WO2009134209A1

WO2009134209A1 - A method for enabling access to internet

Info

Publication number: WO2009134209A1
Application number: PCT/SG2009/000145
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ying Zhang; Aik Tat Tan
Original assignee: Creative Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2008-05-02
Filing date: 2009-04-22
Publication date: 2009-11-05
Also published as: SG142400A1; TW200952422A

Abstract

There is provided a method for enabling access to Internet. The method includes providing an electronic device adapted for enabling connection to a network; detecting at least one network on the electronic device; sending a request to connect the electronic device to a selected network; and enabling access to the Internet if the electronic device is connected to the network on a prior occasion when information to enable connection to the selected network was sent to the selected network. Correspondingly, if the electronic device is not connected to the selected network on a prior occasion, the information to enable connection to the selected network is sent to the selected network.

Description

A Method for Enabling Access to Internet

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of network communications. In particular, the invention relates to a method for enabling access to Internet.

Background of the Invention

To connect to a wireless broadband network, a user would typically require a mobile device equipped with a wireless transceiver and a web browser, such as, for example, a laptop computer, a mobile phone, a media player or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), and a registered network account. With the registered account, the user is able to access the wireless broadband network within any area blanketed with network coverage.

However, each time the user either leaves the network coverage area, or is "evicted" from the network for some reason or other, the connection to the network is lost and re-connection to the network is necessary. In such instances, the user has to manually re-enter his or her log-in details including, for example, an user name and/or password. As form factors of mobile devices become smaller, re-entering of log-in details can be a hassle given the limited modes of text input on the mobile devices. This hassle is further exacerbated in temperate climate countries during winter, as the wearing of gloves make it even more inconvenient to input the login details. Another problem associated with re-connection to the network relates to when the user is receiving or transmitting a large amount of data and does not remain within the network coverage area.

Furthermore, when users retrieve a desired Web page such as a login page for accessing the wireless broadband network, unwanted information may often be sent to the user. Such unwanted information may include advertisements, banners, animated links and other unsolicited material. The unwanted information may slow down the browser and hinder the user's Internet experience.

Summary of the Invention

In a preferred embodiment, there is provided a method for enabling access to Internet. The method includes providing an electronic device adapted for enabling connection to a network; detecting at least one network on the electronic device; sending a request to connect the electronic device to a selected network; and enabling access to the Internet if the electronic device is connected to the network on a prior occasion when information to enable connection to the selected network was sent to the selected network. Correspondingly, if the electronic device is not connected to the selected network on a prior occasion, the information to enable connection to the selected network is sent to the selected network.

It is preferable that the information required is determined by analysing content data of a website associated with the network, the associated website being for enabling connection to the network. Analysing the content data may include analysing content data of the website for at least one predetermined element; and determining the information required for connecting to the selected network upon detection of the at least one predetermined element. The analysis may further include determining a redirection in the website associated with the selected network; analysing content data of the website for at least one new element; and determining whether user input is required upon detecting the at least one new element. The redirection may be implemented using at least one URL link.

The predetermined element may be selected from a group such as, for example, password, username, biometric thumbprint image, face recognition image and any combination of the aforementioned. The predetermined element may be an input element, a form element, or a meta element. The predetermined element may include either text or at least one image. The predetermined element may be generated from, for example, Javascript, XML, Flash, VisualBasic and other programming languages.

It is advantageous that obtaining the information for connecting to the network upon detecting the predetermined element includes either: sending the predefined information to enable connection to the network if there is predefined information on the electronic device; or generating a user interface based on the processed content data for input of information if there is no predefined information on the electronic device.

Preferably, the website associated with the network is a log-in page for enabling connection to the network.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an infrastructure suitable for implementing a first embodiment of the invention;

Figures 2A - 2D shows a screen-by-screen representation of a first-time login process of a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 shows a screen-by-screen representation of a subsequent log-in process of the invention;

Figure 4 shows a flow chart illustrating a method according to the first embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating details of steps 111 and 113 of the first embodiment as per Figure 4.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

The present invention may be used in networks including wireless networks, private networks, public networks, wired wide area network, WLAN, or any type of network located within a premise such as, for example, a home, office, business or the like. In the described embodiment, we consider a network in the form of a wireless network and an electronic device having a wireless transceiver for enabling connection to a wireless network. The wireless transceiver may be internal or external the electronic device.

Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating an infrastructure 20 suitable for implementing a first embodiment of the invention. The infrastructure 20 comprises an electronic device 22 located within a network 24. The electronic device 22 may be, for example, a laptop computer, a mobile phone, a media player, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and the like. The electronic device 22 is communicatively coupled to Internet 26. After the electronic device 22 is connected to the Internet 26, a user may access either a private network 28 or a predefined server 30 (either online storage service or online storage server). Through the private network 28 or the predefined server 30, the user may access his or her collection of data residing within the network 28 or server 30.

Referring to Figure 2, which comprises Figure 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D there is shown various non-limiting representations of screens generated in accordance to the embodiment of Figure 1. It should be noted that the screens in Figure 2 depict a first attempt by the user to access the Internet 26 on a specific network. It is advantageous that subsequent attempts to access the Internet 26 may be more convenient for the user in a manner as shown in Figure 3 which will be described below.

When the electronic device 22 is within a network coverage area, the electronic device 22 detects the network 24 available in that area. There may be more than one network 24 available in that area. Accordingly, a first screen 32A generated by the electronic device 22 shows the user information relating to the list of available networks 24. By selecting a network from the list 24, the user sends a request to connect the electronic device 22 to the network from the list 24. In this instance, subsequent to the selection of the network "Wireless@SG" in screen 32A, a second screen 32B is generated which depicts a status of the electronic device 22 logging into the network "Wireless@SG".

A third screen 32C is generated (as shown in Figure 2B). The third screen 32C has three form fields 34A, 34B and 34C, with each of the form fields 34A₁ 34B and 34C being defined by an input element. The third screen 32C also has a "submit" button 36 for confirming transmission of the aforementioned input elements once the requisite information is entered into the relevant form fields 34A, 34B and 34C. For illustrative purposes, form field 34A is for selection of a service provider that provides one of the available networks. Similarly, form fields 34B and 34C are for inputting user name and password respectively (login information) for connection to a selected network. There is shown a secondary interface 50 with an arrangement of input keys 52 in a form of a numeric keypad enabling input of text into the form fields 34A, 34B and 34C using either^" multi-tap or T9 input methods. It should be noted that the secondary interface 50 need not be limited to the form of a numeric keypad, and may be a QWERTY keyboard, a speech-to-text interface, or some other text input interface.

When the "submit" button 36 is selected by the user, a fourth screen 32D is generated. The fourth screen 32D depicts the electronic device 22 transmitting the aforementioned input elements to the network service provider either directly or indirectly. A fifth screen 32E is generated when the electronic device 22 is successfully connected to the network "Wireless@SG". Once the electronic device 22 successfully connects to the network 24, a sixth screen 32F is generated and a first supplementary interface 60 (with "yes" and "no" choices) appears to confirm whether or not log-in information to "Wireless@SG" are to be stored on the electronic device 22 such that subsequent attempts to access the Internet 26 on the specific network will not entail the user to go through every one single step depicted in the first to sixth screens 32A - 32F. The aforementioned "subsequent attempt" process which is more convenient for the user will be described in greater detail in a subsequent section. Finally, regardless of whether or not the log-in information to "Wireless@SG" are selected to be stored on the electronic device 22 by the user, the user is able to proceed with accessing content on the Internet 26 using a suitable application. In a non-limiting example, the suitable application is a web browser 80 as shown in Figure 2C. In an instance where the predefined server 30 is an online storage server, the user may login to the predefined server 30 and access media data on the predefined server 30 and may also access online services such as online chatting. It should be noted that once the user gains access to the network, the user is able to either perform any task or run any application as per the user's preference. This freedom of choice is not restricted in any manner.

Figure 2D shows the sixth screen 32F with a second supplementary interface 61 (with "yes" and "no" choices). The sixth screen 32F with the second supplementary interface 61 is generated when the electronic device 22 is unable to connect to the specific network for any reason, in this case, "Wireless@SG". However, the user still has the option of using the second supplementary interface 61 to confirm whether or not log-in information to "Wireless@SG" are to be stored on the electronic device 22. This ensures that the user is only required to manually enter log-in information once into the electronic device 22 regardless of whether there is a successful attempt to log-in to a desired network.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown various non-limiting representations of screens generated during a "subsequent attempt" to access the Internet 26 on the specific network, in this case, "Wireless@SG".

When the electronic device 22 is within a network coverage area, the electronic device 22 detects the network 24 available in that area. There may be more than one network 24 available in that area. Accordingly, a starting screen 33A generated by the electronic device 22 shows the user information relating to the list of available networks 24. By selecting a network from the list 25, the user sends a request to connect the electronic device 22 to the network from the list 24. In this instance, subsequent to the selection of the network "Wireless@SG" in screen 33A, a processing screen 33B is generated.

At this juncture, a process depicted in Figure 5 is carried out by the electronic device 22. The process in Figure 5 will be described in greater detail in a later section of the description. After the process in Figure 5 is completed, a confirmation screen 33C is generated, the confirmation screen 33C denoting that the electronic device 22 has successfully connected to the network 24. The user is subsequently able to proceed with accessing content on the Internet 26 using a web browser application 80 (as shown in Figure 2C). In an instance where the predefined server 30 is an online storage server, the user may login to the predefined server 30 and access media data on the predefined server 30 and may also access online services such as online chatting. It should be noted that once the user gains access to the network, the user is able to either perform any task or run any application as per the user's preference. This freedom of choice is not restricted in any manner.

It is evident that the number of steps which the user needs to perform in a process depicted in Figure 3 is significantly fewer than the number of steps which the user needs to perform in a process depicted in Figure 2. This is clearly advantageous to the user.

Figure 4 is a flowchart of a method 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention. The method 100 describes a process of which is only partially visible to the user from the screens of Figures 2 and 3. In step 101, when the electronic device 22 detects a wireless network 24, the electronic device 22 obtains an identifier of the network 24, such as a SSID. If there is more than one detected wireless network, the electronic device may display a list of SSIDs for each of the more than one detected wireless network. The user selects a wireless network 24 and sends 103 a request to connect to the selected network 24. To enable connection to the network 24, log-in information for connecting to the network is obtained 105 and sent 107 to the network 24. Subsequently, as illustrated previously in Figure 2, either one of the following two scenarios may arise: the electronic device 22 being connected to the network 24 and enabling access to the Internet 26, or the electronic device 22 not being connected to the network 24. Therefore, at step 109, the electronic device 22 determines if there is a connection to the network 24. If there is no connection to the network 24, the electronic device 22 analyses 111 content data of a website associated with the network 38 to determine whether the associated website enables connection to the network. Specifically, the associated website is analysed to determine whether it is a log-in portal for the network 24.

Analysing the content? data 111 includes determining whether a web element of the associated website is a predetermined element 113. If the web element is predetermined, the electronic device 22 sends a request 103 to connect the electronic device 22 to the network 24 and performs the steps 105, 107, and 109. However, if the web element is not predetermined, the electronic device 22 is unable to access the Internet 115. If the content data is generated in HTML, Javascript, Visual basic, or any programming language, the electronic device 22 may be able to determine if the content data can be analysed. If the content data cannot be analysed, an error message may be displayed on the electronic device 22.

Figure 5 illustrates further detail of the steps 111 , and 113 of method 100 in Figure 4. In determining 200 whether there is any predetermined element in the content data, the predetermined element may be selected from either an input element, a meta element or a form element. The predetermined element may be generated from, for example, Javascript, XML, Flash, VisualBasic, other programming languages and so forth. The predetermined element may be at least one URL which includes redirection URL and/or HTML content. If the predetermined element is an input element, the electronic device 22 searches for predetermined elements selected from fields such as, for example, password, username, biometric thumbprint, face recognition image and so forth. Thus, the input element may include text and/or an image(s).

If there is a predetermined element 202 detected, the electronic device 22 obtains log-in information 204 to connect to the network 206. Log-in information 204 may consist of a user name, password, email address, biometric thumbprint, face recognition image, or any form of data that authenticates an identity of a user when accessing or connecting to the network. The log-in information may be obtained from storage on the electronic device 22.

If no predetermined element is detected, further analysis of the content data is carried out by determining whether there is at least one embedded redirection link 208. The embedded redirection links may be found in, for example, Flash applications, Java applications, HTML applications, ActiveX applications and so forth. If at least one embedded redirection link is detected in the content data, a request for a new website is requested 210.

The content data is then analysed further with regard to whether there's any new/additional element 214. If there are, the content data is further analysed to determine whether user input is required 216. If no user input is required, it is probable that the associated website is not a log-in portal for the network and correspondingly, there is no network connection 220 for the electronic device 22. If user input is required, the electronic device 22 needs to obtain log-in information 204 to connect to the network 206.

When no new element is detected in the content data, the content data is further analysed to locate predetermined elements which identify the network 218. If none are found, there is no network connection 220 for the electronic device 22. If predetermined elements which identify the network are located, the electronic device 22 needs to obtain log-in information 204 to connect to the network 206. The log-in information may be obtained from storage on the electronic device 22.

By analysing 111 of content data of the associated website using the method 200, the user is able to control and minimize receiving undesired content data such as, for example, unsolicited advertisements, survey forms or contest forms and so forth.

While the embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the. scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for enabling access to Internet including: providing an electronic device adapted for enabling connection to a network; detecting at least one network on the electronic device; sending a request to connect the electronic device to a selected network; and enabling access to the Internet if the electronic device is connected to the network on a prior occasion when information to enable connection to the selected network was sent to the selected network; wherein if the electronic device is not connected to the selected network on a prior occasion, the information to enable connection to the selected network is sent to the selected network.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the information required is determined by analysing content data of a website associated with the network, the associated website being for enabling connection to the network.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein analysing the content data includes: analysing content data of the website for at least one predetermined element; and determining the information required for connecting to the selected network upon detection of the at least one predetermined element.

4. The method according to claim 3, further including: determining a redirection in the website associated with the selected network; analysing content data of the website for at least one new element; and determining whether user input is required upon detecting the at least one new element.

5. The method according to claim 3, the redirection is implemented using at least one URL link.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined element is selected from a group consisting of: password, usemame, biometric thumbprint image, face recognition image and any combination of the aforementioned.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined element is selected from a group consisting of: input element, form element, and meta element.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined element includes either text or at least one image.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein obtaining the information for connecting to the network upon detecting the predetermined element includes either: sending the predefined information to enable connection to the network if there is predefined information on the electronic device; or generating a user interface based on the processed content data for input of information if there is no predefined information on the electronic device.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein the website associated with the network is a log-in page for enabling connection to the network.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined element is generated from a group consisting of: Javascript, XML, Flash, VisualBasic and other programming languages.