APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS POINT FUNCTION IN PORTABLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20110085528A1
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KWON, Keum-Youn, CHOI, Jong-Mu
• Granted Patent: US 9,699,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing an Access Point (AP) function of a portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes an AP function unit for performing the AP function by using the portable terminal in an environment where an AP is not present, and a controller for, if there is a terminal to be connected to the AP, performing connection to the terminal directly without having to perform a process of inputting password information of the AP.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing an Access Point (AP) function to a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising:

an AP function unit for performing the AP function by using the portable terminal in an environment where an AP is not present; and

a controller for, if there is a terminal to be connected to the AP, performing connection to the terminal directly without having to perform a process of inputting password information of the AP.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the AP function unit performs the AP function by generating a beacon message including pre-stored information required for the AP function and by periodically broadcasting the generated beacon message.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, upon receiving a connection request from the terminal which determines the beacon message, the controller allocates a resource for the terminal, and performs the connection to the terminal by accessing to a service provider'"'"'s network by the use of the allocated resource.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, after allocating the resource for the terminal, the controller performs the connection to the terminal by popping up a message for reporting the connection request for the terminal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the popped up message allows a user of the portable terminal to select whether to connect the terminal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein if a user selection is not detected within a predetermined time period, the portable terminal determines that the terminal will not be connected.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the allocated resource comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address or a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises a Wi-Fi terminal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable terminal connects to a Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) server.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable terminal provides the terminal with an Internet service through a Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) network.

11. A method of providing an Access Point (AP) function in a portable terminal, the method comprising:

performing the AP function by using the portable terminal in an environment where an AP is not present; and

if there is a terminal to be connected to the AP, performing connection to the terminal directly without having to perform a process of inputting password information of the AP.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the performing of the AP function further comprises:

pre-storing information required for the AP function;

generating a beacon message including the information required for the AP function; and

periodically broadcasting the generated beacon message.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the performing of the connection to the terminal further comprises:

upon receiving a connection request from the terminal which determines the beacon message, allocating a resource for the terminal; and

accessing to a service provider'"'"'s network by using the allocated resource.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the performing of the connection to the terminal further comprises, after allocating the resource to the terminal, popping up a message for reporting the connection request for the terminal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the popped up message allows a user of the portable terminal to select whether to connect the terminal.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, if a user selection is not detected within a predetermined time period, the portable terminal determines that the terminal will not be connected.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the allocated resource comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address or a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the terminal.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the terminal comprises a Wi-Fi terminal.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising the portable terminal connecting to a Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) server.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising the portable terminal providing the terminal with an Internet service through a Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) network.

21. A portable terminal providing an Access Point (AP) function, comprising a controller for automatically performing a connection to a neighboring terminal in the presence of the neighboring terminal intending to access to the portable terminal which acts as an AP.

22. The portable terminal of claim 21, wherein the controller generates a beacon message including pre-stored information required to the AP function and periodically broadcasts the generated beacon message to report the existence of the AP.

23. The portable terminal of claim 21, wherein, upon receiving a connection request from the neighboring terminal which determines the beacon message, the controller allocates a resource for the terminal, and performs the connection to the terminal by accessing to a service provider'"'"'s network by the use of the allocated resource.

24. The portable terminal of claim 23, wherein, after allocating the resource for the neighboring terminal, the controller pops up a message for reporting the connection request for the neighboring terminal.

25. The portable terminal of claim 24, wherein the popped up message allows a user of the portable terminal to select whether to connect the neighboring terminal.

26. The portable terminal of claim 25, wherein if a user selection is not detected within a predetermined time period, the portable terminal determines that the neighboring terminal will not be connected.

27. The portable terminal of claim 23, wherein the allocated resource comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address or a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the neighboring terminal.

28. The portable terminal of claim 21, wherein the neighboring terminal comprises a Wi-Fi terminal.

29. The portable terminal of claim 21, wherein the portable terminal connects to a Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) server.

30. The portable terminal of claim 21, wherein the portable terminal provides the neighboring terminal with an Internet service through a Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) network.