Methods and systems for connecting to a wireless network

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for connecting to a wireless network. In an aspect, when a wireless device is brought to an area in which two wireless networks are accessible, for example a public network and a private network, the device can reject a connection to the public network and connect to the private network based on an association between the device and the user.

1 . A method comprising:
 sending, to a computing device and based on a request to connect a user device to a first network according to a first service set identifier (SSID) of the first network, a device identifier of the user device;   receiving, from the computing device, an indication that the device identifier is associated with a gateway device of the first network;   rejecting, based on the indication, the request to connect the user device to the first network; and   connecting the user device to a second network according to a second SSID.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first network comprises a public network and wherein the second network comprises a private network. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a subscriber database. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending, to a subscriber device policy manager, information comprising the indication and a media access control (MAC) address associated with the gateway device; and   receiving, from the subscriber device policy manager and based on the sent information, a policy associated with the user device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the policy associated with the user device is based on a time of day. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a user identifier associated with a user of the user device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing, by a storage device in communication with the gateway device, policy data associated with the user device. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 sending, to a policy manager and based on a request to connect a user device to a first network according to a first service set identifier (SSID) of the first network, a first identifier associated with the user device and a second identifier associated with a gateway device, wherein communications with the first network are governed by a first policy;   receiving, from the policy manager, an indication of a second policy associated with the user device;   connecting, based on the indication of the second policy, the user device to the first network; and   applying the second policy to at least a portion of the communications, wherein the portion is associated with the user device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining the first identifier by:
 sending, to a subscriber database, a device identifier; 
 receiving, from the subscriber database, the first identifier, wherein the first identifier is associated with the device identifier; and 
 determining if the first identifier is associated with the gateway device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second identifier comprises a MAC address associated with the gateway device and wherein the policy manager comprises a subscriber device policy manager. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the indication of the second policy associated with the user device is based on a time of day. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first identifier comprises:
 a device identifier associated with the user device; and   a user identifier associated with a user of the user device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising sending, by the gateway device, a second SSID of a second network, wherein the indication of the second policy causes assignment of an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the second network to the user device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first network comprises a public network and wherein the second network comprises a private network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the indication of the second policy causes creation of a virtual routing table for the user device to connect to a third network. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
 send, to a computing device and based on a request to connect a user device to a first network according to a first service set identifier (SSID) of the first network, a device identifier of the user device; 
 receive, from the computing device, an indication that the device identifier is associated with a gateway device of the first network; 
 reject, based on the indication, the request to connect the user device to the first network; and 
 connect the user device to a second network according to a second SSID. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first network comprises a public network and wherein the second network comprises a private network. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the computing device comprises a subscriber database. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:
 send, to a subscriber device policy manager, information comprising the indication and a media access control (MAC) address associated with the gateway device; and   receive, from the subscriber device policy manager and based on the sent information, a policy associated with the user device.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the policy associated with the user device is based on a time of day. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine a user identifier associated with a user of the user device. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to store, by a storage device in communication with the gateway device, policy data associated with the user device. 
     
     
         23 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 send, to a computing device and based on a request to connect a user device to a first network according to a first service set identifier (SSID) of the first network, a device identifier of the user device;   receive, from the computing device, an indication that the device identifier is associated with a gateway device of the first network;   reject, based on the indication, the request to connect the user device to the first network; and   connect the user device to a second network according to a second SSID.   
     
     
         24 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 23 , wherein the first network comprises a public network and wherein the second network comprises a private network. 
     
     
         25 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 23 , wherein the computing device comprises a subscriber database. 
     
     
         26 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 23 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
 send, to a subscriber device policy manager, information comprising the indication and a media access control (MAC) address associated with the gateway device; and   receive, from the subscriber device policy manager and based on the sent information, a policy associated with the user device.   
     
     
         27 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 26 , wherein the policy associated with the user device is based on a time of day. 
     
     
         28 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 23 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to determine a user identifier associated with a user of the user device. 
     
     
         29 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 23 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to store, by a storage device in communication with the gateway device, policy data associated with the user device. 
     
     
         30 . A system comprising:
 a first computing device configured to:
 send, to a second computing device and based on a request to connect a user device to a first network according to a first service set identifier (S SID) of the first network, a device identifier of the user device, 
 receive, from the second computing device, an indication that the device identifier is associated with a gateway device of the first network, 
 reject, based on the indication, the request to connect the user device to the first network, and 
 connect the user device to a second network according to a second SSID; and 
   the second computing device configured to:
 receive the device identifier of the user device. 
   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the first network comprises a public network and wherein the second network comprises a private network. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the second computing device comprises a subscriber database. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the first computing device is further configured to:
 send, to a subscriber device policy manager, information comprising the indication and a media access control (MAC) address associated with the gateway device; and   receive, from the subscriber device policy manager and based on the sent information, a policy associated with the user device.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the policy associated with the user device is based on a time of day. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the first computing device is further configured to determine a user identifier associated with a user of the user device. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the first computing device is further configured to store, by a storage device in communication with the gateway device, policy data associated with the user device. 
     
     
         37 . A computing device comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to:
 send, to a policy manager and based on a request to connect a user device to a first network according to a first service set identifier (SSID) of the first network, a first identifier associated with the user device and a second identifier associated with the computing device, wherein communications with the first network are governed by a first policy; 
 receive, from the policy manager, an indication of a second policy associated with the user device; 
 connect, based on the indication of the second policy, the user device to the first network; and 
 apply the second policy to at least a portion of the communications, wherein the portion is associated with the user device. 
   
     
     
         38 . The computing device of  claim 37 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computing device to:
 determine the first identifier by causing the computing device to:
 send, to a subscriber database, a device identifier; 
 receive, from the subscriber database, the first identifier, wherein the first identifier is associated with the device identifier; and 
 determine if the first identifier is associated with the computing device. 
   
     
     
         39 . The computing device of  claim 37 , wherein the second identifier comprises a MAC address associated with the computing device and wherein the policy manager comprises a subscriber device policy manager. 
     
     
         40 . The computing device of  claim 37 , wherein the indication of the second policy associated with the user device is based on a time of day. 
     
     
         41 . The computing device of  claim 37 , wherein the first identifier comprises:
 a device identifier associated with the user device; and   a user identifier associated with a user of the user device.   
     
     
         42 . The computing device of  claim 37 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the computing device to send a second SSID of a second network, wherein the indication of the second policy causes assignment of an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the second network to the user device. 
     
     
         43 . The computing device of  claim 42 , wherein the first network comprises a public network and wherein the second network comprises a private network. 
     
     
         44 . The computing device of  claim 37 , wherein the indication of the second policy causes creation of a virtual routing table for the user device to connect to a third network. 
     
     
         45 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 send, to a policy manager and based on a request to connect a user device to a first network according to a first service set identifier (SSID) of the first network, a first identifier associated with the user device and a second identifier associated with the at least one processor, wherein communications with the first network are governed by a first policy;   receive, from the policy manager, an indication of a second policy associated with the user device;   connect, based on the indication of the second policy, the user device to the first network; and   apply the second policy to at least a portion of the communications, wherein the portion is associated with the user device.   
     
     
         46 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 45 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
 determine the first identifier by causing the at least one processor to:
 send, to a subscriber database, a device identifier; 
 receive, from the subscriber database, the first identifier, wherein the first identifier is associated with the device identifier; and 
 determine if the first identifier is associated with the at least one processor. 
   
     
     
         47 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 45 , wherein the second identifier comprises a MAC address associated with the at least one processor and wherein the policy manager comprises a subscriber device policy manager. 
     
     
         48 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 45 , wherein the indication of the second policy associated with the user device is based on a time of day. 
     
     
         49 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 45 , wherein the first identifier comprises:
 a device identifier associated with the user device; and   a user identifier associated with a user of the user device.   
     
     
         50 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 45 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to send a second SSID of a second network, wherein the indication of the second policy causes assignment of an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the second network to the user device. 
     
     
         51 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 50 , wherein the first network comprises a public network and wherein the second network comprises a private network. 
     
     
         52 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 45 , wherein the indication of the second policy causes creation of a virtual routing table for the user device to connect to a third network. 
     
     
         53 . A system comprising:
 a computing device configured to:
 send, to a policy manager and based on a request to connect a user device to a first network according to a first service set identifier (SSID) of the first network, a first identifier associated with the user device and a second identifier associated with the computing device, wherein communications with the first network are governed by a first policy, 
 receive, from the policy manager, an indication of a second policy associated with the user device, 
 connect, based on the indication of the second policy, the user device to the first network, and 
 apply the second policy to at least a portion of the communications, wherein the portion is associated with the user device; and 
   the user device configured to:
 connected to the first network. 
   
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
 send, to a subscriber database, a device identifier;   receive, from the subscriber database, the first identifier, wherein the first identifier is associated with the device identifier; and   determine if the first identifier is associated with the computing device.   
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the second identifier comprises a MAC address associated with the computing device and wherein the policy manager comprises a subscriber device policy manager. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the indication of the second policy associated with the user device is based on a time of day. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the first identifier comprises:
 a device identifier associated with the user device; and   a user identifier associated with a user of the user device.   
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the computing device is further configured to send a second SSID of a second network, wherein the indication of the second policy causes assignment of an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the second network to the user device. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 58 , wherein the first network comprises a public network and wherein the second network comprises a private network. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the indication of the second policy causes creation of a virtual routing table for the user device to connect to a third network.