Discovering a frequency of a wireless access point

• US 8,472,952 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2010
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Perez, Cesar, Sumler, John D., Shipley, Trevor D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYLOR, BARRY W
• Application Number:
  US12/956,178
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/450, 455/452.1
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A dual-mode wireless communication device (WCD), capable of communicating via both Wifi and cellular technologies, registers with a Wifi access point. As part of the registration process, or at some point thereafter, the Wifi access point transmits a frequency at which a femtocell access point operates. Upon receiving this frequency, the WCD registers for cellular service with the femtocell access point. As a result, the WCD may be able to communicate simultaneously via both the Wifi access point and the femtocell access point.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first wireless access point, a first request from a wireless communication device (WCD), wherein the first wireless access point stores an indication of an operating frequency of a second access point, and wherein the first wireless access point is a Wifi access point and the second wireless access point is a femtocell access point;

transmitting, by the first wireless access point, a reply to the WCD, wherein the reply is in response to the first request and the reply includes the indication of the operating frequency of the second wireless access point, wherein the first request and the reply both comprise Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) messages, and the operating frequency is encoded in a DHCP option;

receiving, by the second wireless access point via the operating frequency, a second request from the WCD; and

in response to the second request, registering the WCD to be served by the second wireless access point.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after registering the WCD to be served by the second wireless access point, the first and second wireless access points simultaneously serving the WCD.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request requests the operating frequency.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless access point defines a first wireless coverage area, and the second wireless access point defines a second wireless coverage area.

5. A method comprising:

receiving, by a first wireless access point, a first request from a wireless communication device (WCD), wherein the first wireless access point stores an indication of an operating frequency of a second access point, and wherein the first wireless access point is a Wifi access point and the second wireless access point is a femtocell access point;

in response to the first request, assigning, by the first wireless access point, an address to the WCD;

after assigning the address to the WCD, transmitting, by the first wireless access point, a message to the WCD, wherein the message contains an indication of the operating frequency of the second wireless access point, wherein the first request and the message both comprise Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) messages, and the operating frequency is encoded in a DHCP option;

receiving, by the second wireless access point via the operating frequency, a second request from the WCD; and

in response to the second request, registering the WCD to be served by the second wireless access point.

6. A system comprising:

a first transceiver configured for wireless communication at a first operating frequency according to a Wifi protocol;

a second transceiver configured for wireless communication at a second operating frequency according to a femtocell protocol, wherein the first and second operating frequencies are different;

a processor;

a data storage that stores an indication of the second operating frequency; and

program instructions, stored in the data storage and executable by the processor to (i) receive, via the first transceiver, a first request from a wireless communication device (WCD), (ii) transmit, via the first transceiver, a reply to the WCD, wherein the reply is in response to the first request, the reply including the indication of the second operating frequency, and wherein the first request and the reply both comprise Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) messages, and the operating frequency is encoded in a DHCP option, (iii) receive, via the second transceiver, a second request from the WCD, and, (iv) in response to the second request, register the WCD to be served by the second transceiver.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a first wireless access point including the first transceiver; and

a second wireless access point including the second transceiver.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first wireless access point contains the program instructions to receive the first request and transmit the reply, and wherein the second wireless access point contains the program instructions to receive the second request and register the WCD.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the first request requests the second operating frequency.