WiFi sharing system with mesh network functionality
Described is a secure WiFi sharing system for use between neighbors or others in like proximity. The system may include a WiFi signal with an established network connection and a user computing device seeking to access the network connection through the WiFi signal. The system allows the user computing device to rent or share the WiFi signal through the system and establish a secure connection between the user computing device and the WiFi network without the need of sharing the SSID and/or the password. Further, the system automatically changes a user computing device to another WiFi signal on the system and in proximity if the signal strength of the connected WiFi signal drops below a minimum threshold.
1. A Wi-Fi sharing system comprising:
a server having a memory storing personal property information; and
a user computing device coupled to a first provider computing device, wherein the server is programmed to:
receive and process a signal from the first provider computing device, the signal indicating that at least a first Wi-Fi network of a plurality of primary Wi-Fi networks is associated with the first provider computing device and is in a share Wi-Fi mode;
automatically set the first Wi-Fi network of the plurality of primary Wi-Fi networks to share Wi-Fi mode;
receive and process a signal from the user computing device that the user computing device is requesting to rent access to a Wi-Fi network, wherein the request includes location data of the user computing device;
determine that the first Wi-Fi network, in the share Wi-Fi mode, is within Wi-Fi proximity of the user computing device and send name of the first Wi-Fi network to the user computing device for display and selection through the user computing device;
receive and process a signal from the user computing device selecting the first Wi-Fi network;
before the user computing device is connected to the first Wi-Fi network, send for display on the first provider computing device an indication that the first Wi-Fi network has been selected by the user computing device and provide an option for the first Wi-Fi network selection to be accepted or denied through input to the first provider computing device, where-upon the user computing device is automatically connected to the first Wi-Fi network only if the first Wi-Fi network selection is accepted;
process payment for use of the first Wi-Fi network and automatically establish a connection between the user computing device and the first Wi-Fi network without sharing SSID, password or a combination of the SSID and the password; and
transfer the connection from the user computing device to a second Wi-Fi network on the system if the Wi-Fi network signal strength of the first Wi-Fi network drops below a minimum threshold, wherein the payment is apportioned between each provider of the Wi-Fi networks to which the user computing device is connected.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising security and encryption technology that prevents a user of the user computing device from viewing files of and communications from any other users sharing the first and second Wi-Fi networks.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the security and encryption technology prevents the user from accessing the provider computing device to set the first Wi-Fi network to share Wi-Fi mode.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a provider interface displayed on the provider computing device, wherein the first Wi-Fi network is placed in the share Wi-Fi mode in response to input to the provider interface by a provider using the provider computing device.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the server is further programmed to:
determine a total number of users accessing the first Wi-Fi network; and
dynamically display the total number of users on the provider computing device in real time.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the server is further programmed to limit the number of users accessing the first Wi-Fi network at any time in response to provider input to the provider computing device.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the provider interface comprises an option for the provider to choose between placing the first Wi-Fi network in the share Wi-Fi mode as a shared signal, wherein multiple user computing devices may access the first Wi-Fi network, and as a dedicated signal, wherein only one user computing device may access the first Wi-Fi network.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the personal property information includes a network ID and password associated with the first Wi-Fi network, wherein the provider interface includes an interface screen comprising Wi-Fi network confirmation settings of the first Wi-Fi network including network ID and password input fields, wherein the server automatically sets the first Wi-Fi network to share Wi-Fi mode only after the provider enters the correct network ID and password associated with the first Wi-Fi network through the provider interface.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of provider computing devices coupled to the server, wherein each of the plurality of provider computing devices corresponds to one of the plurality of primary Wi-Fi networks; and
a user interface displayed on the user computing device, wherein the user interface displays a list of the primary Wi-Fi networks, of the plurality of primary Wi-Fi networks, that are within a detectable range of the user computing device and that are in the share Wi-Fi mode for selection by a user of the user computing device.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the list of primary Wi-Fi networks is accessible through native Wi-Fi settings of the user computing device, wherein the native Wi-Fi settings also displays other Wi-Fi networks that are not coupled to the system.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the list is sortable by a filter selected from a group of filters consisting of signal strength, provider rating, availability time, shared signal, dedicated signal, and any combination thereof.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the server is further programmed to:
receive a login signal from the user computing device through a limited connection between the user computing device and the first Wi-Fi network, the login signal bypassing the provider computing device, the login signal including a username and user password;
verify that the username and user password are associated with a user account stored on the server;
confirm that an active payment instrument information is associated with the user account and available to pay for use of the system; and
automatically connect the user computing device to the first Wi-Fi network only after the username and user password are verified and the payment instrument information is confirmed.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the server is further programmed to:
charge a deposit to the user account;
track usage time of the user computing device on the first Wi-Fi network; and
charge the user account an additional charge based on the amount of time the user computing device is connected to the first Wi-Fi network.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the additional charge is further based on criteria selected from the group consisting of amount of data used, signal strength, surge demand, rate structure, and any combination thereof.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the server is further programmed to require a predetermined minimum signal strength of the first Wi-Fi network at the user computing device in order for the user computing device to be connected to the first Wi-Fi network.