Patent ID: 7810137

Claim:
A method of controlling access to a computer network, the method comprising the steps of: an access server performing all of: receiving a request for network access from an end station device; receiving a unique identifier of the end station device; determining that the unique identifier is not within a set of authorized identifiers and generating an electronic document that prompts the end station device to enter an authorization code; assigning a short-term, non-routable network address to the end station device; receiving one or more commands for re-configuring the access server to cause the access server to recognize the authorization code; sending the electronic document to the end station device using the short-term, non-routable network address; receiving the authorization code from the end station device, wherein the authorization code has been previously generated at a point of sale terminal of a merchant that manages the computer network and issued in response to a customer purchasing goods or services from said merchant associated with the computer network; wherein the customer is associated with the end station device and is an individual who personally consumes the purchased goods or services, and the purchased services are services other than access to the computer network; attempting to validate the authorization code; upon validating the authorization code, assigning a longer-term, routable network address to the end station device.