Location based notification of wlan availability via wireless communication network
First Claim
1. A method of notifying a mobile terminal that a wireless local area network is present, said mobile terminal being connected to a wireless communication network, comprising:
- determining the location of said mobile terminal;
comparing said location with a known location of said wireless local area network; and
notifying said mobile terminal of said wireless local area network via said wireless communication network in response to said comparison.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless mobile terminal is alerted to the presence of an available Wireless Local Area Network by a communication network, based on the location of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal alerts a wireless computing device, either via a wired or wireless interface, or by paging the user. Alternatively, the mobile terminal and the wireless computing device may form an integrated unit with interfaces to both the WLAN and the communication network. The wireless computing device initiates a scan for the WLAN, or logs onto the WLAN based on information transmitted to the mobile terminal. When the user is not in the range of a WLAN, the wireless computing device conserves battery power by not scanning for a WLAN. The communication network may additionally be connected to the WLAN for data exchange. The alert criteria may be customized and stored in a subscriber database at the communication network.
326 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of notifying a mobile terminal that a wireless local area network is present, said mobile terminal being connected to a wireless communication network, comprising:
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determining the location of said mobile terminal;
comparing said location with a known location of said wireless local area network; and
notifying said mobile terminal of said wireless local area network via said wireless communication network in response to said comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a mobile computing device to conserve power, said mobile computing device including a first wireless interface for communicating with a first network, said method comprising:
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placing said first wireless interface in an inactive mode;
receiving a notification indicating the presence of a first network proximate the current location of the mobile computing device from a second network; and
activating said first wireless interface responsive to said notification. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of connecting a mobile computing device to a wireless local area network, comprising:
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receiving from a mobile terminal data pertaining to the presence of said wireless local area network, said data being communicated to said mobile terminal by a wireless communication network in response to detecting a current location of said mobile terminal; and
connecting said mobile computing device to said wireless local area network in response to receiving said data. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A wireless communication network, comprising:
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a plurality of base stations operative to communicate wirelessly with at least one mobile terminal;
a database storing location information relating to at least one wireless local area network; and
a location estimator operative to estimate the location of said mobile terminal, and to notify said mobile terminal if said mobile terminal is within a predetermined range of said wireless local area network. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A wireless communication system, comprising:
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a mobile terminal;
a plurality of base stations operative to communicate wirelessly with said mobile terminal;
a database storing location information relating to at least one wireless local area network;
a wireless mobile computing device including a wireless local area network interface for communicating with said wireless local area network, said interface being maintained in an inactive state and placed in an active state in response to a notification received by said mobile terminal from said wireless communication network indicating the proximity of said mobile terminal to said wireless local area network. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification