Network Access Based on Social-Networking Information

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016337373-A1
Application number	US-201615222847-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 28, 2016
Priority date	Jan 26, 2012
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request at a wireless access point from a client system to access a network through the wireless access point. The wireless access point sends an identifier associated with the client system to a social-networking system, the social-networking system including user profiles arranged in one or more social graphs. The social graphs store relationships between the user profiles. The method further includes receiving at the wireless access point from the social-networking system an authorization determination. The authorization determination is based upon a first user profile of the plurality of user profiles. The first user profile includes the identifier associated with the client system. The method further includes providing the client system with access to the network through the wireless access point in accordance with the authorization determination.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
receiving, at a wireless access point, from a client system of a first user, a request to access a network through the wireless access point, the wireless access point being operated by an entity; sending, by the wireless access point, an identifier comprising a unique code that uniquely identifies the client system to a social-networking system, the social-networking system comprising at least one social graph, the social graph comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges connecting the nodes, each of the edges between two of the nodes representing a relationship between the nodes, wherein a first node of the plurality of nodes corresponds to the first user; receiving, at the wireless access point, from the social-networking system, a positive authorization determination, wherein the positive authorization determination is made at least in part because the user authorized automatic check-ins with the entity; and providing the client system with access to the network through the wireless access point in accordance with the positive authorization determination.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the automatic check-in authorization is indicated in a timeline associated with the first user.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the automatic check-in authorization results in the first user checking in with the entity at least one time, and a timeline associated with the first user indicates that the first user has previously checked in with the entity.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the automatic authorization determination is made at least in part because a timeline associated with the entity indicates that the first user has previously checked in with the entity.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier associated with the client system is a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the client system.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is a first request and the client system is a first client system, the method further comprising:
receiving a second request at the wireless access point from a second client system to access the network through the wireless access point, the second request including an identifier associated with the second client system; and providing the second client system with access to the network through the wireless access point in response to a determination that the first user profile includes the identifier associated with the second client system.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the authorization determination is further based upon a relationship between the first user profile and a second user profile of the plurality of user profiles of the social-networking system, the second user profile associated with an operator of the wireless access point.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising redirecting by the wireless access point the client system to a webpage of an entity that operates the wireless access point, the webpage hosted by the social-networking system.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the wireless access point has provided access to the network to one or more users with user profiles that have a relationship to the first user profile; and providing an indication of the one or more users to the client system.

10 . A system comprising:
one or more processors; and a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to:
receive, at a wireless access point, from a client system of a first user, a request to access a network through the wireless access point, the wireless access point being operated by an entity;
send, by the wireless access point, an identifier comprising a unique code that uniquely identifies the client system to a social-networking system, the social-networking system comprising at least one social graph, the social graph comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges connecting the nodes, each of the edges between two of the nodes representing a relationship between the nodes, wherein a first node of the plurality of nodes corresponds to the first user;
receive, at the wireless access point, from the social-networking system, a positive authorization determination, wherein the positive authorization determination is made at least in part because the user authorized automatic check-ins with the entity; and
provide the client system with access to the network through the wireless access point in accordance with the positive authorization determination.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the automatic check-in authorization is indicated in a timeline associated with the first user.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the automatic check-in authorization results in the first user checking in with the entity at least one time, and a timeline associated with the first user indicates that the first user has previously checked in with the entity.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the automatic authorization determination is made at least in part because a timeline associated with the entity indicates that the first user has previously checked in with the entity.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the identifier associated with the client system is a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the client system.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the request is a first request and the client system is a first client system, the method further comprising:
receiving a second request at the wireless access point from a second client system to access the network through the wireless access point, the second request including an identifier associated with the second client system; and providing the second client system with access to the network through the wireless access point in response to a determination that the first user profile includes the identifier associated with the second client system.

16 . One or more non-transitory computer readable media comprising logic operable to:
receive, at a wireless access point, from a client system of a first user, a request to access a network through the wireless access point, the wireless access point being operated by an entity; send, by the wireless access point, an identifier comprising a unique code that uniquely identifies the client system to a social-networking system, the social-networking system comprising at least one social graph, the social graph comprising a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges connecting the nodes, each of the edges between two of the nodes representing a relationship between the nodes, wherein a first node of the plurality of nodes corresponds to the first user; receive, at the wireless access point, from the social-networking system, a positive authorization determination, wherein the positive authorization determination is made at least in part because the user authorized automatic check-ins with the entity; and provide the client system with access to the network through the wireless access point in accordance with the positive authorization determination.

17 . The media of claim 16 , wherein the identifier associated with the client system is a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the client system.

18 . The media of claim 16 , wherein the identifier associated with the client system is a user name of the first user profile.

19 . The media of claim 16 , wherein the request is a first request and the client system is a first

Assignees

• Facebook Inc

Inventors

• Tseng Erick
• Talwar Mohit
• Potra Adrian
• Toksvig Michael John Mckenzie
• Garcia David Harry

Classifications

• G06Q10/40

  Business processes related to social networking or social networking services · CPC title

• H04L63/102 Primary

  Entity profiles · CPC title

• H04W88/08

  Access point devices · CPC title

• G06Q30/0269

  based on user profile or attribute · CPC title

• H04L67/306

  User profiles · CPC title