Patent ID: 8600344

Claim:
A method for providing access to a service provider network associated with a service provider and comprising at least one network node, comprising: establishing, by the at least one network node, a first wireless communication link with a mobile hotspot device, the mobile hotspot device configured to establish a second wireless communication link with at least one client device; receiving, by the network node, an access request message from the mobile hotspot device, the access request message comprising credentials provided by the at least one client device; determining, by the network node, that the at least one client device is authorized to access the service provider network through the mobile hotspot device based on the credentials; indicating to the mobile hotspot device that the at least one client device is authorized to access the service provider network through the mobile hotspot device; receiving, by the network node, a first request for first data destined for the at least one client device; prior to delivering the first data receiving a second request for second data destined for the mobile hotspot device; prioritizing the second request over the first request based on a destination of the second data; and delivering the second data to the mobile hotspot device prior to delivering the first data to the at least one client device.