Patent ID: 9092610
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: G06F,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for providing secured communication network access, the method comprising: receiving a request sent over an open communication network for secured communication network access, the request initiated by a requesting user device located within a range of a first hotspot associated with a brand, the request including a unique pre-shared encryption key associated with the requesting user device, wherein the unique pre-shared encryption key was displayed in a web page generated by a web portal server to the requesting user device; determining there is currently no corresponding pre-shared encryption key stored at the first hotspot, wherein the corresponding pre-shared encryption key is required to decrypt communications encrypted based on the unique pre-shared encryption key associated with the requesting user device; sending a query for the corresponding pre-shared encryption key to a cloud database of pre-shared encryption keys generated at a plurality of different hotspots, the different hotspots including hotspots associated with a plurality of brands, wherein each pre-shared encryption key in the cloud database corresponds to a different pre-shared encryption key that is unique to an associated user device, the query concerning any prior use of the unique pre-shared encryption key associated with the requesting user device and included in the request; receiving a response to the query including the corresponding pre-shared encryption key, wherein the corresponding pre-shared encryption key is unique to the requesting user device and had been generated during prior use at a second hotspot associated with the brand; and providing secured communication network access at the first hotspot based on the unique pre-shared encryption key associated with the requesting user device and the corresponding pre-shared encryption key obtained from the cloud database, wherein encryption in accordance with the unique pre-shared encryption key associated with the requesting user device is different than encryption for any other user device in the secured communication network, and wherein the secured communication network access provided to the requesting user device is governed at least in part by at least one parameter identified as being associated with the unique pre-shared encryption key, the at least one parameter including an access policy.