Scanning for wireless local area networks

• US 20060215621A1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Gammon, Scott, Abdel-Kader, Sherif
• Application Number:
  US11/087,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20060215621A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless device may connect to itself in Independent Basic Service Set mode and then actively scan or a particular wireless network name by transmitting one or more probe requests, each transmitted on a different communication channel.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless device, the method comprising:

connecting to said device in Independent Basic Service Set mode; and

actively scanning for a particular wireless network name by transmitting one or more probe requests, each of said one or more probe requests transmitted on a different communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon receiving a response that indicates discovery of one or more access points with said particular wireless network name, exiting said mode, entering Basic Service Set mode, storing a profile in a wireless local area controller of said device, said profile including said particular wireless network name and passively scanning for wireless networks that match said profile.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying that said profile is misconfigured if said passive scanning fails to result in an association.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response that indicates discovery of one or more access points with said particular wireless network name;

exiting said mode and entering Basic Service Set mode; and

upon receiving a beacon including said particular wireless network name, connecting to the access point that sent said beacon.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response that indicates discovery of one or more access points with said particular wireless network name;

exiting said mode and entering Basic Service Set mode; and

upon receiving a beacon not including any wireless network name, transmitting another probe request for said particular wireless network name.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response that indicates a failure to discover any access points with said particular wireless name, actively scanning for a different wireless network name.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a response that indicates a failure to discover any access points with said particular wireless name, putting a radio of said device into a sleep state.

8. A wireless device comprising:

a wireless local area network controller; and

a processor; and

a memory to store executable code which, when executed by said processor, programs said controller to connect to itself in Independent Basic Service Set mode and instructs said controller to transmit one or more probe requests for a particular wireless network name.

9. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein upon receipt by said processor of a response that indicates discovery of one or more access points with said particular wireless network name, said code, when executed by said processor, is to program said controller to exit said mode and enter Basic Service Set mode, and is to enable said controller to passively scan for said particular wireless network name.

10. The wireless device of claim 8, further comprising:

a memory able to store one or more additional wireless network names,

wherein upon receipt by said processor of a response that indicates a failure to discover any access points with said particular wireless name, said executable code, when executed by said processor, instructs said controller to transmit one or more probe requests for one of said additional wireless network names.

11. The wireless device of claim 8, further comprising:

a radio,

wherein upon receipt by said processor of a response that indicates a failure to discover any access points with said particular wireless name, said processor puts said radio into a sleep state.