System and method for enabling wireless internet access in public areas

Abstract

The computerized inventive system enables both the wireless internet service providers and conventional wired internet service providers to redirect users to partner websites through appropriate affiliate links and to enable the aforesaid service providers to participate in revenue sharing with internet content providers. Using the inventive methodology and the inventive system, the wireless internet service providers and conventional wired internet service providers are able to offer free internet services to general public and receive a share of the revenue earned by the content providers.

1 . A computerized system for redirecting user request to a partner web service, the system comprising: 
 a. a central processing unit executing a proxy application and    b. a database storing information on a plurality of partner web services and associated affiliate links; wherein: 
 i. the proxy application is operable to receive at least one connection request from at least one network client, and to determine if the received at least one connection request is associated with the partner web service on the internet; and  
 ii. if the proxy application determines that the received at least one connection request is associated with the partner web service, to redirect the received at least one connection request to the partner web service via an affiliate link.  
   
   
   
       2 . The computerized system of  claim 1 , wherein in response to redirection of the received at least one connection request to the partner web service via an affiliate link, the partner web service provides a payment to the operator of the computerized system.  
   
   
       3 . The computerized system of  claim 2 , wherein providing a payment comprises generating a payment record within the partner's system.  
   
   
       4 . The computerized system of  claim 1 , further comprising a payment subsystem, wherein in response to redirection of the received at least one connection request to the partner web service via an affiliate link, the payment subsystem authorizes a payment to the operator of the internet service provider hosting the at least one network client.  
   
   
       5 . The computerized system of  claim 4 , further comprising a payment record database, wherein authorizing a payment comprises generating a payment record and storing this record in the payment record database.  
   
   
       6 . The computerized system of  claim 1 , further comprising a billing subsystem and a billing record database, wherein in response to redirection of the received at least one connection request to the partner web service via an affiliate link, the billing subsystem generates a billing record to the partner web service and stores this record in the billing record database.  
   
   
       7 . A computerized networking system comprising: 
 a. a router associated with an internet service provider;    b. a plurality of network clients connected to the router through at least one client network connection; and    c. a redirector subsystem operatively coupled to the router by means of a first network connection; and coupled to the internet by means of a second network connection; wherein: 
 i. the router is configured to route the requests from network clients to the redirector subsystem;  
 ii. the redirector subsystem is operable to receive at least one connection request from at least one of the plurality of network clients, and to determine if the received at least one connection request is associated with the partner web service on the internet; and  
 iii. if the redirector subsystem determines that the received at least one connection request is associated with the partner web service, to redirect the received at least one connection request to the partner web service via an affiliate link.  
   
   
   
       8 . The computerized system of  claim 7 , wherein in response to redirection of the received at least one connection request to the partner web service via an affiliate link by the redirector subsystem, the partner web service provides a payment to the operator of the computerized system.  
   
   
       9 . The computerized system of  claim 8 , wherein providing a payment comprises generating a payment record within the partner's system.  
   
   
       10 . The computerized system of  claim 7 , further comprising a payment subsystem, wherein in response to redirection of the received at least one connection request to the partner web service via an affiliate link by the redirector subsystem, the payment subsystem authorizes a payment to the operator of the internet service provider hosting the at least one network client.  
   
   
       11 . The computerized system of  claim 10 , further comprising a payment record database, wherein authorizing a payment comprises generating a payment record and storing this record in the payment record database.  
   
   
       12 . The computerized system of  claim 7 , wherein the least one client network connection comprises a wireless network connection.  
   
   
       13 . The computerized system of  claim 7 , wherein the least one client network connection comprises a wired network connection.  
   
   
       14 . The computerized system of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one additional router associated with at least one additional internet service provider.  
   
   
       15 . A computer-implemented method for redirecting user request to a partner web service, the method comprising: 
 a. receiving at least one connection request from at least one network client;    b. determining if the received at-least one connection request is associated with the partner web service on the internet; and    c. if the received at least one connection request is associated with the partner web service, redirecting the received at least one connection request to the partner web service via an affiliate link.    
   
   
       16 . A method for sharing revenue among internet service provider and internet content provider, the method comprising: 
 a. establishing a partnership relationship between the internet service provider and internet content provider;    b. redirecting a user request directed to the internet service provider via affiliate links;    c. distributing at least apportion of the revenue of the internet content provider to the internet service provider in accordance with the number redirected user requests.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the revenue is distributed to the internet service provider by the operator of a redirecting service, which receives the revenue from the internet content provider.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the operator of a redirecting service retains at least a portion of the received revenue.  
   
   
       19 . The method for providing a free wireless internet service, the method comprising: 
 a. providing users with infrastructure for wireless internet access; wherein the infrastructure is provided by an internet service provider;    b. generating revenue from online activities of the users of the free wireless internet service by content, media, advertising or publisher companies; and    c. sharing the generated revenue with internet service provider; wherein the internet service provider does not charge the users for the use of the wireless internet service.