Abstract: Embodiments that include a first module configured to install and work residently within at least a device-to-web bridge to collect the Media Access Control (MAC) address data and secondary identifier information associated with a given mobile computing device are disclosed. An example attempts to use the device-to-web bridge and to pass that information to a second module to call out and send that information over a wide area network to the mobile advertisement targeting system on a central management server site, which stores that information on a MAC address identification (ID) basis in a database. The MAC addresses may be coupled with their secondary identifier and stored within the database. The second module can call and communicate with a mobile advertisement targeting system configured to utilize MAC address data in combination with a secondary identifier for each mobile computing device tracked by the mobile advertisement targeting system.

Abstract: A system and method of accessing web or network sites interfacing through a walled garden web server by dynamically expanding the reach of the walled garden on a user-by-user basis, based on the content that is returned to the user. The system includes a traffic analyzer and filter, a traffic forwarder, a traffic tagger, and a traffic redirector. A plurality of databases interface with the traffic analyzer and filter for appropriately manipulating web traffic from users by matching URL requests from a user with seed URLs in one or more of the databases. A depth parameter may be associated with a URL, indicating the number of times a particular domain has been traversed by a particular user. A depth rating database may be used to specify the number of times a particular URL may be accessed.

Abstract: Embodiments that include a first module configured to install and work residently within at least a device-to-web bridge to collect the Media Access Control (MAC) address data and secondary identifier information associated with a given mobile computing device are disclosed. An example attempts to use the device-to-web bridge and to pass that information to a second module to call out and send that information over a wide area network to the mobile advertisement targeting system on a central management server site, which stores that information on a MAC address identification (ID) basis in a database. The MAC addresses may be coupled with their secondary identifier and stored within the database. The second module can call and communicate with a mobile advertisement targeting system configured to utilize MAC address data in combination with a secondary identifier for each mobile computing device tracked by the mobile advertisement targeting system.

Abstract: A system and method of network point of access detection and use is disclosed. In accordance with such system and method, suitability of a given wireless network for access and use can be determined. Such system and method are fully-configurable and incrementally-updatable using configuration information. The configuration information, which can include network profiles and scripting functions, can be used to dynamically configure a client device to perform test network points of access, to determine usability status of network points of access, without modifying an underlying operating platform (e.g., an operating software platform) of the client device. The usability status can be cached by a client device and used to facilitate subsequent network detection and to make an informed selection of a network point of access.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring wireless network access, and use of a detected wireless network connection are described. A client component (e.g., software component), or client, can be downloaded to a computing device, which leverages off of the computing device's ability to locate and establish a network connection. The client component listens for network connection activity, and determines whether the device has established a network connection with a network known to the client. If the client determines that a network connection has been established to a known network, the client uses the network connection to log the user onto the network.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system in which a module may have both an embeddable portion and a cooperating downloadable portion scripted to plug in and be integrated into an existing Terms and Condition page of a public Wi-Fi and/or wired network. The module is scripted to cause an injection of a third-party captive portal and authentication flow when the client device with a resident browser application contacts a host gateway or other host controller to undergo a sign on experience as a guest to access/connect into a public Wi-Fi and/or wired network. The module is also scripted to direct the web browser back to the Terms and Condition page once the web browser of the client device has been through the third-party captive portal and authentication flow and its associated one or more web pages that are parsed and rendered by the web browser.

Abstract: A dynamic wireless network discovery system, apparatus and method are provided for users of wireless device to find, connect to, and use wireless networks in an automated manner. New gained knowledge about a wireless network is shared with a central server, which in turn aggregates knowledge about wireless networks collected from various wireless devices, and takes all this aggregated knowledge and reduces the individual data points to aggregate data that provides valuable information about the status of the networks. The central server then in turn distributes this information to a software client operating on wireless devices. Dynamically learned wireless network information is shared from one wireless device with other wireless devices through the distributed intelligence network, either through the central server or by communicating with other wireless devices, providing group-based intelligence about wireless networks to other wireless devices.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring wireless network access, and use of a detected wireless network connection are described. A client component (e.g., software component), or client, can be downloaded to a computing device, which leverages off of the computing device's ability to locate and establish a network connection. The client component listens for network connection activity, and determines whether the device has established a network connection with a network known to the client. If the client determines that a network connection has been established to a known network, the client uses the network connection to log the user onto the network.

Abstract: An access client hosted by a mobile computing device accesses carrier networks using wireless access points and uses an access point database to identify access points and carrier networks. The access client uses methods and tokens databases to access carrier networks. The access client updates the databases using an access server when coupled to a carrier network. The access client transmits user information to the carrier network, which uses the information to perform authenticate and generate session data. The carrier network transmits session data to the access server, which uses session data to generate billing information. The access client also collects network performance data for access points and carrier networks, and transmits network performance data to the access server. The access server aggregates network performance data from access clients to generate quality of service reports. The access client includes detection and evaluation features for selecting access points.

Abstract: A dynamic wireless network discovery system, apparatus and method are provided for users of wireless device to find, connect to, and use wireless networks in an automated manner. New gained knowledge about a wireless network is shared with a central server, which in turn aggregates knowledge about wireless networks collected from various wireless devices, and takes all this aggregated knowledge and reduces the individual data points to aggregate data that provides valuable information about the status of the networks. The central server then in turn distributes this information to a software client operating on wireless devices. Dynamically learned wireless network information is shared from one wireless device with other wireless devices through the distributed intelligence network, either through the central server or by communicating with other wireless devices, providing group-based intelligence about wireless networks to other wireless devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing wireless carrier networks by mobile computing devices. An access client hosted by a mobile computing device accesses carrier networks using wireless access points. The access client uses an access point database to identify access points and carrier networks. The access client uses a methods database and a tokens database to access the carrier networks. The access client updates the access point database, the methods database, and the token database using an access server when the access client is operably coupled to a carrier network. The access client transmits user information to the carrier network. The carrier network uses the user information to authenticate the user and to generate session data while the user is accessing the carrier network. The carrier network transmits the session data to the access server. The access server uses the session data to generate billing information for the user.