SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACHIEVING WLAN COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN ACCESS POINT AND MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20080057956A1
• Filed: 09/05/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: EMEOTT, STEPHEN P., BLACK, GREGORY R., D'AMICO, THOMAS V., STORM, BRIAN D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,472,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A system and method for achieving wireless local area network (WLAN) communications between an access point and a mobile device are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the system involves an access point that includes a first transceiver capable of sending and receiving first wireless communication signals in accordance with a WLAN protocol, and a first transmitter capable of sending second wireless communication signals that are cellular/WAN communication signals on a first channel. The second wireless communication signals can be received by a mobile, dual-mode (or multi-mode) wireless communication device such as a cellular telephone and, upon such receipt, WLAN communications can be established and conducted between the access point (or another access point) and the mobile device.

Claims

1. An access point comprising:

a first transceiver capable of sending and receiving first wireless communication signals in accordance with a wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol; and

a first transmitter capable of sending second wireless communication signals that are cellular communication signals on a first channel.

2. The access point of claim 1, wherein the cellular communication signals are homing signals configured to notify another device of a presence of the access point when the other device is within a first range of the access point, and wherein the first channel is dedicated for communication of the cellular communication signals.

3. The access point of claim 1, wherein the cellular communication signals identify at least one additional channel on which either the first transceiver is capable of sending or receiving at least some of the first wireless communication signals, or a second transceiver of another access point is capable of sending or receiving further wireless communication signals.

4. The access point of claim 3, wherein one of the following is true:

the cellular communication signals identify one additional channel on which the first transceiver is capable of sending or receiving at least some of the first wireless communication signals;

the cellular communication signals identify a plurality of the additional channels on which the first transceiver is capable of sending or receiving at least some of the first wireless communication signals; and

the cellular communication signals identify a plurality of the additional channels on which the first transceiver and the second transceiver are capable of sending or receiving the first and further wireless communication signals.

5. The access point of claim 1, wherein the cellular communication signals include at least one type of information selected from the group consisting of system type information, country string information, regulatory class information, channel number information and access information.

6. The access point of claim 1, wherein one of the following is true:

the access point is located within North America or South America and the first channel corresponds to a first frequency range included within 1850 MHz to 1880 MHz; and

the access point is located within Europe or Asia and the first channel corresponds to a second frequency range included within 880 MHz to 894 MHz.

7. The access point of claim 1, wherein the access point includes a means for receiving power from a utility power source.

8. The access point of claim 1, wherein the access point is configured to allow addition, removal and/or replacement of the first transmitter with respect to the first transceiver.

9. A communication system comprising the access point of claim 1 and a dual-mode communication device capable of both cellular and WLAN communications.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the dual-mode communication device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a computer, and a handheld device.

11. The communication system of claim 9, further comprising an additional access point, an additional dual-mode communication device, and a base station.

12. A method of operating the access point of claim 1, the method comprising:

sending the cellular communication signals on a periodic basis;

determining based upon at least one of the received first wireless communication signals whether an additional communication device is attempting to communicate with the access point in accordance with the WLAN protocol; and

if so, continuing to communicate with the additional communication device by way of the first wireless communication signals for a period of time.

13. A dual-mode wireless communication device comprising:

a first transceiver capable of sending and receiving first wireless communication signals in accordance with a wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol; and

a second transceiver capable of sending and receiving second wireless communication signals that are cellular communication signals,

wherein the dual-mode wireless communication device is configured to determine, based upon at least one of the received second wireless communication signals, a presence of an access point with which the dual-mode wireless communication device is capable of communicating via the first wireless communication signals.

14. The dual-mode wireless communication device of claim 13,

wherein the dual-mode wireless communication device is further configured to determine a channel over which communications with the access point are possible;

and

wherein the second transceiver is capable of receiving the second wireless communication signals on at least a first channel and a second channel.

15. The dual-mode wireless communication device of claim 13, further comprising a microprocessor and a memory device, wherein the WLAN protocol is a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) protocol, and wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a computer, and a handheld device.

16. A communication system comprising the dual-mode wireless communication device of claim 13, and further comprising each of the access point and an additional transmitter located either at the access point or within a region proximate to the access point, wherein the additional transmitter sends the second wireless communication signals.

17. A method of operating a dual-mode wireless communication device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a first signal communicated via a first cellular communication channel, the first signal indicating a first presence of a first access point; and

(b) upon receiving the first signal, conducting communications with the first access point according to a first wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, prior to (b):

receiving a second signal communicated via either the first cellular communication channel or a second cellular communication channel, the second signal indicating a second presence of a second access point; and

selecting the first access point as being one of the first and second access points with which the communications are desired.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining, based upon the first signal, an additional channel over which the communications are to be conducted, and wherein the dual-mode wireless communication device is one of a cellular telephone, a computer, and a handheld device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the determining of the additional channel is based upon information selected from the group consisting of system type information, country string information, regulatory class information, channel number information and access information.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the following is true:

the first signal is a homing signal communicated within North America or South America and the first cellular communication channel corresponds to a first frequency range included within 1850 MHz to 1880 MHz; and

the first signal is a homing signal communicated within Europe or Asia and the first cellular communication channel corresponds to a second frequency range included within 880 MHz to 894 MHz.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the first signal is provided from either the first access point, a second access point, or an additional transmitter independent of the first and second access points.