Network Access Device for Providing Restricted Broadband Wireless Access to a Network

Abstract

A network access device is provided which includes a connector, a tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium, and a computer program stored in the medium. The connector is adapted to releasably engage a port in a mobile communications device, thereby bringing the network access device into electrical communication with the mobile communications device. The computer program contains suitable programming instructions which, when executed, provide the mobile communications device with broadband access to a network through an MVNO or MNO, subject to a predefined set of restrictions defined by a tenant of the MVNO.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method for controlling access to a network, comprising:
 defining a set of rules which govern access to the network by said plurality of mobile communications devices;   providing a network device which includes (a) transceiver which communicates data between a network and a plurality of mobile communications devices, (b) a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium, and (c) a computer program stored in said medium and containing suitable programming instructions which, when executed, provide each of said the mobile communications devices with broadband access to the network via the network access device, subject to said set of rules;   establishing a first communications link between each of said mobile communications devices and said network device; and   establishing a second communications link between said network device and said network.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said transceiver communicates packetized data between said network and said plurality of mobile communications devices. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said rules are recorded in said computer-readable medium. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said broadband network access is limited to a single site on said network. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said broadband network access extends to other sites on the network on a subscription basis. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said broadband network access extends to other sites on the network on a pay-per-use basis. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said pay-per-use basis is a function of connection time to said other sites. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said pay-per-use basis is a function of bandwidth used during connection to said other sites. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said network access device is provided by an MVNO or MNO, and wherein said access is limited to sites on the network designated by the MVNO or MNO. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said mobile communications device is equipped with a display, wherein said program causes a landing page to be displayed on said display, and wherein the landing page varies as a function of at least one item selected from the group consisting of (a) the region the mobile communications device is located in, (b) the type of device the mobile communications device is, (c) the tenant, (d) the device, and (e) the corporate sponsor. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said MVNO or MNO has a corporate sponsor associated therewith, and wherein said group further consists of (d) the corporate sponsor. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said access is limited to a predetermined start and end time. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said access terminates in response to an action taken by the user. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said action taken by the user includes clicking on a hot-link for access to a different website. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said mobile communications device is equipped with a display, wherein said program causes a set of icons to be presented on said display, and wherein each icon is hot-linked to a specific website. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said access commences when the user selects a first icon from the set of icons, and wherein said access terminates when the user selects a second icon from the set of icons. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said access is provided in response to an action taken by the user which is selected from the group consisting of (a) watching an advertisement; (b) filling out a survey; (c) clicking a link; or (d) referring others to a service. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said mobile communications device has a plurality of applications resident thereon which are adapted to access the network, and wherein said access is limited to a subset of said applications which has fewer members than the entire set of said applications. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said access is allowed for some communications protocols, but denied for others, and wherein the communications protocols for which access is allowed or denied is defined by said set of predefined rules. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said access is allowed for some URLs, but denied for others, and wherein the URLs for which access is allowed or denied is defined by said set of predefined rules. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said access is allowed for some ports, but denied for others, and wherein the ports for which access is allowed or denied is defined by said set of predefined rules. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said access is allowed for some domain names, but denied for others, and wherein the domain names for which access is allowed or denied is defined by said set of predefined rules. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said access is allowed for some IP addresses, but denied for others, and wherein the IP addresses for which access is allowed or denied is defined by said set of predefined rules. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said access is allowed for http traffic and https traffic. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said access is denied for RTSP traffic.