WO2011142689A1

WO2011142689A1 - Method for providing a wireless access to a shared network

Info

Publication number: WO2011142689A1
Application number: PCT/RU2010/000658
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Vyacheslavovich Klimushin; Dmitry Vyacheslavovich Klimushin
Original assignee: Alexander Vyacheslavovich Klimushin; Dmitry Vyacheslavovich Klimushin
Priority date: 2010-05-11
Filing date: 2010-11-09
Publication date: 2011-11-17
Also published as: RU2437256C1

Abstract

The invention relates to the communication technique. The use of this invention for providing a wireless access to a shared network, for example, the Internet ensures a wireless access to the shared network, which is rather simple in use and does not require any hardware adaptation. This result is achieved in the method for providing a wireless access to a shared network, the method including steps of: registering agents, each of said agents having at least one first wireless access equipment configured for accessing said shared network by means of a wireless communication technology; registering users, each of said users having at least one second wireless access equipment configured for connecting to said shared network through any said first wireless access equipment by means of said wireless communication technology; adjusting each of said first wireless access equipment at each of said registered agents for operating with the server software installed on at least one of servers of said shared network for ensuring any of the registered users to obtain the access to said shared network for his/her second wireless access equipment through this adjusted first wireless access equipment; installing, at said second wireless access equipment at each of the registered users, a client software which ensures, when executing at said second wireless access equipment, a possibility for connecting thereof to any of said first wireless access equipment by means of said wireless communication technology.

Description

METHOD FOR PROVIDING A WIRELESS ACCESS

TO A SHARED NETWORK

Field of the Invention

This invention relates usually to the communication technique, and particularly to the method for providing a wireless access to a shared network, for example, Internet.

Background of the Invention

At present, in connection with a wide development of the wireless communication systems, a concept of creating a shared network having the wireless access seems to be very attractive. This is especially actual for the Internet network.

Now, various methods for providing the wireless access to the shared network are known.

Thus, the Russian Patent No. 2118951 (publ. August 20, 1998) discloses the method for accessing the "World Wide Web" through the representative gateways. These representative gateways transfer client requests to the servers, and upon receiving the reverse traffic, multiplex, redirect, and cash the inter-network communication traffic, and switch the inter-network communication from the client. Herewith, the reverse traffic is transmitted into a broadcasting network via the unidirectional transmitting network interfaces, and clients receive the reverse traffic from the broadcasting network via the unidirectional receiving network interfaces. The disadvantage of this method consists in that a number of such representative gateways are limited. This method, in addition, is rather complicated when implementing.

The Russian Patent No. 2375846 (publ. December 10, 2009) discloses the method for the optimal selection of communication network in the location of an end-user device. In this method, the end-user device sends a request through an intermediary, e.g. a first network, to a second network, wherefrom information is transferred to the end-user device in order for logging that end-user device. This method uses a rather complicated protocol for forwarding the request and requires some additional network device (an IP access register), which is an essential disadvantage of this method.

The US Patent Application No. 2009/0180430 (publ. July 16, 2009) discloses the method for allocating network resources, which method being the closest analog to the claimed invention. In accordance with this method, an access device comprises a wireless router or gateway ("Wi-Fi hotspot") communicating with a plurality of wireless users. There is an administrator function for allocating the network resources (for example, frequency band) based on various parameters: safety, access level, etc. The method is also rather complicated for implementation.

Summary of the Invention

Thus, there is a necessity for developing such a method for providing a wireless access to a shared network, which would be rather simple in use and does not require any hardware adaptation.

In order for solving the set problem and achieving the indicated technical result, the present invention proposes a method for providing a wireless access to a shared network, the method including steps of: registering agents, each of said agents having at least one first wireless access equipment configured for accessing said shared network by means of a wireless communication technology; registering users, each of said users having at least one second wireless access equipment configured for connecting to said shared network through any said first wireless access equipment by means of said wireless communication technology; adjusting each of said first wireless access equipment at each of said registered agents for operating with the server software installed on at least one of servers of said shared network for ensuring any of the registered users to obtain the access to said shared network for his/her second wireless access equipment through this adjusted first wireless access equipment; installing, at said second wireless access equipment at each of the registered users, a client software which ensures, when executing at said second wireless access equipment, a possibility for connecting thereof to any of said first wireless access equipment by means of said wireless communication technology.

The shared network could be selected from the group including the Internet, Wide-Area Networks (WANs), and Local-Area Networks (LANs), and the wireless communication technology could be selected from the group including the Wi-Fi technology, WiMAX technology, and LTE technology.

In the claimed method, the server software is capable to perform steps of authenticating, authorizing, as well as accounting the utilized resources for each of the second wireless access equipment connected through any first wireless access equipment to the shared network. Meanwhile, the step of accounting the utilized resources is carried out in accordance with a connection tariff which is set by the registered agent for the authenticated and authorized user. Moreover, the step of authenticating and authorizing is carried out by processing, performed with the server software, an individual key file stored at specific second wireless access equipment and altered at every subsequent connection to the shared network through specific first wireless access equipment.

In the claimed method, in attempting to access the shared network through the first wireless access equipment, the client software displays all the first wireless access equipment available for the second wireless access equipment of this registered user. In this case, the connection with the selected first wireless access equipment is established automatically or manually. Moreover, upon establishing the connection of a specific second wireless access equipment to the shared network through one of the first wireless access equipments, a step is performed of displaying to the user of that second wireless access equipment an information on this first wireless access equipment, which information including, particularly, the name of this first wireless access equipment, the connecting tariff, the connecting rate, the traffic, and the account balance of that user. The peculiarity of the claimed method consists in that an advertising information provided by advertisers could be transferred to the second wireless access equipment that has carried out the connection with the first wireless access equipment. Herewith, a type and/or kind of the provided advertising information could be selected on the principle of the geographic location of a specific first wireless access equipment, as well as depending on the account data of a specific registered user carried out the connection to the shared network through this first wireless access equipment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is described hereinafter with the reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system wherein the method in accordance with the present invention is implemented. It should be noted that the reference numbers in the specification text are referred to the elements shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 to Fig. 11 show the examples of interfaces used in a specific WiFixer system implementing an embodiment of the method in accordance with the present invention, where:

Fig. 2 illustrates the website of the WiFixer system;

Fig. 3 illustrates the registration window in the WiFixer system;

Fig. 4 illustrates the member area of the WiFixer user;

Fig. 5 specifies the Section "Clients" of the user's member area;

Fig. 6 shows the window the WiFixer client program;

Fig. 7 shows the window of the established connection;

Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 show the setting-up window of the WiFixer client program;

Fig. 10 illustrates the setting-up window of the access equipment; and Fig. 11 illustrates the setting-up window of the wireless router D-Link DI-824 VUP+. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The below specification is based on a specific example which is, however, not limiting, but only illustrative.

The method in accordance with the present invention could be implemented in a system whose example is shown in Fig. 1. In this drawing, the reference number 1 designates a shared network. As is shown in Fig. 1, this shared network 1 has at least one server 2. Various apparatus, for example, personal computers, office hubs, and other equipments are connected to the server 2. All these devices are designated by the reference numbers 3. All these devices are access points to the shared network 1, and each device 3.i (i = 1, N; N is the total number of the apparatus in the network 1) is referred to as a first wireless access equipment. Every device 3.i has its own wireless access network 4, which is shown in Fig. 1 with respective zigzag arrows.

The present invention designed primarily for using along with the Internet, however, it is quite applicable also to other shared networks, for example, to Wide Area Networks (WANs) or Local Area Networks (LANs), as is known to those skilled in the art. The main point is in that this shared network 1 has the access points 3 having there own wireless access networks 4. Such networks can operate, for example, in accordance with the WiFi technology, WiMAX technology, or LTE technology, which are known to those skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 shows also various client apparatus whose users would like to carry out a connection to the shared network 1, but lack, for a number of reasons, such a possibility immediately. However, the client apparatus of each of such users is configured for the wireless access to the networks 4. As such client apparatus, Fig. 1 schematically shows a mobile phone 5, notebook 6 and personal computer 7. The zigzag arrows in Fig. 1 show schematically that all these apparatus 5 to 8 could be connected to the first wireless access equipments 3 by means of a wireless access technology. It should be noted that possible client apparatus are not limited with the apparatus 5 to 8 shown in Fig. 1. Any apparatus capable for accessing wirelessly the networks 4 could be employed in the method in accordance with the present invention. Therefore, each of the apparatus 5 to 8 or any other possible apparatus is hereinafter referred to as second wireless access equipment.

The method in accordance with the present invention is implemented in the system of Fig. 1 as follows.

First, the server 2 (one of such servers) registers as agents those clients each of whom possesses any of the first wireless access equipment 3 and is ready to make it available for the wireless connection to the shared network 1 for other users. It should be noted that each such agent could possess not one, but several such apparatus. In this case, such a user could register each of his/her first wireless access equipments 3.

Simultaneously or later during operation, the server 2 (one of such servers) registers as users the clients having any of apparatus 5 to 8 (the second access equipment) configured for connecting to the network 4, but at the same time is unable to connect to the shared network 1 directly and would like to carry out such a connection through any first wireless access equipment 3.

Next, each of the first wireless access equipments 3 at each of the registered agents is adjusted for operating with the server software installed on the at least one of servers 2 of the shared network 1. This server software is designed for ensuring the possibility for the first wireless access equipment 3 to operate as the agent access point for the users, and in this case any of the registered users obtains the access to the shared network 1 for his/her second wireless access equipment 5 to 8 through such adjusted first wireless access equipment 3. The adjustment features of the first wireless access equipment 3 are described below.

At last, a client software is installed at the second wireless access equipment 5 to 8 at each of the registered users, which client software ensures, when executing at this second wireless access equipment 5 to 8, a possibility for connecting thereof to any of available first wireless access equipment 3.

The aforementioned adjustment of a specific first wireless access equipment 3.i is carried out programmatically by accessing the respective section of the server software. It should be noted that the client having the first wireless access equipment 3.i, when registering as the agent, can establish one or more tariffs for connecting the registered users through his/her first wireless access equipment 3.i.

The server software installed at the server 2 is capable to perform steps of authenticating, authorizing, as well as accounting the utilized resources for each of the second wireless access equipment 5 to 8 connected through any first wireless access equipment 3 to the shared network 1. Meanwhile, the aforementioned step of accounting the utilized resources is carried out in accordance with the specific connecting tariff which is set by the registered agent and/or selected by the authenticated and authorized user.

The step of authenticating is carried out, for example, by inputting a login and password assigned to the user when registering him/her, as is well-known to those skilled in the art. The step of authorizing is carried out, for example, by the step, performed with the server software, of processing an individual key file obtained by the registered user and stored at specific second wireless access equipment 5 to 8 of this user. This key file could be altered at every subsequent connection to the shared network 1 through specific first wireless access equipment 3.

When the registered user attempts to access the shared network 1 from his/her second wireless access equipment 5 to 8, the client software installed at his/her second wireless access equipment 5 to 8 displays all of the first wireless access equipment 3 available for the second wireless access equipment 5 to 8 of this registered user. In this case, the connection with the selected first wireless access equipment 3 can be established automatically, if the user has selected such an option in advance, otherwise it can be done manually. Upon establishing the connection of the specific second wireless access equipment 5 to 8 to the shared network 1 through one of the first wireless access equipment 3, the information on this first wireless access equipment 3 is displayed to the user of said second wireless access equipment 5 to 8. Such an information includes, particularly, the name of this first wireless access equipment 3, the connecting tariff, the connection rate, the data-traffic and the account balance of that user.

Since the method in accordance with the present invention could be utilized also for attaining a profit by the agent, it is provided for that an advertising information provided by advertisers could be transferred to the second wireless access equipment 5 to 8 that has carried out the connection with the first wireless access equipment 3. Herewith, a type and/or kind of the advertising information being provided could be selected on the geographic principle, i.e., in accordance with the location of a specific first wireless access equipment 3 through which the connection to the shared network 1 is performed; or depending on the account data of a specific registered user carried out the connection to the shared network 1 through this first wireless access equipment 3. This selection of the advertising information could be performed in accordance with the so called user profile as is described, for example, in the US Patent No. 6,804,659 (published on October 12, 2004.

Hereinafter, the indicated steps will be illustrated with reference to the specific interfaces formed in the course of performing the method in accordance with the present invention in the WiFixer system.

Any person using the Internet (the shared network 1) and possessing the second wireless access equipment could be registered in the WiFixer system and obtain the wireless access to the Internet.

As the second wireless access equipment 5 to 8, as previously mentioned, any user's network apparatus is regarded, for example, a notebook, stationary computer, smart phone, mobile messenger, wireless web-camera, etc, i.e., any existing or invented in future network apparatus connected to the Internet (in general, to the shared network 1) in accordance with the wireless technology. In order to register, it is necessary to enter the respective site of the WiFixer system (Fig. 2) and open the registration window (Fig. 3). The fields in this window should be filled with the personal data in the Latin letters and press the "Registration" button. A letter with the notification on the registration confirmation is sent to the e-mail address indicated in the course of the registration. Upon receiving the e- mail from the WiFixer system, it is necessary to open the received link, thereby terminating the process of registering the new system user.

In order to change or add the settings of the registered user, for example, modify the personal data, deposit a sum to his/her virtual account, register the wireless access equipment of the agent, etc, it is necessary to input the login and password indicated in the process of registering into the corresponding fields of the personal cabinet, via which cabinet the control of all system settings is performed (Fig. 4).

When registering the new user in the system, the account of this user is automatically filled with 10.000 fixes ("fix" is the virtual monetary unit in the WiFixer system), which allow the user to proceed immediately to the operation and test the full functional profile of the WiFixer system.

In order for adjusting his/her second wireless access equipment 5 to 8 for operating with the WiFixer system, it is necessary to download and install the client software thereto. That client software could be found in accordance with the link from the main page of the system site or from the user's member area.

Let us consider this process by the example of the notebook 6 (see Fig. 1) having the wireless WiFi adapter and operating under the control of the Windows family operating systems (Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7).

The installation file of the WiFixer client software should be downloaded to the notebook 6, and then the downloaded program should be installed.

In the case of registering a new user, an accounting record of the wireless equipment (i.e., the second wireless access equipment 5 to 8, in this particular case, the notebook 6) is automatically created in the WiFixer system. If the user employs the WiFixer system through different kinds of the second wireless access equipment 5 to 8, for example, a notebook, smart phone, and mobile messenger, he/she must create respective number (two in this particular case) of additional records of the wireless equipment, i.e., separate accounting records for each of his/her second wireless access equipment. This could be made in the Section "Clients" of his/her member area by pressing the "Add" button (see Fig. 5).

In order to activate the client software installed on the second wireless access equipment 5 to 8, for the purpose of ensuring the system safety, it is necessary to download a key file and copy thereof to the WiFixer folder having the installed client software. This key file is updated by the system upon every time of connecting the user to the Internet.

In order to acquire the key file, it is necessary to press the "Key" icon in the Devices' table and store the downloaded file into the folder with the software installed on the notebook. From this point on, the note book is completely ready for operating in the Internet through the WiFixer system.

Upon starting the client software installed on the notebook, the main program window is open. Once pressing the "Scan networks" button, the scanning of the available wireless networks 4 is started (meanwhile, the wireless WiFi interface on the notebook should be turned on). By doing so, all available in this place wireless networks 4 connected to the WiFixer system will be displayed (Fig. 6).

While moving the cursor to any of the shown wireless networks, a full information on this wireless network is displayed in the help window. The connection with the selected wireless network could be made by a double click or by highlighting thereof and pressing the "Establish connection" button. Upon connecting to the selected wireless network, the program is switched to the window of the "Established connection" and displays all the necessary information on the wireless connection (Fig. 7).

In so doing, the notebook is now connected to the Internet (to the shared network 1). The WiFixer system does not impose any constraints on the user's operation in the Internet. He/she can download files or music, view sites, launch any pro- grams operating via the Internet, and so on. The current account balance of the user, the amount of the downloaded and transmitted data-traffic, the actual connection speed, etc. are displayed on-line in the window of the "Established connection".

In order to disconnect the connection, it is necessary to press the "Disconnect connection" button or to close the program. In the case of an abnormal break of the connection, the procedure of connecting to the selected network is repeated. Meanwhile, in the program settings, it is possible to adjust an automatic restart of the connection, automatic establishing of the connection when starting the program in accordance with various parameters set by the user, as well as to select the program interface language and control other settings in the program. Fig. 8 and 9 show the interfaces of some of those settings.

Any one from the registered system users, who is ready for providing his/her first wireless access equipment connected to the Internet for the common use, can become a system agent and register his/her first wireless access equipment in the system.

This first wireless access equipment could be made by any manufacturer, and it must maintain the possibility for connecting thereto a users' wireless equipment through the WPA or WPA2 standard in the Enterprise mode (by means of the 802. IX protocol using the RADIUS server). At present, at least 90 % of the wireless access points maintain this standard.

In order to become an agent, it is sufficient to come to the own member area at the WiFixer system site and pass into the "Access points" section (see Fig. 10). Once pressing the "Add" button, it is necessary to input the name of the wireless access equipment that will be displayed in the client software at a second wireless equipment of the registered users. Then, it is necessary to input MAC, an address of the wireless network interface of this first wireless access equipment established by the manufacture for this wireless access equipment, since just in accordance therewith the WiFixer system identifies a wireless access equipment of any agent. As shown in Fig. 10, a tariff could be set for the given wireless access equipment in the WiFixer system. The WiFixer allows setting two types of the tariff: on the time- rate basis and on the basis of the data-traffic for the same wireless access equipment. This permits the users to choose the taxation method most appropriate therefor while choosing the connection with the needed wireless access equipment. In principle, there could be more than two data-tariffs. There is also a possibility for keeping only one data-tariff desired by the agent. Upon pressing the "Store" button, the wireless access equipment will be added to the WiFixer system.

Now, the wireless access equipment should be itself adjusted for operating along with the WiFixer system. How this could be done, is shown below by the example of the wireless router D-Link DI-824 VUP+ (see Fig. 11).

In the settings of the wireless router interface, the security standard WPA or WPA2 should be selected (in some kinds of the equipment, this standard could be referred to as WPA-Enterprise). Then, it is necessary to assign the settings for the 802.1X protocol: RADIUS Server IP 85.25.71.36 (the IP address of the main system server controlled by the server software); RADIUS port 1812 (the TCP/IP port); RADIUS Shared Key wifixer+ (the common key for the WiFixer system), and store those settings.

Thereafter, this first wireless access equipment is ready for operating in the WiFixer system. Afterwards, upon connecting to the Internet through this first wireless access equipment registered in the WiFixer system, the payment instruments of the users connected to the Internet in accordance with the above set tariffs (after deduction of the WiFixer system fee) will enter the virtual account of this agent in the WiFixer system.

Of course, this embodiment of the present invention by means of the WiFixer system is made only for the illustrative purpose. The appearance of the shown interfaces and the number thereof could vary depending on specific programs employed for implementing the method of the present invention. Those programs could be written by those skilled in the art taking into account the above descriptions of the functions which must or can be performed by the respective system. One of such programs, which ensures the operation of the WiFixer system, is registered in the Official Gazette on the Computer Programs of the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patent and Trademarks (Certificate of the State registration of the computer program No. 2009616646, 01.2.2009).

Thus, the present invention proposes the method for providing the wireless access to the shared network, which method permitting any registered user having an apparatus configured for connecting to the shared network (Internet) by means of the wireless technology to connect freely to that network through the registered agent. In so doing, the agent can obtain a payment for providing his/her access point in the wireless network to that user.

Claims

1. A method for providing a wireless access to a shared network, the method including steps of:

- registering agents, each of said agents having at least one first wireless access equipment configured for accessing said shared network by means of a wireless communication technology;

- registering users, each of said users having at least one second wireless access equipment configured for connecting to said shared network through any said first wireless access equipment by means of said wireless communication technology;

- adjusting each of said first wireless access equipment at each of said registered agents for operating with the server software installed on at least one of servers of said shared network for ensuring any of the registered users to obtain the access to said shared network for his/her second wireless access equipment through this adjusted first wireless access equipment;

- installing, at said second wireless access equipment at each of the registered users, a client software which ensures, when executing at said second wireless access equipment, a possibility for connecting thereof to any of said first wireless access equipment by means of said wireless communication technology.

2. The method according to Claim 1, wherein said shared network is selected from the group including the Internet, Wide-Area Networks (WANs), and Local- Area Networks (LANs).

3. The method according to Claim 1, wherein said wireless communication technology is selected from the group including the Wi-Fi technology, WiMAX technology, and LTE technology.

4. The method according to Claim 1, wherein said server software is capable to perform steps of authenticating, authorizing, as well as accounting the utilized resources for each of said second wireless access equipment connected through the given first wireless access equipment to said shared network.

5. The method according to Claim 4, wherein said step of accounting the utilized resources is carried out in accordance with a connection tariff which is set by the registered agent for the authenticated and authorized user.

6. The method according to Claim 4, wherein said step of authenticating and authorizing is carried out by processing, performed with said server software, an individual key file stored at a specific second wireless access equipment and altered at every subsequent connection to said shared network through a specific first wireless access equipment.

7. The method according to Claim 1, wherein, in attempting to access said shared network through said first wireless access equipment, said client software displays all the first wireless access equipment available for said second wireless access equipment of this registered user.

8. The method according to Claim 7, wherein the connection with the selected first wireless access equipment is established automatically,

9. The method according to Claim 7, wherein the connection with the selected first wireless access equipment is established manually.

10. The method according to any one of Claims 7 to 9, wherein, upon establishing the connection of a specific second wireless access equipment to said shared network through one of said first wireless access equipments, a step is performed of displaying to the user of that second wireless access equipment an information on this first wireless access equipment, which information including, particularly, the name of this first wireless access equipment, the connecting tariff, the connecting rate, the traffic, and the account balance of that user.

11. The method according to Claim 1, wherein an advertising information provided by advertisers is transferred to the second wireless access equipment that has carried out the connection with the given first wireless access equipment.

12. The method according to Claim 11, wherein a type and/or kind of the provided advertising information is selected on the principle of the geographic location of a specific first wireless access equipment.

13. The method according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein a type and/or kind of the transferred advertising information is selected depending on the account data of a specific registered user carried out the connection to said shared network through this first wireless access equipment.