ACCESS POINT DETECTION FOR WIRELESS NETWORKING

• US 20100195632A1
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: PRABHU, Krishnanand
• Granted Patent: US 9,155,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point

Abstract

Methods and systems for detecting one or more access points in a wireless network are disclosed. The location coordinates of a wireless communication device (WCD) are first determined. Based on comparisons made with the WCD location coordinates, if the WCD is within range of a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point and remains stationary for a preset time interval, a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio interface may be activated within the WCD to connect to the WLAN via the access point.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a module configured to determine location coordinates of a wireless communication device (WCD);

a processor configured to compare the location coordinates to a database of access point location coordinates and to determine whether the WCD remains within a predetermined area during a predetermined interval based on the location coordinates; and

an interface, included in the WCD, configured to detect a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point based on the comparison of the location coordinates to the database and based on whether the WCD remains within the predetermined area during the predetermined interval.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the module is a GPS module included in the WCD.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second interface included in the WCD configured to access a wireless wide area network (WWAN).

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

means for periodically transmitting the location coordinates through the second interface to a service provider.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is included in a mobile switching center.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

means for selectively activating the interface only when the WCD remains within the predetermined area during the predetermined interval.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface, included in the WCD, configured to notify a user when WLAN access point is detected.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the WCD is configured to connect to a WLAN after detecting the WLAN access point

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the WCD is configured to disconnect from a wide area wireless network (WWAN) after connecting to the WLAN.

10. A method of detecting an access point, comprising:

determining location coordinates of a wireless communication device (WCD);

determining whether the WCD remains within a predetermined area during a predetermined interval based on the location coordinates; and

detecting the access point based on whether the WCD remains within the predetermined area during the predetermined interval.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

comparing the location coordinates to a database of access point location coordinates; and

detecting the access point based on the comparison of the location coordinates to the database.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a GPS signal at the WCD; and

determining the location coordinates based on the GPS signal.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting includes:

activating a WLAN interface in the WCD to scan for the access point only after the WCD remains within the predetermined area for the predetermined interval.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

connecting to a WLAN after detecting the access point.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

disconnecting from a WWAN after connecting to the WLAN.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

selecting one of the access points based on access point signal strength; and

connecting to the WLAN though the selected access point.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

disconnecting from the WWAN after connecting to the WLAN.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

de-activating a WWAN interface included in the WCD.

16. A method of detecting an access point, comprising:

determining location coordinates of a wireless communication device (WCD);

transmitting the location coordinates though a wireless wide area network (WWAN) to a service provider;

the service provider determining whether one or more access points of a wireless local area network (WLAN) are within the vicinity of the WCD by comparing the location coordinates to a database of access point location coordinates;

determining whether the WCD remains within a predetermined area during a predetermined interval based on the location coordinates;

transmitting to the WCD a list of one or more access points within the vicinity of the WCD;

activating a WLAN interface in the WCD based on whether the WCD remains within a predetermined area during a predetermined interval; and

scanning for the access points with the WLAN interface when the WLAN interface is activated.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a GPS signal at the WCD; and

determining the location coordinates based on the GPS signal.