Patents Examined by Esther Benoit
  • Patent number: 7548976
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing network access, e.g. Internet access, are described. An architecture includes a host organization network through which network access is provided. The host organization network can be advantageously deployed in public areas such as airports and shopping malls. An authentication/negotiation component is provided for authenticating various users and negotiating for services with service providers on behalf of the system users. The authentication/negotiation component can include one or more specialized servers and a policy manager that contains policies that govern user access to the Internet. An authentication database is provided and authenticates various users of the system. An access module is provided through which individual client computing devices can access the Internet. In one embodiment, the access module comprises individual wireless access points that permit the client computing devices to wirelessly communicate data packets that are intended for the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Paramvir Bahl, Srinivasan Venkatachary, Anand Balachandran