METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTING A MULTI-BAND ACCESS POINT TO ASSOCIATE WITH A MULTI-BAND MOBILE STATION

• US 20100330914A1
• Filed: 09/13/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chandra, Arty
• Granted Patent: US 8,301,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting one of a plurality of multi-band access points (APs) to associate with a multi-band wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are disclosed. The multi-band APs broadcast frequency band information regarding multiple frequency bands on which the multi-band AP is configured to operate. The multi-band WTRU selects a particular multi-band AP to associate with and a frequency band to use to communicate with the selected multi-band AP based on the frequency band information. If the multi-band WTRU receives frequency band information from the selected multi-band AP which indicates that a characteristic, (e.g., throughput, path loss, load, capacity, backhaul), of the selected frequency band is unacceptable, the multi-band WTRU determines whether to disassociate with the selected multi-band AP or to continue to associate with the selected multi-band AP via a different frequency band.

Claims

1. A method for use in a multi-band wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), comprising:

associating with a multi-band access point (AP) on a first frequency band;

sending a probe request including frequency band information regarding a multiple frequency capability of the WTRU to the multi-band AP;

receiving a probe response from the multi-band AP that is responsive to the probe request;

determining whether to disassociate with the multi-band AP or to continue to associate with the multi-band AP on a second frequency band based on the probe response; and

reconfiguring to communicate according to the determination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the probe response includes an indication that a quality metric of the first frequency band is unacceptable.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the unacceptable quality metric is throughput.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the unacceptable quality metric is path loss.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the unacceptable quality metric is load.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the unacceptable quality metric is capacity.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the unacceptable quality metric is backhaul.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the frequency band information is sent in a beacon frame.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein on a condition that the WTRU disassociates with the multi-band AP the WTRU associates with a second multi-band AP over the second frequency band.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the second frequency band includes acceptable quality metrics.

11. A multi-band wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:

a transceiver configured to;

transmit an association request to a multi-band access point (AP) via a first frequency band;

receive an association response from the multi-band AP;

transmit a probe request including frequency band information regarding a multiple frequency capability of the WTRU to the multi-band AP;

receive a probe response from the multi-band AP that is responsive to the probe request; and

a processor configured to;

on a condition that the WTRU is associated with the multi-band AP on the first frequency band, make a determination to disassociate with the multi-band AP or to continue to associate with the multi-band AP via a second frequency band based on the probe response;

reconfigure to communicate according to the determination.

12. The WTRU of claim 11 wherein the probe response includes an indication that a quality metric of the first frequency band is unacceptable.

13. The WTRU of claim 12 wherein the unacceptable quality metric is throughput.

14. The WTRU of claim 12 wherein the unacceptable quality metric is path loss.

15. The WTRU of claim 12 wherein the unacceptable quality metric is load.

16. The WTRU of claim 12 wherein the unacceptable quality metric is capacity.

17. The WTRU of claim 12 wherein the unacceptable quality metric is backhaul.

18. The WTRU of claim 11 wherein the frequency band information is sent in a beacon frame.

19. The WTRU of claim 11 wherein on a condition that the WTRU disassociates with the multi-band AP the WTRU associates with a second multi-band AP over the second frequency band.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the second frequency band includes acceptable quality metrics.