System and method for multi-network coverage

• US 8,730,926 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Jain, Nikhil, Horn, Gavin Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US12/197,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20080304461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 455/435.2, 455/436, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• 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 system and method are provided for a multi-network wireless communications access terminal (AT) to access multi-network coverage. The method registers a multi-network AT in a first communications network. In response to registering with the first network, the AT receives information via the first network that is required for accessing a second communications network (e.g., an IEEE 802.20 or 1xEV-DO network). The AT obtains services accessed via the second network, in response to the access information received via the first network. For example, the second network access information may be system information, channel information, or access point parameters. The AT retains the option of obtaining services accessed via the first network if the second network cannot be accessing the second network.

Claims

1. A method for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the method comprising:

detecting, by a second communications network access point (AP), presence of a first communications network AP operating in a first communications network, the second communications network AP operating in a second communications network, the second communications network AP broadcasting access information of the second communications network in the second communications network;

communicating, by the second communications network AP, the access information to the first communications network AP;

ceasing, by the second communications network AP, the broadcasting of the access information in the second communications network in response to detecting the first communications network AP; and

communicating, by the second communications network AP, with an access terminal in the second communications network based on receipt of the access information from the access terminal, wherein the access terminal received the access information from the first communications network AP.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second communications network AP communicating the access information to the first communications network AP includes the second communications network AP sending a message to the first communications network AP, the message being encapsulated for layer 2 signaling.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the access information is selected from a group consisting of system information, channel information and access point parameters.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

broadcasting, by the second communications network AP, an AP identifier to be used by the access terminal for requesting the access information from the first communications network AP.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the detection of the presence comprises receiving a signal from the first communications network AP.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the broadcasting of the access information comprises broadcasting the access information via a wireless transceiver; and

the communicating with the access terminal comprises communicating via the wireless transceiver.

7. An apparatus for wireless communications, the apparatus operating in a first communications network, comprising:

a first communications subsystem with a wireless interface for detecting presence of an access point (AP) operating in a second communications network, the first communications subsystem being configured to supply detection information in response to detecting the presence of the AP, the first communications subsystem being further configured to communicate access information of the first communications network to the AP;

a distribution module configured to receive the detection information from the first communications subsystem and further configured to supply a cease-broadcast command in response to receiving the detection information; and

a second communications subsystem configured to receive the cease-broadcast command from the distribution module, and having a wireless interface for broadcasting the access information in the first communications network, the wireless interface being configured to cease the broadcasting of the access information in the first communication network in response to receiving the cease-broadcast command, the second communications subsystem being configured to communicate with an access terminal in the first communications network based on receipt of the access information from the access terminal, wherein the access terminal received the access information from the AP.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first communications subsystem communicates the access information to the AP in a message, the message being encapsulated for layer 2 signaling.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the access information is selected from a group consisting of system information, channel information and access point parameters.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the wireless interface for broadcasting the access information in the first communications network is further configured to:

broadcast an AP identifier to be used by the access terminal for requesting the access information from the AP.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the detection of the presence comprises receiving a signal from the AP.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

the wireless interface for broadcasting the access information comprises a wireless transceiver; and

the communicating with the access terminal comprises communicating via the wireless transceiver.

13. An apparatus operating in a first communications network, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting presence of a communications network access point (AP) operating in a second communications network;

means for broadcasting access information of the first communications network in the first communications network;

means for communicating the access information to the communications network AP;

means for ceasing the broadcasting of the access information in the first communications network in response to detecting the communications network AP; and

means for communicating with an access terminal in the first communication network based on receipt of the access information from the access terminal, wherein the access terminal received the access information from the communications network AP.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for communicating the access information to the communications network AP communicates the access information to the communications network AP in a message, the message being encapsulated for layer 2 signaling.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the access information is selected from a group consisting of system information, channel information and access point parameters.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for broadcasting is configured to:

broadcast an AP identifier to be used by the access terminal for requesting the access information from the communications network AP.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein:

the means for broadcasting access information and the means for communicating with the access terminal comprise a wireless transceiver.

18. A computer-readable medium encoded with instructions executable to perform operations for providing wireless communications multi-network coverage, the operations comprising:

detecting, by a second communications network access point (AP), presence of a first communications network AP operating in a first communications network, the second communications network access point (AP) operating in a second communications network, the second communications network AP broadcasting access information of the second communications network in the second communications network;

communicating, by the second communications network AP, the access information to the first communications network AP;

ceasing, by the second communications network AP, the broadcasting of the access information in the second communications network in response to detecting the first communications network AP; and

communicating, by the second communications network AP, with an access terminal in the second communications network based on receipt of the access information from the access terminal, wherein the access terminal received the access information from the first communications network AP.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 wherein the second communications network AP communicating the access information to the first communications network AP includes the second communications network AP sending a message to the first communications network AP, the message being encapsulated for layer 2 signaling.

20. An access point (AP), the AP operating in a first communications network, comprising:

an antenna;

a first communications subsystem with a wireless interface for detecting presence of another AP operating in a second communications network, the first communications subsystem being configured to supply detection information in response to detecting the presence of the other AP, the first communications subsystem being further configured to communicate access information of the first communications network to the other AP via the antenna;

a distribution module configured to receive the detection information from the first communications subsystem and further configured to supply a cease-broadcast command in response to receiving the detection information; and

a second communications subsystem configured to receive the cease-broadcast command from the distribution module, and having a wireless interface for broadcasting the access information in the first communications network, the wireless interface being configured to cease the broadcasting of the access information, via the antenna, in the first communications network in response to receiving the cease-broadcast command, the second communications subsystem being configured to communicate with an access terminal in the first communications network based on receipt of the access information from the access terminal, wherein the access terminal received the access information from the other AP.