Method and Apparatus For Monitoring Wireless Network Access
OwnerCharles G. Hoecker, Niels Jonkerinventors
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Abstract
A system and method for monitoring wireless network access, and use of a detected wireless network connection are described. A client component (e.g., software component), or client, can be downloaded to a computing device, which leverages off of the computing device's ability to locate and establish a network connection. The client component listens for network connection activity, and determines whether the device has established a network connection with a network known to the client. If the client determines that a network connection has been established to a known network, the client uses the network connection to log the user onto the network.
Claims33
A method for execution on a client device of achieving login to a wireless network, the method comprising:
- employing a first software component stored on the client device to establish a first connection with a wireless network;
- employing a client utility on the client device to identify that the first software component on the client device has established the first connection with the wireless network;
- and
- performing in the client utility on the client device, in response to the identified first connection, a login procedure for authenticating the client device, the login procedure enabling the client device to use the wireless network, wherein the login procedure is performed by the client utility after the first software component has established the first connection with the wireless network, wherein the login procedure includes establishing a high-level connection with the wireless network.
A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having persistent program instructions tangibly stored thereon executable by a processing unit on a client device for achieving login to a wireless network by performing the steps of:
- employing a first component on the client device to establish an initial connection with a wireless network;
- employing a client utility on the client device to identify that the first software component on the client device has established a connection with a wireless network;
- performing in the client utility on the client device, in response to the identified network connection, a login procedure for authenticating the client device for enabling use of the wireless network, wherein the login procedure is performed by the client utility after the first software component has established the initial connection to the wireless network and wherein the login procedure performed by the client utility is wholly separate from the connection established by the first software component to the wireless network.
A device capable of achieving login to a wireless network, comprising:
- an operating system capable of establishing a low-level connection with a wireless network;
- and
- a client utility, which, in response to detecting an established low level connection, is capable of performing a login procedure for authenticating the device, the login procedure enabling the device to use the wireless network, wherein the login procedure is performed by the client utility after the low level connection to the wireless network is established by the operating system.
A method for execution on a client device of achieving login to a wireless network, the method comprising:
- conducting active scanning for a wireless network under control of a first software component on the client device and establishing a connection with the wireless network using that software component;
- detecting that the first software component on the client device has established a connection with the wireless network;
- and
- responding to detection of the establishment of a connection with the wireless network by the software component by employing a client utility to perform a login procedure for authenticating the client device, said authenticating of the client device being required to enable a user to use the wireless network, wherein the login procedure includes establishing a high-level connection to the wireless network.
A method for execution on a client device of achieving login to a wireless network, the method comprising:
- identifying that a first software component on the client device has established a connection with a wireless network;
- and
- performing in a client utility on the client device, in response to the identified network connection, a login procedure for authenticating the client device to thereby enable the client device and its user to use the wireless network, wherein the login procedure performed by the client utility is performed wholly separately and apart from a procedure implemented previously by the first component to establish the connection to the wireless network, wherein the login procedure includes establishing a high-level connection to the wireless network.
A method for execution on a client device of achieving login to a wireless network, the method comprising:
- employing a first software component stored on the client device to establish an initial connection with a wireless network;
- employing a client utility on the client device to identify that the first software component on the client device has established a connection with the wireless network;
- performing in the client utility on the client device, in response to the identified network connection, a login procedure for authenticating the client device, the login procedure enabling the client device to use the wireless network, wherein the login procedure is performed by the client utility after the first software component has established the initial connection to the wireless network
A device capable of achieving login to a wireless network, comprising:
- means for employing a first software component stored on the device to establish an initial connection with a wireless network;
- means for identifying that the first software component on the device has established a connection with a wireless network;
- and
- means for performing in response to the identified network connection, a login procedure for authenticating the device, the login procedure enabling the device to use the wireless network, wherein the login procedure is performed by a client utility after the first software component has established the initial connection to the wireless network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.