System and method for detecting an unlicensensed mobile alliance (UMA) service in GSM wireless communication networks

• US 20070060125A1
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Rahim, Nighat
• Granted Patent: US 7,965,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Techniques are provided for scanning for access points with a wireless communication device including a baseband processor and a WLAN processor. A data download command which defines a preferred network list can be sent from the baseband processor to the WLAN processor. In addition, a first scan command can be sent from the baseband processor which triggers the WLAN processor to independently begin periodically scanning a number channels.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device configured to scan for an access point, comprising:

a baseband processor configured to generate a data download command comprising a preferred network list, and a first scan command; and

a WLAN processor configured to receive the data download command and the first scan command, wherein the first scan command triggers the WLAN processor to independently begin periodically scanning a number channels.

2. A wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the preferred network list defines a list of preferred identifiers and determines scanning criteria for use by the WLAN processor.

3. A wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the baseband processor is configured to generate the first scan command when the baseband processor enters deep sleep mode, and

wherein the first scan command informs the WLAN processor that the baseband processor is entering deep sleep mode.

4. A wireless communication device according to claim 2, wherein the WLAN processor, responsive to the first scan command, is configured to begin periodically scanning the number channels for each preferred identifier at a defined scanning interval.

5. A wireless communication device according to claim 4, wherein the baseband processor is configured to enter into a lowest power mode during intervals between the defined scanning interval.

6. A wireless communication device according to claim 4, wherein the WLAN processor is configured to detect identifiers and compare each detected identifier to the list of preferred identifiers to determine whether the detected identifiers match one of the preferred identifiers.

7. A wireless communication device according to claim 1, wherein the baseband processor is configured to send a configure wake-up command, wherein the configure wake-up command defines when the WLAN processor generates a wake-up command for the baseband processor.

8. A wireless communication device according to claim 6, wherein the WLAN processor is configured to generate a wake-up command for the baseband processor if the WLAN processor finds a match between one of the detected identifiers and one of the preferred identifiers.

9. A wireless communication device according to claim 8, wherein the WLAN processor is configured to ignore detected identifiers which do not match one of the preferred identifiers.

10. A wireless communication device according to claim 7, wherein the baseband processor is configured to generate a configure wake-up command for the WLAN processor which specifies that the baseband processor is to be awakened when one of the detected identifiers matches one of the preferred identifiers.

11. A method of scanning for an access point with a wireless communication device comprising a baseband processor and a WLAN processor, the method comprising:

sending a data download command from the baseband processor to the WLAN processor, wherein the data download command defines a preferred network list; and

sending a first scan command from the baseband processor to a firmware module of the WLAN processor, wherein the first scan command triggers the WLAN processor to independently begin periodically scanning a number channels.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the preferred network list defines a list of preferred identifiers and determines scanning criteria for use by the WLAN processor.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein the first scan command is sent from the baseband processor when the baseband processor enters deep sleep mode and informs the WLAN processor that the baseband processor is entering deep sleep mode.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the first scan command triggers the WLAN processor to begin periodically scanning the number channels for each preferred identifier at a defined scanning interval without waiting for a second scan command from the baseband processor.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the baseband processor enters into a lowest power mode during intervals between the defined scanning interval.

16. A method according to claim 14, the method further comprising:

detecting an identifier at the WLAN processor; and

comparing each detected identifier to the list of preferred identifiers to determine whether one of the detected identifiers matches one of the preferred identifiers.

17. A method according to claim 11, the method further comprising:

sending a configure wake-up command from the baseband processor to the WLAN processor, wherein the configure wake-up command defines when a wake-up command is to be sent to the baseband processor.

18. A method according to claim 16, the method further comprising:

sending a wake-up command to the baseband processor if the WLAN processor finds a match between one of the detected identifiers and one of the preferred identifiers.

19. A method according to claim 18, the method further comprising:

ignoring detected identifiers at the WLAN processor which do not match one of the preferred identifiers.

20. A method according to claim 17, the method further comprising:

sending a configure wake-up command from the baseband processor to the WLAN processor, wherein the configure wake-up command specifies that the baseband processor is to be awakened when one of the detected identifiers matches one of the preferred identifiers.

21. A wireless communication device with a user-selectable scan interval.