Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/404,449, filed Oct. 4, 2010, entitled “ONE-CLICK WIRELESS COMMUNITY ENROLLMENT”, incorporated herein by reference in entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In a networked computing environment, users receive network transport services from an Internet services provider (ISP) for accessing the Internet and other public and private networks. ISPs maintain high speed trunk lines for providing Internet service to many users, or subscribers. A subscriber is a customer such as an individual or a business or similar enterprise having one or more user devices requiring Internet connection. The ISPs, therefore, operate on a fee-for-services basis, typically based on the bandwidth of the subscriber connection. A subscriber or business, therefore, typically requires additional bandwidth as the number of user devices increases. Accordingly, Internet costs for a large business or other enterprise can be substantial. Most ISPs offer service level agreements (SLAs), which purport to guarantee specific performance or uptime guarantees. 
     SUMMARY 
     Despite SLAs, most subscribers expect occasional outages. For critical facilities, many IT managers will employ a second ISP and use load sharing or failover to improve reliability. In addition, subscribers to an ISP often seek to optimize value by reducing cost for additional bandwidth. An alternate access mechanism provides improved availability at lower cost, avoiding absolute loss of service in the event of failure of the primary ISP, an occurrence which can be costly in an enterprise that relies on Internet connectivity. The alternate access mechanism employs a specialized access medium including an array of nodes interconnected back to a trunk line access point. Trunk line access point are selected so as to minimize the cost of connecting to the Internet backbone, for example by being located in a backbone data center or in a building which has owned or low-cost competitive fiber or other low-cost high capacity connection to the Internet backbone. The interconnected nodes may include readily available components, such as wireless routers, microwave radios, and routers, and leverage close proximity to adjacent nodes for establishing a path back to the trunk line access point. Subscriber access is facilitated by a “one click” or “minimal click” sign on sequence by startup logic encoded in the components for identifying the nearest adjacent node, establishing communication with the adjacent node via an access token such as an SSID, and reestablishing a traffic connection following user assent to the sign-on conditions (i.e. user agreement) by switching communication via a new access token (such as an authenticated SSID) for providing traffic access while maintaining a user appearance of a continuous connection by rendering preloaded screens pertaining to the sign on and configuration process. 
     In certain contexts, a specialized access medium may be employed as an alternative or load sharing path to primary Internet access at a particular location. Such a specialized access medium enjoys certain advantages over a mainstream Internet access commonly available. The specialized access medium may not define a full service Internet package in terms of support, throughput, or uptime, but advantages as a co-primary, secondary fallback or alternative access medium are attractive for the cost saving and performance enhancing features it provides. The specialized access medium is therefore offered in selected markets where it can leverage aspects of the local environment. Alternatively, the specialized access medium may also be employed as a primary access for contexts that are less sensitive to periodic or minor service disruptions, such as personal usage. 
     The specialized access medium may be offered due to particular advantages over conventional Internet access. The alternate access may be less expensive, due to geographic proximity to high-speed trunk lines from major providers, or may be in an environment where propagation of network signals is facilitated, perhaps by subscriber density or landscape topography. For example, in an urban environment, certain buildings house a terminus of a trunk line for a major provider, thus facilitating Internet access within that building while other buildings with more limited access are clustered nearby and within line-of-sight so wireless signals propagate readily. Other alternative transport mediums may be envisioned. 
     One particular configuration of the specialized access medium includes a base, or central gateway disposed at an access point to a low-cost trunk, such as in particular buildings where major providers choose to establish urban access points. A series of nodes are established according to line-of sight proximity for communication via microwave or other medium capable of transmission through windows. Each of the nodes corresponds to a subscriber access point and a transit node for providing continuity to a proximate node. Establishment of an array of line of sight nodes allows provisioning of the subscriber access point in exchange for also acting as a line-of-sight transit node for other subscribers. In an urban environment, a quantum of nodes (subscribers) in proximity allows an array of paths between the nodes, typically by disposing a microwave antenna in a window having the line-of-sight access to an adjacent node. By establishing each node with off-the-shelf components for wireless access, TCP/IP routing, and microwave transmission (radios), up-front equipment costs are minimized and ongoing subscription costs mitigated by providing a line-of-sight transit node location for other subscribers. 
     As a secondary enhancement to primary Internet service, initial service establishment is as streamlined and effortless as possible in order to entice new subscribers to take advantage of the specialized access medium. Configurations herein are based, in part, on the observation that users are inclined to engage a new service offering if the initiation of such a service is relatively effortless. In contrast, users are reluctant to further burden an IT staff with configuration and operation of a parallel resource different from a primary service with which the organization is familiar. 
     Unfortunately, conventional approaches to business Internet service provisioning suffer from the shortcoming that such services are expensive to operate, and may be prone to service outages regardless of a service level agreement (SLA) offered by the provider. As business necessity, Internet service providers charge substantial ongoing (monthly) fees, and typically follow a business model that charges more for higher bandwidth (throughout) and/or more SLAs guaranteeing more robust service. Configurations herein substantially overcome the cost, configuration, and outage issues associated with conventional Internet service by providing a specialized access medium, using an alternate access network, with minimal service startup efforts and reduced cost by leveraging a network of close proximity line-of-sight transit nodes in an urban environment. In one preferred embodiment, potential subscribers purchase and install their own equipment and then turn management over to the ISP operating the alternate access network. Service startup, as disclosed further below, employs a “one click” approach to startup and initialization, given appropriate configurations. Alternatively, service startup employs minimal “clicks,” or browser manipulations, in order to provide a new user with Internet access based on the alternate access medium. 
     In an example arrangement, the specialized access medium may be a local array of transit and service nodes coupled with microwave transmitters that rely on a line-of-sight wireless connection to adjacent nodes. The line-of-sight architecture leverages the close proximity of user sites available in an urban environment. Further, since microwave signals can propagate through glass, nodes may be established internally within a building or office without any external modification to the structure, thus avoiding aesthetic and/or lease related issues with installing the alternate access network. 
     In further detail, the method of enrolling subscribers for a network service includes scanning for an initialization token, and employs the initialization token to establish a first session. The initialization token, in the example arrangement, is an SSID (Service Set Identification) as is known for establishing wireless communication, often referred to as WiFi. In a particular arrangement, delivered equipment employs embedded startup logic for identifying the initialization SSID to begin the registration and configuration process. A single confirmation (“click”) is required from a user to assent to the sign-on and registration for providing Internet connectivity via the specialized access medium. The equipment receives, via the first session, a discovery script for identifying at least one node associated with the initialization token and for transmitting the network identity of the identified node for enabling a remote login to establish a second session. The user device employs the initialization token and the discovery script to maintain an appearance of a continuous session while disconnecting the user from the established first session, remotely reconfiguring the user&#39;s newly installed node so it can become part of the specialized access medium and then reassigning the user to the second session based on an operational token such as a different SSID for operational usage. 
     Alternate configurations of the invention include a multiprogramming or multiprocessing computerized device such as a multiprocessor, controller or dedicated computing device or the like configured with software and/or circuitry (e.g., a processor as summarized above) to process any or all of the method operations disclosed herein as embodiments of the invention. Still other embodiments of the invention include software programs such as a Java Virtual Machine and/or an operating system that can operate alone or in conjunction with each other with a multiprocessing computerized device to perform the method embodiment steps and operations summarized above and disclosed in detail below. One such embodiment comprises a computer program product that has a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer program logic encoded as instructions thereon that, when performed in a multiprocessing computerized device having a coupling of a memory and a processor, programs the processor to perform the operations disclosed herein as embodiments of the invention to carry out data access requests. Such arrangements of the invention are typically provided as software, code and/or other data (e.g., data structures) arranged or encoded on a computer readable medium such as an optical medium (e.g., CD-ROM), floppy or hard disk or other medium such as firmware or microcode in one or more ROM, RAM or PROM chips, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The software or firmware or other such configurations can be installed onto the computerized device (e.g., during operating system execution or during environment installation) to cause the computerized device to perform the techniques explained herein as embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a context diagram of a wireless network environment suitable for use with configurations herein 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of connectivity in the environment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an example of configuration in the environment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an example of configuration as in  FIG. 3  using a website; 
         FIG. 5  is an example of configuration as in  FIG. 3  using manual configuration; and 
         FIGS. 6-9  are a flowchart of configuration as in  FIGS. 3-5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Configurations herein present a centrally administered wireless network (the alternate access network) where wireless nodes are owned by individuals who contribute the node to the network in exchange for access to services. For example, by adding a node to the network, a subscriber receives free Internet access and the right to purchase other premium communications services at very low prices. In a particular arrangement, the minimum node includes two or more WiFi radios and a router. These may be integrated into one enclosure or may consist of separate products interconnected with off-the-shelf Cat5e cables. The disclosed approach allows individuals to buy such equipment, potentially from any source, and join our network with an absolute minimum of hassle. In the simplest case, the steps are: power up the wireless node, connect to it over Wi-Fi using a PC or other web browsing device, visit the alternate access website (or be taken there automatically), see a welcome screen that asks if you want to join the alternate access network and then click on a specific membership plan. Various scenarios are depicted below. In a particular arrangement, new subscriber equipment for providing a relay node (two or more WiFi radios and a router, possibly integrated in one package) is shipped with startup logic that expects and initiates configuration with the specialized access medium. 
     The disclosed arrangements strive to permit new user configuration with minimal action or effort (i.e. “clicks”) on the part of the user, typically a “one click” approach, meaning that upon power up of the specialized access device, a single mouse click from a recognizing browser is all that is required of the user. In other cases, depicted below, there may be an extra step such as attaching an Ethernet cable and an extra click to allow local execution of a program downloaded from the alternate access website. 
     The difference between cases depends on whether the wireless equipment&#39;s default power-up configuration is able to automatically connect to the Internet and act as a repeater, i.e. an Internet-connected local WiFi access point, or whether the new node must be configured before it can participate in any network. In a particular arrangement, new connection equipment, such as a wireless router for connecting via the specialized access medium, includes startup logic for identifying an open SSID corresponding to the access medium. The following paragraphs describe particular configurations in the context of the alternate access network although our invention can be applied to the more general problem of simplifying the connection of new equipment to any network. 
       FIG. 1  is a context diagram of a wireless network environment suitable for use with configurations herein. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a wireless network environment  100  includes a subscriber device  110  and an alternate access node  131  including at least a router  180 , a receiving radio  120  and a repeater radio/access point  182 . As part of the alternate access network architecture, the repeater radio  182  connects to a downstream or adjacent alternate access node  131 - 1  that also includes a router  180 - 1 , receiving radio  120 - 1  and repeater radio  182 - 1  for communication with alternate access subnetwork  132 - 1 , such as the next building or organization in the alternate access network. Repeater radio  182 - 1  in turn, may connect to other alternate access nodes  131 . For purposes of example, the discussion herein will focus on alternate access node  131  and access point  182 , however other access points  182 - 1  may be defined in the network  100 . Each alternate access node  131  provides both a relay function and a service connection for the user. Typically a node incorporates multiple radios and a router, either as piece parts or in an integrated unit. This means a wireless node operating as a wireless access node  131 -N incorporates both an access point (that the user can connect to) and a “station” which connects to an access point  182 -N within the next relay node  131 -N upstream. The alternate access node  132  may take the form of individual off-the-shelf components configured as described above, or as an integrated device having the described capabilities. 
     The access point  182  has at least two SSIDs  122 ,  124  for providing wireless access to the Internet  130 . In configurations disclosed herein, an initial connection is established via the open SSID  122  and transitions to the traffic SSID  124  supported by an alternate access point  134 . A local provider also supports an Internet gateway of the alternate access network  132  via the alternate access point  134 , and provides wireless access using an alternate medium, such as the alternate access network accessible via nodes in adjacent or line-of-sight buildings, for example. 
     Upon initial connection and sign on, a user  108  identifies the open SSID  122  using a wireless interface of the subscriber device  110 . The open SSID is intended to alert the subscriber to availability of a wireless signal, and exchange login information for enabling relay node configuration and then full access via the traffic SSID  124 . A user  108  wishing to establish Internet service via the local provider  132  initially becomes connected to the open SSID  122 , performs an identification and sign up procedure, followed by configuration to enable Internet access from the subscriber device  110  via relay node  131  and alternate access point  134 . Configuration, which may occur according to one of several sequences, depending on the location and hardware type of the relay node  131 . During configuration, the user device  110  exhibits a seamless transition while tearing down the connection with the open SSID  122  and reestablishing a connection via the traffic SSID  124 , without receiving user selection of a reconnection, SSID, or other menu or button response in order to obtain connectivity via the traffic SSID  124 . Further, the display screen sequence  140  on the user device  110  shows a continuous GUI application performing the configuration including the SSID changeover, without alluding to a temporary disconnect or loss of Internet service. 
     A user screen sequence  140  reflects the SSID transition. An initial connection  142  corresponds to an initial display  152 . During configuration, the subscriber device  110  displays screen  154  while transitioning from SSID  122  to SSID  124 , shown by dotted line  144 . Upon establishment of a connection using SSID  124 , a full access screen  156  is supported by the connection  146 . In an example arrangement, the continuous appearance is employed by HTML5 and the associated Web Storage APIs (both the functions within the browser on the user&#39;s subscriber device  110 ) to maintain the appearance of a continuous session. The configuration application  168  remotely logs into the newly installed relay node  131  devices ( 120 ,  180  &amp;  182 ) to obtain control and reprogram the device(s) so they become part of the alternate access network  132 . Once the device(s) within the relay node  131  are reprogrammed by the configuration application  168 , the subscriber device  110  is able to see that it is once again connected to the Internet and it can stop emulating the appearance of a continuous browser session. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart of connectivity in the environment of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the method of enrolling subscribers for a network service as defined herein includes scanning for an initialization token, as depicted at step  200 , and employing the initialization token to establish a first session and identify an operational token, as shown at step  201 . In the example arrangement, the initialization token is an open SSID available to any potential subscriber for establishing the welcome screen  152 , and the operational token is the traffic SSID for secure wireless access. Alternatively, other tokens may be employed for providing initial general access for welcoming potential subscribers, and subsequently transitioning to a secure access mode once authentication, service selection and configuration are complete. 
     The user access equipment  182  receives, via the first session  142 , a discovery script  162  for identifying the client device  110  and the components within relay node  131  associated with the initialization token  122  and for transmitting the network identity (i.e. IP addresses) of the identified devices in a discovery response  163  (see  FIG. 3 ) for enabling a remote login to the devices within relay node  131 , configuration of those devices and then the establishment by the client device  110  of a second session  146  through the newly configured relay node  131 , as depicted at step  203 . The user device  110  employs the initialization token  122  and the discovery script  162  to maintain an appearance of a continuous session  152 ,  154 ,  156  while the remote login by script  168  is reconfiguring the components of relay node  131  and then disconnecting the user from the established first session  142  and reassigning  144  the user to the second session  146  based on the operational token  124 , as disclosed at step  203 . 
     The relay node  131  represents an operational switching and access node within a switching fabric of the alternate access network ( 132  and connected nodes). Thus, a relay node refers to a combination of two or more radios and a router that alternate access network  132  members install, whether that combination is provided in one package, or as separate components connected by Cat5e cables. Within each relay node, radio  120  acts as a WiFi “station” connected to an upstream access point  134 , while radio  182  acts a WiFi “access point” for other nodes downstream (like  131 - 1 ) and for the client device  110 . 
     It should be noted that the terms access point and station are WiFi terms, exemplifying operation according to IEEE 802.11 standards. In alternate arrangements, using other radios (or using laser links), the receiving radio  120  may simply be referred to as an upstream device and the repeater/access point  182  operates as a downstream or relay device. In such a case, the relay node would have to include one WiFi access point or one Ethernet jack, so client device  110  may connect to the relay node. It should be noted that the relay node  131  (or more specifically the devices  120 ,  180 ,  182  within it) are configured for the alternate access network, while the client device  110  interacts with the user  108  and provides the appearance of a continuous session even when connection to either the alternate access network  132  or the Internet  130  is lost during the configuration process. 
     In each of the examples that follow, an initial connection  142  is made by various approaches, depending on the starting configuration of the components within the relay node  131 , and the configuration process completes as above. In each case, the initialization script  164  identifies the open SSID  122  or determines if none is available. The initialization script  164  also presents the screen displays  152 ,  154 ,  156  that define the predetermined GUI observed by the user during the connection switchover from the open SSID  122  to the traffic SSID  124 . The discovery script  162 , which may accompany the initialization script  164  as a combined startup script  165 , sends the identity (IP address) of the user device  110  and of the components within relay node  131 . The response to the discovery script is the probe application  166  that examines the configuration of the user device  110  and any intervening nodes, contained in the probe response  163 . The configuration application  168  then performs a login to the alternate access node  131  including the router  180 , receiving radio  120  and repeater radio/access point  182  based on the previously gathered addresses to configure the alternate access network and enable the switchover to the traffic SSID  124  via the local provider network  132  (the alternate access network). 
       FIG. 3  is an example of configuration in the environment of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , for the case where the newly powered up equipment (radio)  182  has startup logic  160  and is able to act as a relay and it initially connects to the Internet  130  via the alternate access network, the radio  120  connects because it found the alternate access open (unencrypted) SSID  122 . In addition to alternate access&#39;s secure wireless links, most nodes in the alternate access network advertise  1001  an open public SSID for attracting new subscribers. This open SSID  124  does not give access to the whole Internet but rather redirects users to one or more pages  152  that advertise alternate access services, support alternate access enrollment and allow connections to the alternate access installation server  150 . 
     For relay node equipment  131  that has been certified as compatible with the alternate access network  132 , the installation server  150  catalogs the equipment&#39;s  131  initial startup behavior via a startup, or initialization script  164 , specifically including which URLs it seeks to connect to. When the user device  110  connects to the alternate access open SSID  122  and requests a URL or URLs in a pattern that matches one of the cataloged initial startup behaviors, the web request is redirected to the alternate access installation server  150 , as shown by arrow  1002 . 
     Part of installation server&#39;s  150  response is a discovery script  162  that causes the client device  110  to do a traceroute and report the results to the installation server  150 . The sent discovery script  162 ′ provides the installation server  150  with the IP addresses  163  of the newly connected equipment  131 , i.e. the IP addresses of the client and of those devices between the client and the known alternate access network elements  134 . A server-based application  166  in the installation server  150  can then probe  166 ′ these IP addresses for testing factory default login sequences for each of the different devices supported by the alternate access network in order to identify the device. While this is happening, the discovery script  162 ′ displays the welcome page  152  describing the alternate access network, describing what it means to join (i.e. terms and conditions) and offering one or more service plans. 
     If the alternate access network confirms that the new equipment  131  is alternate access compatible, the installation server  150  updates the displayed welcome page  152  to inquire if the user  108  wants to subscribe to the alternate access by clicking on one of the “join” buttons  153  now displayed next to each of the plans. Making this one click sends and invokes the initialization script  164  on the client  110  causes the client to display an hourglass and to poll the alternate access URL every second or so waiting for an installation completion message. It also invokes a configuration process  168  on the installation server  150  which remotely logs into  168 ′ the device or devices that make up the new node  131 , verifies they have the latest software, downloads new software if they do not, and then reconfigures them to be secure elements of the alternate access network  132 . While this is happening the new relay node  131  will briefly lose connectivity but will eventually associate with a new secure alternate access SSID  124  and become part of the alternate access network  132 . At that point, the browser on the subscriber device  110  is able to once again connect to installation server  150  which returns the installation complete page  156 . It should be noted that from the user perspective, the local initialization script  164 ′ keeps a local configuration page  154  alive (including a spinning hourglass or more detailed status updates) while the devices within relay node  131  are reconfigured and network connectivity via SSID  122  is temporarily lost for transitioning to the traffic SSID  124 , as shown by arrow  144 . 
     In further detail, once the configuration application  168  has gained remote access to the user&#39;s newly installed node  131 , the application  168  updates the firmware to a latest release for the devices within node  131  as determined by the discovery response  163 , and then configures the devices ( 120 ,  180  &amp;  182 ) so the node becomes an alternate access node  131  in the alternate access network  132 . Such reconfiguration is performed as part of confirming compatibility and maintaining the appearance of a continuous session for reprogramming and reconfiguring the user&#39;s newly installed equipment so it can include a repeater radio  182  to further extend the alternate access network  132 -N. The configuration application  168  reestablishes a new connection  146  using the traffic SSID  124 , such that upon completion of the configuration application  168 , the new user device  110  is securely connected to the Internet as a node of the alternate access network  132 . 
       FIG. 4  is an example of configuration as in  FIG. 3  but using any other available Internet connection to reach the alternate access network&#39;s ISP&#39;s website and installation server  150 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in another arrangement, startup logic  160  for automatically identifying an available SSID  122  and local provider  143  is not included in the components that will form relay node  131 . For the case where relay node  131 , as shipped by its manufacturer, can relay web connections, but does not have the startup logic  160  and hence, connects to the Internet by some means other than the alternate access network, an extra step is required. The user wanting to join will have to explicitly type in the URL  155  for direct access to a website including a configuration screen, as shown by arrow  1010 . Once there, the process is as in  FIG. 3  with a distinction that, since the Internet connection is not over the alternate access network, the radio  182  can&#39;t identify with certainty whether the new node is just the second address in the traceroute or has several addresses. To compensate, the discovery script  162  performs a traceroute to probe the 2nd and subsequent addresses to automatically identify the new node equipment and the IP addresses (if there are several) associated with it. Hence, a configuration with generic or off-the-shelf equipment not shipped with the startup logic  160 , requires the user to reach the configuration website, after which one-click configuration as above is all that is required. 
       FIG. 5  is an example of configuration as in  FIG. 3  using manual configuration for the initial connection to the website of the alternative access network. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , for the case where the relay node  131  equipment is not able to connect to any network without prior configuration, a proactive procedure allows the user to initiate the configuration and sign on by establishing an Internet connection through any available gateway  136 . In this case, a potential network participant obtains an Internet connection, connects their user device  110  or other browsing device, goes to the alternate access installation webpage  152  and downloads a manual configuration application  169 . However, even this exchange is automated by the welcome  152  and configuration screens  154  such that it appears to be just simple web browsing, rather than tearing down and establishing new connections. 
     An initial user exchange occurs via the user device  110  and the gateway  136 , for receiving the manual configuration application  169 . The manual configuration application  169 , as described further below, modifies the user device  110  Internet access default to switch over to either a wireless or wired connection to the local access point  182 . During the configuration of the device or devices (e.g.  120 ,  180  &amp;  182 ) within relay node  131 , the manual configuration application  169  allows the user to appear to remain connected to the installation server  150  even when they are not connected to the web. The manual configuration application  169  employs the user device  110  native Wifi API to programmatically change the Wi-Fi access point with which the user web browser device  110  associates. The initial connection  142  occurs by user initiation of accessing the website  150 , and concludes with a wired or wireless connection to the relay node  131  for wireless communication with the alternate access device  134 . 
     When the user connects to the alternate access device  134  and installation server  150  but the installation server  150  is unable to discover an alternate access compatible wireless node in the path between the client and the server, the server delivers a page offering a list of alternate access compatible devices and asking the user to click on the one they&#39;ve installed. 
     Based on their selection, appropriate material (web pages, configuration images and the configuration applet) is downloaded into local storage on the user device  110 . The configuration applet executes probe  166  on user device  110  and, if the probed devices appear compatible, then the user sees the welcome page  152  describing alternate access, describing what it means to join and offering one or more plans. As before, the user joins by clicking one of the “join” buttons displayed next to the plans. 
     If the newly installed node  131  is one to which the user  108  will eventually connect via Wi-Fi, the probing and configuration applets use the Native Wifi API to replace the current Wi-Fi association with a new one based on the installed node&#39;s default SSID. The newly installed node  131  is probed and confirmed to be useable. If there is a problem here or at any point in the configuration process, the manual configuration application  169  reconnects to the original Wi-Fi access point  136  and returns an error indication to the alternate access installation server so the alternate access server can lead the user through corrective measures. 
     Assuming the configuration succeeds, the equipment  131  will end up securely associated with the alternate access network  132 , the browser  110  reconnects to the installation server  150  over the local provider  132  network and then displays the installation complete page  156 . 
     If the newly installed node is one to which the user will eventually connect via a fixed Ethernet connection, then it is possible for the browsing device  110  to be simultaneously connected to the Internet (via Wi-Fi) and to the newly installed wireless node (via an Ethernet cable). In this case, the downloaded configuration application  169  is responsible for updating the local routing table on the browsing device  110  after the user is prompted to plug in the Ethernet cable. This is necessary on many devices as some operating systems (e.g. MICROSOFT WINDOWS®) automatically update the default route to the Internet  130  to give priority to physical Ethernet over Wi-Fi while we need to keep default Internet access going via Wi-Fi and only use the physical Ethernet for access to the new device (at least until configuration is complete). 
       FIGS. 6-9  are a flowchart of configuration as in  FIGS. 3-5 . Referring to FIGS.  1  and  3 - 9 , at step  300 , the method of enrolling subscribers for the alternate access network service includes, at step  300 , identifying an available SSID  122  for wireless connection, and associating the user device  110  with a remote server  150  to initiate a session  142  based on the identified SSID  122 , as shown at step  301 . The initialization script  164  determines, based on the scanning, if the initialization token  122  is available for establishing the first session, and if not, receives the URL for the remote server  150  from a user interface  155 , as disclosed at step  302 . A check is performed, at step  303 , to determine if the open SSID is available via preconfigured startup logic  160 , and if so, control passes to step  304  for the registration sequence of  FIG. 3 . Otherwise, control passes to step  306  for considering the registration sequence of  FIG. 4 . At step  306 , a check is performed to determine if a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) associated with the remote server for establishing the first session can be entered by the user. If the user entered URL can access the installation server  150  for establishing the initialization connection  142 , control passes to step  308  for pursuing the installation sequence of  FIG. 4 , otherwise the installation sequence of  FIG. 5  is pursued at step  318 . 
     In the first case having alternate access enabled equipment  131 , at step  304 , the access device  182  invokes the startup logic  160  for identifying the initialization token  122 , in which, in the example arrangement shown, the initialization token is an SSID for wireless communication according to an established protocol. Using the established connection  122 , relay node  131  identifies, via the SSID, a predetermined URL for receiving the discovery script  162 , such that the discovery script further includes the initialization script  164  for providing a continuous display of preloaded screens  152 ,  154 ,  156 . 
     Continuing at step  318 , the user device  110  receives, via the initiated session  122 , the discovery script  162  for identifying at least one network identifier corresponding to the associated user device  110 . The identifier is typically expected to be an IP address, but could be any suitable identifier such as a MAC address, for example. This includes receiving the discovery script  162  from the remote server  150  for maintaining an appearance of a continuous session (via screens  152 ,  154 ,  156 ) during termination of the initiated session  142  and reestablishing a connection via the operational session  144 , as clarified at step  319 . 
     Upon execution, the user device  110  gathers, based on the initialization script  164 , network identifiers of the user device  110  and corresponding devices for receiving the network service  132 , such that the corresponding devices including intervening devices between user device and remote server employed in providing the network services from the remote server  150 , as depicted at step  320 . The user device  110  reports, via the discovery script  162 , the network identifiers corresponding to the association between the user device  110  and the remote server  150 , as disclosed at step  321 . 
     In response, the remote server  150  probes each of the devices  110  corresponding to the reported network identifiers to determine if the corresponding devices are compatible with the remote server  150  by executing the probe application  166  for sending probes  166 ′, as shown at step  322 . In response, the remote server  150  receives a confirmation  163  to the probes  166 ′ to affiliate the associated user device  110  with the network service  132  provided by the remote server  150 , as depicted at step  323 . 
     Based on this confirmation  163 , the user device  110  receives, via the initiated session  142 , a login sequence for login into the user device  110 , and for establishing an operational session  144  to supercede the initiated session  142 , as depicted at step  324 . This includes, at step  325 , receiving a login request for the configuration application  168  based on the identified network address from the remote server  150  to log into the user device  110 , as shown at step  326 . The user device  110  accepts the login from the remote server  150  for configuring, using the configuration application  168 , the identified node  110  for receiving the network service via the second session  144 , as disclosed at step  326 , and confirming, via remote login to the identified nodes (i.e. user device  110 ), compatibility with the remote server  150  providing the network service, as depicted at step  327 . 
     The user display of the user device  110  presents, based on the discovery script  162 , an interface  152  for receiving a selection  153  to invoke the network service  132 , as shown at step  328 . This includes displaying preloaded screens  152 ,  154 ,  156  for maintaining the appearance of a continuous session, as depicted at step  329 , and reconfigures the relay node  131  for operation as part of the alternate access network  132 . The configuration application  168 , after logging in, updates the firmware to a latest release for the discovered devices that comprise relay node  131 , as well as any other devices determined by the discovery response  163 , and then configures the devices (e.g.  120 ,  180  &amp;  182 ) so the node becomes an alternate access node  131  in the alternate access network  132 . As the configuration application  168  reconfigures and establishes the operational session  146 , the user device  110  continues executing, during the establishment of the operational session, the initialization script  164  for maintaining the appearance of the continuous session  152 ,  154 ,  156  on the user device  110  while the initiated session  142  is disconnected and the operational SSID  124  is invoked for association to the remote server  150 , as clarified at step  330 . In the example configuration shown, the second session  144  is an operational session based on an authenticated SSID  124 , such that the operational session is a secure session, as shown at step  331 . 
     From the executing configuration application  168 , the user device  110  disconnects from the first session  142  such that connectivity is temporarily lost, as depicted at step  332 , and the configuration application  168  reconfigures the connective device  182  using the identity of the identified elements as intervening nodes, as disclosed at step  333 . The user device then reestablishing connectivity using the second token  124  for providing the user with controlled access to the alternate access network  132 , as depicted at step  334 . 
     If the check at step  303  indicates that the new equipment does not have the startup logic  160 , then performing initial startup behavior includes connecting to a predetermined URL  155  for receiving the discovery script, as depicted at step  308  and shown in the configuration example of  FIG. 4 . The user device  110  invokes the discovery script  162 , as depicted at step  309 , and performs a traceroute, or probe  166 ′, for identifying a network address of the newly connected equipment  110 , as disclosed at step  310 . The traceroute includes sending a series of traceroute messages with an increasing time to live for identifying network elements connected between the newly connected equipment and the predetermined URL, as clarified at step  311 , and control returns to step  318  for configuration as above. 
     If the check at step  307  indicates that the initialization token  122  is still unavailable, the sign-on sequence includes, in response to scanning for the initialization token, receiving a set of available initialization tokens visible to the user device, as shown at step  312 . These are generally available WiFi signals propagated by devices within range. The user  108  selects, from a list of the available initialization tokens, an initialization token corresponding to the newly added device for receiving the network service, as depicted at step  313 . Typically, it can be expected that the user would be able to identify a signal emanating from the newly connected access device  182  from observing either the name or signal strength and by knowing preexisting signals in proximity. In this scenario, the configuration application  168  replaces a current wireless access point employed by the user device with the identity of the newly added device  182  for providing wireless access to the user device  110 , as depicted at step  314 . Depending on whether the user device  110  will employ wired or wireless access for the operational connection  144 , as depicted at step  315 , the user further establishing a physical connection between the user device  110  and the newly added device  182  for receiving the network service, as depicted at step  316 . Since some operating systems route Internet packets over wired interfaces by default, an extra step overrides this preferential treatment for wired external connections allowing simultaneous access to the node  131  devices via the newly connected cable and Internet access via the existing wireless access point, as depicted at step  317 . Control then passes to step  318  to continue configuration as above. 
     Those skilled in the art should readily appreciate that the programs and methods for seamless access to an alternate access medium as defined herein are deliverable to a user processing and rendering device in many forms, including but not limited to a) information permanently stored on non-writeable storage media such as ROM devices, b) information alterably stored on writeable non-transitory storage media such as floppy disks, magnetic tapes, CDs, RAM devices, and other magnetic and optical media, or c) information conveyed to a computer through communication media, as in an electronic network such as the Internet or telephone modem lines. The operations and methods may be implemented in a software executable object or as a set of encoded instructions for execution by a processor responsive to the instructions. Alternatively, the operations and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in whole or in part using hardware components, such as Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), state machines, controllers or other hardware components or devices, or a combination of hardware, software, and firmware components. 
     While the system and method of seamless access to an alternate access medium has been particularly shown and described with references to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.

Technology Category: 5