Access point for mobile devices in a packet based network and a method and system for billing in such a network

An access point according any of the preceding claims, wherein said second communication means is a wireless communication means.

An access point according any of the preceding claims, further comprising:

• authentication means for authenticating the identity of a mobile device connected to said access point.

An access point according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising:

• means for establishing a communication route from said access point to said gateway.

An access point according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising:

• hand-over means for evaluating the signal strength of the communication with said connected device for hand-over to or from another access point.

An access point according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the communication between said mobile device and said access point is a wireless LAN.

An access point for usage in a packet based network, comprising:

• means for communicating with at least one gateway having access to a remote service;
• communication means for wireless communication with mobile devices, and for establishing wireless communication with at least one more access point in order to form a network between at least said access points;
• registering means for registering the identity of a mobile device originally sending a data packet for all data packets transferred through said access point either directly from a mobile device or indirectly through another access point from a mobile device.

A method for billing in a multi-operator network comprising a plurality of access points forming a private network, and at least one gateway having access to a remote service, comprising the steps of:

• tracing the route of a data packet based on information contained in said data packet registered along the route of said packet, said information comprising the identity of a mobile device originally sending said data packet;
• and
• creating a billing record separated on nodes involved in said traced route.

A system for billing in a multi-operator network comprising a plurality of access points forming a private network, and at least one gateway having access to a remote service, comprising:

• means for tracing the route of a data packet based on information contained in said data packet registered along the route of said packet, said information comprising the identity of a mobile device originally sending said data packet;
• and
• means for creating a billing record separated on nodes involved in said traced route.