Distributed wireless online access system

• US 8,126,429 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2010
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eimar M. Boesjes
• Original Assignee: Eimar M. Boesjes
• Inventors: Boesjes, Eimar M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US12/693,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20100240342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406, 455/407, 455/408, 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/419, 370/351, 370/352, 370/401, 379/115.01, 379/114.03, 379/114.05, 379/114.28
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• 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 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2033 WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A method for providing wireless online access comprises: establishing a wireless access signal space wherein a wireless communications link is established between a secondary wireless unit and at least one primary wireless unit, thereby providing a corresponding secondary subscriber with online access by data packet transmission between the primary wireless unit and the secondary wireless unit; and receiving, from an online access provider, a credited revenue amount in return for providing online access for the secondary subscriber.

Claims

1. A method, performed by an online access provider, for providing wireless online access to a multitude of secondary subscribers, the method comprising:

for a secondary wireless unit used by a corresponding one of the multitude of secondary subscribers, which secondary wireless unit and corresponding secondary subscriber are located within a wireless access signal space, providing authentication of the secondary wireless unit, thereby authorizing one primary subscriber among multiple primary subscribers, which primary subscriber established the wireless access signal space using a corresponding primary wireless unit, to provide, to the corresponding secondary subscriber, online access by data packet transmission via a wireless communications link established between the corresponding primary wireless unit and the secondary wireless; and

crediting, to the primary subscriber, a revenue amount, which revenue amount is credited by the online access provider to the primary subscriber in return for the primary subscriber providing online access in the wireless access signal space on behalf of the online access provider to at least one secondary subscriber of the multitude of secondary subscribers.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising crediting, to the primary subscriber, a revenue amount, which revenue amount is credited by the online access provider to the primary subscriber in return for the primary subscriber:

recruiting one or more primary subscribers to provide online access through other corresponding primary wireless units;

or

recruiting one or more secondary subscribers to which to provide online access through the at least one primary wireless unit,

wherein the credited revenue amount is based at least in part on the number of primary subscribers recruited or the number of secondary subscribers recruited.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the corresponding primary wireless unit also functions as a secondary wireless unit.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing a communications link between the corresponding primary wireless unit and an external communications network through a portal unit, wherein the portal unit includes:

a link to the external communications system for receiving a data packet transmitted therefrom and transmitting a data packet thereto; and

a link to the corresponding primary wireless unit for receiving a data packet transmitted therefrom and transmitting a data packet thereto.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the linked primary wireless and portal units comprise a single unit.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the external communications system comprises the Internet.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the link to the external communications system includes a wired link or a wireless link.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the corresponding primary wireless unit or the secondary wireless unit comprises an unlicensed wireless device (i) in legal compliance with government regulations applicable at the location of the at least one primary wireless unit, (ii) in legal compliance with Part 15 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or (iii) in conformance with an IEEE 802.11 standard.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the corresponding primary wireless unit or the secondary wireless unit comprises a mobile wireless unit.