Network demonstration techniques
First Claim
1. A method of demonstrating a wireless network comprising:
- transporting an authentication server to a customer location, the transported authentication server being operable to implement a user-specific and session-specific security policy for authenticating a user, the customer location comprising a proposed installation location for a wireless network;
transporting a security server to the customer location, the transported security server being operable to interact with the authentication server and a user database storing user-specific authentication information to implement the security policy;
prior to transporting the authentication server and the security server to the customer location, obtaining customer information including an available network address and the user-specific authentication information associated with the user;
creating a secure wireless network at the customer location using at least the transported authentication server and the transported security server;
activating a port on the authentication server; and
authenticating the user at the port on the authentication server, using the security server and a first portable computing device operated by the user, via a wireless connection to the secure wireless network.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Network demonstration techniques are disclosed which allow a fully-operational, secure wireless network to be implemented at a customer location. Using only a portable authentication server, a laptop computer, and at least two access points, a wireless network can be set up at the customer location within a matter of minutes, so that a user of a portable computing device having an appropriate network interface card is able to roam throughout the customer location with the benefit of a wireless connection to one of the access points. The laptop computer contains software integrating the functionality of a security server, a user authentication database, and other components necessary to implement the wireless network. The user may also be able to communicate with the laptop computer and authentication server from locations external to the customer location, perhaps using a wireless wide area network or secondary wireless local area network. Using the network demonstration and related information about the customer, accurate cost estimates for installing a company-wide wireless network can be generated.
32 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of demonstrating a wireless network comprising:
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transporting an authentication server to a customer location, the transported authentication server being operable to implement a user-specific and session-specific security policy for authenticating a user, the customer location comprising a proposed installation location for a wireless network; transporting a security server to the customer location, the transported security server being operable to interact with the authentication server and a user database storing user-specific authentication information to implement the security policy; prior to transporting the authentication server and the security server to the customer location, obtaining customer information including an available network address and the user-specific authentication information associated with the user; creating a secure wireless network at the customer location using at least the transported authentication server and the transported security server; activating a port on the authentication server; and authenticating the user at the port on the authentication server, using the security server and a first portable computing device operated by the user, via a wireless connection to the secure wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for demonstrating a wireless network at a remote location comprising:
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a first portable access point; a second portable access point; a database containing user authentication information, the user authentication information pre-loaded into the database; a portable authentication server operable to implement a user-specific and session-specific security policy; a portable security server operable to interact with the database and the portable authentication server to activate a port on the portable authentication server; and a first portable computing device including a wireless network interface card operable to communicate with the portable security server through the first portable access point and the second portable access point, wherein a user of the portable computing device is authenticated at the port on the portable authentication server to a secure wireless network created at the remote location using the portable authentication server, the portable security server, and at least the access points, based on the pre-loaded user authentication information and the security policy, the remote location comprising a proposed installation location for a wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification