Method and system of providing access point data associated with a network access point

• US 8,606,885 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Channel IP BV
• Original Assignee: Ipass Incorporated (Pareteum Corp.)
• Inventors: Sunder, Singam, Edgett, Jeff Steven, Albert, Roy David
• Primary Examiner(s): BATES, KEVIN T
• Application Number:
  US10/456,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,841 Days
• Field of Search: 709/229, 709/227, 709/220
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• 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 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/10 between terminal device and access point, i.e. wireless air interface

Abstract

A method includes sending a faked authentication request from a client device wherein the faked authentication request includes identification credentials. A faked authentication request indicates that a reply message in response to the faked authentication request is to include data for updating a directory on the client device. A reply message is received at the client device in response to the faked authentication request. The reply message includes data for updating the directory. The directory is updated based, at least in part, on the data for updating the directory.

Claims

1. A method for determining information about an access point without successfully authenticating with a network, the method comprising:

sending, from a connection application on a client device to an access point, an authentication request including identification credentials indicating a reply to the authentication request is to include information about the access point, wherein the authentication request is destined for a transaction server and the reply originates from the transaction server;

receiving, at the client device from the access point, the reply in response to the authentication request, wherein the reply rejects the authentication request and includes the information about the access point; and

updating a directory on the client device based, at least in part, on the information about the access point.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a user interface that displays at least one of the information about the access point and the directory after the updating.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the access point includes at least one of data identifying a geographical location of the network access point, data relating to a quality of service attribute of the network access point, and data indicating pending electronic mail.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said sending the authentication request from a connection application on the client device comprises sending the authentication request over a wireless communication link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the directory comprises a plurality of directory entries, wherein the plurality of entries correspond to a plurality of access points and data associated with the plurality of access points.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the access point includes cost data indicating cost associated with accessing one or more networks.

7. A method for providing information about an access point without successfully authenticating a client device, the method comprising:

receiving, at an authentication server, an authentication request, the authentication request including identification credentials, wherein the authentication request indicates that a reply message in response to the authentication request is to include data for updating a directory on a client device, wherein the data includes location information about the access point;

after receiving the authentication request, determining the data for updating the directory on the client device, wherein the determining is based, at least in part, on the identification credentials; and

generating, at the authentication server, the reply message, wherein the reply message is in response to the authentication request, wherein the reply message includes the data for updating the directory; and

transmitting the reply message to the client device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data for updating the directory further includes at least one of data relating to a quality of service attribute of the network access point, and data indicating pending electronic mail.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the directory comprises a plurality of directory entries, wherein one of the plurality of entries corresponds to the access point.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data for updating the directory further includes cost data indicating costs associated with connecting to one or more networks.