Method, Base Station, Mobile Station, Telecommunication System, and Computer Program for Detecting a WLAN

• US 20100278164A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Hedberg, Anne-Lott, Johannesson, Regina
• Application Number:
  US12/809,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20100278164A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information

Abstract

A method comprising operating a base station is disclosed. The operating consists of providing synchronisation for mobile stations; and broadcasting information comprising information about an access point enabling generic access network, GAN, communication, from the base station operating a pure broadcasting telecommunication cell. An access area of the access point and the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell cover essentially the same area. Therefore, mobile stations able to receive the broadcasting information become aware of accessibility to the access point. Corresponding base station, mobile station, telecommunication system, and computer program are also disclosed.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method of operating a base station, comprising:

providing synchronization for mobile stations; and

broadcasting information comprising information about an access point enabling generic access network (GAN) communication from the base station;

wherein the base station operates a pure broadcasting telecommunication cell; and

wherein an access area of the access point and the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell cover essentially the same area, such that mobile stations able to receive the broadcasting information become aware of accessibility to the access point.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the broadcasted information further comprises advertising information.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing information about the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell by another base station operating another telecommunication cell, wherein the another telecommunication cell has considerably larger coverage area than the access area of the access point and than the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell, and wherein the pure broadcasting cell is substantially located within the another telecommunication cell.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein providing information about the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell further comprises

including the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell within a neighbor cell list;

and

providing the neighbor cell list to mobile stations within or in vicinity to the another telecommunication cell.

20. A base station, comprising:

a transmitter arranged to broadcast information about an access point enabling generic access network (GAN) communication;

wherein the base station is arranged to operate a pure broadcasting telecommunication cell; and

wherein the base station is arranged together with the access point such that the pure broadcast telecommunication cell and an access area of the access point cover essentially the same area.

21. The base station of claim 20, wherein

the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell is arranged substantially within another telecommunication cell operated by another base station;

the another telecommunication cell has considerably larger coverage area than the access area of the access point, and than the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell, and

information about the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell is provided from the another base station of the another telecommunication cell.

22. The base station of claim 20, further being arranged to broadcast advertising information.

23. A mobile station having both abilities for cellular communication and generic access network (GAN) communication, the mobile station having a mode of operation, in which it is operative to:

synchronize with a pure broadcasting base station; and

receive broadcast messaging from the pure broadcasting base station about an access point enabling GAN communication, from the pure broadcasting base station operating a pure broadcasting telecommunication cell;

wherein an access area of the access point and the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell cover essentially the same area such that when the mobile station is able to receive the broadcasting information it becomes aware of accessibility to the access point.

24. The mobile station of claim 23, further arranged to enable entering the mode of operation upon reception of information about presence of the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell from a base station operating a presently operating two-way telecommunication cell having considerably larger coverage area than the access area of the access point and than the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell, the reception comprising information about the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell located substantially within the presently operating telecommunication cell.

25. The mobile station of claim 23, wherein the mobile station is further arranged to start accessing the GAN when the broadcasting information about the access point is received from the pure broadcasting base station.

26. The mobile station of claim 23, wherein the mobile station is further arranged to receive broadcasted advertising information from the pure broadcasting base station.

27. The mobile station of claim 23, wherein the mobile station is further arranged to receive a neighbor cell list comprising information about the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell.

28. A telecommunication system comprising

at least an access point arranged to provide access to a generic access network (GAN);

at least a base station arranged to operate a pure broadcasting telecommunication cell associated with the access point; and

at least a mobile station arranged to operate with the base station and the access point;

wherein an access area of the access point and the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell cover essentially the same area such that when the mobile station is able to receive broadcasting information in the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell it becomes aware of accessibility to the access point.

29. The telecommunication system according to claim 28, further comprising:

at least another base station arranged to operate a cell for telecommunication, the another base station providing information about the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell;

wherein the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell is located substantially within an area of the cell for telecommunication, and wherein the cell for telecommunication has considerably larger coverage area than the access area of the access point and than the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell.

30. A machine readable medium including computer program instructions, which when executed by a processor are operative to cause the processor to perform the process of:

providing synchronization for mobile stations; and

broadcasting information comprising information about an access point enabling generic access network (GAN) communication from the base station;

wherein the base station operates a pure broadcasting telecommunication cell; and

wherein an access area of the access point and the pure broadcasting telecommunication cell cover essentially the same area, such that mobile stations able to receive the broadcasting information become aware of accessibility to the access point.