Providing private access point services in a communication system

摘要

A private access point may be utilized to establish a local network that is accessible by client devices when the client devices are communicatively coupled to the private access point. The private access point is then operable to determine services that may be provided in its local network to the client devices, and to advertise these services within its local network. The services comprise network and/or data accessibility, and bandwidth availability. Private access points are also operable to utilize local and/or remote resources to provide additional services, comprising audio/video processing capability, storage, and/or processing. Offering of services in private access point networks is incentivized to the private access points and/or to client devices. Incentives comprise offering pay and/or credit to the private access points. Providing access to, blocking, limiting and/or modifying available/offered services is managed in private access point networks, based on incentives and/or availability of resources.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
establishing, at a private access point device, a local network accessible by one or more communication devices; determining, at the private access point device, one or more services that may be provided to communication devices of the one or more communication devices; advertising information, at the private access point device, about the determined services in the local network for reception by the one or more communication devices; receiving, at the private access point device, a service request from a respective communication device; in response to the received service request, initiating provision of a requested service at the private access point device to the respective communication device; identifying, at the private access point device, incentives available to the private access point device to compensate the private access point device for provision by the private access point device of the requested service to the respective communication device; and at the private access point device, crediting an account associated with the private access point device or a service provider associated with the private access point device according to an identified incentive.