Restricted WLAN profile for unknown wireless terminal

• US 20060088020A1
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Gass, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US11/254,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20060088020A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

According to the invention, a wireless terminal and an access point AP of a wireless local area network WLAN being part of the LAN are able to exchange data for the setup of a wireless link while the wireless terminal being unknown to the AP. The wireless terminal and the AP comprise an interface for the wireless link and means for interacting via the interface by exchanging data frames. The interacting means are adapted for constructing generated data frames for transmission and for decoding received data frames. Such wireless link corresponds to a restricted association being identified by a specific data from an exchanged data frame. And the restricted association corresponds to a restricted access within the LAN, the restricted access being defined by a dedicated virtual LAN VLAN. Such restricted access may be advantageously adapted for a telecommunication like an emergency call set up from the wireless terminal.

Claims

1. A wireless terminal comprising an interface for a wireless link to a Local Area Network LAN being at least partly a Wireless LAN WLAN and means for interacting via the interface with the WLAN by exchanging data frames, the interacting means being adapted for constructing data frames for transmission and for decoding received data frames and are whereby they are able to perform a restricted association with an Access Point AP of the WLAN when within its reach while the wireless terminal being unknown to the AP and the restricted association being identified by specific data from an exchanged data frame, the restricted association corresponding to a restricted access within the LAN identified by a dedicated Virtual LAN VLAN.

2. The wireless terminal according to claim 1 wherein to send the specific data into a data frame to be received by the AP via that wireless link when enabled on the wireless terminal by an user requesting the restricted access.

3. The wireless terminal according to claim 1 wherein the restricted access being adapted for the setup of an emergency call.

4. An Access Point AP of a Wireless Local Area Network WLAN, the AP comprising an interface for wireless links with wireless terminals and means for interacting via the interface with the wireless terminals, the interacting means being adapted for constructing data frames for transmission and for decoding received data frames and are wherein it is able to perform a restricted association with a wireless terminal when within its reach while the wireless terminal being unknown to the AP and the restricted association being identified by specific data from an exchanged data frame, the restricted association corresponding to a restricted access within a LAN being at least partly the WLAN, the restricted access being defined by a dedicated Virtual LAN VLAN.

5. The AP according to claim 4 wherein it is provided with the identification of the dedicated VLAN by a switch of the LAN, allowing the AP to let the wireless terminal an access to the VLAN.

6. The AP according to claim 4 wherein it broadcasts data frames with the specific data to be received by the wireless terminal via the wireless link providing the restricted access to an user of the wireless terminal.

7. A method for setting up a wireless link between a wireless terminal and an Access Point AP of a Wireless Local Area Network WLAN, the wireless terminal and the AP comprising an interface for the wireless link and means for interacting via the interface by exchanging data frames, the interacting means being adapted for constructing data frames for transmission and for decoding received data frames, the method being whereby the step of starting a restricted association by exchanging specific data between the wireless terminal and the AP while the wireless terminal being unknown to the AP, the specific data identifying the restricted association corresponding to a restricted access within a LAN being at least partly the WLAN, the restricted access being defined by a dedicated Virtual LAN VLAN.

8. The method according to claim 7 whereby providing the AP by a switch of the LAN with the identification of the dedicated VLAN allowing the AP to let the wireless terminal to access the VLAN.

9. The method according to claim 7 whereby sending the specific data into a data frame to be received by the AP of the WLAN when enabled on the wireless terminal by an user requesting the restricted access.

10. The method according to claim 7 whereby providing to an user of the wireless terminal the restricted access when the specific data being received in a data frame from an AP.

11. The method according to claim 7 whereby applying it for a restricted access being adapted for the setup of an emergency call.

12. The method according to the claim 7 whereby applying it for a restricted access corresponding to a profile within the LAN for the user of the wireless terminal being unknown to the WLAN.