System and method for linking existing Wi-Fi access points into a single unified network

• US 9,088,955 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fon Wireless Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Fon Wireless Ltd.
• Inventors: Varsavsky Waisman-Diamond, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US13/657,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20130288639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 455/406
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0066 Details of access arrangements to the networks where the access arrangement is a PSTN/ISDN access H04M7/122
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

The present invention comprises a system and method for providing a distributed wireless network. In a preferred embodiment, at least one information processor is coupled to and accessible over a communication network, such as the internet. Network bandwidth is provided to a first user of at least two end users for a first fee and to a second user of the at least two end users for a second fee. The bandwidth is provided by at least one network service provider. Further, at least two wireless gateway devices are each respectively operated by the end users, and the wireless gateway devices are configured to provide wireless access to the communication network within a transmission range and to communicate with the at one least information processor. Also, at least two wireless receiving devices are provided that are operable to receive the respective bandwidth from the at least two wireless gateway devices when in transmission range. Preferably, the first user is authorized to use the second bandwidth and the second user is authorized to use the first bandwidth via the wireless devices. Thus a system and method of sharing bandwidth is provided.

Claims

1. A system for providing a distributed wireless network, the system comprising:

at least one information processor coupled to and accessible over a communication network;

first bandwidth of the communication network that is provided to a first user of at least two users for a first fee and second bandwidth of the communication network that is provided to a second user of the at least two users for a second fee, wherein the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth are provided by at least one network service provider; and

at least two wireless gateway devices that are each respectively associated with the at least two users, wherein the at least two wireless gateway devices are each configured to provide wireless access to the communication network within a corresponding respective transmission range and to communicate with the at one least information processor, wherein at least one of the wireless gateway devices is configured prior to being distributed;

wherein

at least two wireless receiving devices are operable to receive the respective bandwidth from the at least two wireless gateway devices when in transmission range of the respective gateway devices broadcast, wherein the first user is authorized to use the second bandwidth and the second user is authorized to use the first bandwidth.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database maintained by the at least one information processor that stores information related to each of the at least two users, the at least two wireless gateway devices, and the respective bandwidth.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a third wireless receiving device is operated by a third user, and wherein the third user is charged a fee to use the first bandwidth or the second bandwidth.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a VoIP service provider and providing VoIP service via the at least two respective wireless gateway devices.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first user is authorized to make VoIP telephone calls using the second bandwidth and the second user is authorized to make VoIP telephone calls using the first bandwidth.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two wireless receiving devices comprises at least one of:

a digital camera, a visual display, a printing device, an audio device, and a computer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one information processor is operable provide one or more of:

billing functionality, operational supports digital/analogue switching functionality, and payment reception and processing functionality.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the payment reception and processing functionality comprises receiving a credit card payment.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the wireless gateway devices is distributed by the at least one network provider.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication network is the internet.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least two wireless gateway devices are configured prior to being distributed.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first fee is distinct from the second fee.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first user is authorized to use the second bandwidth and the second user is authorized to use the first bandwidth via the wireless devices.

14. A method for providing a distributed wireless network, the method comprising:

providing at least one information processor coupled to and accessible over a communication network;

providing first bandwidth of the communication network to a first user for a first fee and second bandwidth of the communication network to a second user for a second fee, wherein the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth are provided by at least one network service provider;

providing software to configure at least two wireless gateway devices that are each respectively associated with first and second users, wherein the software configures each of the at least two wireless gateway devices to provide wireless access to the communication network within a corresponding respective transmission range and to communicate with the at least one information processor, wherein at least one of the wireless gateway devices is configured prior to being distributed; and

providing the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth from the at least two wireless gateway devices to at least two respective wireless receiving devices when the wireless devices are in corresponding transmission range of the respective gateway devices, wherein the first user is authorized to use the second bandwidth and the second user is authorized to use the first bandwidth.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising maintaining a database by the at least one information processor that stores one or more of:

information related to the first and second users, the at least two wireless gateway devices, and the first and second network bandwidth.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising charging a fee to a third user to use the first bandwidth or the second bandwidth.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing VoIP service via the at least two respective wireless gateway devices.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising authorizing the first user to make VoIP telephone calls using the second bandwidth and authorizing the second user to make VoIP telephone calls using the first bandwidth.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the at least two wireless receiving devices comprises one or more of:

a digital camera, a visual display, a printing device, an audio device, and a computer.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing one or more of:

billing functionality, operational supports digital/analogue switching functionality, and payment reception and processing functionality.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the payment reception and processing functionality comprises receiving a credit card payment.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising distributing the at least one of the wireless gateway devices by the at least one network provider.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the communication network is the internet.

24. A method for generating revenue by managing shared wireless network bandwidth, the method comprising:

providing at least one information processor coupled to and accessible over a communication network;

providing first bandwidth of the communication network to a first user for a first fee and second bandwidth of the communication network to a second user for a second fee, wherein the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth are provided by at least one network service provider;

configuring at least two wireless gateway devices that are each respectively associated with said first user and said second user, wherein each of the at least two wireless gateway devices is configured to provide wireless access to the communication network within a corresponding transmission range and to communicate with the at least one information processor; and

charging a fee to a third user to use the first respective bandwidth via a third wireless device, wherein the fee is based upon an amount of time the bandwidth is used.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing VoIP service via the at least two respective wireless gateway devices, and charging a fee for anyone who uses the VoIP service.

26. The method of claim 25, providing free roaming access for at least one of the first user and the second user.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the fee is calculated to reflect network bandwidth used over the period of a minute, a day, a week, a month or a year.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising charging a provider a goods or services or an advertising fee.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the advertising fee is for advertisements generated via the at least one information processor.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising charging a fee for the at least one gateway device and/or the at least one wireless receiving device.

31. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

remunerating the first user a portion of the fee.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the amount remunerated to the first user is equal to one half of the fee.

33. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing VoIP service via the at least two respective wireless gateway devices.

34. A system for providing a distributed wireless network, the system comprising:

at least one information processor coupled to and accessible over a communication network;

first bandwidth of the communication network that is provided to a first user of at least two users for a first fee and second bandwidth of the communication network that is provided to a second user of the at least two users for a second fee, wherein the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth are provided by at least one network service provider; and

at least two wireless gateway devices that are each respectively associated with the at least two users, wherein the at least two wireless gateway devices are each configured to provide wireless access to the communication network within a corresponding respective transmission range and to communicate with the at one least information processor, wherein at least one of the wireless gateway devices is configured prior to being distributed, wherein the at least one of the wireless gateway devices is distributed by the at least one network provider;

wherein

a first wireless receiving device associated with the first user is operable to receive the respective bandwidth from the at least two wireless gateway devices when in transmission range of the respective gateway devices broadcast, and

a second wireless receiving device associated with the second user is operable to receive the respective bandwidth from the at least two wireless gateway devices when in transmission range of the respective gateway devices broadcast, and

wherein the first user is authorized to use the second bandwidth and the second user is authorized to use the first bandwidth, and

wherein a third user is charged a third fee to use the first bandwidth or the second bandwidth.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising a VoIP service provider and providing VoIP service via the at least two respective wireless gateway devices.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the first user is authorized to make VoIP telephone calls using the second bandwidth and the second user is authorized to make VoIP telephone calls using the first bandwidth.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the fee charged to the third user is based upon an amount of time the bandwidth is used.

38. A method for providing a distributed wireless network, the method comprising:

(A) providing at least one information processor coupled to and accessible over a communication network;

(B) providing first bandwidth of the communication network to a first user for a first fee and second bandwidth of the communication network to a second user for a second fee, wherein the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth are provided by at least one network service provider;

(C) providing, by the at least one network provider, at least two wireless gateway devices that are each respectively associated with first and second users, wherein the at least two wireless gateway devices are each configured to provide wireless access to the communication network within a corresponding respective transmission range and to communicate with the at least one information processor, wherein at least one of the wireless gateway devices is configured prior to being distributed; and

(D) providing the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth from the at least two wireless gateway devices to at least two respective wireless receiving devices when the wireless devices are in corresponding transmission range of the respective gateway devices, wherein the first user is authorized to use the second bandwidth and the second user is authorized to use the first bandwidth.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising charging a fee to a third user to use the first bandwidth or the second bandwidth.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the fee charged to the third user is based upon an amount of time the bandwidth is used.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising providing VoIP service via the at least two respective wireless gateway devices.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising authorizing the first user to make VoIP telephone calls using the second bandwidth and authorizing the second user to make VoIP telephone calls using the first bandwidth.

43. A method comprising:

providing first bandwidth of a communication network to a first user for a first fee and second bandwidth of the communication network to a second user for a second fee, wherein the first bandwidth and the second bandwidth are provided by at least one network service provider;

configuring at least two wireless gateway devices that are each respectively associated with said first user and said second user, wherein each of the at least two wireless gateway devices is configured to provide wireless access to the communication network within a corresponding transmission range and to communicate with at least one information processor coupled to and accessible over a communication network, wherein at least one of the wireless gateway devices is configured prior to being distributed; and

charging a fee to a third user to use the first respective bandwidth via a third wireless device, wherein the fee is based upon an amount of time the bandwidth is used.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising maintaining a database that stores one or more of:

(i) information related to the first user and the second user, (ii) the at least two wireless gateway devices, and (iii) the first and second network bandwidth.

45. The method of claim 43 further comprising:

providing VoIP service via the at least two respective wireless gateway devices.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising authorizing the first user to make VoIP calls using the second bandwidth and authorizing the second user to make VoIP calls using the first bandwidth.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising distributing at least one of the wireless gateway devices.

48. The method of claim 43 wherein the at least two wireless gateway devices are provide by the at least one network provider.