Operation of a computing device involving wireless tokens

Abstract

Tokens can be sent from a token generator using wireless radio frequency signals, such as in the form of a network name. A computing device operates in a first mode when receiving the tokens and in a second mode when not receiving the tokens. Also, the network name can include a URL, a part of a URL, or data usable to obtain a URL. A computing device can utilize the URL to obtain content from a data communication network. The computing device can display a link to the content, which may include a graphical icon associated with the content.

1 . A token generator comprising:
 a processor device; and   a wireless communication device operably connected to the processor device and configured to wirelessly transmit a token using radio frequency signals according to a radio frequency data communication protocol, wherein the token is transmitted by the wireless communication device as a network name according to the data communication protocol, and the token includes at least a portion of a uniform resource locator.   
     
     
         2 . The token generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency data communication protocol is a Wi-Fi protocol according to one of the IEEE 802.11 family of protocols, and wherein the network name is a Wi-Fi network name. 
     
     
         3 . The token generator of  claim 1 , wherein the token generator is a mobile computing device further comprising:
 a touch sensitive display configured to generate a user interface, operably connected to the processor device, and operable to receive input from a user; and   a cellular communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with a cellular data communication network and operably connected to the processor device.   
     
     
         4 . The token generator of  claim 1 , wherein the data further includes a transaction amount. 
     
     
         5 . The token generator of  claim 1 , wherein the token generator is one of: a remote control, a non-mobile computing device, a mobile computing device, a keychain, and a wireless network device. 
     
     
         6 . A method of operating a token generator, the method comprising:
 wirelessly transmitting a token with the token generator, the token generator including at least a processing device and a wireless communication device, wherein the token is transmitted with radio frequency signals according to a radio frequency data communication protocol as a network name, the token including at least a portion of a uniform resource locator.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the token generator is a mobile computing device, and further comprising:
 receiving an input into a touch sensitive display of the mobile computing device;   wirelessly transmitting the token after receipt of the input to a second mobile computing device that is within a wireless transmission range of the mobile computing device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the input provides a transaction amount, and wherein the token includes the transaction amount to request approval of a transaction from the second mobile computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 sending a request to a token server including the transaction amount;   receiving a hash code from the token server in response to the request; and   including the hash code in the token when wirelessly transmitting the token.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the token generator is a wireless network device providing a wireless hotspot for accessing a data communication network, the method further comprising alternating between transmission of the token and transmission of a descriptive name of the wireless hotspot. 
     
     
         11 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a mobile computing device, the method comprising:
 wirelessly receiving a token from a radio frequency signal using a wireless communication device, the token including at least a part of a uniform resource locator; and   sending a request to a web server with a cellular communication device using at least the part of the uniform resource locator.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein receiving the token comprises receiving the token from a network name from the radio frequency signal according to a wireless radio frequency data communication protocol. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the token includes a transaction amount, and further comprising displaying the transaction amount to the user with a display device and prompting the user to approve a transaction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein prompting the user to approve a transaction comprises displaying a graphical element, and further comprising receiving approval of the transaction by receiving an input selecting the graphical element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 displaying a selectable graphical icon on the mobile computing device, the graphical icon including a company logo;   receiving an input selecting the graphical element; and   sending the request for data upon receipt of the input.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising receiving multiple tokens including multiple different URLs, and a selectable graphical element for each of the multiple tokens. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein sending the request to the web server causes the web server to generate a work order. 
     
     
         21 - 22 . (canceled)