Method and system for selecting a wireless network for offloading
First Claim
1. A method in a wireless user terminal for selecting a network access point for offloading network traffic from a first network to a second network, wherein network access information is needed to connect to the second network through the network access point, the method comprising:
- determining a measure of frequency representing a number of times the wireless user terminal discovers that the network access point is within range during one or more periods of time;
comparing the measure of frequency to a predefined threshold;
if the measure of frequency exceeds the predefined threshold, obtaining at least one piece of information identifying an owner of the network access point;
searching a contacts list in the wireless user terminal for the at least one piece of information identifying an owner of the network access point; and
if the at least one piece of information identifying an owner of the network access point is found in the contacts list, sending a request for network access information to an owner of the network access point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method and system for selecting a wireless network for offloading network traffic from another network. In one embodiment, a method and system for offloading network traffic in a wireless user terminal from a first network, such as cellular network, onto a second network, such as a WiFi network, includes determining a measure of the relationship between the user of the wireless user terminal and the owner of the access point for the second network. The measure of the relationship can be used to provide an indication of the likelihood that the owner of the access point will grant access to the user of the wireless user terminal.
16 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method in a wireless user terminal for selecting a network access point for offloading network traffic from a first network to a second network, wherein network access information is needed to connect to the second network through the network access point, the method comprising:
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determining a measure of frequency representing a number of times the wireless user terminal discovers that the network access point is within range during one or more periods of time; comparing the measure of frequency to a predefined threshold; if the measure of frequency exceeds the predefined threshold, obtaining at least one piece of information identifying an owner of the network access point; searching a contacts list in the wireless user terminal for the at least one piece of information identifying an owner of the network access point; and if the at least one piece of information identifying an owner of the network access point is found in the contacts list, sending a request for network access information to an owner of the network access point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification