Preconfiguration of wireless network access for portable devices
First Claim
1. In a system including a media device that receives content or services via a network connection and a center for managing access to a plurality of destination networks, a method performed by the service center for pre-configuring the media device so that the media device may access one or more of the plurality of destination networks without requiring a user to input information to a user interface provided on the media device, the method comprising:
- receiving a request from a media device for authorization from a selected destination network provider to access a predetermined destination network, the request being received over an internet connection established by a computer system to which the media device is connected, the request including registration information for registering the media device to access the predetermined destination network, the registration information having been input to the computer system by a user;
determining the destination network admission requirements that are required by the selected destination network provider in order for the media device to be authorized to access the predetermined destination network directly without using the internet connection of the computer system;
sending a request to the computer system to be displayed on the computer system, the request requesting information from the user to comply with the destination network admission requirements;
receiving the requested information from the computer system;
providing the requested information to the selected destination network provider;
receiving a network admission coupon from the selected destination network provider; and
providing the network admission coupon to the media device via the computer system, wherein the network admission coupon is configured to authorize the media device to access the predetermined destination network directly without using the internet connection of the computer system and without the need for additional authentication from the selected destination network provider such that the media device is configured to access the predetermined destination network by the user inputting the registration information and the requested information to the computer system rather than to a user interface provided on the media device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for pre-configuring a media device or other information handling system so as to be authorized to gain access to one or more destination networks. Pre-configuring the device includes determining what admission requirements the destination network providers require for access and then generating and providing to the media device a network admission coupon that includes the required information. In some embodiments this may be accomplished by a service center, which removes the need for additional authentication steps to be performed by the media device or the destination network providers.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. In a system including a media device that receives content or services via a network connection and a center for managing access to a plurality of destination networks, a method performed by the service center for pre-configuring the media device so that the media device may access one or more of the plurality of destination networks without requiring a user to input information to a user interface provided on the media device, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from a media device for authorization from a selected destination network provider to access a predetermined destination network, the request being received over an internet connection established by a computer system to which the media device is connected, the request including registration information for registering the media device to access the predetermined destination network, the registration information having been input to the computer system by a user; determining the destination network admission requirements that are required by the selected destination network provider in order for the media device to be authorized to access the predetermined destination network directly without using the internet connection of the computer system; sending a request to the computer system to be displayed on the computer system, the request requesting information from the user to comply with the destination network admission requirements; receiving the requested information from the computer system; providing the requested information to the selected destination network provider; receiving a network admission coupon from the selected destination network provider; and providing the network admission coupon to the media device via the computer system, wherein the network admission coupon is configured to authorize the media device to access the predetermined destination network directly without using the internet connection of the computer system and without the need for additional authentication from the selected destination network provider such that the media device is configured to access the predetermined destination network by the user inputting the registration information and the requested information to the computer system rather than to a user interface provided on the media device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In a system including a media device that receives content or services via a network connection and a service center for managing access to a plurality of destination networks, a method, performed by the media device, to receive authentication to access one or more of the plurality of destination networks without requiring a user to input information to a user interface provided on the media device, the method comprising:
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sending a request, via an internet connection of a computer system to which the media device is connected, to an external service center to obtain authorization from a particular destination network provider to access a predetermined destination network, the request including registration information for registering the media device to access the predetermined destination network, the registration information having been input to the computer system by a user such that the user need not input the registration information to a user interface on the media device; receiving, from the service center via the internet connection of the computer system, a network admission coupon provided by the particular destination network provider; accessing the predetermined destination network directly, without using the internet connection of the computer system, using the network admission coupon to authenticate with the predetermined destination network; receiving an updated network admission coupon from the service center via the predetermined destination network; and accessing the predetermined destination network directly using the updated network admission coupon to authenticate with the predetermined destination network such that the media device retains access to the predetermined destination network without requiring the user to input information to a user interface on the media device to generate the updated network admission coupon. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification