Systems and methods for accessing wireless networks

Abstract

Methods and systems provide access to a wireless network. A request is received from a wireless client device at a public access point located at a customer premises. Access to the public network is authorized. An account associated with the customer premises is credited as compensation for the access.

1 . A method for providing access to a wireless network, the method comprising: 
 receiving a request from a wireless client device at a public access point located at a customer premises;    authorizing access to the public network; and    crediting an account associated with the customer premises as compensation for the access.    
   
   
       2 . The method recited in  claim 1  wherein the public access point is comprised by an integrated access point that includes a private access point for networking devices at the customer premises.  
   
   
       3 . The method recited in  claim 2  further comprising debiting the account by a subscription amount for access to the public and private networks from the customer premises.  
   
   
       4 . The method recited in  claim 1  wherein: 
 authorizing access to the public network is performed a plurality of times in response to receipt of a plurality of requests at the public access point; and    the account is credited with an amount that depends on the number of times access was authorized.    
   
   
       5 . The method recited in  claim 4  wherein the amount credited is equal to a subscription amount for access to the public network from the customer premises, whereby access to the public network from the customer premises is provided free in exchange for access by others through the public access point.  
   
   
       6 . The method recited in  claim 1  further comprising providing rate shaping based at least in part on requests received at the public access point.  
   
   
       7 . A method for providing access to a wireless network, the method comprising: 
 maintaining a plurality of accounts for access to the wireless network, wherein the accounts are associated with respective customer premises;    receiving notification that access to the wireless network has been granted through an identified public access point;    determining a respective customer premises at which the identified public access point is located; and    crediting the account associated with the respective customer premises.    
   
   
       8 . The method recited in  claim 7  wherein the identified public access point is comprised by an integrated access point that includes a private access point for networking devices at the respective customer premises.  
   
   
       9 . The method recited in  claim 8  further comprising debiting the account associated with the respective customer premises by a subscription amount for access to the public and private networks from the respective customer premises.  
   
   
       10 . The method recited in  claim 7  wherein: 
 receiving notification that access to the wireless network has been granted through the identified public access point comprises receiving a plurality of notifications that access to the wireless network has been granted through the identified public access point; and    the account is credited with an amount that depends on the number of times access was authorized.    
   
   
       11 . The method recited in  claim 10  wherein the amount credited is equal to a subscription amount for access to the public network from the customer premises, whereby access to the public network from the customer premises is provided free in exchange for access by others through the identified public access point.  
   
   
       12 . The method recited in  claim 7  further comprising providing rate shaping based at least in part on requests received at the identified public access point.  
   
   
       13 . A system for providing access to a wireless network, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of public access points, each such public access point located at a respective customer premises;    a data store defining a plurality of accounts, each such account being associated with one of the respective customer premises and including an account balance; and    a processor interfaced with the data store and having processing instructions to: 
 receive notification that access to the wireless network has been granted through an identified one of the public access points;  
 determine the respective customer premises at which the identified one of the public access points is located; and  
 credit the account balance of the account associated with the determined respective customer premises.  
   
   
   
       14 . The system recited in  claim 13  wherein each of the public access points is comprised by an integrated access point that includes a private access point for networking devices at the respective customer premises.  
   
   
       15 . The system recited in  claim 14  wherein the processor further has processing instructions to debit the account balance of the account associated with the determined respective customer premises by a subscription amount for access to the public and private networks from the determined respective customer premises.  
   
   
       16 . The system recited in  claim 13  wherein: 
 the processing instructions to receive notification that access to the wireless network has been granted through an identified one of the public access points comprise instructions to receive a plurality of notifications that access to the wireless network has been granted through the identified one of the public access points; and    the processing instructions to credit the account balance of the account associated with the determined respective customer premises comprise instructions to credit the account balance with an amount that depends on the number of times access was authorized.    
   
   
       17 . The system recited in  claim 16  wherein the amount credited is equal to a subscription amount for access to the public network from the customer premises, whereby access to the public network from the customer premises is provided free in exchange for access by others through the identified one of the public access points.  
   
   
       18 . The system recited in  claim 13  wherein the public network comprises a Wi-Fi network and each of the plurality of public access points comprises a Wi-Fi access point.