Methods and apparatus for processing data packets originated from a mobile computing device to destinations at a wireless network node

A system at a wireless network node for processing data packets originated from a mobile computing device to destinations, wherein the system comprises:

• at least one network interface;
• at least one processing unit;
• at least one main memory;
• and
• at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit and configured to cause the at least one processing unit to perform:
• (A) detecting an access request from the mobile computing device;
• (B) returning an access request acknowledgment to the mobile computing device;
• (C) determining an identifier of the mobile computing device;
• and
• (D) determining, based on the identifier, whether status of the mobile computing device is a first state or a second state in a wireless network node database:
• (a) when the identifier is identified in the wireless network node database and the status of the mobile computing device is the first state in the wireless network node database, allowing the mobile computing device to transmit the data packets to the destinations;
• (b) when the identifier is not identified in the wireless network node database and the status of the mobile computing device is the second state in the wireless network node database:
• (I) redirecting the mobile computing device to perform an authentication;
• (II) receiving a response from a server;
• and
• (III) determining, based on the response and the identifier, whether the status of the mobile computing device is the first state or the second state in a server database:
• (i) when the identifier is identified in the server database and the status of the mobile computing device is the first state in the server database, allowing the mobile computing device to transmit the data packets to the destinations;
• and
• (ii) when the identifier is identified in the server database and the status of the mobile computing device is the second state in the server database, not allowing the mobile computing device to transmit the data packets to the destinations;
• wherein:
• the mobile computing device is located within a wireless local area network (WLAN) signal range of the wireless network node;
• the wireless network node is configured to detect the mobile computing device;
• the first state indicates the mobile computing device is successfully authenticated;
• and
• the second state indicates the mobile computing device is not successfully authenticated.