Wireless connection selection and setup

• US 20060221919A1
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huotari, Allen J., McRae, Matthew B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,687,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• 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

Abstract

A method for facilitating communication between a wireless client and a network is disclosed. The method comprises communicating information between the wireless client and the network prior to associating the wireless client to the network. The information can be related to setup features or services.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating communication between a wireless client and a network, the method comprising communicating information between the wireless client and the network prior to associating the wireless client to the network, the information being related to at least one item selected from the group consisting of:

setup; and

services.

2. A method for facilitating communication between a wireless client and a network, the method comprising communicating a beacon from an access point, the beacon comprising at least one item selected from the group consisting of:

information regarding available setup features; and

information regarding available services.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the beacon is used by the wireless client to select which access point to associate to.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the beacon comprises at least one 802.11 information element.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the beacon is communicated to a portable wireless client.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the beacon is communicated to a portable computer.

7. A method for facilitating communication between a wireless client and a network, the method comprising communicating a probe request from a wireless client to the network, the probe request requesting at least one item selected from the group consisting of:

setup information; and

available services.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the probe request is communicated to a plurality of access points and further comprising receiving a response from only those access points capable of providing at least one of a desired setup and a desired service.

9. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising associating the wireless client to an access point that provides at least one of a desired setup and a desire service.

10. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein a probe response communicated from the network to the wireless client is used by the wireless client to select which network to associate to.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the probe request comprises at least one 802.11 information element.

12. An access point comprising a circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response, the circuit being configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising at least one item selected from the group consisting of:

information regarding available setup features; and

information regarding available services.

13. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response comprises an 802.11 transceiver.

14. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising a WAN connection type information element.

15. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising a WAN connection speed information element.

16. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising a NAT/NAPT information element.

17. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising a VPN information element.

18. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising a QoS information element.

19. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising an Upstream Network Utilization of AP information element.

20. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising a Managed Access Point information element.

21. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising an AP Owner/Operator information element.

22. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising an AP Manufacturer information element.

23. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising an AP Model information element.

24. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising an AP Type information element.

25. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising an AP Firmware version information element.

26. The access point as recited in claim 12, wherein the circuit for communicating a beacon/probe response is configured so as to communicate a beacon/probe response comprising a Client Service Type information element.