Patent ID: 8571222
Filing Date: 2013-10-29
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving at a centralized authentication server, which manages a process of authenticating users for a plurality of authentication systems and is located remotely from any one of the plurality of authentication systems, an access request for a wireless device of a user to obtain Internet access through a Wi-Fi system, wherein the centralized authentication server includes information of a plurality of authentication databases from which users may be authenticated, each of the plurality of authentication databases corresponding to a different communication service and to a different authentication system of the plurality of authentication systems, and wherein the information includes identification of a first protocol required for communicating with a first authentication database of the plurality of authentication databases and identification of a second protocol required for communicating with a second authentication database of the plurality of authentication databases, and wherein the second protocol is different from the first protocol; transmitting an authentication request from the centralized authentication server to at least the first authentication database of the plurality of authentication databases using the first protocol; and permitting the user access to the Internet through the Wi-Fi system by the wireless device when an indication of authentication is received from at least the first authentication database.