Method and system for a low-cost-internet-base station (LCIB) granting a client device temporary access

A low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) having a coverage area, the LCIB comprising:

• a communication interface;
• a processor;
• and
• data storage comprising instructions executable by the processor for:
• receiving from a client device over an air interface a leading feature-code indicator that was input via a user interface of the client device, followed by a feature code indicating that the client device is requesting temporary access to the wireless network, the feature code also having been input via the user interface of the client device;
• receiving from the client device over the air interface an access code that was also input via the user interface of the client device;
• responsive to receiving the leading feature-code indicator, the feature code, and the access code, comparing the received access code with a stored access code;
• if the received access code matches the stored access code, granting the client device access to the wireless network on a temporary basis;
• and
• if the received access code does not match the stored access code, denying the client device access to the wireless network.

A method of granting temporary access to a wireless network, carried out by a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) having a coverage area, the method comprising:

• the LCIB receiving a request over an air interface from a client device, the request comprising a leading feature-code indicator, a feature code, an access code, and a client-device identifier, the feature code indicating that the client device is requesting temporary access to the wireless network, wherein each of the feature-code indicator, the feature code, and the access code were input via a user interface of the client device;
• the LCIB detecting the feature code in the request, and responsively checking whether the client-device identifier is in a stored list of blocked client-device identifiers, the stored list consisting of client-device identifiers for any client devices that have met their limit for temporary access to the wireless network, as well as for any client devices that are otherwise unauthorized;
• the LCIB, if the client-device identifier from the request is in the stored list, then denying the client device access to the wireless network;
• and
• the LCIB, if the client-device identifier from the request is not in the stored list, then:
• (i) comparing the access code from the request with a stored access code;
• (ii) if the access code from the request matches the stored access code, granting the client device access to the wireless network on a temporary basis;
• and
• (iii) if the access code from the request does not match the stored access code, denying the client device access to the wireless network.