Method and system for informing a person that a WLAN is accessible

• US 20040077336A1
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lauriol, Jean-Michel
• Application Number:
  US10/664,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20040077336A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method for informing a person that he or she can access to a WLAN, said person carrying or being associated with a mobile data terminal and a radiotelephone terminal.

Said method is characterised in that it consists in:

first detecting the presence of the WLAN, by receiving identity or presence signals broadcasted by a or the radio access point of the considered WLAN, with a radio receiver associated to or integrated in said mobile data terminal and which is adapted and susceptible to receive radio signals broadcasted by a WLAN, and, then sending a signal or a message, via a short range radio transmitter, to said radiotelephone terminal equipped with an adapted receiver, in order to inform said person that he or she can access to said WLAN.

Claims

1. ) Method for informing a person that he or she can access to a WLAN, said person carrying or being associated with a mobile data terminal and a radiotelephone terminal, method wherein it consists in:

first detecting the presence of the WLAN, by receiving identity or presence signals broadcasted by a or the radio access point of the considered WLAN, with a radio receiver associated to or integrated in said mobile data terminal and which is adapted and susceptible to receive radio signals broadcasted by a WLAN, and,

then sending a signal or a message, via a short range radio transmitter, to said radiotelephone terminal equipped with an adapted receiver, in order to inform said person that he or she can access to said WLAN.

2. ) Method according to claim 1, wherein it consists in putting beforehand said mobile data terminal in a mode in which it scans periodically, preferably at (a) given frequency(ies) or within a given frequency range, for the existence of an identity or a presence signal from a WLAN for which the considered person is a potential user.

3. ) Method according to anyone of claims 1 and 2, wherein the scanning for an available WLAN is based on detection of a or the network identifier broadcasted by the or a WLAN to which the concerned person has suscribed.

4. ) Method according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein a successful detection of a WLAN to which the concerned person has suscribed is also notified directly by the mobile data terminal, by means of an audio signal and/or a visual message displayed on its screen.

5. ) Method according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mobile data terminal and the radiotelephone terminal are equipped with wireless personal area network interfaces, such as IrDa and Bluetooth interfaces.

7. ) System according to claim 6, wherein it is able to perform the method according to anyone of claims 1 to 5.

6. ) Portable communication system able to inform a person that he or she can access to a WLAN, said system comprising a mobile data terminal and a radiotelephone terminal, wherein said mobile data terminal is associated with or integrates, on the one hand, a radio receiver which is adapted and susceptible to receive identity or presence radio signals broadcasted by a or the radio access point of the considered WLAN and, on the other hand, a short range radio transmitter, able to send a signal or a message in order to inform said person that he or she can access to said WLAN and in that said radiotelephone terminal is equipped with a receiver adapted to receive the signal or message sent by said short range transmitter of said mobile data terminal.