Distributed network communication system to provide wireless access to a computing device at a reduced rate
US8588130B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 2006 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W74/004
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.