SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-NETWORK COVERAGE

• US 20080304461A1
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Horn, Gavin Bernard, Jain, Nikhil
• Granted Patent: US 8,730,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system and method are provided for a multi-network wireless communications access terminal (AT) to access multi-network coverage. The method registers a multi-network AT in a first communications network. In response to registering with the first network, the AT receives information via the first network that is required for accessing a second communications network (e.g., an IEEE 802.20 or 1xEV-DO network). The AT obtains services accessed via the second network, in response to the access information received via the first network. For example, the second network access information may be system information, channel information, or access point parameters. The AT retains the option of obtaining services accessed via the first network if the second network cannot be accessing the second network.

Claims

1. In a communications network access point (AP), a method for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the method comprising:

providing a first communications network AP;

a second communications network AP detecting the presence of the first network AP; and

,

the second network AP ceasing to broadcast access information in response to detecting the first network AP.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the first network AP supplying second network access information selected from a group consisting of system information, channel information, and access point parameters.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

the second network AP providing second network access information to the first network AP; and

,

wherein the first network AP supplying second network access information includes the first network AP supplying the access information provided by the second network AP.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

the first network AP receiving a request for second network access information from an access terminal (AT); and

,

wherein the first network AP supplying second network access information includes the first network AP supplying second network access information in response to the request.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

the second network AP broadcasting an AP identifier; and

,

wherein receiving the request for second network access information from the AT includes the first network AP receiving a request for access information for the second network AP referenced with the AP identifier.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the second network AP providing second network access information to the first network AP includes the second network AP sending a message to the first network AP, encapsulated for layer 2 signaling.

7. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

the first network AP broadcasting a paging message for the second network AP; and

,

an AT registering with the second network AP in response to receiving the paging message.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network AP supplying second network access information includes:

the first network AP detecting the presence of the second network AP; and

,

the first network AP advertising the availability of the second network AP.

9. A system for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the system comprising:

a first access point (AP) including;

a first communications subsystem with a wireless interface for detecting the presence of a second AP operating in a first communications network, and an interface for supplying detection information;

a distribution module having an interface to receive the detection information and an interface to supply a cease-broadcast command; and

,

a second communications subsystem having a wireless interface that ceases the broadcast of second communications network access information in response to receiving the cease-broadcast command via an interface connected to the distribution module.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a second AP including a first communication subsystem with a wireless interface for supplying second network access information in the first network, the access information selected from a group consisting of system information, channel information, and access point parameters.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the first AP supplies second network access information to the second AP;

and,

wherein the second AP broadcasts the access information supplied by the first AP via the first subsystem wireless interface.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the second AP receives a request for second network access information from an access terminal (AT) via the first subsystem wireless interface, and supplies second network access information to the AT in response to the request.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the first AP broadcasts a first AP identifier;

and,

wherein the second AP receives a request for first AP access information from the AT, referencing by the first AP identifier.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the first AP supplies second network access information to the second AP in a message encapsulated for layer 2 signaling.

15. The system of claim 10 where the second AP broadcasts a first AP paging message via the first subsystem wireless interface;

and,

wherein the first AP registers an AT via the second subsystem wireless interface in response to the paging message.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the second AP detects the presence of the first AP, and advertises the availability of the first network AP via a first communications network subsystem.

17. A communications network access point (AP) providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the AP comprising:

means for a second communications network AP to detect the presence of a first communications network AP; and

,

means for the second network AP to cease broadcasting access information in response to detecting the first network AP.

18. In a communications network access point (AP), a signal bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the operations comprising:

a second communications network AP detecting the presence of a first communications network AP; and

,

the second network AP ceasing to broadcast access information in response to detecting the first network AP.

19. In a communications network access point (AP), a processor device for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the processor device comprising:

a first communications subsystem module with an interface for receiving a signal indicating the detection of a first communications network AP;

a distribution module to supply a cease-broadcast command in response to the detection of the first network AP; and

,

a second communications subsystem module with an interface to supply a signal that ceases the broadcast of second communications network access information in response to the cease-broadcast command.