Wireless wide area network characteristics indicated over a wireless local area network
First Claim
1. A method of operating a communications system, the method comprising:
- in a wireless device configured to provide wireless access to a wireless wide area network (WWAN) over a wireless local area network (WLAN) established by the wireless device for at least a user device, transferring a WLAN beacon signal from the wireless device for receipt by the user device accessing the WLAN, wherein the WLAN beacon signal comprises packets identifying the WLAN;
receiving WWAN signals into the wireless device from at least one wireless access node of the WWAN, and identifying at least one of a signal strength and data rate of a wireless access node of the WWAN based on at least the WWAN signals;
determining WWAN characteristics for insertion into the WLAN beacon signal, wherein the WWAN characteristics are selected from at least one of the signal strength of the wireless access node, the data rate of the wireless access node, and battery status of the wireless device; and
inserting at least one characteristic indicator into headers of the packets of the WLAN beacon signal indicating the WWAN characteristics.
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Accused Products
Abstract
What is disclosed is a method of operating a communications system. The method includes transferring a wireless local area network (WLAN) beacon signal from a wireless transceiver, where the WLAN beacon signal comprises packets identifying the WLAN. The method further provides receiving wireless wide area network (WWAN) signals into the wireless transceiver and determining WWAN characteristics. The WWAN characteristics comprise at least one of signal strength, data rate, and transceiver battery status. The method further includes, in the wireless transceiver, inserting a characteristic indicator into the packet headers of the WLAN beacon signal indicating the WWAN characteristics.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a communications system, the method comprising:
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in a wireless device configured to provide wireless access to a wireless wide area network (WWAN) over a wireless local area network (WLAN) established by the wireless device for at least a user device, transferring a WLAN beacon signal from the wireless device for receipt by the user device accessing the WLAN, wherein the WLAN beacon signal comprises packets identifying the WLAN; receiving WWAN signals into the wireless device from at least one wireless access node of the WWAN, and identifying at least one of a signal strength and data rate of a wireless access node of the WWAN based on at least the WWAN signals; determining WWAN characteristics for insertion into the WLAN beacon signal, wherein the WWAN characteristics are selected from at least one of the signal strength of the wireless access node, the data rate of the wireless access node, and battery status of the wireless device; and inserting at least one characteristic indicator into headers of the packets of the WLAN beacon signal indicating the WWAN characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A wireless device configured to provide wireless access to a wireless wide area network (WWAN) over a wireless local area network (WLAN) established by the wireless device for at least a user device, the wireless device comprising:
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a network interface configured to receive WWAN signals from at least one wireless access node of the WWAN; a local interface configured to transfer a WLAN beacon signal comprising packets identifying the WLAN for receipt by the user device accessing the WLAN; and a processing system configured to; identify at least one of a signal strength and data rate of a wireless access node of the WWAN based on at least the WWAN signals; determine WWAN characteristics for insertion into the WLAN beacon signal comprising at least one of the signal strength of the wireless access node, the data rate of the wireless access node, and battery status of the wireless device; and direct the local interface to insert at least one characteristic indicator into headers of the packets of the WLAN beacon signal indicating the WWAN characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wireless hotspot device configured to provide wireless access to a wireless wide area network (WWAN) over a wireless local area network (WLAN) established for at least a user device, the wireless hotspot device comprising:
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a network transceiver configured to receive WWAN signals from at least one wireless access node of the WWAN; a local transceiver configured to transfer a WLAN beacon signal comprising packets identifying the WLAN, wherein a wireless registration signal is received into the local transceiver from a user device responsive to the WLAN beacon signal, and wherein, in response to the registration signal, software is transferred to the user device; and a processing system configured to; process the WWAN signals to identify at least one of a signal strength and data rate of a wireless access node of the WWAN based on at least the WWAN signals; determine at least one WWAN characteristic for insertion into the WLAN beacon signal comprising at least one of the signal strength of the wireless access node, the data rate of the wireless access node, and battery status of the wireless hotspot device; and direct the local transceiver to insert the at least one characteristic indicator into headers of the packets of the WLAN beacon signal indicating the at least one WWAN characteristic, wherein the WLAN beacon signal comprising the at least one characteristic indicator is received into the user device, and wherein the software in the user device is configured to determine the at least one WWAN characteristic and provide a graphical display indicating the at least one WWAN characteristic on the user device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification