Mapping wireless proximity identificator to subscriber identity for hotspot based wireless services for mobile terminals

A method in a short-range wireless access point, comprising:

• discovering a mobile device and identifying a code associated with the mobile device;
• establishing a short-range communication link with the mobile device within a coverage area of the access point;
• requesting and obtaining a wide area identification of the mobile device;
• and
• transmitting instructions to the mobile device, the instructions including a hashed code comprising the code associated with the mobile device and the wide area identification, wherein the instructions are to direct the mobile device to forward the hashed code to the access point in a subsequent request for service from a network server, after the mobile device leaves the coverage area, to enable the access point to associate a current session between the network server and the access point with the subsequent request.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, upon execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

• discovering a mobile device and identifying a code associated with the mobile device;
• establishing a short-range communication link with the mobile wireless device within a coverage area of an access point;
• requesting and obtaining a wide area identification of the mobile device;
• and
• transmitting instructions to the mobile device, the instructions including a hashed code comprising the code associated with the mobile device and the wide area identification, wherein the instructions are to direct the mobile device to forward the hashed code to the access point in a subsequent request for service from a network server, after the mobile device leaves the coverage area, to enable the access point to associate a current session between the network server and the access point with the subsequent request.

A mobile device configured to:

• receive an inquiry packet from an access point when the mobile device is within a coverage area,
• transmit a code associated with the mobile device to the access point;
• establish a short-range communication link with the access point;
• receive a request for a wide area identification of the mobile device from the access point and to transmit the wide area identification to the access point;
• receive instructions from the access point, the instructions including a hashed code comprising the code associated with the mobile device and the wide area identification, wherein the instructions are to direct the mobile device to forward the hashed code to the access point in a subsequent request for service from a network server, after the mobile device leaves the coverage area, to enable the access point to associate a current session between the network server and the access point with the subsequent request.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for receiving an inquiry packet from an access point when a mobile device is within a coverage area,
• means for transmitting a code associated with the mobile device to the access point;
• means for establishing a short-range communication link with the access point;
• means for receiving a request for a wide area identification of the mobile device from the access point and transmitting the wide area identification to the access point;
• means for receiving instructions from the access point, the instructions including a hashed code comprising the code associated with the mobile device and the wide area identification, wherein the instructions are to direct the mobile device to forward the hashed code to the access point in a subsequent request for service from a network server, after the mobile device leaves the coverage area, to enable the access point to associate a current session between the network server and the access point with the subsequent request.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for discovering a mobile device and identifying a code associated with the mobile device;
• means for establishing a short-range communication link with the mobile wireless device within a coverage area of an access point;
• means for requesting and obtaining a wide area identification of the mobile device;
• and
• means for transmitting instructions to the mobile device, the instructions including a hashed code comprising the code associated with the mobile device and the wide area identification, wherein the instructions are to direct the mobile device to forward the hashed code to the access point in a subsequent request for service from a network server, after the mobile device leaves the coverage area, to enable the access point to associate a current session between the network server and the access point with the subsequent request.

A method, comprising:

• receiving an inquiry packet from an access point when a mobile device is within a coverage area,
• transmitting a code associated with the mobile device to the access point;
• establishing a short-range communication link with the access point;
• receiving a request for a wide area identification of the mobile device from the access point and transmitting the wide area identification to the access point;
• and
• receiving instructions from the access point, the instructions including a hashed code comprising the code associated with the mobile device and the wide area identification, wherein the instructions are to direct the mobile device to forward the hashed code to the access point in a subsequent request for service from a network server, after the mobile device leaves the coverage area, to enable the access point to associate a current session between the network server and the access point with the subsequent request.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, upon execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

• receiving an inquiry packet from an access point when a mobile device is within a coverage area,
• transmitting a code associated with the mobile device to the access point;
• establishing a short-range communication link with the access point;
• receiving a request for a wide area identification of the mobile device from the access point and transmitting the wide area identification to the access point;
• receiving instructions from the access point, the instructions including a hashed code comprising the code associated with the mobile device and the wide area identification, wherein the instructions are to direct the mobile device to forward the hashed code to the access point in a subsequent request for service from a network server, after the mobile device leaves the coverage area, to enable the access point to associate a current session between the network server and the access point with the subsequent request.