System and method for linking existing Wi-Fi access points into a single unified network

• US 7,924,780 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fon Wireless Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Fon Wireless Ltd.
• Inventors: Waisman-Diamond, Martin Varsavsky
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Karikari; Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US11/402,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20070242657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/406, 455/445, 455/450, 455/452.2, 455/452.1
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0066 Details of access arrangements to the networks where the access arrangement is a PSTN/ISDN access H04M7/122
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

The present invention comprises a system and method for providing a distributed wireless network. In a preferred embodiment, at least one information processor is coupled to and accessible over a communication network, such as the internet. Network bandwidth is provided to a first user of at least two end users for a first fee and to a second user of the at least two end users for a second fee. The bandwidth is provided by at least one network service provider. Further, at least two wireless gateway devices are each respectively operated by the end users, and the wireless gateway devices are configured to provide wireless access to the communication network within a transmission range and to communicate with the at one least information processor. Also, at least two wireless receiving devices are provided that are operable to receive the respective bandwidth from the at least two wireless gateway devices when in transmission range. Preferably, the first user is authorized to use the second bandwidth and the second user is authorized to use the first bandwidth via the wireless devices. Thus a system and method of sharing bandwidth is provided.

Claims

1. A method for allowing access to shared wireless network bandwidth, the method comprising:

providing at least one information processor coupled to and accessible over a communication network;

providing, by the at least one information processor, electronic wireless gateway configuration instructions;

configuring, via the electronic wireless gateway configuration instructions, a first wireless gateway device that is owned by a first owner and that transmits first bandwidth of the communication network provided by a first network service provider, wherein the configuring the first wireless gateway causes the first wireless gateway device to register with the information processor;

configuring, via the electronic wireless gateway configuration instructions, a second wireless gateway device that is owned by a second owner and that transmits second bandwidth of the communication network provided by a second network service provider other than the first network service provider, wherein the configuring the second wireless gateway causes the second wireless gateway device to register with the information processor;

registering, by the information processor, the first owner with the information processor, wherein the registering the first owner represents permission received from the first owner for other registered owners to use the first bandwidth free of charge, and further entitles the first owner to free access to at least the second bandwidth;

registering, by the information processor, the second owner with the information processor, wherein the registering the second owner represents permission received from the second owner for other registered owners to use the second bandwidth free of charge, and further entitles the second owner to free access to at least the first bandwidth; and

charging a fee to a user of a third wireless computing device, and who is not registered with the information processor, for access to the first or second bandwidth.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing VoIP service via at least the first two respective wireless gateway devices, and charging a fee for anyone who uses the VoIP service.

3. The method of claim 2, further providing free cellular roaming access for at least one of the first and second owners.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fee is based upon the amount of time the first bandwidth or the second bandwidth is used.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the fee is calculated to reflect network bandwidth used over the period of a minute, a day, a week, a month or a year.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging a provider of goods or services an advertising fee for advertising via the first or second wireless gateway device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the advertising fee is for advertisements generated via the at least one information processor.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging a fee for the at least one gateway device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising remunerating at least a portion of the fee to a user of a respective computing device having bandwidth accessed by the second wireless computing device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the amount remunerated is equal to one half of the fee.