System and method for providing wireless services within a wireless local area network

• US 8,086,217 B1
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Blewett, Charles Douglas, Caceres, Ramon, Ramming, James Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Danh
• Application Number:
  US12/963,207
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/406, 455/407, 379/144.01, 379/114.01, 370/338, 709/223
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3821 Electronic credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8207 Time based data metric aspects, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8214 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8242 Transaction based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/106 using commercial credit or debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/14 using commercial credit/debit cards, e.g. VISA, AMEX
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7813 Time based data, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/782 Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7846 Transaction based

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for providing a temporary wireless service connection to one or more users within a wireless local area network. In-building services and Internet related services are provided to the users over their respective temporary wireless service connections. Each user is charged for their specific usage amounts which may be based on the number of packets transferred, the number of bytes transferred, the number of distinct transactions and/or the time period each user'"'"'s temporary wireless service connection was active.

Claims

1. A method for providing temporary telecommunications services on a pay per use basis over a wireless local area network, comprising:

receiving from a non-subscribing user device a request for a temporary wireless service connection in the wireless local area network, the non-subscribing user device being associated with no preexisting subscription for use of the wireless local area network;

upon receiving the request for a temporary wireless service connection, providing a temporary wireless service connection to the non-subscribing user device;

providing telecommunications services to the non-subscribing user device;

determining a usage amount incurred by the non-subscribing user device; and

charging an account associated with the non-subscribing user device for the usage amount.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for temporary wireless services further comprises dynamic host configuration protocol request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing telecommunications services further comprises:

providing voice-over-IP telephony services.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing telecommunications services further comprises:

accessing a public switched telephone network via a gateway from the wireless local area network; and

connecting a call via the public switched telephone network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining a usage amount incurred by the non-subscribing user device further comprises:

determining a toll amount incurred on the public switched telephone network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving payment information from the non-subscribing user device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless service connection is provided using an 802.11 standard wireless protocol connection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a temporary wireless service includes using a dynamic host configuration mechanism to apportion an IP address to the non-subscribing user device for a limited time interval.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage amount includes an amount determined per byte transferred by the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the usage amount includes an amount determined per packet transferred by the user.

11. A system for providing temporary telecommunications services on a pay per use basis over a wireless local area network, comprising:

a non-subscribing user wireless device; and

a local wireless base station for;

receiving from the non-subscribing user device a request for a temporary wireless service connection in the wireless local area network, the non-subscribing user device being associated with no preexisting subscription for use of the wireless local area network;

upon receiving the request for a temporary wireless service connection, providing telecommunications services to the non-subscribing user device;

determining a usage amount incurred by the non-subscribing user device; and

charging an account associated with the non-subscribing user device for the usage amount.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the request for temporary wireless services further comprises a dynamic host configuration protocol request.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein providing telecommunications services further comprises:

providing voice-over-IP telephony services.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein providing telecommunications services further comprises:

accessing a public switched telephone network via a gateway from the wireless local area network; and

connecting a call via the public switched telephone network.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein determining a usage amount incurred by the non-subscribing user device further comprises:

determining a toll amount incurred on the public switched telephone network.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the local wireless base station is further for:

receiving payment information from the non-subscribing user device.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the wireless service connection is provided using an 802.11 standard wireless protocol connection.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein providing a temporary wireless service includes using a dynamic host configuration mechanism to apportion an IP address to the non-subscribing user device for a limited time interval.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the usage amount includes an amount determined per byte transferred by the user.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the usage amount includes an amount determined per packet transferred by the user.