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User control over WIFI network access

  • US 9,985,938 B2
  • Filed: 04/18/2016
  • Issued: 05/29/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a wireless communication device to control access to a geographically-distributed Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network that has multiple WiFi access systems, the method comprising:

  • graphically presenting WiFi network data comprising a geographic map showing the multiple WiFi access systems wherein responsive to the graphical presentation, a user selects the wireless communication device, a single user-selected network name, a single user-selected password, and only some of the multiple WIFI access systems wherein the user does not select all of the multiple WIFI access systems;

    receiving the user selections of the multiple user-selected WiFi access systems, the wireless communication device, the single user-selected network name, and the single user-selected password;

    wirelessly receiving at least one access key for the multiple user-selected WiFi access systems;

    wirelessly detecting one of the multiple user-selected WiFi access systems and responsively graphically presenting the single user-selected network name and a password prompt to receive the single user-selected password wherein the single user-selected network name and the password prompt are not graphically presented when the unselected WiFi access systems are detected; and

    receiving the single user-selected password, and in response, wirelessly transferring the access key and an identifier for the wireless communication device to the detected one of the multiple user-selected WiFi access systems, and in response, wirelessly exchanging user data over the detected one of the multiple user-selected WiFi access systems after the detected one of the user-selected WiFi access systems authorizes the access key and the identifier for the wireless communication device.

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