Providing access dependent services via a broadband access gateway
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- at a gateway configured to communicate data between a broadband modem which is configured for communication with a broadband network and a wireless communication interface which is configured for communication over a wireless network with wireless devices in a coverage area,receiving, from a gateway administrator, tier definition information about respective service tiers of a plurality of service tiers available to the wireless devices in the coverage area;
storing the tier definition information in memory for subsequent access;
receiving, from the gateway administrator, tier access information about identification or authentication information required for access over the gateway to each respective service tier of the plurality of service tiers, the identification or authentication information being different for each respective service access tier and the identification or authentication information for each respective service access tier comprising at least one of a plurality of different identifier types or one of a plurality of different password types;
storing the tier access information in the memory for subsequent access;
receiving content information about multimedia information or media-related services, or both, available to the wireless devices over the wireless network;
storing the content information in the memory for subsequent use;
communicating tier assignment information to at least one of the wireless devices, the tier assignment information corresponding to one of the plurality of service tiers that is assigned to the at least one of the wireless devices, wherein the tier assignment information identifies the multimedia information or media-related services accessible by the at least one of the wireless devices; and
subsequently, controlling access by one or more of the wireless devices to the multimedia information or media-related services using the stored tier definition information, tier access information and content information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of supporting controlled access to multimedia information and media-related services via a broadband access gateway is disclosed. A plurality of user manageable tiers of access privilege may be implemented by the broadband access gateway, that may support communication using, for example, a wireless personal area network and a broadband network. A different degree of user authentication and/or identification may be established for each of the tiers, and users may be restricted in their access to multimedia information and services by their current tier of access privilege. The multimedia information and services may be provided by a variety of access devices via the personal area network, and from providers accessible via the broadband network connected to the gateway. Examples of access devices include mobile multimedia handsets, personal digital assistants, personal computers, digital cameras, and printers. The multimedia information may, for example, comprise data, text, and digitized voice, images, video, and music. The tiers of access privilege may be managed via, for example, the personal area network or from the broadband network, by a user with an access device.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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at a gateway configured to communicate data between a broadband modem which is configured for communication with a broadband network and a wireless communication interface which is configured for communication over a wireless network with wireless devices in a coverage area, receiving, from a gateway administrator, tier definition information about respective service tiers of a plurality of service tiers available to the wireless devices in the coverage area; storing the tier definition information in memory for subsequent access; receiving, from the gateway administrator, tier access information about identification or authentication information required for access over the gateway to each respective service tier of the plurality of service tiers, the identification or authentication information being different for each respective service access tier and the identification or authentication information for each respective service access tier comprising at least one of a plurality of different identifier types or one of a plurality of different password types; storing the tier access information in the memory for subsequent access; receiving content information about multimedia information or media-related services, or both, available to the wireless devices over the wireless network; storing the content information in the memory for subsequent use; communicating tier assignment information to at least one of the wireless devices, the tier assignment information corresponding to one of the plurality of service tiers that is assigned to the at least one of the wireless devices, wherein the tier assignment information identifies the multimedia information or media-related services accessible by the at least one of the wireless devices; and subsequently, controlling access by one or more of the wireless devices to the multimedia information or media-related services using the stored tier definition information, tier access information and content information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication system comprising:
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communication circuitry configured to communicate with a local wireless network, including one or more access devices, and a broadband network; and gateway circuitry configured to communicate with the communication circuitry, the gateway circuitry further configured to; receive data defining respective service tiers of a plurality of service tiers by which wireless devices on the local wireless network can access multimedia information or media-related services; receive data about multimedia information or media-related services, or both, available to the wireless devices over the local wireless network, including locations on the broadband network at which the multimedia information or media-related services may be accessed; communicate tier assignment information to at least one of the wireless devices, the tier assignment information corresponding to the respective service tier assigned to the at least one of the wireless devices, wherein the tier assignment information identifies authorized multimedia information or media-related services accessible by the at least one of the wireless devices; and limit access by respective wireless devices to the respective service tiers in accordance with identification information for the respective wireless devices. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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at a gateway device configured to communicate data between a broadband modem which is configured for communication with a broadband network and a wireless communication interface which is configured for communication over a wireless network with wireless devices in a coverage area, including; communicating, for display on a display screen of a device of an administrator, textual or graphical information about respective service access tiers of a plurality of service access tiers available to wireless devices communicating with the gateway device, and, for each respective service access tier, a respective service access allowed for the respective service access tier and respective authentication information required from a wireless device seeking to access the respective service access tier, the respective authentication information being a different type of authentication information for each respective service access tier and the different type of authentication information for each respective service access tier comprising at least one of a plurality of identifier types or one of a plurality of password types; receiving, at the gateway device data from the device of the administrator, the data indicating the respective service access allowed for one of the plurality of service access tiers and at least one of the plurality of identifier types or one of the plurality of password types corresponding to the respective authentication information for the one of the plurality of service access tiers; and communicating tier assignment information to at least one of the wireless devices, the tier assignment information corresponding to one of the plurality of service access tiers that is assigned to the at least one of the wireless devices, wherein the tier assignment information identifies multimedia information or media-related services accessible by the at least one of the wireless devices. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification