Network search, selection and entry in WiMAX

• US 9,473,345 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Rantanen, Tommi Olavi, Ala-Vannesluoma, Jukka Sakari, Hirsimaki, Jani Petteri, Oksanen, Ilkka Antero, Tasa, Mikko Jarkko
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/524,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20120263073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,192 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/375 Access point names [APN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Displayable names corresponding to identities of networks which provide service for subscriber stations are obtained, the identities of the networks and the corresponding displayable names are processed into processed information, and the processed information is transmitted.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one processor, the at least one memory, and the computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to at least;

obtain displayable names corresponding to identities of networks which provide service for subscriber stations;

process the identities of the networks and the corresponding displayable names into processed information, wherein the identities of the networks include network service provider identifiers, and wherein the displayable names include one or more of verbose network service provider names and network service provider realms;

prepare network information for at least one network, the network information comprising one or more of a realm of the identities and an indication that the network information has been updated as the processed information; and

transmit the processed information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to map the identities to the displayable names.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network information further comprises one or more of a character set and an operator logo.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to transmit the processed information in at least one of a downlink channel descriptor message, a service identity information advertisement message, and a basic capability response message.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to transmit the processed information to a subscriber station upon receipt of a request message from the subscriber station requesting the processed information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to transmit the processed information to a subscriber station upon a change of the processed information.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processed information indicates a manner of accessing the networks, and

wherein the manner of accessing the network is free or requires subsequent creation of credentials.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitted processed information further includes network access point identifiers which provide service for subscriber stations configured in accordance with WiMAX.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one processor, the at least one memory, and the computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to at least;

receive information from another apparatus, the information comprising a list of identities of networks which provide service for subscriber stations and displayable names of the identities of the networks, and the information further comprising one or more of a realm of the identities and an indication that the information has been updated, wherein the identities of the networks include network service provider identifiers, and wherein the displayable names include one or more of verbose network service provider names and network service provider realms; and

select a network out of the networks based on the list.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the information further comprises one or more of a character set and an operator logo.

11. The apparatus of claim 9,

wherein the apparatus is further configured to prepare an indication for connecting/entering the network selected and transmit the indication.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further configured to prepare a message requesting the information and transmit the message to the other apparatus.

13. A method, comprising:

obtaining displayable names corresponding to identities of networks which provide service for subscriber stations;

processing the identities of the networks and the corresponding displayable names into processed information, wherein the identities of the networks include network service provider identifiers, and wherein the displayable names include one or more of verbose network service provider names and network service provider realms;

preparing network information for at least one network, the network information comprising one or more of a realm of the identities and an indication that the network information has been updated as the processed information; and

transmitting the processed information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the obtaining comprises mapping the identities to the displayable names.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the network information further comprises one or more of a character set and an operator logo.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising:

transmitting the processed information in at least one of a downlink channel descriptor message, a service identity information advertisement message, and a basic capability response message.

17. The method of claim 13, comprising:

transmitting the processed information to a subscriber station upon receipt of a request message from the subscriber station requesting the processed information.

18. The method of claim 13, comprising:

transmitting the processed information to a subscriber station upon a change of the processed information.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving information from an apparatus, the information comprising a list of identities of networks which provide service for subscriber stations and displayable names of the identities of the networks, and the information further comprising one or more of a realm of the identities and an indication that the information has been updated, wherein the identities of the networks include network service provider identifiers, and wherein the displayable names include one or more of verbose network service provider names and network service provider realms; and

selecting a network out of the networks based on the list.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the information further comprises one or more of a character set and an operator logo.

21. The method of claim 19, comprising:

preparing an indication for connecting/entering the network selected; and

transmitting the indication.

22. The method of claim 19, comprising:

preparing a message requesting the information; and

transmitting the message to the apparatus.

23. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform at least the following:

obtaining displayable names corresponding to identities of networks which provide service for subscriber stations;

processing the identities of the networks and the corresponding displayable names into processed information, wherein the identities of the networks include network service provider identifiers, and wherein the displayable names include one or more of verbose network service provider names and network service provider realms;

preparing network information for at least one network, the network information comprising one or more of a realm of the identities and an indication that the network information has been updated as the processed information; and

transmitting the processed information.

24. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform at least the following:

receiving information from an apparatus, the information comprising a list of identities of networks which provide service for subscriber stations and displayable names of the identities of the networks, and the information further comprising one or more of a realm of the identities and an indication that the information has been updated, wherein the identities of the networks include network service provider identifiers, and wherein the displayable names include one or more of verbose network service provider names and network service provider realms; and

selecting a network out of the networks based on the list.