Network identity and timezone (NITZ) functionality for non-3GPP devices

• US 7,881,748 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bari, Farooq, Bonner, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse; Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US12/644,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20100099455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/425, 455/566, 455/524, 455/550.1, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 455/553.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/162 at the data link layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/28 Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices

Abstract

A system that provisions a multimode mobile or converged device with local time information and network provider identification when the multimode mobile device is operating within the purview of a wireless local area network (WLAN). The system includes components that receive protocol data and that extract network provider identification from the received protocol data as well as utilizing the received protocol data to ascertain the local time.

Claims

1. A method for ascertaining and displaying time zone information and a local time, comprising:

receiving protocol data from a setup server and a multimode mobile device, via a private network, substantially when the multimode mobile device transitions from a mobile wireless environment to the private network;

extracting location information from the protocol data;

extracting network identification information from the protocol data;

generating a network name based on the network identification information;

determining a time zone based on the location information;

generating the local time based on the time zone; and

displaying the local time and the network name on an interface associated with the multimode mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises obtaining the protocol data from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises obtaining the protocol data from a Network Time Protocol (NTP) service.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the obtaining the first protocol data from the DHCP service includes receiving time zone information in the form of an offset in seconds from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises obtaining the protocol data from a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises obtaining the protocol data from an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises obtaining the first protocol data from a SIP service including a facility to carry time zone information during the initiation of a session.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving comprises obtaining the first protocol data from an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) service which provides location or time zone information as part of the authentication process.

9. A method for providing a multimode mobile device with a local time and a network identification, comprising:

receiving first protocol data and second protocol data from a private network substantially when the multimode mobile device transitions from a mobile wireless environment to the private network;

extracting the network identification from the first protocol data substantially when the multimode mobile device transitions from a mobile wireless environment to the private network environment;

determining the local time from the second protocol data substantially when the multimode mobile device transitions from the mobile wireless environment to the private network environment; and

transmitting the network identification and the local time to the multimode mobile device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving the first protocol data further comprises, receiving a network identifier comprising a service set identification (SSID) that uniquely identifies at least one of a basic service set (BSS) or an extended service set (ESS).

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving further comprises, receiving the second protocol data from at least one of a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) service, an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) service, or a Network Time Protocol (NTP) service.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving further comprises, receiving the second protocol data from at least one of a wireless access point, a protocol server, a wireless router, or the multimode device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining further comprises, determining a current time zone.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving further comprises, receiving the second protocol data from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service, the DHCP service including time zone information in the form of an offset in seconds from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving further comprises, receiving the second protocol data from a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) service, the SIP service including a facility to carry time zone information during the initiation of a session.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving further comprises, receiving the second protocol data from an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) service which provides location or time zone information as part of the authentication process.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising displaying the network identification and the local time on a display of the multimode mobile device.

19. The at least one tangible computer readable medium of claim 17, comprising computer executable instructions which, in response to execution by a computer, perform a method, wherein the receiving protocol data includes receiving at least one of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) data, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) data, Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) data, or Network Time Protocol (NTP) data.

20. The at least one tangible computer readable medium of claim 17, comprising computer executable instructions which, in response to execution by a computer, perform a method, wherein the receiving protocol data comprises, receiving a network identifier comprising a service set identification (SSID) that uniquely identifies at least one of a basic service set (BSS) or an extended service set (ESS).

18. At least one tangible computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions which, in response to execution by a computer, perform a method, comprising:

receiving protocol data from a private network substantially when a multimode mobile device transitions from a mobile wireless environment to the private network;

extracting a network identification from the protocol data;

determining a time zone from the protocol data;

determining a local time, at least in part from the time zone; and

displaying the network identification and the local time on the multimode mobile device.