System and method for device authentication in a dynamic network using wireless communication devices

• US 9,179,296 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2012
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IP Investment Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Mobilitie, LLC (Bai Communications Pty Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jabara, Gary B., Karmis, Christos, Simon, David Brett, Linder, Lloyd Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US13/363,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20120135711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.2, 455/428, 455/525, 455/3.04, 455/464, 455/151.1, 455/41.2, 370/327, 370/355, 370/356
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2223 being a public access point, e.g. for downloading to or uploading from clients arrangements specially adapted to plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/632 using a connection between clients on a wide area network, e.g. setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet for retrieving video segments from the hard-disk of other client devices broadcast-related systems characterised by transmission among terminal devices H04H60/80; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• 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 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/186 Processing of subscriber group data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A short-range wireless network is established by direct communication between wireless devices and wireless access points. A wireless communication device provides initial registration information to a network and becomes a registered device. An API is downloaded to the wireless device to permit automatic authentication of the device for future communications. When a registered device enters a venue, at least one access point will automatically detect the wireless device and extract the necessary identification data to permit authentication of the device. Customized messages may be provided to the wireless device. If the wireless device enters a different venue, even in another city or state, the registration data may be automatically extracted by an AP and provided to a cloud network for authentication. Authenticated devices receive a list of authenticated vendors and unauthenticated vendors near the present location of the authenticated device.

Claims

1. A system for communication between a mobile operator network and a plurality of wireless communication devices in a venue, each of the plurality of wireless communication devices having a network transceiver to permit cellular network communication with a mobile operator network and a non-network transceiver, comprising:

a plurality of wireless access points distributed within the venue with ones of the plurality of wireless access points configured to establish communication links with the non-network transceivers of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the venue;

a server associated with the venue;

a routing infrastructure configured to communicatively couple the plurality of wireless access points to the server; and

a communication transfer point communicatively coupled to the server and coupled to the mobile operator network via a communication link, the communication transfer point being configured to provide an offloaded communication link between the mobile operator network and a selected one of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the venue to thereby switch communication traffic away from the cellular network and to provide offloaded communications between the selected wireless communication device in the venue and the mobile operator network without using the cellular network;

wherein the server is configured to route the communications between the communication transfer point and any of the plurality of wireless access points having an established a communication link with the non-network transceiver of the selected wireless communication device in the venue.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein ones of the plurality of wireless communication devices are subscribers of different mobile operator networks, the communication transfer point being coupled to the different mobile operator networks via different respective communication links, the communication transfer point being configured to receive offloaded communications from each of the different mobile operator networks intended for ones of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the venue that are subscribers of the respective different mobile operator networks.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is configured to route the communications between the communication transfer point and all of the plurality of wireless access points.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is further configured to determine which of the plurality of wireless access points have established a communication link with the selected one of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the venue.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication transfer point is configured to receive offloaded communications from the mobile operator network intended for the selected wireless communication device in the venue based on a set of rules that determine whether the mobile operator network will communicate with the selected wireless communication device using the network transceiver in the selected wireless communication device or using the non-network transceiver in the selected wireless communication device.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the offloaded communications comprise voice communication, text communication and Internet access.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is configured to provide notification to the mobile operator network when the selected wireless communication device establishes a communication link with one of the plurality of wireless access points.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the server is configured to provide notification to the mobile operator network when the selected wireless communication device terminates the communication link with all of the plurality of wireless access points.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication transfer point is configured to terminate offloaded communications from the mobile operator network intended for the selected wireless communication device wherein communications with the selected wireless communication device automatically switches to communication with the mobile operator network via its network transceiver when the selected wireless communication device terminates communication with all of the wireless access points within the venue.

10. A method for communication, comprising:

a wireless communication device having a network transceiver to permit cellular network communication with a mobile operator network and a non-network transceiver and using the non-network transceiver to establish a communication link with a wireless access point upon entering a venue, the wireless communication device being a subscriber with the mobile operator network and communicating directly with the mobile operator network using the network transceiver;

establishing a communication link between the mobile operator network and a server associated with the venue to thereby switch communication traffic away from the cellular network; and

transferring communications from the mobile operator network to the server to thereby provide communications between the mobile network provider and the wireless communication device via the server and the wireless access point whereby the wireless communication device communicates with the mobile network provider using the non-network transceiver instead of the network transceiver.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising sending a notification from the venue to the mobile operator network to indicate that the wireless communication device is present in the venue and has established a communication link with the wireless access point.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising applying a set of rules to thereby determine whether the communications between the mobile operator network and the wireless communication device will use the network transceiver or the non-network transceiver.

13. The method of claim 10 for use with a plurality of wireless communication devices that are subscribers of different mobile operator networks, each of the plurality of wireless communication devices having a network transceiver and a non-network transceiver and using the non-network transceiver to establish respective communication links with the wireless access point upon entering the venue wherein establishing a communication link between the mobile network provider and the server associated with the venue comprises establishing a respective communication link between each of the plurality of mobile network providers and the server;

and

wherein transferring communications comprises transferring communications from the mobile network provider to the server to thereby provide communications between each of the plurality of mobile network providers and any of the plurality of wireless communication devices that are subscribers of the respective mobile network provider via the server and the wireless access point whereby each of the plurality of wireless communication devices communicates with their respective mobile network provider using the non-network transceiver.

14. The method of claim 10 for use in a venue having a plurality of wireless access points associated therewith wherein the server routes the communications between the mobile operator network and all of the plurality of wireless access points.

15. The method of claim 10 for use in a venue having a plurality of wireless access points associated therewith, the method further comprising:

the wireless communication device establishing communication links with any of the plurality of wireless access points within communication range of the wireless communication device; and

routing the communications between the mobile operator network and any of the plurality of wireless access points with which the wireless communication device has a communication link.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the offloaded communications comprise voice communication, text communication and Internet access.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising notifying the mobile operator network when the selected wireless communication device establishes a communication link with the wireless access point.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising notifying the mobile operator network when the selected wireless communication device terminates the communication link with the wireless access point.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein the communication intended for the selected wireless communication device is automatically transferred from the server to the mobile operator network when the selected wireless communication device terminates the communication link with the wireless access point.

20. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically authenticating a registered wireless communication device upon establishing a communication link between the wireless communication device and the wireless access point, and notifying the mobile operator network that an authenticated wireless communication device has established a communication link with the wireless access point.

21. A system for communication between a mobile operator network and a plurality of wireless communication devices in a venue, each of the plurality of wireless communication devices having a network transceiver and a non-network transceiver, comprising:

a plurality of wireless access points distributed within the venue with ones of the plurality of wireless access points configured to establish communication links with the non-network transceivers of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the venue;

a server associated with the venue;

a routing infrastructure configured to communicatively couple the plurality of wireless access points to the server; and

a communication transfer point coupled to the mobile operator network via a communication link, the communication transfer point being configured to receive offloaded communications from the mobile operator network intended for a selected one of the plurality of wireless communication devices in the venue and to transmit offloaded communications from the selected wireless communication device in the venue to the mobile operator network;

wherein the server is configured to route the communications between the communication transfer point and any of the plurality of wireless access points having an established a communication link with the non-network transceiver of the selected wireless communication device in the venue;

wherein the communication transfer point is configured to receive offloaded communications from the mobile operator network intended for the selected wireless communication device in the venue based on a mobile operator network rule wherein communications with the selected wireless communication device automatically switches to communication with the mobile operator network via one or more of the wireless access points within the venue.

22. A method for communication, comprising:

a wireless communication device having a network transceiver and a non-network transceiver and using the non-network transceiver to establish a communication link with a wireless access point upon entering a venue, the wireless communication device being a subscriber with a mobile operator network and communicating directly with the mobile operator network using the network transceiver;

establishing a communication link between the mobile network provider and a server associated with the venue; and

transferring communications from the mobile network provider to the server to thereby provide communications between the mobile network provider and the wireless communication device via the server and the wireless access point whereby the wireless communication device communicates with the mobile network provider using the non-network transceiver;

wherein the communication intended for the selected wireless communication device is automatically transferred from the mobile operator network to the server and the wireless access point based on a mobile operator network rule.