System and Method for Wide Area Wireless Connectivity to the Internet

• US 20110173682A1
• Filed: 03/25/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Nambiar, Chivas, Elbert, Valeriy, Hunt, Conor, Perry, Paul, Gupta, Vineet, Byrnes, Sean, Kosmidis, Thanos
• Granted Patent: US 9,344,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication

Abstract

A system and method for managing access to a Wi-Fi system include redirecting an access request, comprising a user credential, from a wireless user device to an authentication server, obtaining, from a first database, a list of a plurality of authentication databases from which users may be authenticated, the list including a protocol required for communication with each of the authentication databases, transmitting a request to each of the listed authentication databases using the identified protocol, and permitting the user access to the Internet through the Wi-Fi system if the user is authenticated by at least one of the listed authentication databases.

Claims

1. A method for providing location-based services to a user of a wide area Wi-Fi system, the method comprising:

receiving an access request at an access point, the access request being generated by a wireless device of a user and including a user credential;

authenticating the user credential;

if the user credential is authenticated, determining a location for the user, based on a database information identifying a location of the access point; and

transmitting a signal to the wireless device, the signal causing the user device to display location-specific information based on the determined location of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a signal to the access point, the signal causing the access point to redirect the user device to the Internet if the user credential was previously authenticated.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a signal to the access point, the signal causing the access point to permit the user to access the Internet through the access point if the user credential is authenticated.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising transmitting a signal to the access point, the signal causing the access point to update a table stored in the access point to reflect that the user is authenticated.

5. A computer readable medium containing instructions, which, when executed by a computer, execute a method for providing location based services to a user of a wide area Wi-Fi system, the method comprising:

receiving an access request at an access point from a user wireless device, the access request including a user credential;

authenticating the user credential;

if the user credential is authenticated, determining a location for the user, based on a database information identifying a location of the access point; and

transmitting a signal to the wireless device, the signal causing the user device to display location-specific information based on the determined location of the user.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5, further comprising transmitting a signal to the access point, the signal causing the access point to redirect the user device to the Internet if the user credential was previously authenticated.

7. The computer readable medium of claim 5, further comprising transmitting a signal to the access point, the signal causing the access point to permit the user to access the Internet through the access point if the user credential is authenticated.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 5, further comprising transmitting a signal to the access point, the signal causing the access point to update a table stored in the access point to reflect that the user is authenticated.

9. A system for providing location based services to a user of a wide area Wi-Fi system, the system comprising:

an access point configured to receive an access request, from a user wireless device, the access request including a user credential;

a computer comprising a processor and a memory, configured to;

authenticate the user credential;

to determine, if the user credential is authenticated, a location for the user, based on a database information identifying a location of the access point; and

to transmit a signal to the wireless device, the signal causing the wireless device to display a location specific information determined based on the determined location of the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the access point is configured to redirect the access request to the Internet if the user credential was previously authenticated.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the access point is configured to permit access to the Internet if the user credential is authenticated by the authentication server.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer is configured to transmit to the access point a second signal, the signal causing the access point to permit access by the user to the Wi-Fi system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second signal further causes the access point to update a table stored in the access point to indicate that the user has been authenticated.