Method and apparatus for providing preauthorization for a mobile receiving device to access wireless networks

• US 20080178226A1
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Sean S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,175,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

A mobile wireless system (10) includes a transmitter such as a satellite (18) that broadcasts wireless signals such as boundaries for wireless networks to a mobile receiving device (22). Mobile receiving device (22) may include an antenna (26). A locating receiver (50) is used to generate locating signals so that a determination may be made to the location of the mobile receiving device. Preauthorizations may be obtained to allow the mobile receiving device (22) to communicate back to business controller (11) to enable functions such as pay-per-view or on-demand, interactive television, gaming, and the like. The preauthorizations enable access to various wireless networks as the mobile receiving device (22) moves.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a wireless network access signal;

communicating the wireless network access signal to a mobile receiving device;

storing the wireless access signal on a mobile receiving device; and

enabling use of a wireless network by the mobile receiving device in response to the wireless access signal.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating comprises communicating the wireless network access signal through a satellite.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein communicating comprises wirelessly communicating the wireless network access signal.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein wirelessly communicating the wireless network access signal comprises communicating the wireless access signal through a wireless network.

5. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein wirelessly communicating the wireless network access signal comprises communicating the wireless network access signal through a WiFi network.

6. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein wirelessly communicating the wireless network access signal comprises communicating the wireless network access signal through a cellular phone network.

7. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein wirelessly communicating the wireless network access signal comprises communicating the wireless network access signal through a wireless local area network.

8. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein wirelessly communicating the wireless network access signal comprises communicating the wireless network access signal through a stratospheric platform.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the mobile receiving device comprises a mobile satellite receiver receiving satellite signals and communicating on a return link through the wireless network.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein enabling use of a wireless network by the mobile receiving device in response to the wireless access signal comprises enabling use of a wireless network by the mobile receiving device for transmitting signals to the business controller.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein enabling use of a wireless network by the mobile receiving device in response to the wireless access signal comprises enabling use of a wireless network by the mobile receiving device for transmitting signal to and receiving signals from the business controller.

12. A method of operating a mobile device comprising:

determining a location of the mobile device; and

obtaining a wireless network access signal for a wireless network in response to the location.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising storing the wireless access signal within the mobile receiving device.

14. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising communicating to a business controller through the wireless network using the wireless network access signals.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein communicating comprises communicating an authorization request.

16. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein communicating comprises communicating a query signal for missing packets of a satellite signal.

17. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising determining a predicted location based on movement of the mobile device and wherein obtaining a wireless network access signals comprises obtaining the wireless network access signal for wireless networks in response to the predicted location.

18. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein determining a location comprises determining a location in response to a global positioning system.

19. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein determining a location comprises determining the location in response to a cellular phone system.

20. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile phone.

21. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the mobile device comprises a personal electronic device.

22. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein obtaining a wireless network access signal comprises obtaining the wireless network access signal from a business controller.

23. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein obtaining a wireless network access signal comprises obtaining the wireless network access signal from a business controller through a satellite.

24. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein obtaining a wireless network access signal comprises requesting the wireless network access signal from a business controller through a cellular network.

25. A method of operating a mobile device comprising:

communicating boundaries for a wireless networks to a mobile device;

communicating wireless network access signals to a mobile device;

receiving the boundaries for the wireless networks and wireless network access signals;

storing the boundaries for the wireless networks in a memory;

determining a location of the mobile device;

determining a first wireless network in response to the location and the boundaries in the memory;

receiving satellite signals at the mobile device from a business controller through a satellite; and

communicating request signals to the business controller through the first wireless network.

26. A method as recited in claim 25 wherein the request signals comprise a request for missing packet signal.

27. A method as recited in claim 25 wherein the request signals comprise a pay-per-view request.

28. A method as recited in claim 25 wherein the request signals comprise an on-demand request.

29. A system comprising:

a business controller generating content signals and a wireless network access signal;

a satellite receiving the content signals and transmitting the content signals;

a wireless network; and

a mobile satellite receiver receiving the content signals from the satellite and the wireless network access signal and enabling use of a wireless local area network in response to the wireless network access signal.

30. A system as recited in claim 29 wherein the mobile satellite receiver receives the wireless network access signal from the satellite.

31. A system as recited in claim 29 wherein the mobile satellite receiver receives the wireless network access signal from a WiFi network

32. A system as recited in claim 29 wherein the mobile satellite receiver receives the wireless network access signal from a cellular phone network.