Apparatus and method of changing access point in wireless network system

• US 9,313,708 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Nam, Sang-Su, Choi, Hye-Eun
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUNKULH, BOB A
• Application Number:
  US14/175,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20140161101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0077 of access information of target access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

An apparatus and method of changing an access point in a wireless network system is provided. The wireless network system includes a first access point existing on a wireless network, and a user terminal accessing the first access point. The first access point transmits information on a second access point, which is one of a plurality of access points accessible by the user terminal, to the user terminal, and the user terminal determines whether to access the second access point and accesses the second access terminal in accordance with the determination result.

Claims

1. A wireless network-based user terminal, comprising:

a probe request packet transmitting unit to transmit a probe request packet through a wireless network;

a probe response packet receiving unit to receive probe response packets in response to the probe request packet;

an access point information storage unit to store information on accessible access points based on the received probe response packets;

a terminal control unit to select and connect to one of the accessible access points, and control transmission of the information on the accessible access points to a selected access point;

wherein the user terminal transmits the probe request packet in an active scan method by successively transmitting probe request packets to the access points existing in the network,

wherein the user terminal transmits new information on accessible access points by periodically searching for surrounding access points, and

wherein the probe response packet receiving unit receives a probe response packet including information on a list of recommended access points based on state information of the accessible access points from.

2. The wireless network-based user terminal of claim 1, wherein the probe response packet receiving unit receives information including an access point load state and the list of recommended access points from the selected access point, such that a new access point may be selected from a plurality of access points based on a detected change in performance of the access points.

3. The wireless network-based user terminal of claim 2, wherein the terminal control unit receives from an access point information on a change in performance of other available access points, said information is collected and dynamically analyzed for a performance change by said access point, determines whether the selected access point is in a normal state using the access point load state, and changes connection of the terminal to one of the list of recommended access points if the selected access point is determined to be not in a normal state.

4. A wireless network-based access point, comprising:

a communication unit to perform communication with a terminal through a wireless network;

an access point information management unit to manage information transmitted from the terminal about other accessible access points;

an access point control unit to collect information on the other accessible access points,

wherein the communication unit comprises;

a probe request packet receiving unit to receive a probe request packet from the terminal; and

a probe response packet transmitting unit to transmit a probe response packet generated in response to the probe request packet to the terminal;

wherein the terminal transmits the probe request packet in an active scan method by successively transmitting probe request packets to the access points existing in the network,

wherein the user terminal transmits new information on accessible access points by periodically searching for surrounding access points, and

wherein the probe response packet transmitting unit transmits the probe response packet including information on a list of recommended access points based on state information of the accessible access points to the terminal.

5. The wireless network-based access point of claim 4, wherein the access point control unit receives from an access point information on a change in performance of the other accessible access points, said information is collected and dynamically analyzed for a performance change by said access point, determines whether the access point is in a normal state, creates the list of recommended access points for providing another connection route if the access point is determined to be not in a normal state, and transfers the analyzed information to the terminal.

6. The wireless network-based access point of claim 5, wherein the access point control unit controls transmission of information including a load state of the access point and the list of recommended access points to the terminal.

7. The wireless network-based access point of claim 5, wherein the list of recommended access points is provided as information specifying any one access point as the another connection route.

8. The wireless network-based access point of claim 7, wherein the information specifying any one access point as the another connection route is inputted in a recommended access point set field included in the probe response packet of the access point.

9. The wireless network-based access point of claim 8, wherein the probe response packet further includes an access point load state field for inputting a load state of the access point.

10. The wireless network-based access point of claim 5, wherein the information on performance includes capability for the other accessible access points.

11. A wireless network-based communication method, comprising:

transmitting a probe request packet from a user terminal through a wireless network;

receiving probe response packets in response to the probe request packet;

storing information on accessible access points based on the received probe response packets;

selecting and connecting to one of the accessible access points, and controlling transmission of information on the accessible access points to a selected access point;

wherein the user terminal transmits the probe request packet in an active scan method by successively transmitting probe request packets to the access points existing in the network,

wherein the user terminal transmits new information on accessible access points by periodically searching for surrounding access points, and

wherein the receiving comprises receiving a probe response packet including information on a list of recommended access points based on state information of the accessible access points.

12. The wireless network-based communication method of claim 11, further comprising receiving information including an access point load state and the list of recommended access points from the selected access point, such that a new access point may be selected from a plurality of access points based on a detected change in performance of the access points.

13. The wireless network-based communication method of claim 12, further comprising receiving from an access point information on a change in performance of other available access points, said information is collected and dynamically analyzed for a performance change by said access point, determining whether the selected access point is in a normal state using the access point load state, and changing connection of the terminal to one of the list of recommended access points if the selected access point is determined to be not in a normal state.

14. A wireless network-based communication method, comprising:

performing communication with a terminal through a wireless network;

managing information transmitted from the terminal about other accessible access points; and

collecting information on the other accessible access points,

wherein the performing communication comprises;

receiving a probe request packet from the terminal;

transmitting a probe response packet generated in response to the probe request packet to the terminal;

wherein the terminal transmits the probe request packet in an active scan method by successively transmitting probe request packets to the access points existing in the network,

wherein the user terminal transmits new information on accessible access points by periodically searching for surrounding access points, and

wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the probe response packet including information on a list of recommended access points based on state information of the accessible access points to the terminal.

15. The wireless network-based communication method of claim 14, further comprising receiving information on performance from the other accessible access points, determining whether the access point is in a normal state, and creating the list of recommended access points for providing another connection route if the access point is determined to be not in a normal state.

16. The wireless network-based communication method of claim 15, further comprising receiving from an access point information on a change in performance of other available access points, said information is collected and dynamically analyzed for a performance change by said access point, controlling transmission of information including a load state of the access point and the list of recommended access points to the terminal.