Patent ID: 7092369

Claim:
A method of providing access to a communications network to users traveling through a venue, comprising the steps of: a) enabling each user to carry a portable, mobile unit having a wireless transceiver and a display; b) positioning a plurality of access nodes of a local area network at fixed, spaced-apart locations throughout the venue, each access node being in communication with different content providers each having a content database offered at the venue, each access node having a wireless transceiver in wireless communication with the transceiver in the mobile unit when the user is in proximity with a respective access node; c) initially establishing wireless communication between the mobile unit and the respective access node by associating the mobile unit with the respective access node; d) authenticating the user of the mobile unit to enable access to the communications network; and e) establishing communication with a respective content provider on the communications network by accessing a respective content database and retrieving content therefrom for presentation at the display of the mobile unit, and recording at least some session particulars of a communications session on a server on the communications network during which the mobile unit communicates with the respective content provider.