Method and apparatus supporting out of band signaling for WLAN using network name
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A stationary device comprising:
- a memory in which is stored a representation of a network condition change associated with a portion of geographical coverage of one or more wireless networks; and
a transmitter configured to broadcast a signal encoded to provide information regarding the one or more wireless networks, the signal being encoded with information indicative of the network condition change associated with the geographical area, but not with information calculated with reference to a map indicating proximity of a mobile device to the portion of geographical coverage in which the condition change exists,the location of the stationary device and range at which the stationary device broadcasts indicating the portion of geographical coverage in which the condition change exists.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for communicating wireless network landscape information to a mobile device is shown and described. Strategic placement of beaconing devices that are encoded with pre-defined, specialized SSIDs allows information to be forwarded to the mobile clients to trigger specific behavior in the clients and to enable the clients to pro-actively control network transitions, thereby increasing their ability to provide seamless communications.
84 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A stationary device comprising:
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a memory in which is stored a representation of a network condition change associated with a portion of geographical coverage of one or more wireless networks; and a transmitter configured to broadcast a signal encoded to provide information regarding the one or more wireless networks, the signal being encoded with information indicative of the network condition change associated with the geographical area, but not with information calculated with reference to a map indicating proximity of a mobile device to the portion of geographical coverage in which the condition change exists, the location of the stationary device and range at which the stationary device broadcasts indicating the portion of geographical coverage in which the condition change exists. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of providing information regarding a wireless network landscape to an application associated with a mobile device includes the steps of:
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identifying a coverage area of at least one wireless network in the wireless network landscape; identifying a portion of the wireless network landscape in which a condition change exists; providing, at the identified portion of the wireless network landscape in which a condition change exists, a stationary device; and transmitting, by the stationary device, information including an indication of the network condition change, but not including data calculated with reference to a map indicating proximity of a mobile device to the condition change, such that the location of the stationary device and range at which the stationary device transmits are indicative of the portion of the identified coverage area in which the condition change exists. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A mobile device comprising:
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means for establishing a communication session using one or more wireless networks in a wireless landscape; a receiver for receiving signals encoded according to a wireless local area network protocol, the signals including information associated with portions of the wireless landscape proximate to the mobile device and being provided by a stationary device but not including data calculated with reference to a map identifying proximity of a mobile device to the portions of the wireless landscape; and means, responsive to the information, for initiating a transition of the communication session between a first wireless network in the wireless landscape to a second wireless network based on a calculated spatial position of the mobile device.
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19. A mobile device comprising:
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means for establishing a communication session using one or more wireless networks in a wireless landscape; a receiver for receiving signals encoded according to a wireless local area network protocol, the signals including information associated with portions of the wireless landscape proximate to the mobile device and being provided by a signaling stationary device but not including data calculated with reference to a map identifying proximity of a mobile device to the portions of the wireless landscape; means for comparing strengths of signals from the wireless network and from the signaling device to determine a direction of movement of the mobile device; and means for reconfiguring the mobile device in preparation for a change in the wireless landscape based on the received information and the direction of movement of the mobile device.
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20. A mobile device comprising:
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a receiver for receiving signals encoded according to a wireless local area network protocol, the signals including information associated with portions of a wireless landscape proximate to the mobile device and being provided by a plurality of stationary signaling devices independent of the wireless landscape but not including data calculated with reference to a map identifying proximity of a mobile device to the portions of the wireless landscape; means for comparing strengths of different signals provided by the plurality of signaling devices to identify a location of the mobile device; and means for reconfiguring the mobile device in preparation for a change in the wireless landscape based on the received information and the location of the mobile device.
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Specification