The present invention relates to Wi-Fi Hotspot access or access and connection/communication to Wi-Fi technology. In particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for real time communication with Wi-Fi enabled user devices through the probe detection by Wi-Fi Hotspot over the network connection. Examples of user devices include, but are not limited, to mobile, laptop, desktop, tabs or Wi-Fi enabled user devices or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The modern cell phone is used for much more than voice communications. With the introduction of cellular data networks and protocols, cell phones have become tools for surfing the net, sending and receiving email, text and multimedia messaging, streaming video and audio, internet messaging and chatting, position location devices (via GPS), on and on (hence their common name of “smart phone” or “Swiss-army phone” in many circles).

Wi-Fi technology, due to the technical advantage of fast transmission speed, wider transmission range is widely applied in the radio communication of equipment, now as existing notebook computers, mobile phones, Mp4, wireless Internet access data cards all have the communication interface of Wi-Fi.

Now-a-days most of user devices have the facility of Wi-Fi hotspots for accessing the internet in a real time manner. Wi-Fi hotspots have now become cloud managed, with the AAA framework (which stand for Authentication, Authorisation and Accounting) becoming more and more common across public Wi-Fi usage. This framework requires Wi-Fi hotspots to collect identities of user devices connecting to Wi-Fi.

To explain what AAA framework is, as discussed above, AAA framework includes Authentication, Authorisation and Accounting which are defined below:

Authentication: To access a Wi-Fi hotspot, a user has to authenticate himself/herself. Most common method of authentication is a Phone number authentication via generation and validation of a One Time Password (OTP) that is sent to the user’s phone number.

Authorisation: Post authentication, the user is authorised to consume internet data based on certain pre-defined rules. These pre-defined rules can easily be created and managed by the owner of the hotspot by accessing a cloud platform that manages every such hotspot.

By way of an example, assume that a Wi-Fi hotspot’s cloud support has applied a blanket rule of provisioning of 100 MB internet data for 30 minutes to every user who tries to access Wi-Fi. Once a user is authenticated and starts an internet session, the user gets access to 100 MB internet data, that can be consumed within 30 minutes from the start of that session.

Accounting: The internet data consumption of every user (data consumed, time spent online, IP addresses visited), needs to be stored on the cloud servers and monitored real time. This is to enable enforcement of data policies.

In the example above, the Wi-Fi hotspot’s cloud server needs to be able to maintain account for data consumption of the user in real time and end the internet usage session once the user exceeds 100 MB data consumption or 30 minutes of internet usage or both.

Conventionally AAA based Wi-Fi hotspots are rapidly emerging as solutions to provide a compliant and controlled public Wi-Fi network across the world.

This framework also enables Wi-Fi hotspots to become ‘Data collectors’, thus, enabling them to have far more technically superior features than just being internet providers.

One such feature is the capability of a Wi-Fi hotspot to enable real time information communication in the form of SMS/App notifications with user devices that are already a part of a Database known to the Wi-Fi hotspot. These communications can be triggered as soon as a known user device enters the range of a Wi-Fi hotspot. This is the novelty behind the proposed invention. A potential technical effect of the present invention is that it discloses an automated mechanism to send a group communication to a set of user/people with exact location identification being more accurate than GPS accuracy. So, if anyone for example any organization or a Government Agency wishes to trigger alert to a group of people in a specific area, a text message/app notification can easily be sent to the individuals of such group in real time.

The present invention, therefore, is directed to a system and method of real time communication with the user devices as soon as these devices are detected by a Wi-Fi hotspot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention relates to a system to provide connectivity to the user device with the Wi-Fi Hotspot in accordance with the AAA framework.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of creating a database of users and their devices after they connect to a AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspot.

The user device can be any Wi-Fi enabled device such as, smart phone, laptop, tabs, or the like which use internet connectivity through the Wi-Fi-Hotspot.

Service provider can be any entity which provides internet connection/communication to the user device.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for the identification of known user devices (known to a backend database), when they are in the signal range of a AAA compliant hotspot.

Another object of the present invention is to trigger a communication message via SMS or App notification once a user device enters the signal range of a AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspot and is identified as a known device.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for real time communication with known user devices via network or system of Wi-Fi hotspots, the method comprising: detecting a user’s device having its Wi-Fi signal on near a AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspot; receiving a probe request from said user device by the said Wi-Fi hotspot; sending the device’s MAC address and RSSI signal strength to a backend server; searching if there is any phone number associated with the detected MAC address in the backend server’s database; checking the RSSI signal strength if the phone number associated with the detected MAC address matches with the backend server’s database; triggering a communication to the user’s device if the RSSI signal strength is greater than a predefined strength.

The step of triggering a communication to the user’s device depending on RSSI signal strength includes, but is not limited to, a SMS based communication or app-based notification.

If the detected MAC address is not present in the backend server’s database, the backend server adds said unmatched MAC address to the probe database.

The step of identity check includes triggering an ‘identity check’ from Wi-Fi server to an App’s server. If the app’s server able to identify the provided MAC address in the app’s database the app server triggering a notification from App to the user’s device.

The present invention also relates to a system for real time communication with known user devices (14) via network or system of Wi-Fi hotspots (16) comprising: a user device (14) in the signal range of a AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspot (16) enabled to trigger a communication message via mediums that include but are not limited to SMS or App notification; a Wi-Fi Cloud server(s) (18) capable to store and process the data collected by Wi-Fi hotspots (16) and also manage the AAA framework across the hotspots (16); a SMS gateway servers/ Mobile App server(s) linked to Wi-Fi cloud servers (18) and enabled to trigger One Time Password (OTP) and other communication-based messages to the Wi-Fi enabled devices (14) of the users.

The network of AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspots (16) act as identity collectors and device sensors.

The Wi-Fi enabled devices (14) enable users to access Wi-Fi via the AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspots (16).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates a flowchart of how existing systems and methods help in creating a database of user phone number and devices in the backend of a AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspot network (step 101 to 112).

Fig. 2A is a visual representation of how the invention functions. This figure illustrates how the proposed functionality senses a known user device in the signal range of a AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspot and triggers a communication message via mediums that include but are not limited to SMS or App notification.

Fig 2B illustrates the working of the present invention in the form of a flow chart.

While the disclosed subject matter is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit aspects of the invention to the embodiments described. The intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is made with reference to the accompanying figures. Exemplary embodiments are described to illustrate the subject matter of the disclosure, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the various elements described and/or shown may be arranged in various combinations and configurations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular indefinite articles "a", "an", and the definite article "the" should be considered to include or otherwise cover both single and plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. In other words, these articles are applicable to one or more referents. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "or" is generally employed to include or otherwise cover "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

The term “client device”, “user device”, “user” defines the same user device which include being not limited to mobile, laptop, desktop, tab or the like which use internet connectivity through the Wi-Fi-Hotspot.

Fig. 1 illustrates a flowchart of an existing method to connect user device with the Wi-Fi Hotspot and create a database of such user devices and their identities, each identity being formed by a unique combination of user device’s MAC address and user’s phone number. This database serves as a reference point for the method of the present invention to trigger a real time communication. In order to clearly understand the creation of this database, assume that a user has a Wi-Fi enabled smartphone and visits a restaurant. This restaurant has installed a AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspot. Now, user searches for a list of available Wi-Fi networks on his device/phone. The user identifies one such network as the restaurant’s Wi-Fi at step 101 and connects to it. At this time, the Wi-Fi hotspot communicates to it’s backend server that a MAC address has attempted to get internet access from the hotspot. The user device tries to check the Wi-Fi connectivity by hitting some predefined URLs at step 102. The Wi-Fi hotspot returns a 302 response to the device, indicating to the device that the device needs to sign in to the router’s captive portal at step 103. A 302 response is a coded response string that is passed by the Wi-Fi router to the connecting devise. A 302 response is a known response code in communication technology. The 302 response also carries the Sign in URL with it. On receiving the response, the user phone’s captive portal browser opens the Sign in URL provided by the 302 response at step 104. The URL, which is hosted on the Wi-Fi cloud server, asks the user to sign in by authenticating his/her phone number at step 105.

After receiving the user’s phone number, the URL page asks for OTP at step 106. At the same time, the back end server generates a OTP value, sends a SMS text with the generated OTP value to the SMS gateway server, with a request to the SMS gateway server to trigger the OTP SMS to the user’s phone number at step 107. The SMS gateway triggers the SMS text to the user’s phone number, user receives this OTP text and enters the same on the Sign in URL page at step 108. The Wi-Fi server validates user entered OTP with the backend database at step 109. If the user entered OTP value matches the OTP value generated at step 109, the Wi-Fi server communicates to the Wi-Fi hotspot’s captive portal to grant internet access to the device at step 110. Thereafter, the hotspot’s captive portal grants internet access to the user and user starts browsing at step 112.

At the same time, the cloud server creates a unique identity of the user’s device with a combination of the phone number and the MAC address. This platform collects thousands of such identities and keeps them stored in the Wi-Fi cloud server’s connectivity database, also called the backend database at step 111. The MAC address is a unique device identification string that is available for detection when Wi-Fi feature of user device is switched ON.

The present invention relates to a method for real time communication with known user devices via a network or system of Wi-Fi Hotspots. This method is based on how SMS communications or App notifications or the like can be triggered in real time, when a known identity is near a Wi-Fi hotspot. Referring now to Fig. 2B, Wherein, if the user’s device’s Wi-Fi signal is on and is near a AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspot, the user’s device sends out probe requests to the Wi-Fi Hotspot at step 201. The Wi-Fi Hotspot sends the device’s MAC address and RSSI strength to the backend server at step 202. The backend server searches if there is any phone number associated with the detected MAC Address in the server’s database at step 203. If a phone number is associated with the detected MAC address in the backend server’s database, then the server at step 204 checks the strength of the signal. If the RSSI signal strength is greater than the predefined strength at step 204A, then the server triggers a communication to the user at step 205A or step 205B (depending on if it’s a SMS based communication or app-based notification, or the like, respectively). If the received identity is not present at the backend server, then server at step 204, adds MAC address to the probe database at step 204B.

To trigger real time communication to the user, the service provider after receiving the probe packets via the hotspot from the Wi-Fi cloud server gets information of the MAC address of the phone sending out the probes, as well as the signal strength (RSSI) of the probe. It is to be understood that the closer the device is to the Wi-Fi hotspot, the stronger the signal strength. The farther the device, the weaker the strength.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the method for real time communication of user device with the service provider through Wi-Fi Hotspot is based on triggering app notifications. As shown in Fig. 2B at step 205B, the Wi-Fi server triggers an ‘identity check’ with the App’s server. If the app’s server is able to identify the provided MAC address in the app’s database at step 205B1, then the App can trigger a notification to the user’s device at step 205B2. Alternatively, if the app’s server is not able to identify the provided MAC address in the app’s database, the process ends at step 205B3.

The entire implementation of the above method is illustrated in Fig. 2A which is a visual representation of a system for real time communication with a user device 14 via network or system of Wi-Fi hotspots 16. Fig. 2A, thus illustrates how the proposed functionality senses a user device 14 in the signal range of a AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspot 16 enabled to trigger a communication message via mediums that include but are not limited to SMS or App notification. As shown in Fig. 2A, the network of AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspots 16 act as identity collectors and device sensors wherein Wi-Fi enabled devices (smartphones/laptops etc.) 14 enable users to access Wi-Fi via the AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspots 16. Further, the Wi-Fi Cloud servers 18 store and process the data collected by Wi-Fi hotspots 16 and also manage the AAA framework across the hotspots 16. The SMS gateway servers/ Mobile App servers that are linked to Wi-Fi cloud servers 18 trigger One Time Password (OTP) and real time communication-based messages to the Wi-Fi enabled devices 14 of the users.

The Wi-Fi hotspot (or the network of hotspots) acts as a sensor that is constantly detecting Wi-Fi probes from Wi-Fi enabled devices in close vicinity to that hotspot. These Wi-Fi enabled devices, that also include smartphones, send out probes to detect sources of Wi-Fi in close vicinity.

Probes enable a user to be able to see a list of available Wi-Fi networks for the user device. User device and available Wi-Fi hotspots are constantly communicating with each other, even if not connected to each other.

The smart-phones or any Wi-Fi enabled device, need not be connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot to send out these probes. All that is required for the smart phone to send out a probe for its Wi-Fi functionality to be enabled (Wi-Fi feature is switched on).

Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, from the foregoing description, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the foregoing description be limited to the exact description set forth above, but rather that such description be construed as encompassing such features that reside in the present invention, including all the features and embodiments that would be treated as equivalents thereof by those skilled in the art.

In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular example(s) disclosed, but that the disclosure will include all examples falling within the scope of the appended claims. ,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:

We Claim:

1. A method for real time communication with known user devices via network or system of Wi-Fi hotspots, the method comprising:
detecting a user’s device having its Wi-Fi signal on near a AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspot;
sending out a probe request by said user device to said Wi-Fi hotspot;
sending the device’s MAC address and RSSI signal strength to a backend server;
searching if there is any phone number associated with the detected MAC address in the backend server’s database;
checking the RSSI signal strength if the phone number associated with the detected MAC address matches with the backend server’s database;
triggering a communication to the user’s device if the RSSI signal strength is greater than a predefined strength.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of triggering a communication to the user’s device depending on RSSI signal strength includes a SMS based communication or app-based notification, or the like.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein detected MAC address if not present in the backend server’s database, the backend server adds said unmatched MAC address to the probe database.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of identity check includes triggering an ‘identity check’ from Wi-Fi server to an App’s server.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein if the app’s server able to identify the provided MAC address in the app’s database the app server triggering a notification from App to the user’s device.

6. A system for real time communication with known user devices (14) via network or system of Wi-Fi hotspots (16) comprising:
a user device (14) in the signal range of a AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspot (16) enabled to trigger a communication message via mediums that include but are not limited to SMS or App notification;
a Wi-Fi Cloud server(s) (18) capable to store and process the data collected by Wi-Fi hotspots (16) and also manage the AAA framework across the hotspots (16);
a SMS gateway servers/ Mobile App server(s) linked to Wi-Fi cloud servers (18) and enabled to trigger One Time Password (OTP) and other communication-based messages to the Wi-Fi enabled devices (14) of the users.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the network of AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspots (16) act as identity collectors and device sensors.

8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the Wi-Fi enabled devices (14) enable users to access Wi-Fi via the AAA compliant Wi-Fi hotspots (16).