addresses for allocation to a corresponding mobile terminal.

23. The interface service system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each interface unit comprises:

a control unit which receives the addresses for allocation to a corresponding mobile terminal, stores in a storage unit charge information with respect to connections of the corresponding mobile terminal, outputs the charge information from the storage unit to an output unit and a liquid crystal display while, at the same time, transmitting the charge information to the central management server and a settlement server through a communication unit when the connection of the corresponding mobile terminal to said each interface unit is terminated.

24. The interface service system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each interface unit comprises:

a control unit which transmits, to the central management server, a signal releasing the allocated addresses.