WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTION METHOD OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE THEREOF

• US 20140328209A1
• Filed: 08/13/2013
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Inventors: Lu, Yi-Wei
• Granted Patent: US 9,066,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/20 Master-slave selection or change arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A wireless network connection method of an electronic device is provided. The electronic device has an access point (AP) mode and a station (ST) mode. When the electronic device starts a wireless network connection function, the electronic device is switched to the ST mode. Electronic devices in the AP mode are searched within a nearby area. If no electronic device in the AP mode is found, the electronic device is switched to the AP mode to automatically connect to a wireless network, and wireless network services are provided to other electronic devices in the ST mode in the nearby area. If electronic devices in the AP mode are found, the weights of the electronic devices are respectively calculated to set one of the electronic devices as a primary AP, and the electronic devices other than the primary AP are allowed to connect to the wireless network through the primary AP.

Claims

1. A wireless network connection method of an electronic device, wherein the electronic device has an access point (AP) mode and a station (ST) mode, the wireless network connection method comprising:

when the electronic device starts a wireless network connection function, switching the electronic device to the ST mode;

searching for at least one other electronic device in the AP mode in a nearby area;

when the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode is not found, switching the electronic device to the AP mode to allow the electronic device to automatically connect to a wireless network, and providing wireless network services to at least one other electronic device in the ST mode in the nearby area; and

when the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode is found, respectively calculating weights of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device to set one of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device as a primary AP, and allowing the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device other than the primary AP to connect to the wireless network through the primary AP.

2. The wireless network connection method according to claim 1, wherein each of the electronic device and the at least one other electronic device has a service set identifier (SSID), and the step of respectively calculating the weights of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device to set one of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device as the primary AP further comprises:

calculating the weights by using the SSIDs of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device; and

setting one of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device that has a greatest weight as the primary AP.

3. The wireless network connection method according to claim 2, wherein the step of when the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode is found, respectively calculating the weights of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device to set one of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device as the primary AP and allowing the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device other than the primary AP to connect to the wireless network through the primary AP further comprises:

determining whether the electronic device is in the AP mode;

when the electronic device is already switched to the AP mode, determining whether the electronic device is the primary AP;

when the electronic device is the primary AP, determining whether wireless network services are provided to the at least one other electronic device in the ST mode;

when the electronic device is not the primary AP, switching the electronic device to the ST mode and connecting to the primary AP; and

when the electronic device is not in the AP mode, connecting to the primary AP.

4. The wireless network connection method according to claim 3 further comprising:

when wireless network services are provided to the at least one other electronic device in the ST mode or the primary AP is connected, taking over by using an application program.

5. The wireless network connection method according to claim 2, wherein the SSID indicates a communication protocol type, an Internet connection capability, a device type, a power supply mode, a battery state, and a device name, or a basic service set identifier (BSSID).

6. The wireless network connection method according to claim 2, wherein when the electronic device is in the AP mode, the SSID of the electronic device is broadcasted, and when the electronic device is in the ST mode, the SSID of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode is received.

7. The wireless network connection method according to claim 1 further comprising:

the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device other than the primary AP getting to know about a hardware AP according to a notification message issued by the primary AP and connecting to the wireless network through the hardware AP.

8. The wireless network connection method according to claim 1, wherein the step of when the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode is found, respectively calculating the weights of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device to set one of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device as the primary AP and allowing the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device other than the primary AP to connect to the wireless network through the primary AP further comprises:

setting another one of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device as a secondary AP by using the weights of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device, so that when the primary AP is not able to provide wireless network services, the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device other than the primary AP and the secondary AP are allowed to connect to the wireless network through the secondary AP.

9. An electronic device for establishing a wireless network connection, comprising:

a connection unit, having an access point (AP) mode and a station (ST) mode;

a storage unit, storing a weight; and

a control unit, coupled to the connection unit and the storage unit, and switching the electronic device to the AP mode or the ST mode,

wherein when the electronic device enters a wireless network connection procedure, the control unit is configured to control following steps;

when the electronic device starts a wireless network connection function, switching the electronic device to the ST mode;

searching for at least one other electronic device in the AP mode in a nearby area;

when the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode is not found, switching the electronic device to the AP mode to allow the electronic device to automatically connect to a wireless network, and providing wireless network services to at least one other electronic device in the ST mode in the nearby area; and

when the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode is found, respectively calculating weights of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device to set one of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device as a primary AP, and allowing the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device other than the primary AP to connect to the wireless network through the primary AP.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein each of the electronic device and the at least one other electronic device has a service set identifier (SSID), and when the electronic device calculates the weights of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device to set one of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device as the primary AP, the control unit is further configured to control following steps:

calculating the weights by using the SSIDs of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device; and

setting one of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device that has a greatest weight as the primary AP.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein when the electronic device already finds the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode, the control unit is further configured to control following steps:

determining whether the electronic device is in the AP mode;

when the electronic device is already switched to the AP mode, determining whether the electronic device is the primary AP;

when the electronic device is the primary AP, determining whether wireless network services are provided to the at least one other electronic device in the ST mode;

when the electronic device is not the primary AP, switching the electronic device to the ST mode and connecting to the primary AP; and

when the electronic device is not in the AP mode, connecting to the primary AP.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is further configured to control following steps:

when the electronic device provides wireless network services to the at least one other electronic device in the ST mode or the primary AP is connected, taking over by using an application program.

13. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein the SSID indicates a communication protocol type, an Internet connection capability, a device type, a power supply mode, a battery state, and a device name, or a basic service set identifier (BSSID).

14. The electronic device according to claim 10, wherein when the electronic device is in the AP mode, the SSID of the electronic device is broadcasted, and when the electronic device is in the ST mode, the SSID of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode is received.

15. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is further configured to control following steps:

the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device other than the primary AP getting to know about a hardware AP according to a notification message issued by the primary AP and connecting to the wireless network through the hardware AP.

16. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is further configured to control following steps:

setting another one of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device as a secondary AP by using the weights of the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device, so that when the primary AP is not able to provide wireless network services, the at least one other electronic device in the AP mode and the electronic device other than the primary AP and the secondary AP are allowed to connect to the wireless network through the secondary AP.