Wireless local access network system detection and selection

• US 7,778,593 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hsu, Raymond T-S, Sinnarajah, Ragulan
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US11/562,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20070093201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.04, 455/552.1, 455/456.1, 455/433, 455/411, 455/422.1, 455/414.1, 455/179.1, 455/160, 455/41.2, 455/435.2, 455/39, 455/443, 455/436, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/458, 455/418, 370/331, 370/355, 370/352, 370/328, 370/338, 725/132
• US Class Current: 455/3.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection

Abstract

Method and apparatus for detection and selection of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) service. A cellular network may provide an advertisement for a WLAN, such as in an overhead signaling message. The advertisement may identify the Access Point(s) by an Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID). The remote station may then scan for the WLAN service automatically or manually.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system, a method for identifying a Wireless Local Area Network comprising:

identifying WLAN availability comprising identifying at least one available WLAN by an Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) from a list comprising at least one ESSID; and

broadcasting a WLAN advertisement via a common communication channel of the wireless communication system, wherein the WLAN advertisement includes the ESSID of the at least one available WLAN, wherein the wireless communication system is different from the at least one available WLAN, and wherein the broadcasting via the common communication channel enables multiple remote stations to access the WLAN advertisement.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein broadcasting the WLAN advertisement comprises periodically broadcasting the WLAN advertisement.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the WLAN advertisement is an overhead signaling message.

4. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a registration message from a remote station, wherein the registration message indicates WLAN capability for the remote station; and

initiating the broadcasting of the WLAN advertisement in response to the registration message.

5. The method as in claim 4, wherein the initiating of the broadcasting is based on identifying a WLAN capability identifier in the registration message.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein broadcasting the WLAN advertisement comprises broadcasting the WLAN advertisement for a predetermined time period.

7. The method as in claim 1, wherein identifying WLAN availability further comprises identifying by a base transceiver station the at least one available WLAN having coverage in a cell sector of the base transceiver station, wherein the list comprising the at least one ESSID corresponds to an operator of the wireless communication system, and wherein broadcasting the WLAN advertisement further comprises broadcasting within the cell sector.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein identifying the available WLAN further comprises identifying the at least one WLAN having a roaming agreement with the wireless communication system.

9. The method as in claim 1, wherein broadcasting the WLAN advertisement further comprises including position information for an Access Point (AP) supporting the at least one available WLAN.

10. A method for a remote station, comprising:

receiving a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) advertisement via a common communication channel of a wireless communication system, wherein the WLAN advertisement comprises a list of at least one Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) corresponding to at least one available WLAN, wherein the wireless communication system is different from the at least one available WLAN; and

scanning for the at least one available WLAN in response to the WLAN advertisement.

11. The method as in claim 10, further comprising:

automatically enabling a WLAN scan in response to receiving the WLAN advertisement.

12. The method as in claim 10, wherein receiving the WLAN advertisement comprises:

receiving a WLAN advertisement including position information for an Access Point (AP) supporting the at least one available WLAN;

comparing the position information to a current location of the remote station; and

if the current location of the remote station is proximate the AP, scanning for the at least one available WLAN.

13. The method as in claim 12, wherein the position information includes the latitude and longitude of the AP.

14. The method as in claim 12, further comprising:

displaying the position information for the AP on the remote station.

15. The method as in claim 14, further comprising:

initiating a WLAN scan in response to displaying the position information.

16. The method as in claim 10, wherein receiving the WLAN advertisement further comprises one of receiving periodically or receiving over a predetermined period of time.

17. The method as in claim 10, further comprising transmitting a registration message to the wireless communications system, wherein the registration message comprises a WLAN capability for the remote station, and wherein receiving the WLAN advertisement further comprises receiving in response to the registration message.

18. The method as in claim 10, wherein receiving the WLAN advertisement further comprises receiving from a base transceiver station the at least one available WLAN having coverage in a cell sector of the base transceiver station, wherein the list comprising the at least one ESSID corresponds to an operator of the wireless communication system, and wherein receiving the WLAN advertisement further comprises receiving within the cell sector.

19. The method as in claim 10, wherein receiving the WLAN advertisement further comprises identifying the at least one WLAN having a roaming agreement with the wireless communication system.

20. In a wireless communication system, an apparatus for identifying a Wireless Local Area Network comprising:

means for identifying WLAN availability comprising means for identifying at least one available WLAN by an Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) from a list comprising at least one ESSID; and

means for broadcasting a WLAN advertisement via a common communication channel of the wireless communication system, wherein the WLAN advertisement includes the ESSID of the at least one available WLAN, wherein the wireless communication system is different from the at least one available WLAN, and wherein the broadcasting via the common communication channel enables multiple remote stations to access the WLAN advertisement.

21. An apparatus for a remote station, comprising:

means for receiving a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) advertisement via a common communication channel of a wireless communication system, wherein the WLAN advertisement comprises a list of at least one Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) corresponding to at least one available WLAN, wherein the wireless communication system is different from the at least one available WLAN; and

means for scanning for the at least one available WLAN in response to the WLAN advertisement.

22. In a wireless communication system, an apparatus comprising:

memory storage device adapted to store computer readable instructions for identifying a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN); and

processing unit coupled to the memory storage device, adapted to;

identify WLAN availability comprising identifying at least one available WLAN by an Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) from a list comprising at least one ESSID; and

broadcast a WLAN advertisement via a common communication channel of the wireless communication system, wherein the WLAN advertisement includes the ESSID of the at least one available WLAN, wherein the wireless communication system is different from the at least one available WLAN, and wherein the broadcast via the common communication channel enables multiple remote stations to access the WLAN advertisement.

23. The apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to periodically broadcast the WLAN advertisement.

24. The apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the WLAN advertisement is an overhead signaling message.

25. The apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to:

receive a registration message from a remote station, wherein the registration message indicates WLAN capability for the remote station; and

initiate the broadcast of the WLAN advertisement in response to the registration message.

26. The apparatus as in claim 25, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to initiate the broadcast of the WLAN advertisement further based on identifying a WLAN capability identifier in the registration message.

27. The apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the apparatus comprises a base transceiver station, wherein the at least one available WLAN has coverage in a cell sector of the base transceiver station, wherein the list comprising the at least one ESSID corresponds to an operator of the wireless communication system, and wherein the processing unit is further adapted to broadcast the WLAN advertisement within the cell sector.

28. The apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the WLAN advertisement further comprises an identification of the at least one available WLAN having a roaming agreement with the wireless communication system.

29. An apparatus for a remote station, comprising:

memory storage device adapted to store computer readable instructions for identifying a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN); and

processing unit coupled to the memory storage device, adapted to;

receive a advertisement via a common communication channel of a wireless communication system, wherein the WLAN advertisement comprises a list of at least one Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) corresponding to at least one available WLAN, wherein the wireless communication system is different from the at least one available WLAN; and

scan for the at least one available WLAN in response to the WLAN advertisement.

30. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to automatically enable a WLAN scan in response to receiving the WLAN advertisement.

31. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the WLAN advertisement further comprises position information for an Access Point (AP) supporting the at least one available WLAN, and wherein the processing unit is further adapted to compare the position information to a current location of the remote station and, if the current location of the remote station is proximate the AP, scan for the at least one available WLAN.

32. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to display the position information for the AP on the remote station and to initiate a WLAN scan in response to displaying the position information.

33. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to periodically receive the WLAN advertisement or receive the WLAN advertisement over a predetermined period of time.

34. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to transmit a registration message to the wireless communications system, wherein the registration message comprises a WLAN capability for the remote station, and wherein the processing unit is further adapted to receive the WLAN advertisement in response to the registration message.

35. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the processing unit is further adapted to receive the WLAN advertisement from a base transceiver station, wherein the at least one available WLAN has coverage in a cell sector of the base transceiver station, wherein the list comprising the at least one ESSID corresponds to an operator of the wireless communication system, and wherein the processing unit is further adapted to receive the WLAN advertisement within the cell sector.

36. The apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the WLAN advertisement further comprises an identification of the at least one available WLAN having a roaming agreement with the wireless communication system.

37. At least one processor configured to identify a Wireless Local Area Network in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a first module for identifying WLAN availability comprising identifying at least one available WLAN by an Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) from a list comprising at least one ESSID; and

a second module for broadcasting a WLAN advertisement via a common communication channel of the wireless communication system, wherein the WLAN advertisement includes the ESSID of the at least one available WLAN, wherein the wireless communication system is different from the at least one available WLAN, and wherein the broadcasting via the common communication channel enables multiple remote stations to access the WLAN advertisement.

38. A product configured to identify a Wireless Local Area Network in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a computer-readable medium stored in a storage medium, comprising;

at least one instruction operable to cause a computer to identify WLAN availability comprising identifying at least one available WLAN by an Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) from a list comprising at least one ESSID; and

at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to broadcast a WLAN advertisement via a common communication channel of the wireless communication system, wherein the WLAN advertisement includes the ESSID of the at least one available WLAN, wherein the wireless communication system is different from the at least one available WLAN, and wherein the broadcasting via the common communication channel enables multiple remote stations to access the WLAN advertisement.

39. At least one processor configured for a remote station, comprising:

a first module for receiving a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) advertisement via a common communication channel of a wireless communication system, wherein the WLAN advertisement comprises a list of at least one Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) corresponding to at least one available WLAN, wherein the wireless communication system is different from the at least one available WLAN; and

a second module for scanning for the at least one available WLAN in response to the WLAN advertisement.

40. A product configured for a remote station, comprising:

a computer-readable medium stored in a storage medium, comprising;

at least one instruction operable to cause a computer to receive a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) advertisement via a common communication channel of a wireless communication system, wherein the WLAN advertisement comprises a list of at least one Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) corresponding to at least one available WLAN, wherein the wireless communication system is different from the at least one available WLAN; and

at least one instruction operable to cause the computer to scan for the at least one available WLAN in response to the WLAN advertisement.