Network discovery in wireless communication systems

• US 8,842,605 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kasslin, Mika, Tirronen, Mikko, Leppnen, Kari, Virtanen, Sami, Rantala, Enrico, Turunen, Markku
• Primary Examiner(s): Kao, Jutai
• Application Number:
  US12/635,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20110141965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0088 Scheduling hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

Apparatuses may stay synchronized with a network via a beacon signal transmitted at a set interval. Communication-related activities may be planned around instances when beacon signals are expected, which may also be known as a target beacon transmission time (TBTT). Scanning opportunities, which are periods of time during which apparatuses may perform passive scanning, may be planned based on an interfere multiple of a network beacon signal interval. Apparatuses may, upon realizing a scanning opportunity, opt either to utilize the scanning opportunity or to participate in network beaconing. In example scenarios where apparatuses opt to utilize scanning opportunities, apparatuses may prepare a network information message and then enter a passive scanning mode. Apparatuses may remain in the passive scanning mode for the duration of the scanning opportunity, reacting when messages are received from devices outside of the network by transmitting the network information message.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying a scanning opportunity for an apparatus, the scanning opportunity being based upon an integer multiple of a network beacon signal interval of a network in which the apparatus is operating;

if a determination is made in the apparatus to utilize the scanning opportunity, preparing a network information message and entering a passive scanning mode for the duration of the scanning opportunity; and

if a beacon message corresponding to another network is received in the apparatus while in the passive scanning mode, initiating transmission of the network information message,

wherein the network information message comprises information corresponding to the network in which the apparatus is operating and contains information usable by other apparatuses when synchronizing to the beacon signal interval of the network, and

wherein the network information is prepared prior to entering the passive scanning mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a duration for the scanning opportunity is defined as an integer multiple of the network beacon signal interval.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein if a determination is made to not utilize the scanning opportunity the apparatus is permitted to participate in beaconing within the network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein when the apparatus participates in beaconing within the network during duration of the scanning opportunity, the apparatus does not initiate transmission of data frames during duration of the scanning opportunity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network information message is modified by the apparatus prior to transmission to contain a network identifier corresponding to the another network, the network identifier being derived in the apparatus from the received beacon message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information usable by other apparatuses when synchronizing to the beacon signal interval of the network further comprises diluted beacon signal interval information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating transmission comprises participating in contention for access to a wireless communication medium.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein when entering the passive scanning mode the apparatus does not participate in beaconing for the duration of the scanning opportunity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein an indication of the beacon message received from the another network is not transmitted to the network in which the apparatus is operating.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is usable by other apparatuses for receiving a next beacon transmission when synchronizing to the beacon signal interval of the network.

11. A computer program product comprising computer executable program code recorded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the computer executable program code comprising:

code configured to cause an apparatus to identify a scanning opportunity, the scanning opportunity being based upon an integer multiple of a network beacon signal interval of a network in which the apparatus is operating;

code configured to, if a determination is made in the apparatus to utilize the scanning opportunity, cause the apparatus to prepare a network information message and enter a passive scanning mode for the duration of the scanning opportunity; and

code configured to, if a beacon message corresponding to another network is received in the apparatus while in the passive scanning mode, cause the apparatus to transmit the network information message,

wherein the network information message comprises information corresponding to the network in which the apparatus is operating and contains information usable by other apparatuses when synchronizing to the beacon signal interval of the network, and

wherein the network information is prepared prior to entering the passive scanning mode.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein a duration for the scanning opportunity is defined as an integer multiple of the network beacon signal interval.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising code configured to, if a determination is made to not utilize the scanning opportunity, cause the apparatus to participate in beaconing within the network.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising code configured to, if the apparatus participates in beaconing within the network during duration of the scanning opportunity, cause the apparatus to not initiate transmission of data frames during duration of the scanning opportunity.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising code configured to cause the apparatus to modify the network information prior to transmission to contain a network identifier corresponding to the another network, the network identifier being derived in the apparatus from the received beacon message.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the information usable by other apparatuses for synchronizing to the network further comprises diluted beacon signal interval information.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein initiating transmission comprises participating in contention for access to a wireless communication medium.

18. The computer program product of claim 11, further comprising code configured to cause the apparatus to not participate in beaconing for the duration of the scanning opportunity when entering the passive scanning mode.

19. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein an indication of the beacon message received from the another network is not transmitted to the network in which the apparatus is operating.

20. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the information is usable by other apparatuses for receiving a next beacon transmission when synchronizing to the beacon signal interval of the network.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

identify a scanning opportunity for an apparatus, the scanning opportunity being based upon an integer multiple of a network beacon signal interval of a network in which the apparatus is operating;

if a determination is made in the apparatus to utilize the scanning opportunity, prepare a network information message and entering a passive scanning mode for the duration of the scanning opportunity; and

if a beacon message corresponding to another network is received in the apparatus while in the passive scanning mode, transmit the network information message,

wherein the network information message comprises information corresponding to the network in which the apparatus is operating and contains information usable by other apparatuses when synchronizing to the beacon signal interval of the network, and

wherein the network information is prepared prior to entering the passive scanning mode.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a duration for the scanning opportunity is defined as an integer multiple of the network beacon signal interval.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein if a determination is made to not utilize the scanning opportunity the apparatus is permitted to participate in beaconing within the network.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein when the apparatus participates in beaconing within the network during duration of the scanning opportunity, the apparatus does not initiate transmission of data frames during duration of the scanning opportunity.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the network information message is modified by the apparatus prior to transmission to contain a network identifier corresponding to the another network, the network identifier being derived in the apparatus from the received beacon message.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the information usable by other apparatuses for synchronizing to the network further comprises diluted beacon signal interval information.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein initiating transmission comprises participating in contention for access to a wireless communication medium.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein when entering the passive scanning mode the apparatus does not participate in beaconing for the duration of the scanning opportunity.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein an indication of the beacon message received from the another network is not transmitted to the network in which the apparatus is operating.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the information is usable by other apparatuses for receiving a next beacon transmission when synchronizing to the beacon signal interval of the network.