Network communication service with an improved subscriber model using digital certificates
First Claim
1. A network system, comprising:
- a portable computing device operated by a mobile user, wherein the portable computing device includes at least one digital certificate, wherein the digital certificate comprises sponsorship information;
a network;
a plurality of access points coupled to said network, wherein each of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate with the portable computing device;
at least one service provider coupled to the network, wherein the service provider is operable to receive the digital certificate from the portable computing device, wherein at least one service provider is operable to provide a service to the mobile user;
wherein access charges for access to the network are computed based on the sponsorship information comprised in the digital certificate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network communication service with an improved subscriber model. In one embodiment, a mobile user (MU), also referred to as a subscriber, may access the network service through a portable computing device (PCD) using a wireless (or wired) network interface card. Access points (APs) for the network may be widely distributed in various facilities. In one embodiment, the APs are arranged at known geographic locations and may provide geographic location information regarding the geographic location of the mobile user (MU). A digital certificate may be stored on the mobile user'"'"'s PCD in order to allow access to the network. The digital certificate may store sponsorship information, including information regarding programs or entities in which the mobile user is a member or is affiliated. Each mobile user (subscriber) to the network service may have a “value bucket” which determines the amount of network access or service available to the user. Billing for access to the network communication service, i.e., the amount the “value bucket” is drained or filled, may be based on one or more of a number of factors, including information stored in the digital certificate, such as sponsorship information, the geographic location of the user, demographic information of the user, and charging information of the user.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. A network system, comprising:
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a portable computing device operated by a mobile user, wherein the portable computing device includes at least one digital certificate, wherein the digital certificate comprises sponsorship information; a network; a plurality of access points coupled to said network, wherein each of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate with the portable computing device; at least one service provider coupled to the network, wherein the service provider is operable to receive the digital certificate from the portable computing device, wherein at least one service provider is operable to provide a service to the mobile user; wherein access charges for access to the network are computed based on the sponsorship information comprised in the digital certificate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A portable computing device operated by a mobile user in a network, comprising;
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a processing unit; a memory medium coupled to the processing unit including at least one digital certificate, wherein the digital certificate comprises sponsorship information; a communication device for communicating with the network, wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the digital certificate; wherein the portable computing device is operable to provide the digital certificate to at least one service provider on the network; wherein access charges for access to the network by the portable computing device are computed based on the sponsorship information comprised in the digital certificate.
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23. A network system, comprising:
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a plurality of access points operable to be coupled to a network, wherein each of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate with a portable computing device operated by a mobile user; at least one service provider coupled to the network, wherein the at least one service provider is operable to receive a digital certificate from the portable computing device, wherein the digital certificate comprises sponsorship information of the mobile user, wherein the at least one service provider is operable to provide a service to the mobile user; wherein access charges for access to the network are computed based on the sponsorship information comprised in the digital certificate.
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24. A network system, comprising:
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a plurality of access points operable to be coupled to a network, wherein each of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate with a portable computing device operated by a mobile user; wherein a first access point of the plurality of access points is operable to receive a digital certificate from the portable computing device, wherein the digital certificate comprises sponsorship information of the mobile user; wherein access charges for access to the network are computed based on the sponsorship information comprised in the digital certificate. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A network system, comprising:
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a portable computing device operated by a mobile user, wherein the portable computing device includes a digital certificate, wherein the digital certificate comprises sponsorship information; a network; a plurality of access points coupled to said network, wherein each of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate with the portable computing device; at least one service provider connected to the network, wherein the at least one service provider is operable to receive the digital certificate from the portable computing device, wherein the at least one service provider is operable to provide a service to the mobile user based on the sponsorship information comprised in the digital certificate. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system comprising:
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a processor; and a memory medium coupled to the processor; wherein the memory medium includes instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the steps of; receiving by a network server identification information from a portable computing device; verifying by the network server the identification information received from the portable computing device; the network server storing a digital certificate received over a network at the network server, wherein the digital certificate including sponsorship information and identification information identifying a user of the portable computing device communicating with the network server via an access point to the network; storing access charge information and demographic information in a database server; retrieving, by the network server, access charge information and demographic information of the user from the database server, wherein the access charge information indicates the access charges to be charged to the user for network access to an Internet coupled to the network; computing by the network server an access charge based on (1) demographic information of the user and (2) the sponsorship information specific to the user comprised in the digital certificate and (3) charging information specific to the user; transmitting by the network server the access charge to the portable computing device over the network; receiving by the network server acceptance of the access charge; and providing the portable computing device access to the Internet in response to receiving the acceptance. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method comprising:
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receiving by a network server identification information from a portable computing device; verifying by the network server the identification information received from the portable computing device; the network server storing a digital certificate received over a network at the network server, wherein the digital certificate including sponsorship information and identification server via an access point to the network; storing access charge information and demographic information in a database server; retrieving, by the network server, access charge information and demographic information of the user from the database server, wherein the access charge information indicates the access charges to be charged to the user for network access to an Internet coupled to the network; computing by the network server an access charge based on (1) demographic information of the user and (2) the sponsorship information specific to the user comprised in the digital certificate and (3) charging information specific to the user; transmitting by the network server the access charge to the portable computing device over the network; receiving by the network server acceptance of the access charge; and providing the portable computing device access to the Internet in response to receiving the acceptance. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory memory medium including program logic that when executed by a processor causes circuitry to perform the steps of:
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receiving identification information from portable computing device; verifying the identification information; a network server storing a digital certificate received over a network at the network server, wherein the digital certificate including sponsorship information and identification information identifying a user of the portable computing device communicating with the network server via an access point to the network; storing access charge information and demographic information in a database server; retrieving, by the network server, access charge information and demographic information of the user from the database server, wherein the access charge information indicates the access charges to be charged to the user for network access to an Internet coupled to the network; computing an access charge based on (1) demographic information of the user and (2) the sponsorship information specific to the user comprised in the digital certificate and (3) charging information specific to the user; transmitting the access charge to the portable computing device over the network; receiving acceptance of the access charge; and providing the portable computing device access to the Internet in response to receiving the acceptance. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification