System and method for concurrently utilizing multiple system identifiers
First Claim
1. An access point for enabling a plurality of wireless service providers to concurrently provide network services to a plurality of computing devices, respectively, wherein the access point is coupled to a network, the access point comprising:
- a processor;
a tangible memory medium coupled to the processor, wherein the memory medium stores program instructions executable by the processor, wherein the program instructions are executable to;
receive a plurality of System IDs (SIDs) from the plurality of computing devices, respectively, wherein each of the plurality of SIDs is associated with and identifies a different one of the plurality of wireless service providers to which the access point provides access point functionality; and
concurrently provide wireless network access to each of two or more of the plurality of computing devices according to services provided by the plurality of wireless service providers, respectively, wherein each of the two or more computing devices is provided with wireless network access by a different one of the plurality of wireless service providers that is identified by the corresponding one of the plurality of SIDs received from the computing device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
System and method for providing access to multiple wireless service providers (WSPs) on a shared network infrastructure. The system includes a plurality of access points (APs) coupled to a network which may be distributed in airports, mass-transit stations, businesses, etc. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. Each AP may include a plurality of virtual APs (VAPs), each corresponding to a WSP. A portable computing device (PCD) of a user stores identification information indicating a WSP of a plurality of possible WSPs, and which may include an access level of the user. Each AP “listens for” or detects identification information associated with numerous WSPs. When the AP receives the identification information from the PCD, it determines the VAP/WSP for the PCD using the identification information. Network access is then provided to the PCD through the determined WSP at the determined access level.
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Citations
79 Claims
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1. An access point for enabling a plurality of wireless service providers to concurrently provide network services to a plurality of computing devices, respectively, wherein the access point is coupled to a network, the access point comprising:
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a processor; a tangible memory medium coupled to the processor, wherein the memory medium stores program instructions executable by the processor, wherein the program instructions are executable to; receive a plurality of System IDs (SIDs) from the plurality of computing devices, respectively, wherein each of the plurality of SIDs is associated with and identifies a different one of the plurality of wireless service providers to which the access point provides access point functionality; and concurrently provide wireless network access to each of two or more of the plurality of computing devices according to services provided by the plurality of wireless service providers, respectively, wherein each of the two or more computing devices is provided with wireless network access by a different one of the plurality of wireless service providers that is identified by the corresponding one of the plurality of SIDs received from the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An access point that is coupled to a network and is configured to:
concurrently communicate with and provide wireless network access to a plurality of computing devices, by utilizing a first wireless network service System ID to communicate with a first subset of the plurality of computing devices, utilizing a second wireless network service System ID to communicate with a second subset of the plurality of computing devices, providing data from the first subset of the plurality of computing devices to a first wireless network service provider identified by the first wireless network service System ID to which the access point provides access point functionality, and providing data from the second subset of the plurality of computing devices to a second wireless network service provider identified by the second wireless network service System ID to which the access point provides access point functionality; wherein the providing data from the first subset of the plurality of computing devices to the first wireless network service provider is concurrent with the providing data from the second subset of the plurality of computing devices to the second wireless network service provider.
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36. An access point configured to concurrently communicate with a plurality of computing devices by utilizing a plurality of wireless network service System IDs,
wherein the access point comprises a tangible memory medium configured for storing a data structure, wherein the data structure includes a list which comprises the plurality of wireless network service System IDs and an associated list of a plurality of wireless network service providers to which the access point provides access point functionality, and wherein each of the plurality of wireless network service System IDs indicates a different one of the plurality of wireless network service providers; -
wherein a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices communicates with the access point using a first wireless network service System ID of the plurality of wireless network service System IDs and the access point is further configured to provide wireless network service of a first wireless network service provider identified by the first wireless network service System ID; wherein a second computing device of the plurality of computing devices communicates with the access point using a second wireless network service System ID of the plurality of wireless network service System IDs and the access point is further configured to provide wireless network service of a second wireless network service provider identified by the second wireless network service System ID; and wherein the access point provides the wireless network service of the first wireless network service provider to the first computing device and the wireless network service of the second wireless network service provider to the second computing device concurrently. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method for operating an access point, wherein the access point is configured to be coupled to a network and enables a plurality of wireless service providers to concurrently provide network services to a plurality of computing devices respectively, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of System IDs (SIDs) from the plurality of computing devices respectively, wherein each of the plurality of SIDs is associated with and identifies a different one of the plurality of wireless service providers to which the access point provides access point functionality; and concurrently providing wireless network access to each of two or more of the plurality of computing devices according to services provided by the plurality of wireless service providers, respectively, wherein each of the two or more computing devices is provided with wireless network access by a different one of the plurality of wireless service providers that is identified by the corresponding one of the plurality of SIDs received from the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A method for providing wireless network access to a plurality of computing devices, the method comprising:
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a wireless access point receiving first identification information from a first portable computing device, wherein the first identification information indicates a first wireless service provider of a plurality of wireless service providers to which the wireless access point provides access point functionality, wherein the wireless access point includes a tangible memory medium which stores a data structure comprising a list of identification information entries each indicating at least one wireless service provider of the plurality of wireless service providers; the wireless access point receiving second identification information from a second portable computing device, wherein the second identification information indicates a second wireless service provider of the plurality of wireless service providers; determining the first wireless service provider for the first portable computing device after receiving the first identification information, wherein said determining the first wireless service provider for the first portable computing device includes accessing the memory medium and using the received first identification information to determine the first wireless provider; determining the second wireless service provider for the second portable computing device after receiving the second identification information, wherein said determining the second wireless service provider for the second portable computing device includes accessing the memory medium and using the received second identification information to determine the second wireless provider; the wireless access point receiving data from the first portable computing device; the wireless access point receiving data from the second portable computing device; providing wireless network access to the first portable computing device through the first wireless service provider determined in said determining the first wireless service provider; providing wireless network access to the second portable computing device through the second wireless service provider determined in said determining the second wireless service provider; wherein said providing wireless network access to the first portable computing device and said providing wireless network access to the second portable computing device are performed concurrently. - View Dependent Claims (73, 74, 75)
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76. A method for providing wireless network access to a plurality of computing devices, the method comprising:
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a wireless access point receiving first identification information from a first portable computing device, wherein the first identification information indicates a first wireless service provider of a plurality of wireless service providers to which the wireless access point provides access point functionality, wherein the wireless access point is configured to access a tangible memory medium which stores a data structure comprising a list of identification information entries each indicating at least one wireless service provider of the plurality of wireless service providers; the wireless access point receiving second identification information from a second portable computing device, wherein the second identification information indicates a second wireless service provider of the plurality of wireless service providers; determining the first wireless service provider for the first portable computing device after receiving the first identification information, wherein said determining the first wireless service provider for the first portable computing device includes accessing the memory medium and using the received first identification information to determine the first wireless provider; determining the second wireless service provider for the second portable computing device after receiving the second identification information, wherein said determining the second wireless service provider for the second portable computing device includes accessing the memory medium and using the received second identification information to determine the second wireless provider; the wireless access point receiving data from the first portable computing device; the wireless access point receiving data from the second portable computing device; providing wireless network access to the first portable computing device through the first wireless service provider determined in said determining the first wireless service provider; providing wireless network access to the second portable computing device through the second wireless service provider determined in said determining the second wireless service provider; wherein said providing wireless network access to the first portable computing device and said providing wireless network access to the second portable computing device are performed concurrently. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79)
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Specification