Method and apparatus for selecting a multi-band access point to associate with a multi-band mobile station

• US 8,301,190 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2010
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chandra, Arty
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US12/880,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20100330914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/550.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 455/422.1, 455/403.5, 455/517, 455/434, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/524, 455/525, 455/67.1, 4554561-457, 370/329, 370/328, 370/343, 370/310
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting one of a plurality of multi-band access points (APs) to associate with a multi-band wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are disclosed. The multi-band APs broadcast frequency band information regarding multiple frequency bands on which the multi-band AP is configured to operate. The multi-band WTRU selects a particular multi-band AP to associate with and a frequency band to use to communicate with the selected multi-band AP based on the frequency band information. If the multi-band WTRU receives frequency band information from the selected multi-band AP which indicates that a characteristic, (e.g., throughput, path loss, load, capacity, backhaul), of the selected frequency band is unacceptable, the multi-band WTRU determines whether to disassociate with the selected multi-band AP or to continue to associate with the selected multi-band AP via a different frequency band.

Claims

1. A method for use in a multi-band wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:

the WTRU sending a probe request message to a multi-band access point (AP), wherein the probe request message includes frequency band information that indicates a multiple frequency capability of the WTRU;

the WTRU receiving a probe response message from the multi-band AP, wherein the probe response message is responsive to the probe request message and includes information regarding multiple frequency bands supported by the multi-band AP, wherein the multiple frequency bands include a first frequency band and a second frequency band;

the WTRU associating with the multi-band AP and communicating with the multi-band AP on the first frequency band;

the WTRU making a determination whether to disassociate from the multi-band AP or to continue to associate with the multi-band AP on the second frequency band; and

the WTRU disassociating from the multi-band AP or continuing to associate with the multi-band AP on the second frequency band according to the determination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determination is based on information that indicates that a quality metric of the first frequency band is unacceptable.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the quality metric is throughput.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the quality metric is path loss.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the quality metric is load.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the quality metric is capacity.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the quality metric is backhaul.

8. A multi-band wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising:

a transceiver configured to;

transmit a probe request message to a multi-band access point (AP), wherein the probe request message includes frequency band information that indicates a multiple frequency capability of the WTRU;

receive a probe response message from the multi-band AP, wherein the probe response message is responsive to the probe request message and includes information regarding multiple frequency bands supported by the multi-band AP, wherein the multiple frequency bands include a first frequency band and a second frequency band;

transmit an association request message to the multi-band AP;

receive an association response message from the multi-band AP; and

communicate data with the multi-band AP on the first frequency band; and

a processor configured to;

make a determination whether to disassociate from the multi-band AP or to continue to associate with the multi-band AP on the second frequency band;

wherein the transceiver is further configured to disassociate the WTRU from the multi-band AP or to continue to associate with the multi-band AP on the second frequency band according to the determination.

9. The WTRU of claim 8 wherein the processor is configured make the determination based on information that indicates that a quality metric of the first frequency band is unacceptable.

10. The WTRU of claim 9 wherein the quality metric is throughput.

11. The WTRU of claim 9 wherein the quality metric is path loss.

12. The WTRU of claim 9 wherein the quality metric is load.

13. The WTRU of claim 9 wherein the quality metric is capacity.

14. The WTRU of claim 9 wherein the quality metric is backhaul.