Automatic account generation system and printer therefor

Abstract

An automatic account generation system includes an account generator having an IP address and exhibiting an account management function, a printer and at least one apparatus capable of providing wireless Internet access. The Internet user access authentication information can be acquired and printed from the account generator via an input device of the printer. When a user inputs the Internet user access authentication information into a wireless access apparatus, such as a notebook or a PDA equipped with a WLAN card, he or she can automatically access the WLAN where he or she is located. Moreover, the present system is equipped with a payment apparatus that can be connected to the account generator, so that it can accept payment made, whether by cash or by credit card, for getting the Internet user access authentication information.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An automatic account generation system, comprising: 
 an account generator connected to an external Wide Area Network (WAN), the account generator having an IP address and exhibiting an account management function;    an input mechanism for acquiring Internet user access authentication information from the account generator;    a printer for printing out the Internet user access authentication information; and    at least one wireless access apparatus, which can connect to the account generator by entering the Internet user access authentication information.    
     
     
         2 . The automatic account generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the account generator includes a gateway, a router or an access point.  
     
     
         3 . The automatic account generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the input mechanism is mounted on the printer.  
     
     
         4 . The automatic account generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the input mechanism is a button, a touch panel or voice control means.  
     
     
         5 . The automatic account generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the printer receives the Internet user access authentication information from the account generator via a wireless transmission.  
     
     
         6 . The automatic account generation system of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless transmission adopts a wireless communication protocol of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IrDA, radio frequency or Bluetooth.  
     
     
         7 . The automatic account generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the printer is connected to the account generator by an Ethernet port, a series port, a parallel port, a USB port or an IEEE 1394 port for receiving the Internet user access authentication information.  
     
     
         8 . The automatic account generation system of  claim 1 , wherein the Internet user access authentication information includes a username, a password and allowable on-line time period.  
     
     
         9 . An automatic account generation system, comprising: 
 an account generator connected to an WAN, the account generator having an IP address and exhibiting an account management function;    a printer for printing out Internet user access authentication information;    at least one charging apparatus connected to the account generator, wherein the account generator instructs the printer to print out the Internet access authentication information after confirming payment information from the charging apparatus; and    at least one wireless access apparatus, which can connect to the account generator by entering the Internet user access authentication information.    
     
     
         10 . The automatic account generation system of  claim 9 , wherein the printer has at least one input mechanism for acquiring the Internet user access authentication information from the account generator.  
     
     
         11 . The automatic account generation system of  claim 10 , wherein the input mechanism is a button, a touch panel or voice control means.  
     
     
         12 . The automatic account generation system of  claim 9 , wherein the Internet user access authentication information includes a username, a password and allowable on-line time period.  
     
     
         13 . The automatic account generation system of  claim 9 , wherein the charging apparatus is a card reader or a toll machine.  
     
     
         14 . The automatic account generation system of  claim 9 , wherein the charging apparatus is a mobile phone.  
     
     
         15 . A printer employed in an automatic account generation system for receiving and printing out Internet user access authentication information, comprising: 
 a button;    a signal transmission port for obtaining Internet user access authentication information from the automatic account generation system when the button is depressed; and    a paper roll for recording the Internet user access authentication information.    
     
     
         16 . The printer of  claim 15 , further comprising a cutter for cutting the paper roll.  
     
     
         17 . The printer of  claim 15 , wherein the signal transmission port receives the Internet user access authentication information via a wireless transmission.  
     
     
         18 . The printer of  claim 17 , wherein the wireless transmission adopts a wireless communication protocol of IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IrDA, radio frequency or Bluetooth.  
     
     
         19 . The printer of  claim 15 , wherein the signal transmission port is an Ethernet port, a series port, a parallel port, a USB port or an IEEE 1394 port.