Methods and apparatus to discover network capabilities for connecting to an access network

• US 8,665,842 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2010
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: McCann, Stephen, Montemurro, Michael, Steer, David, Kennedy, Richard Howard, Hole, David Philip, Dwyer, Johanna Lisa
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH NGOC M
• Application Number:
  US12/779,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20110280227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370/310, 370/313, 370/331
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus to discover network capabilities for connecting to an access network are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves sending a request to a first access network of a first network type. The request is addressed to a database and requests network connectivity information for connecting to a second access network of a second network type different from the first network type. The example method also involves receiving a response from the first access network. The response includes the network connectivity information for connecting to the second access network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

sending a request to a first access network of a first network type, the request addressed to a database and requesting network connectivity information for connecting to a second access network of a second network type different from the first network type, wherein the request includes a location identification field,

when the location identification field is devoid of a location identification, the first access network and the second access network being co-located, and

when the location identification field includes a location identification, the second access network being in a location different from the location of the first access network; and

receiving a response from the first access network, the response including the network connectivity information for connecting to the second access network.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the database is in an external network.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the sending of the request is performed by a wireless terminal while in a non-associated state relative to the first access network.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first network type is one of a wireless local area network, a cellular network, or a white space network, and wherein the second network type is a white space network.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the sending of the request is in response to receiving a beacon signal or a probe response from the first access network containing information indicating that the first access network is capable of exchanging information with the database in an external network.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein when the location identification field includes the location identification, the location identification is an identification of the location of the second access network.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory, the processor is configured to at least;

send a request to a first access network of a first network type, the request addressed to a database and requesting network connectivity information for connecting to a second access network of a second network type different from the first network type, wherein the request includes a location identification field,

when the location identification field is devoid of a location identification, the first access network and the second access network being co-located, and

when the location identification field includes a location identification, the second access network being in a location different from the location of the first access network; and

receive a response from the first access network, the response including the network connectivity information for connecting to the second access network.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the database is in an external network.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the processor is incorporated in a wireless terminal and configured to send the request while the wireless terminal is in a non-associated state relative to the first access network.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the first network type is one of a wireless local area network, a cellular network, or a white space network, and wherein the second network type is a white space network.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to send the request in response to receiving a beacon signal or a probe response from the first access network containing information indicating that the first access network is capable of exchanging information with the database in an external network.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein when the location identification field includes the location identification, the location identification is an identification of the location of the second access network.

13. A tangible machine readable storage device or storage disk having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

send a request to a first access network of a first network type, the request addressed to a database and requesting network connectivity information for connecting to a second access network of a second network type different from the first network type, wherein the request includes a location identification field,

when the location identification field is devoid of a location identification, the first access network and the second access network being co-located, and

when the location identification field includes a location identification, the second access network being in a location different from the location of the first access network; and

receive a response from the first access network, the response including the network connectivity information for connecting to the second access network.

14. A machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 13, wherein the database is in an external network.

15. A machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 13, wherein the machine is a wireless terminal, and wherein, when executed, the instructions cause the wireless terminal to send the request while in a non-associated state relative to the first access network.

16. A machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 13, wherein the first network type is one of a wireless local area network, a cellular network, or a white space network, and wherein the second network type is a white space network.

17. A machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 13 having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the machine to send the request in response to receiving a beacon signal or a probe response from the first access network containing information indicating that the first access network is capable of exchanging information with the database in an external network.

18. A machine readable storage device or storage disk as defined in claim 13, wherein when the location identification field includes the location identification, the location identification is an identification of the location of the second access network.