Operator formed network consortiums
AssigneeARRIS Enterprises LLC
InventorsDoron Givoni, Dave Stephenson, Steve Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Networking systems and methods here include utilizing an exchange service in communication with a network service, the network service being in communication with a first network and a second network, the exchange service configured to, receive a formation request to form a consortium of networks among the first network and second network, send provision information to a first AP in the first network regarding the second network and a second AP in the second network regarding the first network.
Claims20
An exchange server, comprising:
- an interface circuit;
- a processor;
- and
- memory configured to store program instructions, wherein, when executed by the processor, the program instructions cause the exchange server to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a formation request to form a consortium of networks comprising a first network and a second network that allows network sharing of electronic devices, wherein access points in the first network do not communicate with access points in the second network;
- providing, addressed to a first access point in the first network, first provision information regarding the second network;
- providing, addressed to a second access point in the second network, second provision information regarding the first network;
- receiving, associated with the first access point, a request to authenticate an electronic device, wherein the request indicates that the electronic device is associated with the second network, and the request comprises credentials for the second network;
- authenticating, based at least in part on the credentials, the electronic device with an authentication server associated with the second network;
- and
- providing, addressed to the first access point, authentication approval to allow the electronic device to associated with the first network using the credentials.
A method for providing network sharing, comprising,
- by an exchange server:
- receiving a formation request to form a consortium of networks comprising a first network and a second network that allows network sharing of electronic devices, wherein access points in the first network do not communicate with access points in the second network;
- providing, addressed to a first access point in the first network, first provision information regarding the second network;
- providing, addressed to a second access point in the second network, second provision information regarding the first network;
- receiving, associated with the first access point, a request to authenticate an electronic device, wherein the request indicates that the electronic device is associated with the second network, and the request comprises credentials for the second network;
- authenticating, based at least in part on the credentials, the electronic device with an authentication server associated with the second network;
- and
- providing, addressed to the first access point, authentication approval to allow the electronic device to associated with the first network using the credentials.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunction with an exchange server, the computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed by the exchange serve cause the exchange server to perform one or more operations comprising:
- receiving a formation request to form a consortium of networks comprising a first network and a second network that allows network sharing of electronic devices, wherein access points in the first network do not communicate with access points in the second network;
- providing, addressed to a first access point in the first network, first provision information regarding the second network;
- providing, addressed to a second access point in the second network, second provision information regarding the first network;
- receiving, associated with the first access point, a request to authenticate an electronic device, wherein the request indicates that the electronic device is associated with the second network, and the request comprises credentials for the second network;
- authenticating, based at least in part on the credentials, the electronic device with an authentication server associated with the second network;
- and
- providing, addressed to the first access point, authentication approval to allow the electronic device to associated with the first network using the credentials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.