Distributed network communication system to provide wireless access to a computing device at a reduced rate

• US 8,588,130 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stewart, Brett B., Thompson, James, McClelland, Kathleen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang B
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUDA, ADAM K
• Application Number:
  US11/403,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,778 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/338, 370/329, 370/254, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452.1, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1464 using a card, such as credit card, prepay card or SIM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1471 splitting of costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1496 involving discounts
• 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: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/004 in the uplink, i.e. towards network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A system and method for providing access and/or roaming features on a network system. The network system includes a plurality of wireless and/or wired access points coupled to a network. Access points (APs) for the network may be widely distributed in various facilities, such as airports, mass-transit stations, and various businesses. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. In one embodiment, a portable computing device (PCD) of a user may store identification information which uniquely indicates a network provider of a plurality of possible network providers. The identification information may also or instead indicate an access or privilege level of the user. Each of the access points are operable to “listen for” or detect identification information associated with numerous different providers. When the access point receives the identification information from a PCD of a user, the access point may determine the appropriate network provider for the portable computing device using the identification information. Network access may then be provided to the portable computing device through the determined network provider. 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, including networks maintained by other providers. The access information may also include an access level which indicates the user'"'"'s access or privilege level. Thus, the local network may provide various local resources which are available to users having a first access level, and users with a second access level may not be entitled to view or utilize these network resources on the network, but may be simply provided external Internet access.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing, at a wireless access point, an end-user computing device with access to a network, wherein a cost for providing the access to the network is reduced based on an account associated with an incentive program, and wherein the account is associated with a user of the end-user computing device; and

transmitting, from the wireless access point, data to the end-user computing device to present a visual display at the end-user computing device, wherein the visual display includes an advertisement provided by a particular entity.

2. A method comprising:

receiving, at a wireless access point, information from an end-user computing device to obtain access to a network;

providing, at the wireless access point, the end-user computing device with access to the network, wherein a cost for providing the access to the network is reduced based at least in part on an account associated with an incentive program, and wherein the account is associated with a user of the end-user computing device; and

transmitting, from the wireless access point, data to the end-user computing device to present a visual display at the end-user computing device, wherein the visual display includes one or more advertisements provided by a particular entity.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the particular entity is distinct from a provider of the wireless access point.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein a reduction of the cost is determined by the particular entity.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a privilege level of the access to the network provided to the end-user computing device based on a geographic location associated with the end-user computing device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more advertisements are determined based on the incentive program associated with the account.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the information indicates the user of the end-user computing device is associated with the account.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the incentive program is associated with a business.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the business provides rewards points to the account.

10. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

determining, at a wireless access point, a privilege level of access to a network provided to an end-user computing device based on a geographic location associated with the end-user computing device;

providing, at the wireless access point, the end-user computing device with access to the network; and

transmitting, from the wireless access point, data to the end-user computing device to present a visual display at the end-user computing device, wherein the visual display includes an advertisement provided by a particular entity.

11. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, at a wireless access point, information from an end-user computing device to obtain access to a network;

determining a privilege level of the access to the network provided to the end-user computing device based on a geographic location associated with the end-user computing device;

providing, at the wireless access point, the end-user computing device with access to the network; and

transmitting, from the wireless access point, data to the end-user computing device to present a visual display at the end-user computing device, wherein the visual display includes one or more advertisements provided by a particular entity.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the particular entity is distinct from a provider of the wireless access point.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein a cost for providing the access to the network is reduced based at least in part on an account associated with an incentive program, and wherein the account is associated with a user of the end-user computing device.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the information indicates the user of the end-user computing device is associated with the account.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the incentive program is associated with a business.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the business provides rewards points to the account.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein a reduction of the cost is determined by a particular entity.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the advertisements are determined based on the incentive program associated with the account.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a wireless access point, information from an end-user computing device to obtain access to a network;

providing, at the wireless access point, the end-user computing device with access to the network, wherein a cost for providing the access to the network is reduced based at least in part on an account associated with an incentive program, and wherein the account is associated with a user of the end-user computing device; and

transmitting, from the wireless access point, data to the end-user computing device to present a visual display at the end-user computing device, wherein the visual display includes one or more advertisements provided by a particular entity.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise determining a privilege level of the access to the network provided to the end-user computing device based on a geographic location associated with the end-user computing device.