Patent ID: 8126430

Claim:
A method for configuring gateway devices to communicate with at least one information processor over a communication network for registering owners of the gateway devices with the at least one information processor, and to entitle the owners to free access to bandwidth, the method comprising: providing the at least one information processor coupled to and accessible over the communication network; providing software to configure a first wireless gateway device that provides first network bandwidth for access to the communication network within a first transmission range, and to configure a second wireless gateway device that provides second network bandwidth for access to the communication network within a second transmission range, wherein the configuring causes the first and second wireless gateway devices to communicate with the at least one information processor; registering, by the at least one information processor, a first owner of the first wireless gateway device with the at least one 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; and registering, by the at least one information processor, a second owner of the second wireless gateway device with the at least one 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.