Convenient WiFi network access using unique identifier value
View Patent ↗A WiFi network manager stores a unique identifier value such as a network address associated with a communication device as being a valid credential for the communication device to subsequently access a WiFi network including one or more access points. The WiFi network manager monitors use of the unique identifier value to access the WiFi network. In response to detecting misuse of the unique identifier value by two or more communication devices using the unique identifier value to use the WiFi network, the WiFi network manager at least temporarily prevents access to the WiFi network.
1. A method comprising:
via computer processor hardware, performing operations of:
detecting first use of a network address to establish a first communication session with a first wireless access point;
subsequent to termination of the first communication session, detecting second use of the network address to establish a second communication session over a second wireless access point;
in response to detecting that the second use of the network address occurs within a threshold amount of time following the termination of the first communication session, denying the second communication session and corresponding use of the second wireless access point; and
wherein a magnitude of the threshold amount of time is derived based on a distance between the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point.
2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:
detecting non-simultaneous use of the network address by a first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device using the network address to establish the first communication session with the first wireless access point, the second communication device attempting to use the network address to establish the second communication session with the second wireless access point.
3. The method as in claim 2 further comprising:
providing a notification to an operator of the first communication device that the second communication device attempted to use the network address to establish the second communication session.
4. The method as in claim 1 , wherein denying the second communication session further comprises:
calculating a time difference between the termination of the first communication session and a beginning of the second communication session; and
detecting that the time difference is less than the threshold amount of time.
5. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:
detecting the first use based on a first communication device supplying the network address to the first wireless access point to establish the first communication session over the first wireless network; and
detecting the second use based on a second communication device supplying the network address to the second wireless access point to establish the second communication session over the second wireless network.
6. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:
storing the network address as being a valid credential to access the wireless network, the network address received from a communication device operated by a subscriber during registration of the subscriber to use a wireless network including the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point.
7. The method as in claim 1 , wherein a first communication device uses the network address to establish the first communication session; and
wherein a second communication device uses the network address to establish the second communication session.
8. The method as in claim 7 , wherein the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point both are part of a service provider's wireless network providing access to the Internet.
9. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:
in response to detecting the second use of network address within the threshold amount of time of the first communication session being terminated:
challenging a resource attempting to establish the second communication session to submit a credentials; and
providing the resource access to the wireless network in response to detecting that the resource submits an appropriate password associated with the network address.
10. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the threshold amount of time is based on a travel time of a user operating a communication device assigned the network address.
11. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:
challenging a user of a communication device assigned the network address to submit a password; and
in response to receiving the password, providing the communication device use of the first communication session in response to detecting that the user submits an appropriate password.
12. The method as in claim 1 , wherein detecting first use of the network address to establish the first communication session with the first wireless access point includes: receiving the network address from a first communication device requesting to establish the first communication session with the first wireless access point; and
wherein detecting second use of the network address to establish the second communication session over the second wireless access point includes: receiving the network address from a second communication device requesting to establish the second communication session with the second wireless access point.
13. A method comprising:
via computer processor hardware, performing operations of:
detecting first use of a network address to establish a first communication session with a first wireless access point;
subsequent to termination of the first communication session, detecting second use of the network address to establish a second communication session over a second wireless access point; and
in response to detecting that the second use of the network address occurs within a threshold amount of time following the termination of the first communication session, denying the second communication session and corresponding use of the second wireless access point;
the method further comprising: preventing use of the network address to establish a communication session until after the threshold amount of time has passed with respect to the termination of the first communication session, the magnitude of the threshold amount of time derived based on a estimated distance between the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point.
14. A computer system comprising:
computer processor hardware; and
a hardware storage resource in communication with the computer processor hardware, the hardware storage resource storing instructions that, when executed by the computer processor hardware device, cause the computer processor hardware to:
detect first use of a network address to establish a first communication session using a first wireless access point;
subsequent to termination of the first communication session, detect second use of the network address to establish a second communication session over a second wireless access point; and
in response to detection that the second use of the network address occurs within a threshold amount of time following the termination of the first communication session, deny the second communication session and corresponding use of the second wireless access point; and
wherein the threshold amount of time is derived based at least in part on a distance between the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point.
15. The computer system as in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computer processor hardware to:
detect non-simultaneous use of the network address by a first communication device and a second communication device, the first communication device using the network address to establish the first communication session with the first wireless network, the second communication device attempting to use the network address to establish the second communication session with the second wireless network.
16. The computer system as in claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computer processor hardware to:
provide a notification to an operator of the first communication device that the second communication device attempted to use the network address to establish the second communication session.
17. The computer system as in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computer processor hardware to:
prevent use of the network address to establish a communication session until after the threshold amount of time has passed with respect to the termination of the first communication session, the magnitude of the threshold amount of time derived based on a distance between the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point.
18. The computer system as in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computer processor hardware to:
calculate a time difference between occurrence of the termination of the first communication session and a beginning of the second communication session; and
detect that the time difference is less than the threshold amount of time.
19. The computer system as in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computer processor hardware to:
detect the first use based on a first communication device supplying the network address to the first wireless access point to establish the first communication session over the first wireless network; and
detect the second use based on a second communication device supplying the network address to the second wireless access point to establish the second communication session over the second wireless network.
20. The computer system as in claim 14 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computer processor hardware to:
store the network address as being a valid credential to access the wireless network, the network address received from a communication device operated by a subscriber during registration of the subscriber to use a wireless network including the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point.
21. The computer system as in claim 14 , wherein a first communication device uses the network address to establish the first communication session; and
wherein a second communication device uses the network address to establish the second communication session.
22. The computer system as in claim 21 , wherein the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point both are part of a service provider's wireless network providing access to the Internet.
23. Computer-readable storage hardware having instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when carried out by computer processor hardware, cause the computer processor hardware to:
detect first use of a network address to establish a first communication session with a first wireless access point;
subsequent to termination of the first communication session, detect second use of the network address to establish a second communication session over a second wireless access point; and
in response to detecting that the second use of the network address occurs within a threshold amount of time following the termination of the first communication session, deny the second communication session and corresponding use of the second wireless access point; and
wherein the threshold amount of time is derived based on a time in which the user is able to travel from one geographical location to another.
24. A method comprising:
via computer processor hardware, performing operations of:
detecting first use of a network address to establish a first communication session with a first wireless access point;
subsequent to termination of the first communication session, detecting second use of the network address to establish a second communication session over a second wireless access point; and
in response to detecting that the second use of the network address occurs within a threshold amount of time following the termination of the first communication session, denying the second communication session and corresponding use of the second wireless access point; and
wherein the threshold amount of time is derived based on a time in which the user is able to travel from one geographical location to another.