Patent ID: 9635497
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: H04L,H04W

Claim:
1. A system for controlling access by a portable electronic device to a wireless network, comprising: one or more near field communications tags ( 212 ), each of the one or more near field communications tags ( 212 ) affixed to an associated portable electronic device ( 210 ) and programmed to include an identification code for the associated portable electronic device ( 210 ), each of the associated portable electronic devices ( 210 ) authorized to access the wireless network; a fixed near field communications reader ( 221 ) having an antenna ( 224 ) for receiving an information signal when one of the one or more near field communications tags ( 212 ) is placed in close proximity to the antenna ( 224 ) and the fixed near field communications reader ( 221 ) also having an output for outputting information contained within the information signal; and a fixed authorization module ( 220 ) coupled to the output of the fixed near field communications reader ( 221 ), the fixed authorization module ( 220 ) configured to receive the information from the fixed near field communications reader ( 221 ) and, if the information contains the identification code for an authorized portable electronic device ( 210 ), to allow that portable electronic device ( 210 ) to access the wireless network; and wherein the fixed near field communications reader ( 221 ) is installed within a secure area.