Implementing location awareness in WLAN devices

• US 20050195777A1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atheros Communications Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Green, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,352,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

An ambient country identifier (ACI) signal can be used to automatically provide location awareness for a WLAN device. If an ACI signal is detected, then the WLAN device can configure itself to comply with channel and power settings for the country having the detected ACI signal. After detection of the ACI signal, the WLAN device can be “locked” to the country having that ACI signal, thereby ensuring legal operation of the WLAN device even after subsequent restarts. If an ACI signal is not detected, then the WLAN device can be configured in a default mode, e.g. an “open mode” in which end users can configure the WLAN device by entering a country of operation or a “common mode” in which the channel and transmit power settings meet global spectrum usage requirements.

Claims

1. A method of automatically providing location awareness for a WLAN device, the method comprising:

performing a scan for an ambient country identifier (ACI) signal, wherein the ACI signal is at a frequency within operating range of a receiver of the WLAN device; and

if the ACI signal is detected, then configuring the WLAN device for compliance with a country having the ACI signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

determining whether the scan is a first attempt to detect the ACI signal;

instructing the WLAN device to be relocated and then powered up if the scan is a first attempt and does not detect the ACI signal; and

configuring the WLAN device for one of a common mode and an open mode if the scan is not a first attempt and does not detect the ACI signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein if the ACI signal is a Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) signal, then configuring the WLAN device for U.S. operation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring includes locking the WLAN device to the country having the ACI signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein locking includes programming non-volatile memory of the WLAN device to retain current channel and power settings.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein locking includes initiating a protocol required by the country having the ACI signal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the protocol includes enabling radar detection.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein locking includes overriding any end user commands that could be inconsistent with regulations of the country having the ACI signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein overriding any end user commands includes disabling ad-hoc operation of the WLAN device in a predetermined frequency band.

10. A method of operating a WLAN device in one of a common mode or an open mode, the method comprising:

determining whether the WLAN device is in a low-utilization period;

performing a scan for an ambient country identifier (ACI) signal if the WLAN device is in a low-utilization period, wherein the ACI signal is at a frequency within operating range of a receiver of the WLAN device; and

configuring the WLAN device for compliance with spectrum usage rules for a country having the ACI signal if the ACI signal is detected.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein if the WLAN device is not in a low-utilization period, then waiting a predetermined period before performing an ACI scan.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein if the ACI signal is not detected, then continuing operation of the WLAN device in its current mode.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein after continuing operation, the method further including the step of waiting a predetermined period before performing an ACI scan.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein configuring includes locking the WLAN device to the country having the ACI signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein locking includes programming non-volatile memory of the WLAN device to retain current channel and power settings.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein locking includes initiating a protocol required by the country having the ACI signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the protocol includes enabling radar detection.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein locking includes overriding any end user commands that could be inconsistent with regulations of the country having the ACI signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein overriding any end user commands includes disabling ad-hoc operation of the WLAN device in a predetermined frequency band.

20. A software program for automatically providing location awareness for a WLAN device, the software program comprising:

instructions for performing a scan for an ambient country identifier (ACI) signal, wherein the ACI signal is at a frequency within operating range of a receiver of the WLAN device;

instructions for configuring the WLAN device for a country having the ACI signal, if the ACI signal is detected; and

instructions for configuring the WLAN device for a default mode, if the ACI signal is not detected.

21. A WLAN device comprising:

means for automatically providing location awareness for the WLAN device, the means for automatically providing including;

instructions for performing a scan for an ambient country identifier (ACI) signal, wherein the ACI signal is at a frequency within range of a receiver of the WLAN device; and

instructions for configuring the WLAN device for a country having the ACI signal, if the ACI signal is detected.

22. The WLAN device of claim 21, further including:

instructions for determining whether the scan is a first attempt to detect the ACI signal;

instructions for relocating and then powering up the WLAN device, if the scan is a first attempt and if the ACI signal is not detected; and

instructions for configuring the WLAN device in a default mode, if the scan is not a first attempt and-if the ACI signal is not detected.

23. The WLAN device of claim 21, wherein if the ACI signal is a Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) signal, then further including instructions for configuring the WLAN device for U.S. operation.

24. The WLAN device of claim 21, wherein the instructions for configuring includes instructions for locking the WLAN device to the country having the ACI signal.

25. The WLAN device of claim 24, wherein the instructions for locking include instructions for programming non-volatile memory of the WLAN device to retain current channel and power settings.

26. The WLAN device of claim 25, wherein the instructions for locking include the instructions for initiating a protocol required by the country having the ACI signal.

27. The WLAN device of claim 26, wherein the protocol includes enabling radar detection.

28. The WLAN device of claim 25, wherein the instructions for locking include the instructions for overriding any end user commands that could be inconsistent with regulations of the country having the ACI signal.

29. The WLAN device of claim 28, wherein the instructions for overriding any end user commands include the instructions for disabling ad-hoc operation of the WLAN device in a predetermined frequency band.

30. A WLAN device comprising:

means for operating in a default mode including;

instructions for determining whether the WLAN device is in a low-utilization period;

instructions for performing a scan for an ambient country identifier (ACI) signal, if the WLAN device is in a low-utilization period, wherein the ACI signal is at a frequency within range of a receiver of the WLAN device; and

instructions for configuring the WLAN device for compliance with a country having the ACI signal, if the ACI signal is detected.

31. The WLAN device of claim 30, further including instructions for waiting a predetermined period before returning to the instructions for determining, if the WLAN device is in a low-utilization period.

32. The WLAN device of claim 30, further including instructions for continuing operation of the WLAN device in the default mode, if the ACI signal is not detected.

33. The WLAN device of claim 32, further including instructions for waiting a predetermined period before returning to the instructions for determining.

34. The WLAN device of claim 30, wherein the instructions for configuring includes instructions for locking the WLAN device to the country having the ACI signal.

35. The WLAN device of claim 34, wherein the instructions for locking includes instructions for programming non-volatile memory of the WLAN device to retain current channel and power settings.

36. The WLAN device of claim 35, wherein the instructions for locking includes instructions for initiating a protocol required by the country having the ACI signal.

37. The WLAN device of claim 36, wherein the protocol includes enabling radar detection.

38. The WLAN device of claim 35, wherein the instructions for locking includes instructions for overriding any end user commands that could be inconsistent with regulations of the country having the ACI signal.

39. The WLAN device of claim 37, wherein the instructions for overriding any end user commands includes instructions for disabling ad-hoc operation of the WLAN device in a predetermined frequency band.

40. A method of automatically providing location awareness for a WLAN device, the method comprising:

performing a scan for an ambient country identifier (ACI) signal, wherein the ACI signal is at a frequency within range of a receiver of the WLAN device;

if the ACI signal is detected, then configuring the WLAN device for compliance with a country having the ACI signal; and

if the ACI signal is not detected, then configuring the WLAN device for a default mode.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein if the ACI signal is a Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) signal, then configuring the WLAN device for U.S. operation.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein if the WLAN device is configured for the default mode, then automatically rechecking for the ACI signal at periodic intervals.