Method and apparatus for monitoring wireless network access
First Claim
1. A method for execution on a client device of achieving login to a wireless network, the method comprising:
- employing a first software component stored on the client device to establish a first connection with a wireless network;
employing a client utility on the client device to identify that the first software component on the client device has established the first connection with the wireless network; and
performing in the client utility on the client device, in response to the identified first connection, a login procedure for authenticating the client device, the login procedure enabling the client device to use the wireless network, wherein the login procedure is performed by the client utility after the first software component has established the first connection with the wireless network, wherein the login procedure includes establishing a high-level connection with the wireless network;
wherein the client device includes one or more network interface components operating on the client device, the method further comprising;
identifying one or more network interface components operating on the client device;
monitoring activity of said identified network interface components, andperforming the following in response to the identified network connection;
obtaining a network identifier associated with the detected network connection;
determining, using the obtained network identifier, whether the detected network connection corresponds to a known network;
performing the login procedure to authenticate the client device for the wireless network in a case that the obtained network identifier corresponds to a known network;
wherein, prior to performance of the identifying and monitoring steps, the following steps are performed;
downloading a client software configured to perform at least the identifying and monitoring steps in response to a sign up process, during which a user creates an account with a wireless provider and provides authentication information to the wireless provider, such that the client software is downloaded together with the authentication information;
determining that the step of downloading is complete; and
in response to determining that the downloading step is complete, automatically initiating installation of the client software and configuring the client software to use the authentication information input by the user during the sign up process.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring wireless network access, and use of a detected wireless network connection are described. A client component (e.g., software component), or client, can be downloaded to a computing device, which leverages off of the computing device'"'"'s ability to locate and establish a network connection. The client component listens for network connection activity, and determines whether the device has established a network connection with a network known to the client. If the client determines that a network connection has been established to a known network, the client uses the network connection to log the user onto the network.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for execution on a client device of achieving login to a wireless network, the method comprising:
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employing a first software component stored on the client device to establish a first connection with a wireless network; employing a client utility on the client device to identify that the first software component on the client device has established the first connection with the wireless network; and performing in the client utility on the client device, in response to the identified first connection, a login procedure for authenticating the client device, the login procedure enabling the client device to use the wireless network, wherein the login procedure is performed by the client utility after the first software component has established the first connection with the wireless network, wherein the login procedure includes establishing a high-level connection with the wireless network; wherein the client device includes one or more network interface components operating on the client device, the method further comprising; identifying one or more network interface components operating on the client device; monitoring activity of said identified network interface components, and performing the following in response to the identified network connection; obtaining a network identifier associated with the detected network connection; determining, using the obtained network identifier, whether the detected network connection corresponds to a known network; performing the login procedure to authenticate the client device for the wireless network in a case that the obtained network identifier corresponds to a known network; wherein, prior to performance of the identifying and monitoring steps, the following steps are performed; downloading a client software configured to perform at least the identifying and monitoring steps in response to a sign up process, during which a user creates an account with a wireless provider and provides authentication information to the wireless provider, such that the client software is downloaded together with the authentication information; determining that the step of downloading is complete; and in response to determining that the downloading step is complete, automatically initiating installation of the client software and configuring the client software to use the authentication information input by the user during the sign up process. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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21. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium or non-transitory machine readable storage media having persistent program instructions tangibly stored thereon executable by a processing unit on a client device for achieving login to a wireless network by performing the steps of:
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employing a first component on the client device to establish an initial connection with a wireless network; employing a client utility on the client device to identify that the first software component on the client device has established a connection with a wireless network; performing in the client utility on the client device, in response to the identified network connection, a login procedure for authenticating the client device for enabling use of the wireless network, wherein the login procedure is performed by the client utility after the first software component has established the initial connection to the wireless network and wherein the login procedure performed by the client utility is wholly separate from the connection established by the first software component to the wireless network; and wherein the client device includes one or more network interface components operating on the client device, and wherein the steps further comprise; identifying one or more network interface components operating on the client device; monitoring activity of said identified network interface components, and performing the following in response to the identified network connection; obtaining a network identifier associated with the detected network connection; determining, using the obtained network identifier, whether the detected network connection corresponds to a known network; performing the login procedure to authenticate the client device for the wireless network in a case that the obtained network identifier corresponds to a known network; wherein, prior performance of the identifying and monitoring steps, the following steps are performed; downloading a client software configured to perform at least the identifying and monitoring steps in response to a sign up process, during which a user creates an account with a wireless provider and provides authentication information to the wireless provider, such that the client software is downloaded together with the authentication information; determining that the step of downloading is complete; and in response to determining that the downloading step is complete, automatically initiating installation of the client software and configuring the client software to use the authentication information input by the user during the sign up process.
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23. A method for execution on a client device of achieving login to a wireless network, the method comprising:
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conducting active scanning for a wireless network under control of a first software component on the client device and establishing a connection with the wireless network using that software component; detecting that the first software component on the client device has established a connection with the wireless network; and responding to detection of the establishment of a connection with the wireless network by the software component by employing a client utility to perform a login procedure for authenticating the client device, said authenticating of the client device being required to enable a user to use the wireless network, wherein the login procedure includes establishing a high-level connection to the wireless network; wherein the client device includes one or more network interface components operating on the client device and the method further comprising; identifying one or more network interface components operating on the client device; monitoring activity of said identified network interface components, and performing the following in response to the identified network connection; obtaining a network identifier associated with the detected network connection; determining, using the obtained network identifier, whether the detected network connection corresponds to a known network; performing the login procedure to authenticate the client device for the wireless network in a case that the obtained network identifier corresponds to a known network; wherein, prior to performance of the identifying and monitoring steps, the following steps are performed; downloading a client software configured to perform at least the identifying and monitoring steps in response to a sign up process, during which a user creates an account with a wireless provider and provides authentication information to the wireless provider, such that the client software is downloaded together with the authentication information; determining that the step of downloading is complete; in response to determining that the downloading step is complete, automatically initiating installation of the client software and configuring the client software to use the authentication information input by the user during the sign up process. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for execution on a client device of achieving login to a wireless network, the method comprising:
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identifying that a first software component on the client device has established a connection with a wireless network; and performing in a client utility on the client device, in response to the identified network connection, a login procedure for authenticating the client device to thereby enable the client device and its user to use the wireless network, wherein the login procedure performed by the client utility is performed wholly separately and apart from a procedure implemented previously by the first component to establish the connection to the wireless network, wherein the login procedure includes establishing a high-level connection to the wireless network; wherein the client device includes one or more network interface components operating on the client device, the method further comprising; identifying one or more network interface components operating on the client device; monitoring activity of said identified network interface components, and performing the following in response to the identified network connection; obtaining a network identifier associated with the detected network connection; determining, using the obtained network identifier, whether the detected network connection corresponds to a known network; performing the login procedure to authenticate the client device for the wireless network in a case that the obtained network identifier corresponds to a known network; wherein, prior to performance of the identifying and monitoring steps, the following steps are performed; downloading a client software configured to perform at least the identifying and monitoring steps in response to a sign up process, during which a user creates an account with a wireless provider and provides authentication information to the wireless provider, such that the client software is downloaded together with the authentication information; determining that the step of downloading is complete; and in response to determining that the downloading step is complete, automatically initiating installation of the client software and configuring the client software to use the authentication information input by the user during the sign up process. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification