Utilizing broadcast signals to convey restricted association information

• US 9,549,367 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Issued: 01/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Horn, Gavin B., Ulupinar, Fatih, Agashe, Parag A., Prakash, Rajat, Khandekar, Aamod, Gorokhov, Alexei, Bhushan, Naga
• Primary Examiner(s): Faroul, Farah
• Application Number:
  US14/484,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20150029930A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 370/312
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0007 for multicast or broadcast services, e.g. MBMS multicast or broadcast application services H04W4/06; resource management for broadcast services H04W72/30; connection management for selective distribution or broadcast H04W76/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate transmitting access point types and/or restricted association parameters using broadcast signals, such as beacons, pilot signals, etc. The type or restricted association information can be indicated by one or more intrinsic aspects of the signal, such as specified parameters. In addition, the type or information can be indicated by one or more extrinsic signal aspects, such as frequency, interval, periodicity, etc. Using this information, a mobile device can determine whether an access point implements restricted association. If so, the mobile device can request an access point or related group identifier before determining whether to establish connection therewith. The identifier can be verified against a list of accessible access points and/or groups to make the determination.

Claims

1. A method for specifying access point information in broadcast signals transmitted over a wireless communication network, comprising:

determining an access point type, wherein the access point type indicates whether an access point implements restricted association with one or more mobile devices and a level of the restricted association, and wherein the level of the restricted association indicates that the access point restricts all or part of signaling access, data access, registration access, and service access with the one or more mobile devices;

generating a broadcast signal that identifies the access point based at least in part on the access point type; and

transmitting the broadcast signal repeatedly over the wireless communication network according to the access point type.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising including an access point group identifier in the broadcast signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the broadcast signal is performed at an interval indicative of the access point type.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the broadcast signal is performed at a frequency range indicative of the access point type.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the access point type is specified within the broadcast signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the restricted association implemented by the access point relates to providing at least one of signaling, data, registration, and service to the one or more mobile devices.

7. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a type of the wireless communications apparatus, wherein the type indicates whether the wireless communications apparatus implements restricted association with one or more mobile devices and a level of the restricted association, and wherein the level of the restricted association indicates that the wireless communications apparatus restricts all or part of signaling access, data access, registration access, and service access with the one or more mobile devices;

generate a broadcast signal that identifies the wireless communications apparatus based at least in part on the type; and

transmit the broadcast signal repeatedly over a wireless network to identify the type; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

8. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to include an access point group identifier in the broadcast signal.

9. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein said at least one processor is configured to transmit the broadcast signal at an interval indicative of the type.

10. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein said at least one processor is configured to transmit the broadcast signal at a frequency range indicative of the type.

11. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein the type is specified within the broadcast signal.

12. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 7, wherein the restricted association implemented by the wireless communications apparatus relates to providing at least one of signaling, data, registration, and service to the one or more mobile devices.

13. A wireless communications apparatus that facilitates indicating restricted association in wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving a type of the wireless communications apparatus, wherein the type indicates whether the wireless communications apparatus implements restricted association with one or more mobile devices and a level of the restricted association, and wherein the level of the restricted association indicates that the wireless communications apparatus restricts all or part of signaling access, data access, registration access, and service access with the one or more mobile devices;

means for generating a broadcast signal that identifies the wireless communications apparatus based at least in part on the type; and

means for transmitting the broadcast signal repeatedly over a wireless network according to the type.

14. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for including an access point group identifier in the broadcast signal.

15. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for transmitting the broadcast signal at an interval indicative of the type.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for transmitting the broadcast signal at a frequency range indicative of the type.

17. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 13, wherein the type is specified within the broadcast signal.

18. The wireless communication apparatus of claim 13, wherein the restricted association implemented by the wireless communications apparatus relates to providing at least one of signaling, data, registration, and service to the one or more mobile devices.

19. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to determine an access point type, wherein the access point type indicates whether an access point implements restricted association with one or more mobile devices and a level of the restricted association, and wherein the level of the restricted association indicates that the access point restricts all or part of signaling access, data access, registration access, and service access with the one or more mobile devices;

code for causing the at least one computer to generate a broadcast signal that identifies the access point based at least in part on the access point type; and

code for causing the at least one computer to transmit the broadcast signal repeatedly over a wireless network according to the access point type.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises code for including an access point group identifier in the broadcast signal.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises code for transmitting the broadcast signal at an interval indicative of the access point type.

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein said non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises code for transmitting the broadcast signal at a frequency range indicative of the access point type.

23. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the access point type is specified within the broadcast signal.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the restricted association implemented by the access point relates to providing at least one of signaling, data, registration, and service to the one or more mobile devices.

25. An apparatus configured for wireless communication, comprising:

a restricted association specifier that specifies a restricted association indicator related to a determined type of the apparatus, wherein the determined type of the apparatus indicates whether the apparatus implements restricted association with one or more mobile devices and a level of the restricted association, and wherein the level of the restricted association indicates that the apparatus restricts all or part of signaling access, data access, registration access, and service access with the one or more mobile devices; and

a broadcast signal generator that creates a broadcast signal based at least in part on the restricted association indicator; and

a transmitter that repeatedly transmits the broadcast signal over a wireless network according to the restricted association indicator.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the broadcast signal generator includes an access point group identifier in the broadcast signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the transmitter transmits the broadcast signal at an interval indicative of the restricted association indicator.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the transmitter transmits the broadcast signal at a frequency range indicative of the restricted association indicator.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the broadcast signal generator includes the restricted association indicator within the broadcast signal.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the restricted association implemented by the apparatus relates to providing at least one of signaling, data, registration, and service to the one or more mobile devices.