Providing simplified internet access
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsEfim Hudis, Anatoliy Panasyuk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to providing simplified network access. In aspects, a network access device that controls access to a network is configured to allow communications with a set of specified hosts regardless of whether the requesting user has paid for or authorized payment for the network usage. The user may communicate with such hosts without further configuration, providing payment or other information to the network access device, or the like. If the user attempts to access other hosts, the network access device ensures that the user is authorized (e.g., has paid for, belongs to a partner organization, etc.) before granting the access.
Claims20
A method implemented at least in part by a computer, the method comprising:
- at a device responsible at least in part for providing and/or denying access to a network, receiving a request to communicate with a host reachable via the network, the device being associated with a first entity, the request being issued by a second entity;
- determining whether the host is associated with a third entity that has agreed to pay the first entity for providing access to the host;
- if the host is associated with the third entity, granting the request regardless of whether the second entity has paid for or authorized payment for accessing the network;
- and
- if the host is not associated with the third entity, ensuring that the second entity is authorized for access to the network before allowing the second entity to communicate with the host.
A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions, which when executed perform actions, comprising:
- at a host associated with a third entity, receiving a message issued by a second entity, the message traveling through a first device associated with a first entity, the first device responsible at least in part for providing and/or denying access to a network over which the host is reachable to a second device associated with the second entity;
- measuring the second entity's usage of the host via communication by the second device through the first device to the host;
- and
- determining an amount the third entity is to pay the first entity for the usage.
In a computing environment, a system, comprising:
- a network access device operable to provide and/or deny access to a network, the network access device being further operable to receive a request to communicate with a host reachable via the network, the network access device being associated with a first entity, the request being issued by a second entity;
- and
- an agreement component operable to determine whether the host is associated with a third entity that has agreed to pay the first entity for providing access to the host,
- wherein the network access device is further operable to grant the request regardless of whether the second entity has paid for or authorized payment for accessing the network if the host is associated with the third entity;
- and
- wherein the network access device is further operable to ensure that the second entity has paid for or authorized payment for access to the network before allowing the second entity to communicate with the host if the host is not associated with an entity that has agreed to pay the first entity for providing access to the host.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.