Providing different network access levels in a network communication system

A wireless access point comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory medium coupled to the processor;
• wherein the wireless access point is operable to be coupled to a network and communicate with one or more portable computing devices in a wireless fashion;
• wherein the memory medium is operable to store a data structure, wherein the data structure comprises a list of identification information and a corresponding list of access levels;
• wherein the memory medium comprises program instructions which are executable by the processor to:
• receive identification information from a portable computing device of the one or more portable computing devices, wherein the identification information indicates an access level of the portable computing device;
• determine an access level, wherein, in said determining the access level, the program instructions are further executable by the process to index into the data structure using the identification information to determine the access level stored in the data structure corresponding to the identification information;
• and
• provide network access to the portable computing device at the determined access level.

A wireless access point for providing network access to a plurality of computing devices, wherein the wireless access point is operable to couple to a network, the wireless access point comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory medium coupled to the processor, wherein the memory medium comprises program instructions which are executable by the processor to:
• receive a plurality of system identifications (SIDs), wherein at least two of the plurality of SIDs are used for providing wireless Ethernet, wherein each system identifier (SID) of the plurality of SIDs indicates an access level;
• concurrently utilize the at least two of the plurality of SIDs to communicate with the plurality of computing devices, wherein, in communicating with the plurality of computing devices, the program instructions are further executable by the processor to use wireless Ethernet;
• and
• for each SID of the at least two of the plurality of SIDs, determine the access level indicated by the SID and provide network access at the determined access level to each computing device communicating using the SE).

A method for providing access to a distributed wireless network system, wherein the distributed wireless network system includes a plurality of wireless access points coupled to a network, the method comprising:

• a first wireless access point of the plurality of wireless access points receiving identification information from a portable computing device, wherein the identification information indicates an access level;
• determining an access level for the portable computing device after receiving the identification information, wherein the determined access level is independent of a location of the first access point;
• and
• providing network access to the portable computing device based on the determined access level.

A method for providing access to a distributed wireless network system, wherein the distributed wireless network system includes a plurality of wireless access points coupled to a network, the method comprising:

• a first wireless access point of the plurality of wireless access points receiving identification information from a portable computing device, wherein the identification information indicates an access level;
• determining an access level for the portable computing device after receiving the identification information, wherein the determined access level is independent of a location of the portable computing device;
• and
• providing network access to the portable computing device based on the determined access level.

A carrier medium comprising program instructions for providing network access to a distributed network system, wherein the distributed network system comprises a plurality of access points, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to:

• receive identification information from a computing device, wherein the identification information is received through a first access point of the plurality of access points;
• determine if the identification information is associated with payment information;
• if the identification information is associated with payment information, determine an access level based on the payment information and provide network access based on the determined access level;
• and
• if the identification information is not associated with payment information, provide network access based on a default access level or deny network access.