Method and System for Triggering Network Access

Abstract

The present invention makes it possible that devices are triggered by RF signals and the owner of the RF chip responsible for the triggering can receive a financial compensation for this. Hereto a method and a system for triggering a first-device by a RF signal and logging the triggering are presented. The system comprises a RF chip of a first party. The first device comprises communication means for receiving a RF signal from the RF chip and communication means for communicating with a network or server of a second party.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A system comprising:
 a customer device configured to receive an RF signal from an RF chip via a first communication path, and responsively (i) start communicating with a communication network via a second separate communication path and (ii) send an enabling ID to the RF chip, the enabling ID uniquely identifying the customer device to the RF chip, the RF chip being configured to transmit the RF signal to the customer device via the first communications path, receive the enabling ID from the RF chip, and store the enabling ID; and   means for causing an entity associated with the RF chip to be financially compensated by a communication provider associated with the communication network for the network communications of the customer device triggered by the RF chip, based at least in part on the enabling ID.   
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the RF chip comprises means to clear the memory of the enabling ID. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the RF signal transmitted from the RF chip to the customer device contains an identifier identifying the communication network of the communication provider, and the customer device uses the identifier to connect to the communication network. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein a user of the customer device pays the communication provider for access to the communication network and the compensation to the first entity rewards the first entity for causing the customer device to use the communication network. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the RF signal transmitted from the RF chip to the customer device via the first communications path comprises a link to information associated with a product to which the RF chip is attached. 
     
     
         28 . A system comprising:
 a customer device configured to receive an RF signal and an enabling ID from an RF chip via a first communication path, and responsively start communicating with a communication network via a second separate communication path, the RF chip comprising means for sending the enabling ID to the customer device, the enabling ID uniquely identifying the RF chip to the customer device; and   means for causing an entity associated with the RF chip to be financially compensated by a communication provider associated with the communication network for the network communications of the customer device triggered by the RF chip, based at least in part on the enabling ID.   
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the RF signal transmitted from the RF chip to the customer device contains an identifier identifying the communication network of the communication provider, and the customer device uses the identifier to connect to the communication network. 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the customer device comprises a memory for storing the enabling ID and the customer device comprises means for reading the enabling ID from the memory and transmitting the enabling ID for use in financially compensating the entity. 
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 30 , wherein the first device comprises means to clear the memory after transmitting the enabling ID. 
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein billing information is created based on the enabling ID. 
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein a user of the customer device pays the communication provider for access to the communication network and the compensation to the first entity rewards the first entity for causing the customer device to use the communication network. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the RF signal transmitted from the RF chip to the customer device via the first communications path comprises a link to information associated with a product to which the RF chip is attached. 
     
     
         35 . A method for triggering a customer device and logging the triggering, the method comprising:
 receiving at the customer device and via a first communication path an RF signal from an RF chip associated with an entity;   responsive to receiving the RF signal, the customer device starting communicating via a second separate communication path with a communication network associated with a communication provider different from the entity;   the customer device sending an enabling ID to the RF chip, the enabling ID uniquely identifying the customer device to the RF chip;   receiving the enabling ID at the RF chip;   storing the ID in a memory of the RF chip; and   causing the entity to be financially compensated by the communication provider for the network communications of the customer device triggered by the RF chip, based at least in part on the received enabling ID.   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the method further comprises:
 reading the enabling ID from the memory; and   transmitting the ID for use in financially compensating the entity.   
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises clearing the memory after sending the enabling ID. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the method further comprises creating billing information based on the enabling ID. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the RF signal transmitted from the RF chip to the customer device contains an identifier identifying the communication network of the communication provider, and the customer device uses the identifier to connect to the communication network. 
     
     
         40 . A method for triggering a customer device and logging the triggering, the method comprising:
 receiving at the customer device and via a first communication path an RF signal and an enabling ID from an RF chip associated with an entity, the enabling ID uniquely identifying the RF chip to the customer device;   responsive to receiving the RF signal, the customer device starting communicating via a second separate communication path with a communication network associated with a communication provider different from the entity; and   causing the entity to be financially compensated by the communication provider for the network communications of the customer device triggered by the RF chip, based at least in part on the received enabling ID.   
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the method further comprises:
 storing the enabling ID in a memory of the customer device;   reading the enabling ID from the memory; and   transmitting the enabling ID for use in financially compensating the entity.   
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the method further comprises clearing the memory after sending the enabling ID. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the method further comprises creating billing information based on the enabling ID. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the RF signal transmitted from the RF chip to the customer device contains an identifier identifying the communication network of the communication provider, and the customer device uses the identifier to connect to the communication network. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 40 , wherein the RF signal transmitted from the RF chip to the customer device via the first communications path comprises a link to information associated with a product to which the RF chip is attached, and wherein the method further comprises the customer device accessing the link via the second separate communication path and retrieving information associated with the product.