Providing easy access to radio networks

Abstract

An improved connectivity to radio access point is enabled by a server that includes a database storing data about various radio access points, and an evaluation module evaluating the quality of connection to each of the access points. Clients receive updates about relevant access points from the server and use the information to connect to the preferred access point. The clients also check connectivity to other access points in the vicinity, and report the findings to the server. The server uses the reports to update its database, and send corresponding updates to the clients.

1 . A method for connecting a wireless user terminal to an Internet, comprising:
 generating first set of data by using the user terminal to analyze radio resources in reach;   obtaining a second set of data generated by at least one other terminal analyzing radio resources in reach;   generating a third set of data from the second set of data;   combining the first and third sets of data to select preferred radio resource for connection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, for each radio source, the first set of data comprises at least one of:
 i. Network name;   ii. MAC address;   iii. Received signal strength and variance over time;   iv. Encryption status;   v. Internet connection available capacity;   vi. Access protocol response times;   vii. Gateway IP address;   viii. DNS address;   ix. Occupied IP addresses;   x. Captive portal credentials;   xi. Connection Technology.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, for each radio source, the third set of data comprises at least one of:
 i. Location   ii. Internet accessibility   iii. Long term behavioral statistics comprising:
 Percentage of availability 
 Signal strength variance 
 Available bandwidth 
   iv. Name of owner;   v. Owner profile;   vi. Password.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein selecting the preferred radio resource comprises analyzing at least one of:
 encryption status;   backhaul performance;   knowledge of password;   amount of bandwidth allocated by owner for visitors; and   number of visitors connected to the radio resource.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the first set of data to a service server over the Internet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising transmitting the third set of data from the service server to the user terminal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising sending an update to the third set of data whenever the user terminal connects to the Internet. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising updating the third set of data upon receiving a subsequent one of the first and second sets of data. 
     
     
         9 . A method for enhancing connectivity to radio access points, comprising:
 providing a plurality of clients operating on a plurality of mobile devices;   receiving connectivity reports from each of said plurality of clients;   constructing access database from said plurality of reports;   transmitting selected data from said database to each of said clients.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selected data for each of the clients corresponds to access points in a geographical proximity to the corresponding client. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selected data for a corresponding client corresponds to access points in a vicinity of a geographical location indicated by the corresponding client. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the connectivity report comprises cache data of an access point. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the selected data comprises cache data of an access point. 
     
     
         14 . A method for enhancing connectivity to radio access points, comprising:
 operating a mobile device to connect to a network access point;   receiving access point data from the network access point;   storing the access point data so as to generate cached data;   sending the cache data to a central server.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising receiving from the server third party cache data, wherein the third party cached data comprises access point data obtained from another mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cached data comprises name and MAC address of the network access point. 
     
     
         17 . A system for enhancing connectivity to radio access points, comprising:
 a connectivity database;   an evaluation module receiving connectivity reports from a plurality of clients and storing the reports in the connectivity database, said connectivity reports comprise data relating to radio access points to which the clients attempted to connect;   a processor sending updates to each of the clients, said updates comprising selected data from the database, said selected data relates to access points in a selected geographical region.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said selected geographical region comprises a locale in which each client is present. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said selected geographical region comprises a locale indicated by each client. 
     
     
         20 . A method for operating a mobile device for enhancing connectivity to radio access points, comprising:
 searching for radio signals of access points;   attempting to connect to at least one of the access points;   upon successful connection storing access points data to thereby generate cached data;   sending the cached data to a remote server.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 monitoring radio transmission activity of the mobile device;   when a lull in the radio transmission activity is detected, performing:
 breaking the connection to the access point; 
 connecting to another access point; 
 storing another access point data to thereby generate another cached data; 
 sending the another cached data to a remote server. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 receiving third party cached date from the remote server;   storing the third party cached data in the mobile device.   
     
     
         23 . A method for improving wireless connectivity to the Internet by utilizing a social network, comprising:
 instituting a plurality of user accounts having corresponding usernames, each account corresponding to one user of a plurality of users;   receiving user connectivity reports from users, each connectivity report comprising at least access point name, access point location, and access point status;   maintaining a list of access points, and listing usernames of all users who send a connectivity report for the respective access point;   providing a user interface comprising the listing of usernames and a map having indicators for access points name, location, and status.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said access point status comprises one of open, locked, and requiring sign in. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: for each username maintaining a log of the connectivity reports sent by that user.