Intelligent network access controller and method
First Claim
1. An intelligent network access controller for use with a wireless network that provides communications services to subscribers having wireless communications devices, the controller tangibly embodying a program of instructions readable by the controller to perform steps of a process that creates a local wireless network that is an overlay to a part of an existing wireless network and that dynamically controls wireless communications access to the existing wireless network, the steps, comprising:
- receiving and sending, at a multi-protocol interface, digital messaging by the wireless communications devices;
determining, at an identification module, an identity of a wireless communications device;
receiving, at an access module, the identity and determining an access level for the wireless communications device; and
preventing wireless communications access by wireless communications devices to the existing wireless network by locking, at a locking module, wireless communications devices to the controller based on the determined access level.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An intelligent network access controller for use with a wireless network that provides communications services to subscribers having wireless communications devices includes a multi-protocol interface for receiving and sending digital messaging by the wireless communications devices; an identification module that determines an identity of a wireless communications device; an access module that receives the identity and determines an access level for the wireless communications device; and a locking module that locks selected wireless communications devices to the controller based on the determined access level.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. An intelligent network access controller for use with a wireless network that provides communications services to subscribers having wireless communications devices, the controller tangibly embodying a program of instructions readable by the controller to perform steps of a process that creates a local wireless network that is an overlay to a part of an existing wireless network and that dynamically controls wireless communications access to the existing wireless network, the steps, comprising:
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receiving and sending, at a multi-protocol interface, digital messaging by the wireless communications devices; determining, at an identification module, an identity of a wireless communications device; receiving, at an access module, the identity and determining an access level for the wireless communications device; and preventing wireless communications access by wireless communications devices to the existing wireless network by locking, at a locking module, wireless communications devices to the controller based on the determined access level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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28. A method, implemented on a programmed processor, for restricting access to wireless communications to and from an existing wireless network, comprising:
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generating a local wireless network that overlays a part of the existing wireless network; provoking access from a wireless communications device to register with an intelligent network access controller of the local wireless network; determining a category of the wireless communications device; locking the wireless communications device to the controller; when the determined category is a first category, preventing access to wireless communications to the existing wireless network; and when the determined category is a second category, providing wireless communications access to the existing wireless network using the controller. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An intelligent network access controller (INAC), tangibly embodying a program of instructions readable by the INAC to performs steps of a process that creates a local wireless network as an overlay to a part of an existing wireless network and that dynamically controls access by wireless devices to the overlaid part of the existing wireless network, the steps, comprising:
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registering the wireless devices, wherein the devices are identified and classified, and wherein the devices comprise one of allowed, restricted, and unknown; dynamically determining characteristic values of the devices; dynamically granting access by the devices to the existing wireless network based on the dynamically determined characteristics of the devices; and dynamically denying access by the devices to the existing wireless network by locking the devices to the local wireless network based on the dynamically determined characteristics of the devices. - View Dependent Claims (40, 45)
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46. A computer-implemented method for controlling access by wireless devices to an existing wireless network, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a local wireless network having a determined RF coverage area as an overlay to a part of the existing wireless network; detecting when the devices enter the RF coverage area of the local wireless network; dynamically determining one or more characteristics of the devices and one or more characteristics of the RF coverage area; locking the devices to the local wireless network; and based on the dynamically determined characteristics, either; preventing wireless communications in the existing wireless network using the local wireless network, or allowing wireless communications in the existing wireless network using the local wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
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50. A system for controlling access to an existing wireless network, comprising:
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radio frequency (RF) generating, receiving, and control equipment that creates a local wireless network overlaying a part of the existing wireless network and generates a RF signal receivable by wireless devices; and a controller implemented on a programmed processor coupled to the equipment generating the RF signal, the controller, comprising; an identity module that identifies wireless devices within a coverage area of the local wireless network, an access module that determines a level of access to the existing wireless network, wherein levels of access comprise one of allowed and blocked, and a locking module that locks wireless devices with a blocked level of access to the local wireless network and prevents access to the existing wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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Specification