Neighbor list provision in a communication network

• US 20080146232A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ericsson Evdo, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson Evdo, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Knisely, Douglas Norman
• Granted Patent: US 8,532,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal

Abstract

Techniques for neighbor list provision in a communication network are described. From an access terminal, a query for potential access points within communication range of the access terminal is received; and neighbor list information is provided to the access terminal. The neighbor list information is associated with available access points capable of providing the access terminal with access to a network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving from an access terminal, a query for potential access points within communication range of the access terminal; and

providing to the access terminal, neighbor list information associated with available access points capable of providing the access terminal with access to a network.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein receiving a query comprises receiving one or more attributes describing communication features particular to the access terminal;

and

wherein providing neighbor list information comprises selecting the neighbor list information based on the one or more attributes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more attributes comprise one or more of:

a location, an application service requirement, a hardware specification, a hardware identification number of the access terminal, and a user identification number of a user of the access terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing neighbor list information comprises providing radio channels and radio access protocols that are used by the available access points.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing neighbor list information comprises:

delivering the neighbor list information to an access point in communication with the access terminal; and

instructing the access point to transmit the neighbor list information to the access terminal as an overhead signaling message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing neighbor list information comprises:

delivering the neighbor list information to the access point as an IP message via an access point in communication with the access terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a query comprises receiving the query at a server over a network connected to the access terminal and to the server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the query at a server over a network comprises receiving the query using one or more Internet protocols.

9. A system comprising:

a server configured to;

receive from an access terminal, a query for potential access points within communication range of the access terminal; and

provide to the access terminal, neighbor list information associated with available access points capable of providing the access terminal with access to a network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein one or more of the access points comprise mobile access points.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein one or more of the available access points serves a sub-pico cell located in a cell served by an access point with which the access terminal is in communication.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein two or more the available access points use different radio access technologies.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the query comprises one or more attributes describing communication features particular to the access terminal, and wherein the neighbor list information is based on the one or more attributes.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more attributes comprise one or more of:

a location, an application service requirement, a hardware specification, a hardware identification number of the access terminal, and a user identification number of a user of the access terminal.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein

the network comprises an Internet;

and

the server comprises an HTTP server hosting a web page that includes the neighbor list information.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein a plurality of communication protocols are used for transmitting the query and the neighbor list information between the access terminal and the server, the plurality of communication protocols comprising at least one of:

HTTP protocols, XML-based protocols, TCP/UDP over IP protocols, SIP messaging, custom-designed protocols, and non-IP-based protocols.

17. A computer program product for characterizing the similarity between first and second data objects, the computer program product being tangibly stored on machine readable media, comprising instructions operable to cause one or more processors to:

receive from an access terminal, a query for potential access points within communication range of the access terminal; and

provide to the access terminal, neighbor list information associated with available access points capable of providing the access terminal with access to a network.

18. The product of claim 17, further comprising instructions to:

receive one or more attributes describing communication features particular to the access terminal; and

select the neighbor list information based on the one or more attributes.

19. The product of claim 18, wherein the attributes comprise one or more of:

a location, an application service requirement, a hardware specification, a hardware identification number of the access terminal, and a user identification number of a user of the access terminal.

20. The product of claim 17, wherein the neighbor list information comprises radio channels and radio access protocols that are used by the available access points.

21. The product of claim 17, further comprising instructions to:

deliver the neighbor list information to an access point in communication with the access terminal; and

instruct the access point to transmit the neighbor list information to the access terminal as an overhead signaling message.

22. The product of claim 17, further comprising instructions to deliver the neighbor list information to the access point as an IP message via an access point in communication with the access terminal.

23. A method comprising

from an access terminal, sending a signal indicative of a request for information about access points located within communication range of the access terminal, and

at the access terminal, receiving a list of information associated with available access points capable of providing the access terminal with access to a network.

24. The method of claim 23,

wherein sending comprises sending one or more attributes describing communication features particular to the access terminal;

and

wherein the list information is selected based on the one or more attributes.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the one or more attributes comprise one or more of:

a location, an application service requirement, a hardware specification, a hardware identification number of the access terminal, and a user identification number of a user of the access terminal.