Hotspot network access system and method

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for providing wireless network access to a user of a remote device at a hotspot. In general, wireless communication is established by the system with the remote device to enable wireless transmission therefrom of social networking credentials associated with a social network profile maintained by a third party social network service provider. Using these credentials, the user is authenticated with the third party social network service provider, and, upon authentication, is provided wireless access to the network.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method for providing wireless network access to a user of a remote device to a wireless network at a hotspot, the method comprising:
 establishing wireless communication with the remote device at the hotspot to enable wireless transmission therefrom of social networking credentials associated with a pre-existing personal social network profile, wherein said personal social network profile was previously created by the user on a third party social network operated by a third party social network service provider, and wherein said personal social profile is sharable with other social network users via their respective personal social network profiles that are associated with said personal social profile by the user via said social network;   using said social network credentials, authenticating the user with said third party social network service provider; and   providing the user with wireless access to the wireless network at the hotspot as a result of authenticating the user.   
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the method further comprises accessing a location of the hotspot, wherein said wireless access is tailored based at least in part on said location by adjusting at least one of an access bandwidth and access time as a function of said location; and wherein the method further comprises creating an update to said personal social network profile, wherein said update identifies the user as being currently located at said location. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the method further comprises accessing hotspot-related data and personal social profile data, automatically identifying a relationship between said personal social profile data and said hotspot-related data, and tailoring said wireless access as a function of said relationship. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 37 , further comprising accessing a location of the hotspot from hotspot-related data and accommodating, as a result of said social network credential authentication, invitation of the user to establish a relationship on said personal social network profile with an entity associated with said location, wherein establishment of said relationship results in creation of a reference to said entity on said personal social network profile visible to at least some of said other social network users. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein the method is automatically implemented by a computerized system communicatively linked to the remote device and to a network-enabled social networking device implemented by the social network service provider. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 37 , further comprising accessing a location of the hotspot and, as a result of authenticating the user, automatically creating an update to said personal social network profile as a function of said location, wherein said update is visible to at least some of said other social network users. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 42 , wherein said visible update comprises identifying the user as being currently located at said location. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 37 , wherein said social network is Facebook™, wherein said personal social network profile is a personal page associated with the user on Facebook™, and wherein said other users are associated with the user on Facebook™ as friends of the user. 
     
     
         45 . A system for providing wireless network access to a user of a remote device to a network at a hotspot, the system comprising:
 a wireless access point (WAP) having hardware configured to establish wireless communication with the device to enable wireless transmission therefrom of social networking credentials associated with a pre-existing personal social network profile, wherein said personal social network profile was previously created by the user on a third party social network operated by a third party social network service provider, and wherein said personal social network profile is sharable with other social network users that are associated with the user via said social network via respective personal social network profiles; and   an authentication engine communicatively linked to said hardware and configured to accommodate authentication of the user using said social networking credentials with said third party social network service provider and provide wireless network access to the user via said WAP as a result of authenticating said social networking credentials.   
     
     
         46 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein said authentication engine is configured to provide the remote device limited wireless access over the network to a social network authentication processor and knowledge base to accommodate said authentication of the user, wherein said social network authentication processor and knowledge base are configured to authenticate said credentials. 
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein said authentication engine is configured to communicate said credentials to a social network authentication processor and knowledge base for authentication. 
     
     
         48 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein said authentication engine is further configured to receive as input one or more social profile data elements associated with said social network profile distinct from said credentials, and process said one or more social profile data elements against a programmed set of authentication rules to selectively authorize access to the network upon said one or more social profile data elements satisfying one or more of said rules. 
     
     
         49 . The system according to  claim 45 , further configured to automatically detect device-related data embedded within device transmissions, said access control module being further configured to generate a device profile based on said device-related data for association with said social networking credentials and tailor said wireless access as a function thereof. 
     
     
         50 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein the system is further configured to automatically access a location of the hotspot and accommodate, as a result of authenticating the user, a user invitation to establish a relationship on said personal social network profile with an entity associated with said location, wherein establishment of said relationship results in creation of a reference to said entity on said personal social network profile visible to at least some of said other social network users. 
     
     
         51 . The system according to  claim 50 , wherein the system is further configured to access a location of the hotspot and, as a result of authenticating the user, automatically create an update to said personal social network profile as a function of said location, wherein said update is visible to at least some of said other social network users. 
     
     
         52 . The system according to  claim 51 , wherein said visible update comprises identifying the user as being currently located at said location. 
     
     
         53 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising statements and instructions for implementation by a computing system in authenticating a user of a remote device at a hotspot for providing wireless network access to a wireless network thereto, in accordance with the following:
 receiving as input social networking credentials associated with a pre-existing personal social network profile, wherein said personal social network profile was previously created by the user on a third party social network operated by a third party social network service provider, and wherein said personal social network profile is sharable with other social network users that are associated with the user via said social network via respective personal social network profiles;   using said social networking credentials, authenticating the user with said third party social network service provider; and   providing the user with wireless access to the wireless network at the hotspot as a result of authenticating the user.   
     
     
         54 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 53 , further comprising statements and instructions to automatically access a location of the hotspot and, as a result of authenticating the user, accommodate a user invitation to establish a relationship on said personal social network profile with an entity associated with said location, wherein establishment of said relationship results in creation of a reference to said entity on said personal social network profile visible to at least some of said other social network users. 
     
     
         55 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 53 , further comprising statements and instructions to access a location of the hotspot and, as a result of said social network credential authentication, automatically create an update to said personal social network profile as a function of said location, wherein said update is visible to at least some of said other social network users.