Wireless lan authentication, authorization, and accounting system and method utilizing a telecommunications network

Abstract

The invention provides an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) a system and method for a plurality of wireless local area networks (WLANs) operated by a plurality of WLAN operators comprising a mobile communications device connecting to a terminal comprising an Internet access application program for accessing the Internet, a personal identification number (PIN) application program, and a unique identifier application program. An Internet access session is requested from the mobile device by activating the Internet access application program in the terminal. Entry of a PIN is requested by activating the PIN application program in the terminal, wherein the PIN is authenticated. If the PIN is authenticated, a unique identifier is retrieved from the mobile device by activating the unique identifier application program in the terminal wherein the unique identifier is accepted by all of the plurality of WLANs operated by the WLAN operators, wherein the unique identifier is sent to an authentication server for WLAN authentication. If the authentication server authenticates the unique identifier, the authentication server instructs an access server that the unique identifier has been authenticated wherein the access server instructs an accounting server to begin access fee calculation. If the access server determines that the Internet access session has ended, the access fee calculation is ended at the accounting server and a total fee is calculated from the ended access fee calculation.