System and method for concurrently utilizing multiple system identifiers

• US 20040214572A1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wayport, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Thompson, James, Stewart, Brett B., McClelland, Kathleen E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,701,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• 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 12/4666 Operational details on the addition or the stripping of a tag in a frame, e.g. at a provider edge node
• 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 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/105 Multiple levels of security
• 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 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

System and method for providing access to multiple wireless service providers (WSPs) on a shared network infrastructure. The system includes a plurality of access points (APs) coupled to a network which may be distributed in airports, mass-transit stations, businesses, etc. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. Each AP may include a plurality of virtual APs (VAPs), each corresponding to a WSP. A portable computing device (PCD) of a user stores identification information indicating a WSP of a plurality of possible WSPs, and which may include an access level of the user. Each AP “listens for” or detects identification information associated with numerous WSPs. When the AP receives the identification information from the PCD, it determines the VAP/WSP for the PCD using the identification information. Network access is then provided to the PCD through the determined WSP at the determined access level.

Claims

24-1. The access point of claim 24,

wherein the at least one tunneling protocol indicated by the SID comprises PPTP.

34. An access point operable to concurrently communicate with a plurality of computing devices, wherein the access point is further operable to utilize a first wireless network service System ID to communicate with a first subset of the plurality of computing devices, wherein the access point is further operable to utilize a second wireless network service System ID to communicate with a second subset of the plurality of computing devices, wherein the access point is further operable to be coupled to a network, wherein the access point is further operable to provide wireless network service to the plurality of computing devices;

wherein the access point is further operable to provide data from the first subset of the plurality of computing devices to a first wireless network service provider; and

wherein the access point is further operable to provide data from the second subset of the plurality of computing devices to a second wireless network service provider.

35. An access point operable to concurrently communicate with a plurality of computing devices, wherein the access point is further operable to utilize a plurality of wireless network service System IDs to communicate with the plurality of computing devices;

wherein the access point comprises a memory medium operable for storing a data structure, wherein the data structure includes a list which comprises a plurality of wireless network service System IDs and an associated list of a plurality wireless network providers, wherein each wireless network service System ID indicates a wireless network service provider of a plurality of possible wireless network service providers;

wherein a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices communicates with the access point using a first wireless network service System ID of the plurality of wireless network service System IDs and the access point is further operable to provide wireless network service of a wireless network provider indicated by the first wireless network service System ID.

36. The access point of claim 35,

wherein the plurality of wireless network service System IDs comprises a plurality of IEEE 802.11 System IDs.

37. The access point of claim 35,

wherein the plurality of wireless network service System IDs comprise a plurality of IEEE 802.11 Service Set IDs (SSIDs).

38. The access point of claim 35,

wherein the plurality of wireless network service System IDs comprise a plurality of IEEE 802.11 Extended Service Set IDs (ESSIDs).

39. The access point of claim 35,

wherein the plurality of wireless network service System IDs comprise a plurality of IEEE 802.11 Basic Service Set IDs (BSSIDs).

40. The access point of claim 35, wherein the access point is further operable to concurrently broadcast a plurality of wireless network services System IDs for broadcasting.

41. The access point of claim 40,

wherein the plurality of wireless network service System IDs for broadcasting comprise a plurality of IEEE 802.11 System IDs.

42. The access point of claim 40,

wherein the plurality of wireless network service System IDs for broadcasting comprise a plurality of IEEE 802.11 Service Set IDs (SSIDs).

43. The access point of claim 40,

wherein the plurality of wireless network service System IDs for broadcasting comprise a plurality of IEEE 802.11 Extended Service Set IDs (ESSIDs).

44. The access point of claim 40,

wherein the plurality of wireless network service System IDs for broadcasting are a plurality of IEEE 802.11 Basic Service Set IDs (BSSIDs).

45. The access point of claim 35,

wherein the data structure further comprises method information for providing data from the plurality of computing devices to the plurality of wireless network service providers, wherein each wireless network service System ID is associated with a wireless network service provider of the plurality of possible wireless network service providers and method information for providing data from a computing device of the plurality of computing devices to a wireless network service provider of the plurality of wireless network service providers;

wherein the access point is further operable to access the data structure and determine method information associated with a wireless network service System ID;

wherein the access point is further operable to provide data from the computing device to the wireless network service provider in accordance with the determined method information indicated by the wireless network service System ID.

46. The access point of claim 45,

wherein the method information includes a use of a VLAN.

47. The access point of claim 45,

wherein the method information includes a VLAN tag.

48. The access point of claim 35, wherein the wireless access point is further operable to concurrently use a plurality of radio frequency (RF) channels for communicating with the plurality of computing devices.

49. The access point of claim 48, wherein the wireless access point is further operable to communicate using a first RF channel with a first subset of the plurality of computing devices, wherein the wireless access point is further operable to communicate using a second RF channel with a second subset of the plurality of computing devices.

50. The access point of claim 49, wherein the wireless access point is further operable to communicate using an Nth RF channel with an Nth subset of the plurality of computing devices.

51. The wireless access point of claim 49, wherein the first RF channel and the second RF are non-overlapping RF channels.

52. The access point of claim 35,

wherein the access point communicates with the plurality of computing devices using Bluetooth.

53. A carrier medium comprising program instructions for providing network access to a plurality of computing devices communicating with an access point, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to:

receive a plurality of System IDs (SIDs), wherein at least two of the plurality of SIDs are used for providing wireless Ethernet (IEEE 802.11) to the plurality of computing devices; and

concurrently utilize the at least two of the plurality of SIDs for communicating with the plurality of computing devices, wherein said communicating uses wireless Ethernet.

54. The carrier medium of claim 53,

wherein the plurality of SIDs comprise one or more IEEE 802.11 Service Set IDs (SSIDs).

55. The carrier medium of claim 53,

wherein the plurality of SIDs comprise one or more IEEE 802.11 Extended Service Set IDs (ESSIDs).

56. The carrier medium of claim 53,

wherein the plurality of SIDs comprise one or more IEEE 802.11 Basic Service Set IDs (BSSIDs).

57. The carrier medium of claim 56,

wherein the Basic Service Set IDs comprises one or more media access control (MAC) IDs.

58. The carrier medium of claim 57,

wherein each MAC ID is different from another MAC ID.

59. The carrier medium of claim 53, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement a wireless protocol stack for each SID of the plurality of SIDs.

60. The carrier medium of claim 59,

wherein the wireless protocol stack is an IEEE 802.11 protocol stack.

61. The carrier medium claim of 53, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

retrieve a plurality of SIDs for broadcasting from a memory medium; and

broadcast at least two SIDs of the plurality of SIDs for broadcasting.

62. The carrier medium of claim 61,

wherein, in broadcasting the at least two SIDs, the program instructions are further computer-executable to use a beacon format.

63. The carrier medium of claim 62,

wherein a subset of the plurality of SIDs for broadcasting comprise IEEE 802.11 System IDs.

64. The carrier medium of claim 62,

wherein a subset of the plurality of SIDs for broadcasting comprise IEEE 802.11 Service Set IDs (SSIDs).

65. The carrier medium of claim 62,

wherein a subset of the plurality of SIDs for broadcasting comprise IEEE 802.11 Extended Service Set IDs (ESSIDs).

66. The carrier medium of claim 62,

wherein a subset of the plurality of SIDs for broadcasting comprise IEEE 802.11 Basic Service Set IDs (BSSIDs).

67. The carrier medium of claim 66,

wherein the BSSIDs comprise media access control (MAC) IDs.

68. The carrier medium of claim 67,

wherein each BSSID is different from another BSSID.

69. The carrier medium of claim 53, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

access a data structure comprised in a memory medium, wherein the data structure comprises a list of SID entries each indicating a wireless service provider of a possible plurality of wireless service providers;

determine if a received SID is included in the list of SID entries;

if the received SID is included in the list of SID entries, determine a wireless services provider and provide network access to a computing device associated with the received SID through the determined wireless service provider.

70. The carrier medium of claim 69, wherein at least a subset of the SID entries indicate respective VLANs.

71. The carrier medium of claim 70,

wherein each VLAN specifies a wireless service provider.

72. The carrier medium of claim 71,

wherein, in determining the wireless service provider, the program instructions are further computer-executable to determine a VLAN specified by the received SID.

wherein, in providing network access, the program instructions are further executable to use the determined VLAN.

73. The carrier medium of claim 69,

wherein, in determining the wireless service provider, the program instructions are further computer-executable to index into the data structure using the received SID to determine the wireless service provider stored in the data structure corresponding to the received SID.

74. The carrier medium of claim 69, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

if the received SID is not included in the list of SID entries, provide network access to a computing device associated with the received SID through a default wireless service provider.

75. The carrier medium of claim 74,

wherein, in providing network access to the computing device associated with the received SID through the default wireless service provider, the program instructions are further computer-executable to use a default VLAN.

76. The carrier medium of claim 69,

wherein at least a subset of the SID entries each indicate at least one VLAN tag;

wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to;

if the received SID is included in the list of SID entries, determine the at least one VLAN tag.

77. The carrier medium of claim 76,

wherein each VLAN tag specifies a wireless service provider.

78. The carrier medium of claim 77,

wherein, in providing network access to the computing device associated with the received SID through the determined wireless service provider, the program instructions are further computer-executable to use the at least one VLAN tag indicated by the received SID.

79. The carrier medium of claim 77,

wherein, in determining the at least one VLAN tag, the program instructions are further computer-executable to index into the data structure using the received SID to determine the at least one VLAN tag.

80. The carrier medium of claim 69,

wherein at least a subset of the SID entries each indicate at least one tunneling protocol;

wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to;

if the received SID is included in the list of SID entries, determine the at least one tunneling protocol;

wherein, in providing network access to the computing device associated with the received SID through the determined wireless service provider, the program instructions are further computer-executable to use the determined at least one tunneling protocol.

81. The carrier medium of claim 80,

wherein the at least a subset of the SID entries each indicate at least one tunneling protocol and at least one destination;

wherein, in determining the at least one tunneling protocol, the program instructions are further computer-executable to determine the at least one destination;

wherein, in using the determined at least one tunneling protocol, the program instructions are further computer-executable to use the determined at least one destination.

82. The carrier medium of claim 81,

wherein the at least one destination is specified by a wireless service provider indicated by the received SID.

83. The carrier medium of claim 80,

wherein the at least one tunneling protocol comprises PPTP.

84. The carrier medium of claim 80,

wherein the at least one tunneling protocol comprises IPSEC.

85. The carrier medium of claim 80,

wherein the at least one tunneling protocol comprises Generalized Routing Encapsulation (GRE).

86. The carrier medium of claim 80,

wherein the at least one tunneling protocol comprises IP-in-IP.

87. The carrier medium of claim 53,

wherein each SID of a subset of the plurality of SIDs is associated with a media access control (MAC) ID for communicating with a computing device, wherein the MAC ID is not a MAC ID of a computing device;

wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to;

determine if a received SID is in the subset;

if the received SID is in the subset, determine a MAC ID associated with the received SID and communicate with the computing device associated with the received SID, wherein, in communicating the computing device associated with the received SID, the program instructions are further computer-executable to use the determined MAC ID.

88. The carrier medium of claim 87,

wherein each MAC ID associated with each SID of the subset is different from another MAC ID associated with each SID of the subset.

89. The carrier medium of claim 53, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to:

receive information from a network, wherein the information from the network, comprises a VLAN tag, an identification of a computing device of the plurality of computing devices, and data for the computing device;

access a memory medium which comprises a data structure which comprises a list of VLAN tag entries each indicating at least one identification of a computing device of the plurality of computing devices and at least one SID of the plurality of SIDs;

determine if the received VLAN tag is comprised in the list of VLAN tag entries;

wherein, in determining if the received VLAN tag is comprised in the list of VLAN tag entries, the program instructions are further computer-executable to access the memory medium and use the received VLAN tag to determine if the received VLAN tag is comprised in the list of VLAN tag entries; and

wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to;

if the received VLAN tag is comprised in the list of SID entries, determine a SID indicated by the received VLAN tag, determine the identification of the computing device from the received information, and transmit the data to the computing device;

wherein, in transmitting the data to the computing device, the program instructions are further computer-executable to use the indicated SID and the identification of the computing device.

90. The carrier medium of claim 89,

wherein the identification information of the computing device comprises a media access control (MAC) ID of the computing device.

91. The carrier medium of claim 89,

wherein the identification information of the computing device comprises an internet protocol (IP) address of the computing device.

92. The carrier medium of claim 53,

wherein a subset of the plurality of computing devices are portable computing devices.

93. A method for operating an access point, wherein the access point is operable to be coupled to a network, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of System IDs (SIDs), wherein at least two of the plurality of SIDs are used for providing wireless Ethernet;

concurrently communicating with a plurality of computing devices, wherein said communicating utilizes the at least two SIDs.

94. The method of claim 93, further comprising:

providing network service of a first wireless service provider coupled to the network to a first computing device of the plurality of computing devices, wherein the access point and the first computing device communicate using a first SID of the at least two SIDs; and

providing network service of a second wireless service provider coupled to the network to a second computing device of the plurality of computing devices, wherein the access point and the second computing device communicate using a second SID of the at least two SIDs.

95. The method of claim 94,

wherein the first SID indicates the first wireless service provider.

96. The method of claim 94,

wherein the second SID indicates the second wireless service provider.

97. The method of claim 94,

wherein the second wireless service provider comprises a default wireless service provider.

98. The method of claim 93, further comprising:

broadcasting a plurality of SIDs.

99. The method of claim 98,

wherein said broadcasting comprises a beacon format.

100. The method of claim 98,

wherein the plurality of SIDs comprises a plurality of IEEE 802.11 Service Set IDs (SSIDs).

101. The method of claim 98,

wherein the plurality of SIDs comprises a plurality of IEEE 802.11 basic Service Set IDs (BSSIDs).

102. The method of claim 101,

wherein the plurality of BSSIDs comprise at least one media access control (MAC) ID.

103. The method of claim 101,

wherein the plurality of BSSIDs comprise a plurality of media access control (MAC) IDs;

and

wherein a first MAC ID of the plurality of MAC IDs is different from a second MAC ID of the plurality of MAC IDs.

104. The method of claim 101,

wherein a first BSSID of the plurality of BSSIDs is different from a second BSSID of the plurality of BSSIDs.

105. The method of claim 98,

wherein the plurality of SIDs comprises a plurality of IEEE 802.11 Extended Service Set IDs (ESSIDs).

106. The method of claim 93, further comprising:

implementing a wireless protocol stack for each SID of the plurality of SIDs.

107. The method of claim 106,

wherein at least one wireless protocol stack is an IEEE 802.11 protocol stack.

108. The method of claim 93, further comprising:

receiving information from the network, wherein the information from the network comprises a VLAN tag, an identification of a computing device, and data for the computing device;

accessing a memory medium which comprises a data structure which comprises a list of VLAN tag entries each indicating at least one SID of the plurality of SIDs;

determining if the received VLAN tag is comprised in the list of VLAN tag entries, wherein said determining if the received VLAN tag is comprised in the list of VLAN tag entries includes accessing the memory medium and using the received VLAN tag;

if the received VLAN tag is comprised in the list of SID entries, determining a SID indicated by the received VLAN tag, determining the identification of the computing device from the received information, and transmitting the data to the computing device;

wherein said transmitting the data to the computing device includes using the indicated SID and the identification of the computing device.

109. The method of claim 108,

wherein the access point comprises the memory medium.

110. The method of claim 108,

wherein a management information base (MIB) coupled to the network comprises the memory medium.

111. A method for providing wireless network access to a plurality of computing devices, the method comprising:

a wireless access point receiving first identification information from a first portable computing device, wherein the first identification information indicates a first wireless service provider of a plurality of possible wireless service providers, 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 wireless service provider of the plurality of possible wireless service providers;

the wireless access point receiving second identification information from a second portable computing device, wherein the second identification information indicates a second wireless service provider of the plurality of possible wireless service providers;

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

determining the second wireless service provider for the second portable computing device after receiving the second identification information, wherein said determining the second wireless service provider for the second portable computing device includes accessing the memory medium and using the received second identification information to determine the second wireless provider;

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

the wireless access point receiving data from the second portable computing device;

providing wireless network access to the first portable computing device through the first wireless service provider determined in said determining the first wireless service provider;

providing wireless network access to the second portable computing device through the second wireless service provider determined in said determining the second wireless service provider;

wherein said providing wireless network access to the first portable computing device and said providing wireless network access to the second portable computing device are performed concurrently.

112. The method of claim 111,

wherein the first wireless service provider is the second wireless service provider.

113. The method of claim 112,

wherein a portion of the first identification information is a portion of the second identification information.

114. The method of claim 111,

wherein the first identification information includes an IEEE 802.11 System ID;

and

wherein the second identification information includes an IEEE 802.11 System ID.

115. A method for providing wireless network access to a plurality of computing devices, the method comprising:

a wireless access point receiving first identification information from a first portable computing device, wherein the first identification information indicates a first wireless service provider of a plurality of possible wireless service providers, wherein the wireless access point is operable to access a memory medium which stores a data structure comprising a list of identification information entries each indicating at least one wireless service provider of the plurality of possible wireless service providers;

the wireless access point receiving second identification information from a second portable computing device, wherein the second identification information indicates a second wireless service provider of the plurality of possible wireless service providers;

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

determining the second wireless service provider for the second portable computing device after receiving the second identification information, wherein said determining the second wireless service provider for the second portable computing device includes accessing the memory medium and using the received second identification information to determine the second wireless provider;

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

the wireless access point receiving data from the second portable computing device;

providing wireless network access to the first portable computing device through the first wireless service provider determined in said determining the first wireless service provider;

providing wireless network access to the second portable computing device through the second wireless service provider determined in said determining the second wireless service provider;

wherein said providing wireless network access to the first portable computing device and said providing wireless network access to the second portable computing device are performed concurrently.

116. The method of claim 115,

wherein the wireless access point is coupled to a management information base (MIB);

and

wherein the MIB comprises the memory medium.

117. The method of claim 115,

wherein the first wireless service provider is the second wireless service provider.

118. The method of claim 115,

wherein the first identification information includes an IEEE 802.11 System ID;

and

wherein the second identification information includes an IEEE 802.11 System ID.