Hotspot network access system and method

摘要

A system and method are disclosed for providing wireless network access to a user of a remote device at a hotspot. In general, wireless communication is established by the system with the remote device to enable wireless transmission therefrom of social networking credentials associated with a social network profile maintained by a third party social network service provider. Using these credentials, the user is authenticated with the third party social network service provider, and, upon authentication, is provided wireless access to the network.

主权项

1. A method for providing wireless network access to a user of a remote device to a wireless network at a hotspot, the method comprising:
establishing wireless communication with the remote device at the hotspot to enable wireless transmission therefrom of social networking credentials associated with a pre-existing personal social network profile, wherein said personal social network profile was previously created by the user on a third party social network operated by a third party social network service provider, and wherein said personal social profile is sharable with other social network users via their respective personal social network profiles that are associated with said personal social profile by the user via said social network; using said social networking credentials, authenticating the user with said third party social network service provider, wherein authenticating the user comprises assessing social profile data associated with said pre-existing personal social network profile and automatically generating a legitimacy assessment of said social network profile based on said social profile data; providing the user with wireless access to the wireless network at the hotspot as a result of authenticating the user, wherein said wireless access is tailored based at least in part on the legitimacy assessment by adjusting at least one of an access bandwidth or access time as a function of the legitimacy assessment; and creating an update to said personal social network profile, wherein said update identifies the user as being currently located at a location of the hotspot.