Method for providing wireless services

Abstract

A method and system for providing distributed network access point installation and management. A network provider installs and/or operates a plurality of access points at locations of a retail entity. Each access point may provide services such as Internet access, and/or content such as audio, video, text, and/or graphics, among other types of services. A carrier, such as a telephone or cable company, may compensate the network service provider for installation and operation of the access points. The carrier may in turn charge its subscribers for network access at the retail entity locations. A plurality of different carriers may provide compensation and allow respective subscriber access. The network access points may be configured to allow each carrier to present a point of presence to its subscribers at the retail entity locations. The installed network may also provide service for retail entity back office functions.

1 . A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a wireless service provider; and    the wireless service provider receiving a first payment from a first carrier entity for installation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 the wireless service provider storing information in a computer system, wherein the information stored in the computer system is associated with the first payment from the first carrier to the wireless service provider.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a computer system operated by the first carrier entity providing invoices to a plurality of users, wherein the invoices charge for wireless access at any of the plurality locations of the at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , 
 wherein the invoices charge for 
 (a) wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity; and  
 (b) at least one of local or long distance telephone service.  
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , 
 wherein the invoices charge for 
 (a) wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity; and  
 (b) at least cable television service.  
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a portable computing device operated by a first user communicating with a wireless access point at one of said locations of the at least one retail entity;    determining if the first user is a subscriber of the first carrier entity for wireless access at the plurality locations of the at least one retail entity; and    providing wireless access to the portable computing device of the first user if the first user is a subscriber of the carrier entity for wireless access at the plurality locations of the at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 requesting payment from the first user if the first user is not a subscriber of the carrier entity for wireless access at the plurality locations of the at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 the portable computing device providing payment information to a computer system operated by the first carrier entity.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , 
 wherein the payment information includes credit card information.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second carrier entity providing payment to the wireless service provider for operation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity; and    a computer system operated by the second carrier entity providing invoices to a plurality of users, wherein the invoices charge for wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         11 . A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a wireless service provider;    a first carrier entity providing a first payment to the wireless service provider for installation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity; and    a computer system operated by the first carrier entity providing invoices to a plurality of users, wherein the invoices charge for wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a portable computing device operated by a first user communicating with a wireless access point at one of said locations of the at least one retail entity;    determining if the first user is a subscriber of the first carrier entity for wireless access at the plurality locations of the at least one retail entity; and    providing wireless access to the portable computing device of the first user if the first user is a subscriber of the carrier entity for wireless access at the plurality locations of the at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 requesting payment from the first user if the first user is not a subscriber of the carrier entity for wireless access at the plurality locations of the at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a second carrier entity providing payment to the wireless service provider for operation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity; and    a computer system operated by the second carrier entity providing invoices to a plurality of users, wherein the invoices charge for wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , 
 wherein the first payment made by the carrier entity substantially pays for the installation of the plurality of wireless access points.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , 
 wherein the carrier entity is a regional bell operating company.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , 
 wherein the invoices charge for 
 (a) wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity; and  
 (b) at least one of local or long distance telephone service  
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , 
 wherein the first payment is based on the number of the plurality of locations.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , 
 wherein the plurality of locations comprise at least 100 locations spread across a large geographic area.    
     
     
         20 . A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are operated by a wireless service provider;    a plurality of carrier entities providing payment to the wireless service provider for operation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity; and    for each of the plurality of carrier entities, a computer system operated by a respective carrier entity providing invoices to a respective plurality of users, wherein the invoices charge for wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a portable computing device operated by a first user communicating with a wireless access point at one of said locations of the at least one retail entity; and    the wireless access point broadcasting a plurality of system identifiers, wherein each of the system identifiers corresponds to one of the carrier entities.    
     
     
         22 . A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a wireless service provider, wherein at least a substantial portion of the installation of the plurality of wireless access points is paid for by a first carrier entity; and    a computer system operated by the first carrier entity providing invoices to a plurality of users, wherein the invoices charge for wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         23 . A system for providing wireless network services, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of wireless access points located at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a wireless service provider;    wherein a first carrier entity is operable to provide a first payment to the wireless service provider for installation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity;    a computer system operated by the first carrier entity which is operable to provide invoices to a plurality of users, wherein the invoices charge for wireless access at any of a plurality locations of at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         24 . A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a wireless service provider;    a first carrier entity providing a first payment to the wireless service provider for installation of the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity;    a portable computing device operated by a first user communicating with a wireless access point at one of said locations of the at least one retail entity; and    the first user paying an access fee to a computer system operated by the first carrier entity.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 determining if the first user is a subscriber of the first carrier entity for wireless access at the plurality locations of the at least one retail entity; and    providing wireless access to the portable computing device of the first user if the first user is a subscriber of the carrier entity for wireless access at the plurality locations of the at least one retail entity.    
     
     
         26 . A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a network service provider; and    configuring the plurality of wireless access points at the plurality of locations of the at least one retail entity, thereby allowing a plurality of subscribers of a first carrier to use the plurality of wireless access points.    
     
     
         27 . A method for providing wireless network services, the method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of wireless access points at a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a network service provider; and    a first wireless access point of the a plurality of wireless access points receiving system identification information from a portable computing device, wherein the system identification information indicates a carrier of a plurality of possible carriers, wherein said first access point includes a memory medium which stores a data structure comprising a list of system identification information entries each indicating at least one carrier of the plurality of possible carriers;    determining the carrier for the portable computing device after receiving the system identification information, wherein said determining the carrier for the portable computing device includes accessing the memory medium and using the received system identification information to determine the carrier;    determining one or more services of the carrier after determining the carrier for the portable computing device, wherein said determining the one or more services of the carrier includes accessing a second memory medium and using the determined carrier to determine the one or more services of the carrier; and    providing the one or more services of the carrier determined in said determining one or more services of the carrier to the portable computing device through the first access point.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , 
 wherein the system identification is an IEEE 802.11 system identification.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , 
 wherein the IEEE 802.11 system identification is a service set identifier (SSID).    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , 
 wherein the IEEE 802.11 system identification is a basic service set identifier (BSSID).    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , 
 wherein the IEEE 802.11 system identification is an extended service set identifier (ESSID).    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , 
 wherein the one or more services includes access to a network;    wherein the one or more services includes information indicating an authentication process to acquire access to the network;    the method further comprising: 
 the portable computing device transmitting authentication information to the first access point;  
 determining an authentication result based on whether the authentication information is authenticated;  
 if the authentication result indicates the authentication information is authenticated, providing access to the network;  
 if the authentication result indicates the authentication information is not authenticated, denying access to the network.  
   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the authentication information includes a username and password.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , the method further comprising: 
 wherein the username and password is associated with a user account of a roaming partner of the determined carrier;    the method further comprising: 
 transmitting the username and password to the roaming partner;  
   wherein the roaming partner performs said determining the authentication result.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the authentication information includes payment information.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the payment information includes credit card information.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 the determined carrier debiting an account associated with the credit card information.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the authentication information includes prepaid card information.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the authentication information includes access code information.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , 
 wherein said transmitting authentication information includes using a web browser to transmit the authentication information.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 32 , 
 wherein said transmitting authentication information includes using client software to transmit the authentication information.    
     
     
         42 . A network system, comprising: 
 a network;    a plurality of access points coupled to the network, wherein the plurality of access points are distributed among a plurality of locations of at least one retail entity, wherein the plurality of wireless access points are installed by a network service provider, wherein each of the plurality of access points is operable to communicate with a portable computing device, wherein each of the plurality of access points is configured to receive system identification information from the portable computing device indicating a carrier of a plurality of possible carriers, wherein each of the plurality of access points includes a memory medium which stores a data structure, wherein the data structure comprises a list of system identification information entries and corresponding carriers, wherein each entry indicates a respective carrier of the plurality of possible carriers;    wherein each of the plurality of access points is operable to determine the carrier indicated in the system identification information;    wherein, in determining the carrier for the portable computing device, each of the plurality of access points is operable to access the memory medium and use the received system identification information to determine the carrier;    wherein one or more services of the determined carrier are provided to the portable computing device.    
     
     
         43 . The network system of  claim 42 , 
 wherein the system identification is an IEEE 802.11 system identification.    
     
     
         44 . The network system of  claim 43 , 
 wherein the IEEE 802.11 system identification is a service set identifier (SSID).    
     
     
         45 . The network system of  claim 43 , 
 wherein the IEEE 802.11 system identification is a basic service set identifier (BSSID).    
     
     
         46 . The network system of  claim 43 , 
 wherein the IEEE 802.11 system identification is an extended service set identifier (ESSID).    
     
     
         47 . The network system of  claim 42 , 
 wherein each access point is operable to broadcast a plurality of system identifications.    
     
     
         48 . The network system of  claim 42 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of back office devices coupled to the network, wherein each back office device is operated by the at least one retail entity, wherein each location of the at least one retail entity includes at least one back office device.    
     
     
         49 . The network system of  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 a credit card clearing house coupled to the network;    wherein a subset of the plurality of back office devices coupled to the network are operable to read credit card information and transmit the credit card information through the network to the credit card clearing house.    
     
     
         50 . The network system of  claim 48 , 
 wherein each of the plurality of office devices coupled to the network communicate using at least a first virtual local area network (VLAN) tag;    wherein each of the plurality of access points coupled to the network communicate using at least a second VLAN tag;    
     
     
         51 . The network system of  claim 42 , wherein at least a subset of the identification information entries each indicate at least one virtual local area network (VLAN).  
     
     
         52 . The network system of  claim 51 , 
 wherein each VLAN specifies a carrier.    
     
     
         53 . The network system of  claim 52 , wherein the indicated VLAN is used in providing the one or more services of the determined carrier.  
     
     
         54 . The network system of  claim 42 , wherein the network is operable to support IEEE 802.1p.  
     
     
         55 . The network system of  claim 42 , wherein the network is operable to enforce a predefined quality of service metric to a virtual port within the network.