U.S. patent application number 11/145521 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for systems and methods for accessing wireless networks.
This patent application is currently assigned to Qwest Communications International Inc.. Invention is credited to Cook, Charles I., Rambo, Kenneth.
Application Number | 20050270998 11/145521 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32868254 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050270998 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rambo, Kenneth ; et
al. |
December 8, 2005 |
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.
Inventors: |
Rambo, Kenneth; (Denver,
CO) ; Cook, Charles I.; (Louisville, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Assignee: |
Qwest Communications International
Inc.
Denver
CO
|
Family ID: |
32868254 |
Appl. No.: |
11/145521 |
Filed: |
June 3, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11145521 |
Jun 3, 2005 |
|
|
|
10370938 |
Feb 21, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/315 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 88/10 20130101;
H04W 84/12 20130101; H04L 67/02 20130101; H04W 12/06 20130101; H04W
12/50 20210101; H04W 12/08 20130101; H04W 88/16 20130101; H04W
84/105 20130101; H04L 63/101 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/315 |
International
Class: |
H04J 001/10 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
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.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/370,938, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR
CREATING A WIRELESS NETWORK," filed Feb. 21, 2003 by Charles I.
Cook, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This application relates generally to wireless networks.
More specifically, this application relates to methods and systems
for accessing wireless networks.
[0003] The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
("IEEE") promulgated the wireless local area network ("LAN")
standard in the IEEE 802.11 Working Group. Promulgation of the
standard has generated various activities related to the
development and implementation of small scale wireless networks and
discussions of large scale wireless networks. In typical
implementations, wireless access points are provided at various
locations that allow a user with a wireless client device to access
a network. These wireless access points may include functionality
designed to authorize access to the network. Thus, when accessing
the network, a wireless client device is authorized at the wireless
access point, and then allowed to access various points of the
network. Other common appoaches to authorizing access into the
network through an access point include having the access point
redirect the authentication request to a radius authentication
server. Alternatively, the access point may act simply as a
passthrough device, with a router or switch on the network side of
the access point filtering or redirecting traffic pass according to
a set of rules. Thus, much like the front door to a home, existing
networks intuitively provide limited gateway functionality at the
entrance point to the network, or the wireless access point.
However, such an approach is often either costly, limited in
functionality, or both.
[0004] Wireless networks can utilize a number of access points 102
depicted in FIG. 1A. As illustrated, access point 102 can include a
central point 101 where the access point is implemented, and a
radius 103. Radius 103 is the maximum distance at which information
can be transferred using access point 102. A typical access point
will provide a radius of about 900 feet for outdoor transmission
and approximately 300 feet for indoor transmission. The IEEE
802.11n standard currently in the process of standardization may
increase the typical range by about a factor of three. Thus,
providing coverage for a large metropolitan area could require
thousands, or even tens of thousands of access points arranged as
depicted in FIG. 1B. The cost structure for access points makes
such an endeavor commercially possible, however, the costs for
servicing such a system and obtaining rights to install such a
system are prohibitive.
[0005] In part to address this significant cost burden, some
companies have experimented with high power, point-to-point access
points. Such access points, through use of high-gain directional
antennas, have been reported to allow transfers from wireless
client devices operating as much as twenty miles away. To comply
with FCC regulations, such access points are designed to operate as
a point-to-point device for one period, then move the direction of
the point-to-point beam to a second direction for another period.
An example of a high power, point-to-point access point 202 is
depicted in FIG. 2. As illustrated, transfers are facilitated over
a direction 204a, then a few milliseconds later, the beam is
pointed in a direction 204b. As depicted by arc 205, this process
is repeated again and again until a three-hundred, sixty degree
radius around a central point 201 is completed at direction 204n.
Then, the process begins again at direction 204a. It is not
necessary that the process be sequential to provide 360.degree.
coverage; intelligence can be added to the scheduling algorithm
based on a variety of parameters, including priority. As will be
appreciated, while the approach reduces the number of access points
that must be implemented and serviced, the approach is complex and
costly.
[0006] Thus, there exists a need in the art for systems and methods
that address the aforementioned problems, as well as other
limitations of the existing art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Embodiments of the invention thus provide methods and
systems for providing access to a wireless network. A model may be
implemented in which public access points for the wireless network
are located at customer premises, with credits being given to
accounts associated with the customer premises when access through
those public access points is authorized.
[0008] Thus, in specific embodiments of the invention, 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.
[0009] In some such embodiments, the public access point is
comprised by an integrated access point that includes a private
access point for networking devices at the customer premises. The
account may additionally be debited by a subscription amount for
access to the public and private networks from the customer
premises. In other embodiments, 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. The account may
then be credited with an amount that depends on the number of times
access was authorized. In one embodiment, the amount credited is
equal to a subscription amount for access to the public network
from the customer premises; this effectively means that access to
the public network from the customer premises is provided free in
exchange for access by others through the public access point. In
some instances, rate shaping may be provided based at least in part
on requests received at the public access point.
[0010] Methods of the invention may also be embodied in a system
for providing access to a wireless network. The system comprises a
plurality of public access points, each of which is located at a
respective customer premises. A data store defines a plurality of
account, each of which is associated with one of the respective
customer premises and includes an account balance. A processor is
interfaced with the data store and has processing instructions to
implement methods of the invention as described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the
present invention may be realized by reference to the figures which
are described in remaining portions of the specification. In the
figures, like reference numerals are used throughout several
figures to refer to similar components. In some instances, a
sub-label consisting of a lower-case latin letter is associated
with a reference numeral to denote one of multiple similar
components. When reference is made to a reference numeral without
specification to an existing sub-label, it is intended to refer to
all such multiple similar components.
[0012] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate prior-art wireless access points,
as well as implementations of multiple such access points;
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a high-power, point-to-point access point
operating in a 360.degree. arc;
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a network in accordance with embodiments
of the invention that includes wireless access points and a central
gateway;
[0015] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate customer premises equipment in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention, and
associated with a network such as that depicted in FIG. 3;
[0016] FIG. 6 provides a schematic illustration of an arrangement
that may be used in some embodiments of the invention to monitor
access to an integrated public/private access point; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is a flow diagram that summarizes certain methods of
the invention for accessing wireless networks.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] 1. Access Points
[0019] In various cases, embodiments of the present invention make
use of installation and operation of wireless access points at a
customer premises, or at another location within an existing
network, by a carrier. Thus, for example, a customer with existing
wireline access (e.g., a copper or fiber optic connection) to a
network can install a wireless access point, allowing wireless
client devices of the customer and others to access the network via
the wireless access point. By installing the wireless access point
at the customer premises, costs involved with obtaining rights to
install access points can be reduced. As used herein, the term
"customer premises" is intended to refer to physical structures or
open real property adjacent to a physical structure that is under
the control of a customer through ownership, leasehold, or any
other property right. Such a definition reflects the attribute that
by functioning at a customer premises, the carrier does not need an
additional easement to place equipment at the location. As an
example, in the case of a residential customer, the customer
premises may correspond to the customer's home and/or yard
surrounding the home. Further, for the purposes of this document, a
"wireless access point" can be any type of wireless receiver,
transmitter, and/or transceiver that provides network access to
client devices.
[0020] Consistent with the definition used herein, a wireless
access point can include any device that provides a wireless
interface to a network. Similarly, a wireless or roaming client
device can include any device that can access a network via a
wireless access point. A special subset of both wireless access
points and wireless client devices are "Wi-Fi devices." Such Wi-Fi
devices can include any wireless client device, or wireless access
point that complies with the wireless standards developed in
association with IEEE 802.11, including, but not limited to IEEE
802.11(a), IEEE 802.11(b), IEEE 802.11(g), and IEEE 802.11n, which
is currently under development. Thus, for example, a specific Wi-Fi
device could be a compliant modem, a personal digital assistant
("PDA"), cellular telephone, laptop computer, pager, commercially
available access point, or the like. As will be appreciated, these
devices can be Wi-Fi enabled meaning that they may have Wi-Fi
technology embedded in them. However, it should also be appreciated
that the present invention is not limited to Wi-Fi technology, but
can also be applied to other wireless access technologies
including, but not limited to, WiMax (IEEE 802.16), MMDS, LMDS,
UWB, and the like.
[0021] In some cases, wireless access points used in embodiments of
the present invention exhibit reduced functionality from others
that are commercially available. For example, in some cases, the
gateway functionality associated with an access point is
eliminated, or reduced. As used herein, "gateway functionality"
includes a number of functions associated with accessing and/or
using a network. For example, gateway functions can include
authentication and/or authorization. In addition, gateway
functionality can include billing and rate shaping functions, as
well as updating or modifying various equipment associated with the
network. For example, gateway functionality can include programming
one or more wireless access points attached to the network from a
central location. Based on the disclosure provided herein, one of
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate a number of other gateway
functions in addition to the aforementioned examples.
[0022] In the cases where gateway functionality is reduced or
eliminated at the wireless access point, the gateway functionality
can be implemented in a "central gateway," which is used herein to
refer to a gateway responsible for providing gateway functions in
relation to multiple access points on a network. In some cases, a
central gateway is implemented at the home office, or other
generally accessible location of a carrier. In part because of the
central location of the gateway, enhanced gateway services can be
implemented, and costs associated with maintaining the gateway
services can be greatly reduced. The function of the access point
can be substantially reduced, thus limiting the cost of such
devices. As such, servicing the access point can be done by simply
replacing the access point. Accordingly, such embodiments of the
present invention limit the need for a carrier to go to the
location of an access point. In addition, such embodiments provide
a central gateway that can scale to service a large number of
access points.
[0023] Further, various embodiments of the present invention
provide systems and methods to manage the number of devices that an
end user connects to the network. By using the central gateway,
devices accessing the network can be authorized in a central
location. This avoids the situation where a neighbor installs a
wireless access point and resells access to the network to those
living in surround homes. Further, various embodiments eliminate
the possibility that a wireless access point is left without
security features, thus allowing anyone to access the network
resulting in congestion and loss of revenues.
[0024] In some cases, where an unauthorized access is detected, a
user can be redirected to a web page that includes directions on
how to register for and purchase network services. Further, some
embodiments allow a carrier to rate shape the data such that shared
access to a single bandwidth source is maintained. This can be done
while adhering to service agreements guaranteeing a specific level
of bandwidth. In addition, some embodiments of the present
invention allow a carrier to create a community of interest by
enabling both wireline and wireless subscribers to roam to other
points in the network and gain access at various points using their
own passwords and service plans.
[0025] Turning to FIG. 3, a system 300 in accordance with some
embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. System 300
includes one or more customer premises equipment ("CPE") 360 that
are coupled to a network 310 via some sort of a modem 340, 350 or
other communication device. For the purposes of this document, a
"modem" is any network access device including, but not limited to,
a V.91 modem, an xDSL modem, a point-to-point wireless link, a
cable modem, a fiber optic optical network termination, a fiber
optic network unit, and the like. In various cases, the modems 340,
350 can comprise wireline modems connected to network 310, while in
other cases, modems 340, 350 can be wirelessly coupled to network
310. One or more of CPEs 360 can be attached to a wireless access
point 370, such as a Wi-Fi wireless access point. A Wi-Fi access
point can also be directly connected to modem 340, 350 and/or
integrated as part of modem 340, 350. In addition, system 300
includes a central gateway 320 that interacts with transfers
entering network 310 via wireless access points 370, and/or other
devices including CPEs 360 and modems 340, 350. In addition, an
Internet service provider ("ISP") 330 is coupled to network 310 and
is capable of providing access to Internet services via CPEs
360.
[0026] CPEs 360 and/or wireless access points 370 can be
implemented in relation to or as part of a network interface device
as is more fully described in each of the following commonly
assigned applications: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/356,364,
entitled "PACKET NETWORK INTERFACE DEVICE AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS
FOR ITS USE," filed Jan. 31, 2003 by Bruce A. Phillips et al.; U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/356,622, entitled "SYSTEMS, METHODS
AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF TELECOMMUNICATION
SERVICES," filed Jan. 31, 2003 by Bruce A. Phillips et al.; U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/356,688, entitled "CONFIGURABLE
NETWORK INTERFACE DEVICE AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ITS USE,"
filed Jan. 31, 2003 by Bruce A. Phillips; U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 10/367,596, entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING A
DATA STREAM TO A VIDEO APPLIANCE," filed Feb. 14, 2003 by Steven M.
Casey et al.; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/367,597
entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING APPLICATION SERVICES,"
filed Feb. 14, 2003 by Steven M. Casey et al. The entirety of each
of the aforementioned applications is incorporated herein by
reference for all purposes.
[0027] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate various configurations of CPEs 360
and various devices accessing network 310. Referring to FIG. 4,
network 310 is accessible via a wireless access point 370 coupled
to the network via a modem 340. As illustrated, four wireless
client devices 440 are capable of accessing network 310 via
wireless access point 370. In the existing art, the gateway
functionality is implemented at wireless access point 370. Thus,
wireless access point 370 is positioned for limiting the number of
wireless client devices 440 that can access network 310. This can
be problematic as implementing significant gateway functionality at
wireless access point 370 can involve maintenance and support that
may involve visiting the customer premises, and may further
increase the cost of the gateway. Such an approach is often
costly.
[0028] Additionally, there is often no incentive to implement
gateway functionality, or only very limited gateway functionality
at wireless access point 370. For example, a customer coupled to
network 310 via modem 340 may decide to resell access to network
310. In this case, it is to the customer's advantage to limit the
amount of gateway functionality. In this scenario, the carrier
implementing and maintaining network 310 would not realize revenues
from this reselling process, but would end up supporting
significantly more traffic from wireless client devices 440. It is
conceivable that a large number of unauthorized devices and/or user
could be accessing network 310.
[0029] In part to address one or both of the aforementioned
scenarios, various embodiments of the present invention provide
central gateway 320 that can be used to restrict access to the
network and provide serviceability at a less costly, central
location. Central gateway 320 can maintain a list of authorized
devices. Thus, when an authorized wireless client device 440
accesses network 310 via wireless access point 370, the device can
be authenticated and/or authorized using the list. In the situation
where the wireless client device is not authorized, access can be
denied, or the access can be redirected to a web page with
directions on how to register and/or purchase service. In this way,
a carrier has the incentives to install and maintain network 310,
and also has incentives to allow and even encourage wireless access
to network 310.
[0030] Turning to FIG. 5, another CPE 360 is illustrated and shows
the multiplicity of access points 370 (or other CPE 520, 530, 540)
that can be supported. More specifically, a hub, switch, or router
510 couples a number of computers 520, 530, 540 and wireless access
points 370 to modem 340, and in turn to network 310. Further, hub,
switch, or router 510 can be another device registered with the
network. Aspects of the present invention address such a situation
where excessive bandwidth, or an excessive number client devices
(wireless client devices 440, and wireline client devices 520, 530,
540) are accessing network 310.
[0031] While FIGS. 4 and 5 show particular configurations, it will
be appreciated that one or more components may sometimes be
combined into a single pysical device. For example, a single device
could comprise an xDSL modem, an Ethernet Router, a Firewall, and a
WiFi access point.
[0032] The schematic diagram of FIG. 6 provides an overview of how
financial aspects of using the access points described in
connection with FIGS. 3-5 may be implemented in some embodiments.
The access point is shown as an integrated access point 600 that
includes a public access point 604 for accessing a public network
616 and that includes a private access point 608 for accessing a
private network 612 as described above. The integrated access point
600 is provided at a customer premises, which permits the public
access point 604 to be used in accessing the public network 616 by
those living or working on the customer premises, as well as by
those who are proximate the customer premises. In addition such an
arrangement permits the private access point 608 to be used in
providing a connection of devices like a personal computer, a
printer, etc. with the private network 612 at the customer
premises.
[0033] Access to the public network 616 through the public access
point 604 is controlled by a service provider 620, who maintains
records for a plurality of customer accounts 632. The information
stored for each of the customer accounts 632 may vary depending on
the billing model that is used, and in some instances may vary from
customer to customer, such as when different billing models are
used for each of the customers. For example, each customer account
will usually identify a name and address for a customer, as well as
a source of funds for the network-access services and a current
balance. Periodically, a billing authority 624 may generate and
send statements to customers. Such statements might take the form
of bills requesting payment for past or future services, as in
cases where no automatic payment arrangements have been
established; in other instances, the statements may memorialize
payments that have been collected in accordance with established
automatic-payment arrangements and services that have been
provided.
[0034] Some customers may be reluctant to have an integrated access
point 600 at their premises, notwithstanding the convenient
advantage of having easy access to a public access point 604 with
such an arrangement. Such reluctance may arise from security
concerns related to the proximity of the public access point 604
with the private access point 608, even when reliable mechanisms
are used to prevent unauthorized public access to the private
access point 608. There may even be simple reluctance on the part
of a customer to have a public access site located at that
customer's premises. This reluctance is mitigated in some
embodiments by providing a further benefit to the customer when the
public access point is used, in particular by providing a financial
credit to the customer's account. This financial credit may be
provided according to a number of different models, such as where a
credit is provided every time the public access point 604 is
successfully used to access the public network 616. The credited
amounts may vary depending on such factors as how long access is
maintained, the time of day or week that access is obtained, and
the like. In other instances, the credit may be applied in a binned
fashion, with specific values being credited in accordance with the
number of successful accesses in a defined period. For instance,
the customer might be credited with a certain amount if there are
1-10 accesses in a month, with a greater amount if there are 11-100
accesses in a month, an even greater amount if there are 101-1000
accesses in a month, or with a maximum amount if there are more
than 1000 accesses in a month. In some cases, a maximum credit
amount may be defined, such as an amount equal to the customer's
monthly subscription fee so that the customer effectively receives
free access in exchange. Still other rebate models will be evident
to those of skill in the art to compensate the customer for
permitting a public access site at his premises.
[0035] An overview of certain methods for providing access to
wireless networks in accordance with such embodiments of the
invention is thus provided with the flow diagram of FIG. 7. At
block 704, a service provider installs an integrated access point
at a customer premises, the integrated access point comprising a
public access point and a private access point, such as illustrated
with the examples described in detail above. The service provider
maintains a customer account as indicated at block 708. In response
to receipt of a wireless communication as indicated at block 712,
the integrated access point passes the wireless communication at
block 716 to a central gateway. The central gateway may authorize
the communication at block 720 in accordance with a number of
different protocols to ensure that the originator of the
communication is entitled to access to the wireless network, some
of which have been described in detail above. Once the gateway has
authorized the communication, the originator of the communication
is provided with wireless access to the public network.
[0036] The service provider is accordingly notified at block 724
that access was successfully granted through the integrated access
point located at the customer premises. The balance in the customer
account is thus credited at block 728 in accordance with the
pricing and crediting model applicable to that account. This
activity is generally reflected on a statement provided to the
customer, as indicated at block 732 of the drawing.
[0037] There are a number aspects that may be included in different
embodiments of the invention, some of which are discussed in
further detail in the parent application. Such aspects include
variations in billing schemes, methods for accommodating holes in
wireless coverage resulting from a distribution of customer
premises, mechanisms for providing and enhancing security, and the
like. Each of the different aspects described in the parent
application is intended to be included in different embodiments of
the invention.
[0038] Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized
by those of skill in the art that various modifications,
alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without
departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the above
description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the
invention, which is defined in the following claims.
* * * * *