Encapsulation of Higher-Layer Control Messages for Local Area Network Support into a Wide Area Network Protocol

• US 20120087279A1
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Rinne, Mika, Doppler, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 8,971,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for integration of a wireless local area network and a wide area cellular network. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include the support node receiving, from a first node, a message including a request for information representative of a configuration of a wireless local area network accessible by the first node. The method may also include providing, in response to the received message, the information representative of the configuration of the wireless local area network. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method comprising:

generating, at a protocol engine at a first node configured to operate in a wireless local area network, a message including a request for information representative of a configuration of the wireless local area network; and

transmitting the message to a second node, wherein said second node is configured to operate in a cellular network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the transmitting further comprises:

transmitting the message via a control plane between the first node and the second node, the message encapsulated for transport via the control plane.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the transmitting further comprises:

transmitting the message via a user plane between the first node and the second node.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving, from the second node in response to the transmitted message, the information representative of the configuration of the wireless local area network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the received information further comprises at least one of:

a frequency band being used by a local access point accessible by the first node, a carrier frequency, a configuration of a local area network accessible by the first node, a frame timing of the local access point, an operational state of the local access point, and security information of the local access point.

26. A method comprising:

receiving, at a second node configured to operate in a cellular network, a message including a request, from a first node configured to operate in a wireless local area network, for information representative of a configuration of a wireless local area network accessible by the first node; and

providing, in response to the received message, the information representative of the configuration of the wireless local area network.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the receiving further comprises:

receiving the message, the message sent via a control plane between the first node and the second node, the message encapsulated for transport via the control plane.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the receiving further comprises:

receiving the message, the message sent via a user plane between the first node and the second node

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

providing the received message to an interface of a protocol engine at the second node, the protocol engine processing the received message.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the providing further comprises:

providing, as the information representative of the configuration of the wireless local area network, at least one of;

a frequency band being used by a local access point accessible by the first node, a carrier frequency, a configuration of a local area network accessible by the first node, a frame timing of the local access point;

an operational state of the local access point, and security information of the local access point.

31. An apparatus comprising

at least one processor;

and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, working with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

generate, at a protocol engine at a first node configured to operate in a wireless local area network, a message including a request for information representative of a configuration of the wireless local area network; and

transmit the message to a second node, wherein the second node is configured to operate in a cellular network.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the transmitting further comprises:

transmitting the message via a control plane between the first node and the second, the message encapsulated for transport via the control plane.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the transmitting further comprises:

transmitting the message via a user plane between the first node and the second node.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, working with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to further perform:

receive, from the second node in response to the transmitted message, information representative of the configuration of the wireless local area network, wherein the received information comprise at least one of;

a frequency band being used by a local access point accessible by the first node, a carrier frequency, a configuration of a local area network accessible by the first node, a frame timing of the local access point, an operational state of the local access point, and security information of the local access point.

35. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, working with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

receive, at a second node configured to operate in a cellular network, a message including a request, from a first node configured to operate in a wireless local area network, for information representative of a configuration of a wireless local area network accessible by the first node; and

provide, in response to the received message, the information representative of the configuration of the wireless local area network.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the receiving further comprises:

receiving the message, the message sent via a control plane between the first node and the second node, the message encapsulated for transport via the control plane.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the receiving further comprises:

receiving the message, the message sent via a user plane between the first node and the second node.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the providing further comprises:

providing, as the information representative of the configuration of the wireless local area network, at least one of;

a frequency band being used by a local access point accessible by the first node, a carrier frequency, a configuration of a local area network accessible by the first node, a frame timing of the local access point, an operational state of the local access point, and security information of the local access point.

39. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising:

code for generating, at a protocol engine at a first node configured to operate in a wireless local area network, a message including a request for information representative of a configuration of the wireless local area network; and

code for transmitting the message to a second node, wherein the second node is configured to operate in a cellular network.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, further comprising:

code for receiving, from the second node in response to the transmitted message, at least one of;

a frequency band being used by a local access point accessible by the first node, a carrier frequency, a configuration of a local area network accessible by the first node, a frame timing of the local access point, an operational state of the local access point, and security information of the local access point.