Global network neighborhood: scheme for providing information about available networks in a geographical location

• US 20060092890A1
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Johnston, David, Gupta, Vivek G.
• Application Number:
  US10/979,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20060092890A1
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A method and apparatus supporting a discovery technique of multiple available networks is disclosed. A global network neighborhood data depository contains attributes of multiple networks that are available in a geographic region. The attributes aid in network discovery and selection of an optimum network for communication for devices capable of communicating via multiple networks.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving information regarding multiple available networks in a given locality from a data repository; and

selecting one of the multiple available networks for communication.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information includes network specific details for communication with each of the multiple available networks.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information includes network specific details to aid in selection of one of the multiple available networks.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising sending a request for the information, wherein the request includes a location identifier.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising sending a request for the information, wherein the request includes a selective query to obtain detailed information about a few select networks.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data repository is service provider generated.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the data repository is updated as a result of network sensing scans.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the selecting is further based on predefined user preferences.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiving and the selecting occur during power up of a device.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiving and selecting occur during handoff between a first network and a second network.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the multiple available networks include more than one type of wireless network.

5. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the location identifier is used to select a subset of elements in the data repository.

12. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the first network and the second network are heterogeneous networks.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the first network and the second network are homogeneous networks.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver capable of communicating via a plurality of links; and

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the information includes network specific details for communication with each of the multiple available networks.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the information includes network specific details to aid in selection of one of the multiple available networks.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, the baseband processor further to send a request for the information, wherein the request includes a location identifier.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the location identifier is used to select a subset of information in the data repository.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, the baseband processor further to send a request for the information, wherein the request includes a selective query to obtain detailed information about a few select networks.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the data repository is service provider generated.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the data repository is updated as a result of network sensing scans.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein receipt of information and selection of the network occurs during power up of the apparatus.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein receipt of information and selection of the network occurs during handoff between a first network and a second network.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 24 wherein the first network and the second network are heterogeneous networks.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the first network and the second network are homogeneous networks.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the multiple available networks include more than one type of network.

31. The communication device as recited in claim 28, wherein the information includes network specific details for communication with each of the multiple available networks.

32. The communication device as recited in claim 28, wherein the information includes network specific details to aid in selection of one of the multiple available networks.

33. The communication device as recited in claim 28, the baseband processor further to send a request for the information, wherein the request includes a location identifier.

34. The communication device as recited in claim 31, wherein the location identifier is used to select a subset of information in the data repository.

35. The communication device as recited in claim 31, wherein the multiple available networks include more than one type of network.

38. The depository of information as recited in claim 34, wherein the details include network specific details for communication with the different network.

39. The depository of information as recited in claim 34, wherein a location identifier is used to select a subset of the plurality of elements.

40. The depository of information as recited in claim 34, wherein the depository is service provider generated.

41. The depository of information as recited in claim 34, wherein the depository is updated as a result of network sensing scans.

44. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein each of the plurality of elements includes network specific details for communication with one of the multiple available networks.

45. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein each of the plurality of elements includes network specific details to aid in selection of one of the multiple available networks.

46. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein the request includes a location identifier.

48. The method as recited in claim 39, wherein the request includes a selective query to obtain detailed information about a few select networks.

16. a baseband processor to receive information regarding multiple available networks in a given locality from a data repository, and to select one of the multiple available networks for communication based on the information.

29. A communication device comprising:

one or more antennas to communicate to a wireless network via a wireless link;

a transceiver capable of communicating to a plurality of networks including the wireless network; and

30. a baseband processor to receive information regarding multiple available networks in a given locality from a data repository, and to select one of the multiple available networks for communication.

36. A depository of information comprising:

37. a plurality of elements, each of the plurality of elements containing details of a different network, and each element including location information to aid in selection of a subset of the plurality of elements.

42. A method comprising:

receiving a request for information regarding multiple available networks in a given locality; and

47. The method as recited in claim 42, wherein the location identifier is used to select the plurality of data elements.

43. sending a plurality of elements;

each of the plurality of elements containing details of a different network.