Distributed network communication system which enables multiple network providers to use a common distributed network infrastructure

• US 20040167958A1
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson, James, Stewart, Brett B., McClelland, Kathleen E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,250,167 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1439 time-based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1464 using a card, such as credit card, prepay card or SIM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1471 splitting of costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1496 involving discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/50 Network service management, e.g. ensuring proper service fulfilment according to agreements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/004 in the uplink, i.e. towards network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A system and method for providing access and/or roaming features on a network system. The network system includes a plurality of wireless and/or wired access points coupled to a network. Access points (APs) for the network may be widely distributed in various facilities, such as airports, mass-transit stations, and various businesses. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. In one embodiment, a portable computing device (PCD) of a user may store identification information which uniquely indicates a network provider of a plurality of possible network providers. The identification information may also or instead indicate an access or privilege level of the user. Each of the access points are operable to “listen for” or detect identification information associated with numerous different providers. When the access point receives the identification information from a PCD of a user, the access point may determine the appropriate network provider for the portable computing device using the identification information. Network access may then be provided to the portable computing device through the determined network provider. Thus the network system is useable by subscribers of each of the plurality of possible network providers, thereby enabling subscribers to “roam” on various wireless networks, including networks maintained by other providers. The access information may also include an access level which indicates the user'"'"'s access or privilege level. Thus, the local network may provide various local resources which are available to users having a first access level, and users with a second access level may not be entitled to view or utilize these network resources on the network, but may be simply provided external Internet access.

Claims

1. A wireless access point operable to be coupled to a network, wherein the wireless access point is operable to communicate using wireless Ethernet with one or more computing devices, wherein the wireless access point is operable to concurrently use a plurality of radio frequency (RF) channels for communicating with the one or more computing devices.

2. The wireless access point of claim 1, wherein the wireless access point is operable to communicate using a first RF channel with a first subset of the one or more computing devices, wherein the wireless access point is operable to communicate using a second RF channel with a second subset of the one or more computing devices.

3. The wireless access point of claim 2, wherein the wireless access point is operable to communicate using an Nth RF channel with an Nth subset of the one or more computing devices.

4. The wireless access point of claim 2, wherein the first RF channel and the second RF are non-overlapping RF channels.

5. The wireless access point of claim 1,

wherein the wireless access point is operable to communicate with a computing device of the one or more computing devices, wherein the wireless access point concurrently uses a plurality of RF channels for communicating with the computing device.

6. The wireless access point of claim 5,

wherein the plurality of RF channels for communicating with the computing device includes at least two non-overlapping RF channels.

7. The wireless access point of claim 1,

wherein a subset of the one or more computing devices are portable computing devices.

8. The wireless access point of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory medium for storing a data structure, wherein the data structure comprises a list of identification information entries each indicating one or more RF channels of the plurality of RF channels;

wherein the wireless access point is operable to receive an identification information from a computing device of the one or more computing devices;

wherein the wireless access point is configured to determine the one or more RF channels indicated by the identification information;

wherein, in determining the one or more RF channel, the wireless access point is operable to access the memory medium and use the received identification information to determine the one or more RF channels;

wherein the wireless access point communicates using the indicated one or more RF channels with the computing device.

9. The access point of claim 8,

wherein at least two of the one or more RF channels of the plurality of RF channels are non-overlapping channels.

10. The wireless access point of claim 8, wherein said identification information comprises a digital certificate.

11. The wireless access point of claim 8, wherein said identification information comprises an IEEE 802.11 system identification.

12. The wireless access point of claim 8, wherein said identification information comprises a media access control (MAC) identification.

13. The wireless access point of claim 8, wherein said identification information comprises a known geographic location of the first computing device.

14. The wireless access point of claim 8,

wherein the wireless access point operable to:

receive a first identification from a first computing device of the one or more;

communicate with the first computing device using a first RF channel indicated by the first identification information;

receive a second identification information from a second computing device of the one or more computing devices;

communicate with the second communication device using a second RF channel indicated by the identification information.

15. The wireless access point of claim 14,

wherein the first RF channel and the second RF channel are different RF channels.

16. The wireless access point of claim 15, wherein the different RF channels are non-overlapping RF channels.

17. The wireless access point of claim 8,

wherein the identification information indicates access to a private portion of the network;

wherein the one or more RF channels are based on access to the private portion of the network.

18. The wireless access point of claim 8,

wherein the identification information indicates an access level;

wherein the one or more RF channels are based on the access level.

19. The wireless access point of claim 18,

wherein the wireless access point is operable to provide data from the computing device to one or more resources on the network;

wherein the wireless access point is configured to allow the computing device access to the one or more resources on the network if the access level is a first access level.

20. The wireless access point of claim 19,

wherein the wireless access point is configured to allow the computing device external access out of the network if the access level is a second access level, wherein if the access level is the second access level, the data is not provided to the one or more network resources.

21. The wireless access point of claim 20,

wherein the external access out of the network includes access using VoIP.

22. The wireless access point of claim 20,

wherein the external access out of the network includes access to other networks.

23. The wireless access point of claim 22,

wherein the other networks include the Internet.

24. The wireless access point of claim 19,

wherein the one or more network resources includes .

25. A method of using multiple channels for providing wireless Ethernet for one or more computing devices, the method comprising:

a wireless access point communicating using wireless Ethernet with one or more computing devices; and

the wireless access point concurrently utilizing a plurality of radio frequency (RF) channels for said communicating with the one or more computing devices.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

the wireless access point communicating with a first subset of the one or more computing devices, wherein said communicating with the first subset uses a first RF channel; and

the wireless access point communicating with a second subset of the one or more computing devices, wherein said communicating with the second subset uses a second RF channel.

27. The method of claim 26,

wherein the first RF channel and the second RF channel are non-overlapping RF channels.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

the wireless access point communicating with an Nth subset of the one or more computing devices, wherein said communicating with the Nth subset uses an Nth RF channel.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

the wireless access point communicating with a first subset of the one or more computing devices, wherein said communicating with the first subset uses a first RF channel;

reaching a threshold of a number of computing devices of said first subset;

in response to said reaching the threshold, the wireless access point communicating with a second subset of the one or more computing devices, wherein said communicating with the second subset uses a second RF channel.

30. The method of claim 29,

wherein the first RF channel and the second RF channel are non-overlapping RF channels.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

the wireless access point communicating with a first subset of the one or more computing devices, wherein said communicating with the first subset uses a first RF channel;

reaching a threshold of a bandwidth of the first channel;

in response to said reaching the threshold, the wireless access point communicating with a second subset of the one or more computing devices, wherein said communicating with the second subset uses a second RF channel.

32. The method of claim 31,

wherein the first RF channel and the second RF channel are non-overlapping RF channels.

33. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving an identification information from a first computing device of the one or more computing devices;

determining a RF channel based upon the identification information; and

the wireless access point utilizing the RF channel for communicating with the first computing device.

34. The method of claim 33,

wherein the wireless access point includes a memory medium which stores a data structure comprising a list of identification information entries each indicating at least one RF channel of the plurality of RF channels;

wherein said determining the RF channel includes accessing the memory medium and using the received identification information to determine the RF channel.

35. The method of claim 34,

wherein the wireless access point is coupled to a network;

wherein the wireless access point is operable to access a management information base (MIB) coupled to the network, wherein the MIB includes a memory medium which stores a data structure comprising a list of identification information entries each indicating at least one RF channel of the plurality of RF channels;

wherein said determining the RF channel includes accessing the MIB and using the received identification information to determine the RF channel.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein said identification information comprises a digital certificate.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein said identification information comprises an IEEE 802.11 system identification.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein said identification information comprises a media access control (MAC) identification.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein said identification information comprises a known geographic location of the first computing device.

40. The method of claim 25,

wherein a subset of the one or more computing devices are portable computing devices.

41. The method of claim 25,

wherein the wireless access point communicates with a first computing device of the one or more computing devices;

wherein the wireless access point concurrently uses a subset of the plurality of RF channels for communicating with the first computing device.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the subset includes two or more RF channels.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the two or more RF channels includes at least two non-overlapping channels.

44. The method of claim 25, wherein said concurrently utilizing a plurality of radio frequency (RF) channels for said communicating with the one or more computing devices operates to provide increased communication bandwidth in said communicating.

45. A method of using multiple channels for increasing bandwidth in a wireless network system, the method comprising:

a wireless access point communicating using wireless Ethernet with a computing device, wherein the access point is coupled to a network;

in response to reaching a first bandwidth threshold during said communicating, the wireless access point concurrently utilizing a plurality of radio frequency (RF) channels for said communicating, thereby increasing the bandwidth of said communicating.

46. The method of claim 45,

wherein a subset of the plurality RF channels are non-overlapping RF channels.

47. The method of claim 45,

wherein the computing device is a portable computing device.

48. A method for providing access to a network system, wherein the network system includes one or more wireless access points coupled to a network, wherein the one or more wireless access points communicate using wireless Ethernet with one or more computing devices, the method comprising:

a first wireless access point of the one or more wireless access points receiving identification information from a computing device of the one or more computing devices, wherein the first wireless access point is operable to concurrently utilize a plurality of radio frequency (RF) channels to communicate with the one or more computing devices, wherein the identification information indicates a network provider of a plurality of possible network providers, wherein said first wireless access point includes a memory medium which stores a data structure comprising a list of identification information entries each indicating at least one network provider of the plurality of possible network providers;

determining the network provider for the computing device after receiving the identification information, wherein said determining the network provider for the first computing device includes accessing the memory medium and using the received identification information to determine the network provider;

assigning a RF channel for communication between the first wireless access point and the computing device;

the first wireless access point receiving data from the computing device; and

providing network access to the computing device through the network provider determined in said determining.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said providing network access comprises providing the data received from the computing device to a destination based on the determined network provider.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the network system is useable by subscribers of each of the plurality of possible network providers.

51. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

maintaining and storing a usage amount by the computing device;

wherein the determined network provider charges for access by the computing device to the network.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein the data structure further comprises associated methods for providing data to the respective plurality of possible network providers;

wherein said determining the network provider for the computing device includes accessing the memory medium, using the received identification information to determine the network provider, and using an associated method for providing the data to the network provider.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the data structure stores a destination address indicating a destination specified by the network provider;

wherein said providing the data comprises providing the data to the destination specified by the network provider.

54. The method of claim 48, wherein the one or more wireless access points are maintained by a first network provider;

wherein the identification information indicates a second network provider.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the data structure further comprises a destination, wherein the destination is specified by the first network provider;

wherein said providing the data comprises providing the data to the destination specified by the first network provider.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the data structure further comprises a destination, wherein the destination is specified by the second network provider;

wherein said providing the data comprises providing the data to the destination specified by the second network provider.

57. The method claim of claim 54, wherein the data structure further comprises an associated method for providing data to the second network provider;

wherein said determining the network provider for the computing device includes accessing the memory medium, using the received identification information to determine the network provider, and using the associated method for providing the data to the second network provider.

58. The method claim of 57, wherein the associated method is provided by the first network provider.

59. The method claim of 57, wherein the associated method is provided by the second network provider.

60. The method of claim 48, wherein the identification information comprises a System ID of the computing device, wherein the System ID uniquely identifies the network provider of the plurality of possible network providers.

61. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

the first wireless access point receiving identification information from a second computing device of the one or more computing devices, wherein the identification information indicates a second network provider of the plurality of possible network providers;

determining the second network provider for the second computing device after receiving the identification information from the second computing device;

assigning a second RF channel for communication between the first wireless access point and the second computing device;

the first wireless access point receiving data from the second computing device; and

providing network access to the second computing device through the second network provider determined in said determining the second network provider.

62. The method of claim 61,

wherein the RF channel and the second RF channel are the same RF channel.

63. The method of claim 61,

wherein the RF channel and the second RF channel are different RF channels.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the different RF channels are non-overlapping RF channels.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein said assigning the second RF channel based on the identification information received from the second computing device.

66. The method of claim 61, wherein said assigning the second RF channel based on the determined second network provider.

67. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

determining an access level for the second computing device after receiving the identification information from the second computing device;

wherein said assigning the second RF channel based on the determined access level.

68. The method of claim 61, wherein said providing network access to the second computing device comprises providing the data received from the second computing device to a destination based on the determined second network provider.

69. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

maintaining and storing a usage amount by the second computing device;

wherein the determined second network provider of the second computing device charges for access by the second computing device to the network.

70. The method of claim 61, wherein the data structure further comprises associated methods for providing data to the respective plurality of possible network providers;

wherein said determining the second network provider for the second computing device includes accessing the memory medium, using the received identification information from the second computing device to determine the second network provider, and using an associated method for providing the data to the second network provider.

71. The method of claim 61, wherein the one or more wireless access points are maintained by the network provider.

72. The method of claim 61, wherein the identification information from the second computing device comprises a System ID of the second computing device, wherein the System ID of the second computing device uniquely identifies the second network provider of the plurality of possible network providers.

73. The method of claim 61, wherein at least a subset of the identification information entries each indicate one or more virtual local area networks (VLANs).

74. The method of claim 73,

wherein each virtual local area network (VLAN) specifies a network provider.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein said providing network access to the second computing device comprises using a VLAN specified by the identification information from the second computer.

76. The method of claim 61,

wherein the data structure further stores a respective network provider for each identification information entry;

wherein said determining the second network provider comprises indexing into the data structure using the identification information from the second computing device to determine the second network provider stored in the data structure corresponding to the identification information from the second computing device.

77. The method of claim 61, wherein the data structure further comprises a destination, wherein the destination is specified by the second network provider, of the plurality of network providers;

wherein said providing the data comprises providing the data to the destination specified by the second network provider.

78. The method of claim 61, wherein said second identification information comprises a digital certificate.

79. The method of claim 61, wherein said second identification information comprises an IEEE 802.11 system identification.

80. The method of claim 61, wherein said second identification information comprises a media access control (MAC) identification.

81. The method of claim 61, wherein said second identification information comprises a known geographic location of the second computing device.

82. The method of claim 48,

wherein the one or more wireless access points are arranged at known locations in a geographic region, the method further comprising:

the first wireless access point providing geographic location information indicating a known geographic location of the computing device;

wherein said providing network access comprises selectively providing network access to the computing device based on the known geographic location of the computing device.

83. The method of claim 48, wherein the data structure further comprises a list of access levels, the method further comprising:

determining an access level for the computing device after receiving the identification information, wherein said determining the access level for the computing device includes accessing the memory medium and using the received identification information to determine the access level;

the first wireless access point receiving data from the computing device; and

providing the data received from the computing device to a destination based on the determined access level.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein said providing the data comprises:

providing the data to one or more resources on the network to allow the computing device access to the one or more resources on the network if the access level is a first access level;

providing the data to a destination for external access out of the network to only allow the computing device access to other networks if the access level is a second access level;

wherein, if the access level is the second access level, the data is not provided to the one or more resources on the network.

85. The method of claim 84, further comprising:

assigning a second RF channel for communication between the first wireless access point and the computing device if the access level is the second access level.

86. The method of claim 84, further comprising:

assigning a second RF channel for communication between the first wireless access point and the computing device if the access level is the first access level.

87. The method of claim 48, wherein the first wireless access point assigns the RF channel for communication between the first wireless access point and the first computing device.

88. The method of claim 48, wherein said assigning comprises assigning the RF channel based on the identification information received from the computing device.

89. The method of claim 48, wherein said assigning comprises assigning the RF channel based on the determined network provider.

90. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

determining an access level for the computing device after receiving the identification information;

wherein said assigning the RF channel for communication between the first wireless access point and the computing device based on the determined access level.

91. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

determining an access level for the computing device after receiving the identification information;

assigning a second RF channel for communicating between the first access point and the computing device, wherein the RF channel and the second RF channel are utilized concurrently;

wherein said assigning the second RF channel for communication between the first wireless access point and the computing device based on the determined access level.

92. The method of claim 91,

wherein the RF channel and the second RF channel are non-overlapping RF channels.

93. The method of claim 48, wherein at least a subset of the identification information entries each indicate one or more virtual local area networks (VLANs).

94. The method of claim 93,

wherein each virtual local area network (VLAN) specifies a network provider.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein said providing network access comprises using a VLAN specified by the identification information.

96. The method of claim 48,

wherein the data structure further stores a respective network provider for each identification information entry;

wherein said determining the network provider comprises indexing into the data structure using the identification information to determine the network provider stored in the data structure corresponding to the identification information.

97. The method of claim 48, wherein the data structure further comprises a destination, wherein the destination is specified by a first network provider, of the plurality of network providers;

wherein said providing the data comprises providing the data to the destination specified by the first network provider.

98. The method of claim 48, wherein said identification information comprises a digital certificate.

99. The method of claim 48, wherein said identification information comprises an IEEE 802.11 system identification.

100. The method of claim 48, wherein said identification information comprises a media access control (MAC) identification.

101. The method of claim 48, wherein said identification information comprises a known geographic location of the computing device.

102. The method of claim 48, wherein the one or more points are arranged at known locations in a geographic region, the method further comprising:

the first access point providing geographic location information indicating a known geographic location of the computing device.

103. The method of claim 48,

wherein the computing device is a portable computing device.