Granted Patent B2

US 9,100,381 · App. 12/023,255 · Granted Aug 4, 2015

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. A method of providing virtual Wi-Fi service via a virtual Wi-Fi access network, the method comprising:

receiving data from a plurality of individual privately and enterprise owned Wi-Fi access point owners at a virtual Wi-Fi access server and storing the access point owner data in a virtual Wi-Fi access database;

updating the owners of the Wi-Fi access points with access IDs, passwords, and security keys for a plurality of virtual Wi-Fi access subscribers via the virtual Wi-Fi access server;

receiving subscriber data from the plurality of virtual Wi-Fi access subscribers at the virtual Wi-Fi access server and storing the subscriber data in a virtual Wi-Fi access database, wherein the virtual Wi-Fi access server provides subscribers with virtual Wi-Fi access service with a virtual Wi-Fi access service provider;

providing the subscribers with virtual Wi-Fi access log-in information via the virtual Wi-Fi access server;

receiving an indication from at least one private or enterprise owned Wi-Fi access point that it is able to share at least one spare channel or resource with a Wi-Fi user not belonging directly to the private or enterprise owned access point based on a pre-defined traffic limit;

connecting one or more of the subscribers to the virtual Wi-Fi access network via the virtual Wi-Fi access server after authentication with the virtual Wi-Fi access server, wherein the virtual Wi-Fi access network comprises the plurality of individual Wi-Fi access points in communication with the virtual Wi-Fi access server; and

billing the subscribers for virtual Wi-Fi access via the virtual Wi-Fi access server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Wi-Fi access points comprise at least one of an enterprise access point or a private access point.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a request at the virtual Wi-Fi access server for authentication of a subscriber's device when the subscriber's device is near one or more Wi-Fi access points that are secured and not publicly accessible;

if the subscriber is in the virtual Wi-Fi access database, sending a message to the private Wi-Fi access point confirming the subscriber's registration status.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the database stores data relating to individual access points, the data comprising: owner name data, MAC address data, owner email address data, available spare channels data, and spare channel available time period data.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the database stores virtual Wi-Fi access subscriber data, the data comprising: subscriber name data, subscriber email address data, subscriber post address data, and subscriber billing preferences data.

6. An apparatus for providing virtual Wi-Fi service via a virtual Wi-Fi access network, the apparatus comprising:

a virtual Wi-Fi access server that is programmed to:

receive data from a plurality of individual privately and enterprise owned Wi-Fi access point owners;

update the owners of the Wi-Fi access points with access IDs, passwords, and security keys for a plurality of virtual Wi-Fi access subscribers;

receive subscriber data from a virtual Wi-Fi access subscriber, wherein the virtual Wi-Fi access server provides subscribers with virtual Wi-Fi access service with a virtual Wi-Fi access service provider;

provide the subscriber with virtual Wi-Fi access log-in information;

receive an indication from at least one private or enterprise owned Wi-Fi access point that it is able to share at least one spare channel or resource with a Wi-Fi user not belonging directly to the private or enterprise owned access point based on a pre-defined traffic limit;

connect one or more of the subscribers to the virtual Wi-Fi access network, wherein the virtual Wi-Fi access network comprises the plurality of individual Wi-Fi access points in communication with the virtual Wi-Fi access server; and

bill the subscribers for virtual Wi-Fi access; and

a database that stores data related to virtual Wi-Fi access service in communication with the virtual Wi-Fi access server, wherein the data includes access point owner data and subscriber data.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the database stores data relating to individual access points, the data comprising: owner name data, MAC address data, owner email address data, available spare channels data, and spare channel available time period data.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the database stores virtual Wi-Fi access subscriber data, the data comprising: subscriber name data, subscriber email address data, subscriber post address data, and subscriber billing preferences data.

Assignments (11)