Method for intelligently selecting a wireless communication access point

• US 7,509,417 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kammer, David, Loucks, Jeffry, Fish, David, Frank, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN GILLES, JUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/086,313
• Time in Patent Office: 2,581 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-225, 709227-229, 709/238, 709/244, 709/203, 709/217, 455/3.01, 455/456, 370/230, 370/277, 370/331, 370/401, 370/338, 342/387, 342/457, 705/59
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A method and system for selecting and connecting to an access point in a wireless network of devices, such as a Bluetooth network. Initially, an initiator device is preconfigured with a list of available access point addresses. The initiator device broadcasts an inquiry message that is received by available wireless devices which, in turn, respond with their respective addresses, occupancy level and device classification. The initiator device compares the respondent addresses with the preconfigured access point addresses and connects to a match, thus terminating the inquiry, provided certain fitness functions are satisfied. The fitness functions might include such considerations as occupancy rate, device classification, signal strength, or physical distance of separation. The list of addresses on the initiator device is updated automatically upon connecting with a network server whenever a new device is added or an old one removed from the network server'"'"'s access point address list.

Claims

1. A method of connecting to a wireless communication access point comprising:

a) an initiator device broadcasting a first wireless message to a plurality of potential access point devices, said initiator device storing therein a list of recognized device addresses for connecting thereto;

b) in response to said initiator device broadcasting said first wireless message, said initiator device receiving a plurality of second wireless messages from a set of said plurality of potential access point devices, wherein said set of said plurality of potential access point devices is defined by at least one physical characteristic;

c) said initiator device comparing device addresses of said plurality of second wireless messages for address matches with said list of recognized device addresses, and wherein said list of recognized device addresses is compared, by said initiator device, to a list of current network access point addresses maintained on a network server, any differences being updated within said list of recognized device addresses in a memory cache of said initiator device;

d) applying a fitness function to address matches of said c) to determine a selectable address, wherein said fitness function defines an acceptable criteria for determining said selectable address; and

e) transmitting a signal to connect to an access point device corresponding to said selectable address.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein set of said physical characteristic is defined by a quantity of device threshold.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein set of said physical characteristic is defined by a time of discovery threshold.

4. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said criteria is an occupancy level less than a predetermined threshold.

5. The method as described in claim 1 wherein said criteria is signal strength greater than a predetermined threshold.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said criteria is residing within a predetermined physical distance.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said initiator device and said responding device are Bluetooth-enabled devices.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said initiator device abstracts said list of access point addresses into a single abstract name.

9. A wireless communication device comprising:

a bus;

a wireless transceiver unit coupled to said bus for communicating with responding devices;

a memory cache coupled to said bus; and

a processor coupled to said bus, said processor for performing a method for selecting and connecting to a responding access point device, said method comprising;

a) an initiator device broadcasting a first wireless message to a plurality of potential access point devices, said initiator device storing therein a list of recognized device addresses for connecting thereto;

b) in response to said initiator device broadcasting said first wireless message, said initiator device receiving a plurality of second wireless messages from a set of said plurality of potential access point devices, wherein said set of said plurality of potential access point devices is defined by at least one physical characteristic;

c) said initiator device comparing device addresses of said plurality of second wireless messages for address matches with said list of recognized device addresses, wherein said list of recognized device addresses is compared, by said initiator device, to a list of current network access point addresses maintained on a network server, any differences being updated within said list of recognized device addresses in a memory cache of said initiator device;

d) applying a fitness function to address matches of said c) to determine a selectable address, wherein said fitness function defines an acceptable criteria for determining said selectable address; and

e) transmitting a signal to connect to an access point device corresponding to said selectable address, wherein said initiator device is said wireless communication device.

10. The device as described in claim 9 wherein set of said physical characteristic is defined by a quantity of device threshold.

11. The device as described in claim 9 wherein set of said physical characteristic is defined by a time of discovery threshold.

12. The device as described in claim 9 wherein said criteria is an occupancy level less than a predetermined threshold.

13. The device as described in claim 9 wherein said criteria is signal strength greater than a predetermined threshold.

14. The device as recited in claim 9 wherein said criteria is residing within a predetermined physical distance.

15. The device as recited in claim 9 wherein said initiator device and said responding device are Bluetooth-enabled devices.

16. The device of claim 9 wherein said initiator device abstracts said list of access point addresses into a single abstract name.