Wireless device registration, such as automatic registration of a Wi-Fi enabled device
First Claim
1. A system for providing a wireless device with access to an Internet Protocol (IP) based computer network, the system comprising:
- a server that receives data packets from an access point through the computer network,wherein a radio link couples the wireless device to the computer network through the access point,wherein the receiving is performed without user input at the wireless device, andwherein the data packets include at least one data packet that has a first identifier that uniquely identifies the wireless device and a second identifier that corresponds to—
1) a manufacturer code of the wireless device,2) a vendor code of the wireless device,3) a type of data or a data payload type associated with the wireless device,4) a model or device code associated with the wireless device,5) a location or venue currently associated with the wireless device, or6) two or more of
1) through
5); and
,a database coupled to communicate with the server and store data that associates a service plan with the first and second identifiers,wherein the communicating and storing are performed without user input at the wireless device,wherein the service plan is based, at least in part, on the second identifier,wherein the service plan is for wireless access to the IP based computer network and not to a cellular phone network,wherein the service plan is based on an amount of bandwidth that is consumable by the wireless device under the service plan, andwherein the association of the service plan is not performed based on use of a subscriber identity module (SIM) associated with the wireless device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing a wireless device with access to a computer network includes an access point that sets up a radio link with the wireless device and couples the wireless device to the network. The system also includes a server that receives data packets from the access point through the computer network. The data packets include at least one data packet that has a first identifier that uniquely identifies the wireless device and a second identifier that corresponds to the wireless device. The system further includes a database that is coupled to the server and stores data for associating a service plan with the first and second identifiers and basing the service plan, at least in part, on the second identifier. Other features and systems are also disclosed.
52 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for providing a wireless device with access to an Internet Protocol (IP) based computer network, the system comprising:
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a server that receives data packets from an access point through the computer network, wherein a radio link couples the wireless device to the computer network through the access point, wherein the receiving is performed without user input at the wireless device, and wherein the data packets include at least one data packet that has a first identifier that uniquely identifies the wireless device and a second identifier that corresponds to— 1) a manufacturer code of the wireless device, 2) a vendor code of the wireless device, 3) a type of data or a data payload type associated with the wireless device, 4) a model or device code associated with the wireless device, 5) a location or venue currently associated with the wireless device, or 6) two or more of
1) through
5); and
,a database coupled to communicate with the server and store data that associates a service plan with the first and second identifiers, wherein the communicating and storing are performed without user input at the wireless device, wherein the service plan is based, at least in part, on the second identifier, wherein the service plan is for wireless access to the IP based computer network and not to a cellular phone network, wherein the service plan is based on an amount of bandwidth that is consumable by the wireless device under the service plan, and wherein the association of the service plan is not performed based on use of a subscriber identity module (SIM) associated with the wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for providing a wireless device with Wi-Fi access to a computer network, the method comprising:
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receiving a message regarding a request from a wireless device for access to the computer network, wherein the message includes a device identifier and a Wi-Fi service identifier, wherein the Wi-Fi service identifier corresponds to a variable characteristic associated with the wireless device; associating a Wi-Fi service plan with the wireless device based on at least the Wi-Fi service identifier, wherein the associating is initiated automatically, wherein the service plan is based on an amount of bandwidth that is consumable by the wireless device under the service plan, and wherein the service plan is for wireless access to the IP based computer network and not to a cellular phone network; automatically associating the device identifier with the Wi-Fi service plan; and authenticating wireless access between the wireless device and a Wi-Fi access point coupled to the computer network based on the Wi-Fi service plan, wherein the authenticating of the wireless access is not performed based on use of a subscriber identity module (SIM) associated with the wireless device, and wherein the authenticating is performed without user input at the wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium whose contents cause at least one computer to perform a method for activating a service plan for accessing a wireless packet-switched computer network, including a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless wide area network (WWAN), and/or a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), the method comprising:
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receiving a first data packet from a computer network that is coupled to the server and a first wireless access point, wherein the first data packet includes a wireless service identifier corresponding to a variable characteristic associated with a wireless access device; and wherein the first data packet also includes a unique device identifier corresponding to the wireless device; identifying a wireless service plan based on the service identifier, wherein the identifying is initiated without user input at the wireless device, and wherein the service plan is a temporary wireless service plan; associating the identified wireless service plan with the device identifier, wherein the associating is initiated without user input at the wireless device; and communicating to the first access point a second data packet that enables the wireless device to access the WLAN, WWAN, and/or WMAN under the identified wireless service plan, wherein the WLAN, WWAN, and WMAN are IP based computer networks and are not mobile telephone networks, and wherein the communicating is initiated without user input at the wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for providing a wireless device with Wi-Fi access to a computer network, the method comprising:
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receiving a message regarding a request from a wireless device for access to the computer network, wherein the message includes a device identifier and a Wi-Fi service identifier; associating a Wi-Fi service plan with the wireless device based on at least the Wi-Fi service identifier, wherein the associating is initiated automatically, wherein the service plan is based on an amount of bandwidth that is consumable by the wireless device under the service plan, and wherein the service plan is a common rate plan for allowing two or more wireless devices that belong to a predefined group of wireless devices to wirelessly access the IP based computer network and not to wirelessly access a cellular phone network; automatically associating the device identifier with the Wi-Fi service plan; and authenticating wireless access between the wireless device and a Wi-Fi access point coupled to the computer network based on the Wi-Fi service plan, wherein the authenticating of the wireless access is not performed based on use of a subscriber identity module (SIM) associated with the wireless device, and wherein the authenticating is performed without user input at the wireless device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification