Distributed network communication system which selectively provides data to different network destinations
First Claim
1. A method for operating a network system, the method comprising:
- receiving, at an access point coupled to a network, identification information from a portable computing device,accessing a memory medium which stores a data structure comprising a list of identification information entries each indicating network access information;
if the identification information received from the portable computing device does not map to an identification information entry in the data structure, then providing, through the access point, network access to the portable computing device according to a default access level and a mechanism to register with a network provider; and
allowing external network access to the portable communication device upon registration with a network provider.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method includes a plurality of wireless and/or wired access points coupled to a network. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. In one embodiment, a portable computing device (PCD) may store identification information which uniquely indicates a network provider of a plurality of possible network providers or may also or instead indicate an access or privilege level. When the access point receives the identification information from a PCD, the access point may determine the appropriate network provider for the PCD using the identification information and network access may then be provided. Thus the network system is useable by subscribers of each of the plurality of possible network providers, thereby enabling subscribers to “roam” on various wireless networks. The access information may also include an access level which indicates the user'"'"'s access or privilege level.
70 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a network system, the method comprising:
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receiving, at an access point coupled to a network, identification information from a portable computing device, accessing a memory medium which stores a data structure comprising a list of identification information entries each indicating network access information; if the identification information received from the portable computing device does not map to an identification information entry in the data structure, then providing, through the access point, network access to the portable computing device according to a default access level and a mechanism to register with a network provider; and allowing external network access to the portable communication device upon registration with a network provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus, comprising
a network interface; -
a wireless network interface; and a control unit operably connected to the network interface and the wireless network interface and configured to; receive identification information from a portable computing device, access a memory medium which stores a data structure comprising a list of identification information entries each indicating network access information; if the identification information received from the portable computing device does not map to an identification information entry in the data structure, then provide network access to the portable computing device according to a default access level and a mechanism to register with a network provider; and allow external network access to the portable communication device upon registration with a network provider. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A network system, comprising:
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a network; a plurality of access points coupled to the network; wherein an access point of the plurality of access points comprises a processor and a memory medium coupled to the processor; wherein the memory medium stores a data structure comprising a list of identification information entries each indicating network access information; wherein the memory medium comprises program instructions which are executable by the processor to; receive identification information from a portable computing device, access a memory medium which stores a data structure comprising a list of identification information entries each indicating network access information; if the identification information received from the portable computing device does not map to an identification information entry in the data structure, then provide network access to the portable computing device according to a default access level and a mechanism to register with a network provider; and allow external network access to the portable communication device upon registration with a network provider.
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Specification