Method and system for a low-cost-internet-base station (LCIB) granting a client device temporary access

• US 8,028,327 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Yenney, Christopher, Barbee, Bryan T., Sill, Timothy W., Talley, Ryan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrishamkar; Kaveh
• Application Number:
  US12/021,282
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a low cost Internet base station (LCIB) to grant a client device temporary access to a wireless network. In an embodiment, an LCIB receives a request from a client device. The request includes a feature code, an access code, and a client-device identifier. The feature code in the request indicates that the client device is requesting temporary access to the wireless network. Upon detecting the feature code in the request, the LCIB compares the access code in the request with a stored access code. If the access code from the request matches the stored access code, the LCIB grants the client device access to the wireless network on a temporary basis. Alternatively, if the access code from the request does not match the stored access code, the LCIB denies the client device access to the wireless network.

Claims

1. A method of granting temporary access to a wireless network, carried out by a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) having a coverage area, the method comprising:

the LCIB receiving from a client device over an air interface a leading feature-code indicator that was input via a user interface of the client device, followed by a feature code indicating that the client device is requesting temporary access to the wireless network, the feature code also having been input via the user interface of the client device;

the LCIB also receiving from the client device over the air interface an access code that was input via the user interface of the client device;

the LCIB, responsive to receiving the leading feature-code indicator, the feature code, and the access code, comparing the received access code with a stored access code;

the LCIB, if the received access code matches the stored access code, granting the client device access to the wireless network on a temporary basis; and

the LCIB, if the received access code does not match the stored access code, denying the client device access to the wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the air interface is a code division multiple access (CDMA) air interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the feature code comprises a star code, and wherein the feature-code indicator is a star character.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the access code comprises one or more digits.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the LCIB receiving from the client device over the air interface a client-device identifier that identifies the client device, wherein the client-device identifier comprises a mobile identification number of the client device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the LCIB parsing a single request received from the client device over the air interface to identify the feature code, the access code, and the client-device identifier in the request.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored access code comprises one or more digits.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving and storing the stored access code.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein granting the client device access to the wireless network on a temporary basis comprises granting the client device access to the wireless network for a predefined period of time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predefined period of time is 24 hours.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein granting the client device access to the wireless network on a temporary basis comprises granting the client device access to the wireless network for a predetermined number of communications.

12. A low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) having a coverage area, the LCIB comprising:

a communication interface;

a processor; and

data storage comprising instructions executable by the processor for;

receiving from a client device over an air interface a leading feature-code indicator that was input via a user interface of the client device, followed by a feature code indicating that the client device is requesting temporary access to the wireless network, the feature code also having been input via the user interface of the client device;

receiving from the client device over the air interface an access code that was also input via the user interface of the client device;

responsive to receiving the leading feature-code indicator, the feature code, and the access code, comparing the received access code with a stored access code;

if the received access code matches the stored access code, granting the client device access to the wireless network on a temporary basis; and

if the received access code does not match the stored access code, denying the client device access to the wireless network.

13. The LCIB of claim 12, wherein the air interface is a code division multiple access (CDMA) air interface.

14. The LCIB of claim 12, wherein the feature code comprises a star code, the feature-code indicator being a star character, wherein the access code comprises one or more digits, wherein the LCIB also receives from the client device over the air interface a client-device identifier that identifies the client device, and wherein the client-device identifier comprises a mobile identification number of the client device.

15. The LCIB of claim 14, wherein the data storage further comprises instructions executable by the processor for parsing a single request received from the client device over the air interface to identify the feature code, the access code, and the client-device identifier in the request.

16. The LCIB of claim 12, wherein the data storage further comprises instructions executable by the processor for receiving and storing the stored access code.

17. The LCIB of claim 12, wherein the instructions executable by the processor for granting the client device access to the wireless network on a temporary basis comprise instructions for granting the client device access to the wireless network for a predefined period of time.

18. The LCIB of claim 17, wherein the predefined period of time is 24 hours.

19. The LCIB of claim 12, wherein the instructions for granting the client device access to the wireless network on a temporary basis comprise instructions for granting the client device access to the wireless network for a predetermined number of communications.

20. A method of granting temporary access to a wireless network, carried out by a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) having a coverage area, the method comprising:

the LCIB receiving a request over an air interface from a client device, the request comprising a leading feature-code indicator, a feature code, an access code, and a client-device identifier, the feature code indicating that the client device is requesting temporary access to the wireless network, wherein each of the feature-code indicator, the feature code, and the access code were input via a user interface of the client device;

the LCIB detecting the feature code in the request, and responsively checking whether the client-device identifier is in a stored list of blocked client-device identifiers, the stored list consisting of client-device identifiers for any client devices that have met their limit for temporary access to the wireless network, as well as for any client devices that are otherwise unauthorized;

the LCIB, if the client-device identifier from the request is in the stored list, then denying the client device access to the wireless network; and

the LCIB, if the client-device identifier from the request is not in the stored list, then;

(i) comparing the access code from the request with a stored access code;

(ii) if the access code from the request matches the stored access code, granting the client device access to the wireless network on a temporary basis; and

(iii) if the access code from the request does not match the stored access code, denying the client device access to the wireless network.