Patent ID: 7995993

Claim:
A method for allowing access to shared wireless network bandwidth, the method comprising: providing at least one information processor coupled to and accessible over a communication network; providing, by the at least one information processor, electronic wireless gateway configuration instructions; configuring, via the electronic wireless gateway configuration instructions, a first wireless gateway device that is owned by a first owner and that transmits first bandwidth of the communication network provided by a network service provider, wherein the configuring the first wireless gateway causes the first wireless gateway device to register with the information processor; configuring, via the electronic wireless gateway configuration instructions, a second wireless gateway device that is owned by a second owner and that transmits second bandwidth of the communication network provided by the network service provider, wherein the configuring the second wireless gateway causes the second wireless gateway device to register with the information processor; registering, by the information processor, the first owner with the information processor, wherein the registering the first owner represents permission received from the first owner for other registered owners to use the first bandwidth free of charge, and further entitles the first owner to free access to at least the second bandwidth; registering, by the information processor, the second owner with the information processor, wherein the registering the second owner represents permission received from the second owner for other registered owners to use the second bandwidth free of charge, and further entitles the second owner to free access to at least the first bandwidth; and charging a fee to a user of a third wireless computing device, and who is not registered with the information processor, for access to the first or second bandwidth.