Shared wi-fi usage
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsShai Guday, David Neil MacDonald, Tyler Edward Hennessy, Sidharth Nabar, Brent Edward Ford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various technologies described herein pertain to utilization of shared Wi-Fi. For instance, network access rights of a Wi-Fi network can be controlled by a mobile device of a point of contact for the Wi-Fi network. Moreover, utilization of a Wi-Fi network can be tracked and usage data indicative of historic utilization of the Wi-Fi network can be retained. Further, groups of users between whom Wi-Fi credentials are shared can be created.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
A server computing device, comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- memory that comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform acts including:
- forming a group of users between whom Wi-Fi credentials are shared, the group of users being formed based on shared calendar information of the users;
- identifying mobile devices of the users included in the group;
- and
- sharing credentials for a Wi-Fi network within the group, the credentials for the Wi-Fi network being shared by a provider mobile device in the mobile devices, the credentials for the Wi-Fi network being shared with remaining mobile devices other than the provider mobile device in the mobile devices, wherein the credentials for the Wi-Fi network are usable by the remaining mobile devices to connect to the Wi-Fi network.
A mobile device, comprising:
- at least one processor;
- and
- memory that comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform acts including:
- forming a group of users between whom Wi-Fi credentials are shared, the group of users being formed based on computer-implemented social network information of the users;
- transmitting credentials for a Wi-Fi network to a server computing device external to the Wi-Fi network;
- and
- authorizing the server computing device to provide the credentials for the Wi-Fi network to differing mobile devices of the users in the group, wherein the credentials for the Wi-Fi network are usable by the differing mobile devices to connect to the Wi-Fi network.
A method, comprising:
- forming a group of users between whom Wi-Fi credentials are shared, the group of users being formed based on geographic location information of the mobile devices of the users
- identifying mobile devices of the users included in the group;
- and
- sharing credentials for a Wi-Fi network within the group, the credentials for the Wi-Fi network being shared by a provider mobile device in the mobile devices, the credentials for the Wi-Fi network being shared with remaining mobile devices other than the provider mobile device in the mobile devices, wherein the credentials for the Wi-Fi network are usable by the remaining mobile devices to connect to the Wi-Fi network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.