Wireless network access methods, communications device configuration methods, configuration devices, communications systems, and articles of manufacture

Abstract

Wireless network access methods, communication device configuration methods, configuration devices, communications systems, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one aspect, a wireless network access method includes providing a communications device, providing a wireless network including access to a service, storing wireless network access data and service access data using a configuration device, communicating the wireless network access data and the service access data to the communications device using the configuration device, communicating the wireless network access data to the wireless network using the communications device to establish the communications device as a node on the wireless network, communicating the service access data to the wireless network using the communications device, and accessing the service using the communications device responsive to the communicating the service access data.

1 . A wireless network access method comprising: 
 providing a communications device;    providing a wireless network including access to a service;    storing wireless network access data and service access data using a configuration device;    communicating the wireless network access data and the service access data to the communications device using the configuration device;    communicating the wireless network access data to the wireless network using the communications device to establish the communications device as a node on the wireless network;    communicating the service access data to the wireless network using the communications device; and    accessing the service using the communications device responsive to the communicating the service access data.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the service is configured to perform actions with respect to the communications device.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the service comprises a hot spot service provider.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the service access data comprises a navigation identifier associated with the service.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the service access data comprises authentication information usable to authenticate access of the communications device to the service.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the service access data comprises a command configured to initiate an action of the service with respect to the communications device.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the service access data comprises user information corresponding to a user of the communications device and configured to cause initiation of the action using the user information.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the wireless network is coupled with another network supporting the service, and the service access data comprises an address to the service on the another network.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the communicating wireless network access data comprises communicating encryption information corresponding to encryption techniques of the wireless network.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the communicating wireless network access data comprises communicating network identification information of the wireless network.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the accessing the service comprises communicating a command from the communications device to the service, and performing an action using the service with respect to the communications device responsive to the command.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the communicating the wireless network access data and the service access data intermediate the configuration device and the communications device comprises communicating encrypted data.  
   
   
       13 . A communications device configuration method comprising: 
 providing a communications device configured to implement wireless communications;    providing a configuration device comprising wireless network access data for a respective wireless network and service access data for a service accessible using the wireless network;    communicating the wireless network access data from the configuration device to the communications device to configure the communications device to access the respective wireless network; and    communicating the service access data from the configuration device to the communications device to configure the communications device to access the service via communications using the wireless network.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the communicating the service access data comprises communicating a navigation identifier associated with the service.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the communicating the service access data comprises communicating authentication information usable to authenticate access of the communications device to the service.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the communicating wireless network access data comprises communicating encryption information corresponding to encryption techniques of the wireless network.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the communicating wireless network access data comprises communicating network identification information of the wireless network.  
   
   
       18 . A configuration device comprising: 
 a communications interface configured to implement electronic communications of the configuration device with an external device which is externally located with respect to the configuration device;    a storage device configured to store wireless network access data and service access data and to output the wireless network access data and service access data to the communications interface for communication externally of the configuration device to the external device using the communications interface; and    wherein the wireless network access data comprises information enabling the external device to access and to implement communications with a respective wireless network, and the service access data comprises information enabling the external device to access a service associated with wireless network and configured to perform an action with respect to the external device responsive to a command from the external device.    
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the service access data comprises a navigation identifier associated with the service.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the service access data comprises authentication information usable to authenticate access of the communications device to the service.  
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the wireless network access data comprises encryption information corresponding to encryption techniques of the wireless network.  
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the wireless network access data comprises network identification information of the wireless network.  
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the service access data comprises the command configured to initiate the action of the service.  
   
   
       24 . A communications system comprising: 
 configuration means for providing wireless network access data and service access data;    communications means for communicating with the configuration means, for receiving the wireless network access data and the service access data from the configuration means, and for outputting the wireless network access data and the service access data externally of the communications means; and    wireless network means for establishing the communications device as a node on the wireless network means responsive to receiving the outputted wireless network access data and for implementing communications intermediate the service and the communications device using the service access data.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the service access data comprises a navigation identifier associated with the service.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the service access data comprises authentication information usable to authenticate access of the communications device to the service.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the service access data comprises a command configured to initiate an action of the service with respect to the communications means.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the wireless network access data comprises encryption information corresponding to encryption techniques of the wireless network means.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the wireless network access data comprises network identification information of the wireless network means.  
   
   
       30 . An article of manufacture comprising: 
 a processor-usable medium comprising processor-usable code configured to cause processing circuitry of a communications device to: 
 access wireless access network data from a configuration device;  
 access service access data from the configuration device;  
 communicate the wireless access network data to a wireless network to establish communications of the communications device with the wireless network;  
 communicate the service access data to a service coupled with the wireless network and configured to provide access of the communications device to the service;  
 output commands to the service with respect to performing actions by the service with respect to the communications device; and  
 access data received from the service responsive to the communication of the commands.  
   
   
   
       31 . The article of  claim 30  wherein the processor-usable code is configured to cause processing circuitry of the communications device to communicate the service access data comprising the navigational identifier associated with the service.  
   
   
       32 . The article of  claim 30  wherein the processor-usable code is configured to cause processing circuitry of the communications device to communicate the service access data comprising authentication information usable to authenticate access of the communications device to the service.