Wireless local access network system detection and selection

• US 20040165563A1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sinnarajah, Ragulan, Hsu, Raymond T.
• Application Number:
  US10/374,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20040165563A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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

Method and apparatus for detection and selection of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) service. A remote station, which may be in conjunction with a wireless computing device, may scan for a cellular paging indicator and a WLAN beacon using one or two tuners. When WLAN coverage is available, a packet data session may be transferred thereto.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) comprising:

scanning for a cellular paging indicator;

scanning for a WLAN beacon;

determining if the WLAN is accessible;

if the WLAN is accessible, registering with the WLAN.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein scanning for a WLAN beacon comprises:

requesting a WLAN beacon; and

scanning for a WLAN beacon.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the WLAN beacon and the cellular paging indicator are synchronously transmitted.

4. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

if the remote station has a current packet data session active in a cellular network;

detecting the WLAN beacon;

waiting for a the current packet data session to become dormant;

performing packet data session handover to the WLAN.

5. The method as in claim 4, wherein performing a packet data session handover comprises:

comparing a signal strength of the WLAN beacon to a threshold; and

if the signal strength of the WLAN beacon is greater than the threshold, performing packet data session handover to the WLAN.

6. The method as in claim 4, wherein performing packet data session handover comprises:

performing mobile Internet Protocol (IP) registration via the WLAN.

7. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

when the remote station is in a power saving mode, waking the remote station to scan for a cellular paging indicator.

8. The method as in claim 7, wherein the WLAN beacon and the cellular paging indicator are synchronous.

9. The method as in claim 7, wherein the WLAN beacon has a first assigned time slot, the cellular paging indicator has a second assigned time slot, scanning for the WLAN beacon comprises:

waiting for a timer period equal to the difference between the second and first assigned time slots;

scanning for the WLAN beacon.

10. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

scanning for the cellular paging indicator by a first tuner; and

scanning for the WLAN beacon by a second tuner.

11. The method as in claim 1, wherein scanning for the WLAN beacon comprises:

if a packet data session is active in a cellular network, prohibiting scanning for the WLAN beacon; and

if there is no packet data session active in the cellular network, scanning for the WLAN beacon.

12. The method as in claim 1, wherein scanning for the WLAN beacon comprises:

receiving instruction from the cellular network to scan for the WLAN beacon; and

scanning for the WLAN beacon.

13. The method as in claim 1, wherein scanning for the WLAN beacon comprises:

requesting the cellular network to save state information while scanning for the WLAN beacon; and

scanning for the WLAN beacon.

14. A method, comprising:

establishing a packet data session via a cellular network;

receiving an instruction to scan for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) beacon;

registering with the WLAN in response to the instruction; and

sending a message to release a packet data session from the cellular network.

15. The method as in claim 14, further comprising:

monitoring a signal strength of signals received from the WLAN; and

if the signal strength falls below a threshold, re-establishing the packet data session with the cellular network.

16. An apparatus for identifying a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) comprising:

means for scanning for a cellular paging indicator;

means for scanning for a WLAN beacon;

means for determining if the WLAN is accessible;

if the WLAN is accessible, registering with the WLAN.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

means for establishing a packet data session via a cellular network;

means for receiving an instruction to scan for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) beacon;

means for registering with the WLAN in response to the instruction; and

means for sending a message to release a packet data session from the cellular network.