Distributed network communication system which enables multiple network providers to use a common distributed network infrastructure

摘要

A system and method for providing access and/or roaming features on a network system. The network system includes a plurality of wireless and/or wired access points coupled to a network. The network may couple to a wide area network, such as the Internet. In one embodiment, a portable computing device (PCD) of a user may store identification information which uniquely indicates a network destination of a plurality of possible network destinations. Each of the access points are operable to "listen for" or detect identification information associated with numerous different destinations. When the access point receives the identification information from a PCD of a user, the access point may determine the appropriate network destination for the portable computing device using the identification information. Data communications received from the portable compute device may then be routed through the identified network destination.