System and method for provisioning of internet access services in a guest facility

摘要

A system and method for provisioning Internet access services to guests of a facility (e.g., one or more hotel chains). Equipment and devices for access service are installed throughout the facility. Each device that supports the Internet access services has a unique identifier. Zones representing various public and private areas within each facility are defined and one or more devices are associated with each zone. Service offerings for wired and wireless connections are defined and associated with one or more zones. Service offerings are also paired with pricing plans that provide various payment options and amounts. A web-based administration application allows an administrator to define and manage service offerings associated with the zones. The application also allows the administrator to define and manage the pricing plans. The ability to customize offerings in each facility allows development of consistent offerings, regardless of the size or layout of the facility.

主权项

1. A method for provisioning of Internet access services in a guest facility comprising:
(a) defining within said guest facility a plurality of zones for providing Internet access services to guests of said guest facility, each of said zones relating to a physical location in said guest facility and comprising a plurality of access points; (b) for each of said zones in said guest facility, assigning one virtual local area network identifier to each of said plurality of access points in said zone; (c) defining a plurality of Internet service offerings, each of said service offerings defining an option for a guest to receive Internet access in a zone within said guest facility and comprising:
(i) a property code; and(ii) a plurality of connection zone identifiers corresponding to said virtual local area network identifiers assigned to said zones in said guest facility; (d) receiving at an authentication server from an access point a request from a guest for Internet access, said request comprising identifying information for said guest, one of said plurality of properly codes, and one of said plurality of connection zone identifiers; (e) confirming through a property management computer system using said identifying information said guest's registration status; (f) selecting for said guest using said one of said plurality of property codes and said one of said plurality of connection zone identifiers an associated Internet service offering for said guest to receive Internet access; (g) transferring to said access point for display at said guest's computer an access screen for selecting said associated Internet service offering; and (h) receiving from said guest's computer a selection of said associated Internet service offering.