Systems and methods for enhanced network handoff to wireless local area networks

• US 9,883,437 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Abraham, Santosh Paul, Cherian, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghowrwal, Omar
• Application Number:
  US13/835,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20130336287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• 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 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for an enhanced network handoff to wireless local area networks. A network element, referred to as a network handoff gateway (WHG), can be introduced between a wireless wide area network (WWAN) and a local wireless area network (WLAN). The WHG can maintain c links with both a set of WiFi™ or similar access points local to a wireless device, as well as a cellular network (or other WWAN) to which the device is registered. The wireless device can be tracked by the WHG using GPS or other data. The WHG can proactively acquire and pre-stage data needed to hand a data link of the wireless device off from the WWAN connection to the WiFi™ access points. The acquired data can include authentication information, IP address, or other information to facilitate a faster, more robust transition between the WWAN and WiFi™ or other WLAN connections.

Claims

1. A method of managing a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a wireless wide area network interface, a set of location information associated with the wireless device;

identifying, using the set of location information, a set of access points that are within connection range of the wireless device;

transmitting a set of access point information associated with the set of access points to the wireless device via the wireless wide area network interface;

transmitting a set of station information associated with the wireless device to at least one access point in the set of access points; and

initiating a handoff of the wireless device from the wireless wide area network interface to a wireless local area network interface based on the set of access point information and based on transmitting the set of station information to the at least one access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless wide area network interface comprises a cellular network interface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cellular network interface is configured to connect to at least one network via a cellular broadband data connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless local area network interface is configured to connect to the Internet via a wireless router.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a portable computer, a tablet device, a media player device, a global positioning system (GPS) device, or a personal digital assistant (PDA) device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of station information comprises station (STA) information associated with the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the STA information comprises at least one of address information associated with the wireless device or key information associated with the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of access point information comprises at least one of address information associated with the at least one access point, a set of channel information associated with the at least one access point, a set of service set identification (SSID) information associated with the at least one access point, or cost information for data link access through the at least one access point.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a set of security key information to the wireless device and the at least one access point.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising initiating an authentication process between the wireless device and the at least one access point based on the set of security key information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of location information comprises at least one of location information captured via global position system (GPS) data, base station pilot data, geographic cell identifier data, cellular network data, Doppler effect data, or signal strength data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of receiving a set of location information, transmitting a set of access point information, or transmitting a set of station information comprises initiating a transmission over a secure transmission link with the wireless device.

13. A system, comprising:

a wireless wide area network interface configured to communicate with a wireless device;

a wireless local area network interface configured to communicate with the wireless device; and

a processor coupled to the wireless wide area network interface and to the wireless local area network interface, the processor configured to;

communicate using at least one of the wireless wide area network interface and the wireless local area network interface,

receive, from the wireless wide area network interface, a set of location information associated with the wireless device,

identify, using the set of location information, a set of access points that are within connection range of the wireless device,

transmit, via the wireless wide area network interface, a set of access point information associated with the set of access points to the wireless device, the set of access point information identifying to the wireless device a plurality of the access points,

transmit a set of station information associated with the wireless device to at least one access point in the set of access points, and

initiate a handoff of the wireless device from the wireless wide area network interface to the wireless local area network interface based on the set of access point information and based on the transmission of the set of station information to the at least one access point.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless wide area network interface is configured to communicate with a wireless wide area network, and wherein the wireless wide area network includes a wireless handoff gateway circuit that includes the processor and a memory coupled to the processor.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless wide area network interface comprises a cellular network interface.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a short messaging service (SMS) message from the wireless device, and wherein the wireless local area network interface comprises a WiFi™

technology network interface.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the wireless device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a portable computer, a tablet device, a media player device, a global positioning system (GPS) device, or a personal digital assistant (PDA) device.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the set of station information comprises station (STA) information associated with the wireless device, and wherein the processor is further configured to communicate with the wireless device via a short messaging service (SMS) message.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the STA information comprises at least one of address information associated with the wireless device or key information associated with the wireless device.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the set of access point information comprises at least one of address information associated with the at least one access point, a set of channel information associated with the at least one access point, a set of service set identification (SSID) information associated with the at least one access point, or cost information for data link access through the at least one access point.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit a set of security key information to the wireless device and the at least one access point.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to initiate an authentication process between the wireless device and the at least one access point based on the set of security key information.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the set of location information comprises at least one of location information captured via global position system (GPS) data, base station pilot data, geographic cell identifier data, cellular network data, Doppler effect data, or signal strength data.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the receipt of a set of location information, the transmission of a set of access point information, or the transmission of a set of station information comprises an initiation of a transmission over a secure transmission link with the wireless device.

25. A system, comprising:

means for communicating via a wireless wide area network;

means for communicating via a wireless local area network; and

means for processing information, the means for processing information coupled to the means for communicating via a wireless wide area network and to the means for communicating via a wireless local area network, the means for processing information configured to;

communicate using at least one of the means for communicating via a wireless wide area network and the means for communicating via a wireless local area network, and

receive, from the means for communicating via a wireless wide area network, a set of location information associated with a means for communicating wirelessly,

identify, using the set of location information, a set of means for providing access that are within connection range of the means for communicating wirelessly,

transmit, via the means for communicating via a wireless wide area network, a set of access point information associated with the set of means for providing access to the means for communicating wirelessly, the set of access point information identifying to the means for communicating wirelessly a plurality of the means for providing access,

transmit a set of station information associated with the means for communicating wirelessly to at least one means for providing access in the set of means for providing access, and

initiate a handoff of the means for communicating wirelessly from the means for communicating via a wireless wide area network to the means for communicating via a wireless local area network based on the set of access point information and based on the transmission of the set of station information to the at least one means for providing access.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for communicating via a wireless wide area network includes a wireless handoff gateway circuit that includes the means for processing information and a memory coupled to the means for processing information.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for communicating via a wireless wide area network comprises means for communicating via a cellular network interface.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for communicating via a wireless local area network comprises means for communicating via a WiFi™

technology network interface.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for communicating wirelessly comprises at least one of a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a portable computer, a tablet device, a media player device, a global positioning system (GPS) device, or a personal digital assistant (PDA) device.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the set of station information comprises station (STA) information associated with the means for communicating wirelessly.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the STA information comprises at least one of address information associated with the means for communicating wirelessly or key information associated with the means for communicating wirelessly.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the set of access point information comprises at least one of address information associated with the at least one means for providing access, a set of channel information associated with the at least one means for providing access, a set of service set identification (SSID) information associated with the at least one means for providing access, or cost information for data link access through the at least one means for providing access.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the means for processing information is further configured to transmit a set of security key information to the means for communicating wirelessly and the at least one means for providing access.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the means for processing information is further configured to initiate an authentication process between the means for communicating wirelessly and the at least one means for providing access based on the set of security key information.

35. The system of claim 25, wherein the set of location information, comprises at least one of location information captured via global position system (GPS) data, base station pilot data, geographic cell identifier data, cellular network data, Doppler effect data, or signal strength data.

36. The system of claim 25, wherein at least one of the receiving of a set of location information, the transmitting of a set of access point information, or the transmitting of a set of station information comprises an initiation of a transmission over a secure transmission link with the means for communicating wirelessly.

37. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a processor to initiate operations comprising;

receiving, from a wireless wide area network interface, a set of location information associated with a wireless device,

identifying, using the set of location information, a set of access points that are within connection range of the wireless device,

transmitting a set of access point information associated with the set of access points to the wireless device via the wireless wide area network interface, the set of access point information identifying to the wireless device a plurality of the access points,

transmitting a set of station information associated with the wireless device to at least one access point in the set of access points, and

initiating a handoff of the wireless device from the wireless wide area network interface to a wireless local area network interface based on the set of access point information and based on the transmitting of the set of station information to the at least one access point.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the wireless wide area network interface is configured to communicate with a wireless wide area network, and wherein the wireless wide area network includes a wireless handoff gateway circuit that includes the processor and a memory coupled to the processor.

39. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the wireless wide area network interface comprises a cellular network interface.

40. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the processor is configured to receive a short messaging service (SMS) message from the wireless device, and wherein the wireless local area network interface comprises a WiFi™

technology network interface.

41. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the wireless device comprises at least one of a cellular telephone, a smart phone, a portable computer, a tablet device, a media player device, a global positioning system (GPS) device, or a personal digital assistant (PDA) device.

42. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the set of station information comprises station (STA) information associated with the wireless device, and wherein the operations further comprise communicating with the wireless device via a short messaging service (SMS) message.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein the STA information comprises at least one of address information associated with the wireless device or key information associated with the wireless device.

44. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the set of access point information comprises at least one of address information associated with the at least one access point, a set of channel information associated with the at least one access point, a set of service set identification (SSID) information associated with the at least one access point, or cost information for data link access through the at least one access point.

45. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to transmit a set of security key information to the wireless device and the at least one access point.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprises at least one instruction for causing a computer to initiate an authentication process between the wireless device and the at least one access point based on the set of security key information.

47. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the set of location information comprises at least one of location information captured via global position system (GPS) data, base station pilot data, geographic cell identifier data, cellular network data, Doppler effect data, or signal strength data.

48. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein at least one of the receiving of a set of location information, the transmitting of a set of access point information, or the transmitting of a set of station information comprises initiating a transmission over a secure transmission link with the wireless device.

49. A method of configuring data connections on a wireless device, the method comprising:

transmitting a set of location information associated with the wireless device via a wireless wide area network interface to a wireless handoff gateway;

receiving, in the wireless device from the wireless handoff gateway, a set of access point information associated with a set of access points that are within connection range of the wireless device via a wireless local area network interface;

transmitting a set of station information associated with the wireless device to the wireless handoff gateway;

identifying at least one access point in the set of access points to establish a data connection with the wireless device via the wireless local area network interface; and

transitioning the data connection of the wireless device from the wireless wide area network interface to the wireless local area network interface based on identifying the at least one access point.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein transmitting the set of location information comprises at least one of transmitting the set of location information at predetermined intervals or transmitting the set of location information on an event-triggered basis.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the set of location information comprises at least one of location information captured via global position system (GPS) data, base station pilot data, geographic cell identifier data, cellular network data, Doppler effect data, or signal strength data.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein transitioning the data connection comprises performing an authentication process with the at least one access point based on the set of access point information and the set of station information.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the authentication process is based on a set of security key information.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the security key information includes a temporary key generated by the wireless handoff gateway.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein transitioning the data connection comprises performing an association process with the at least one access point.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the association process comprises:

an active/passive scan process between the wireless device and one or more access points in the set of access points; and

a determination that the at least one access point is available to accept association of the wireless device based on the active/passive scan process.

57. A wireless device, comprising:

a first interface configured to communicate with a wireless wide area network;

a second interface configured to communicate with a wireless local area network; and

a processor coupled to the first interface and to the second interface, the processor configured to;

communicate using the first interface and the second interface,

transmit, via the first interface, a set of location information associated with the wireless device to a wireless handoff gateway,

receive, in the wireless device from the wireless handoff gateway, a set of access point information associated with a set of access points that are within connection range of the wireless device via the wireless local area network, the set of access point information identifying to the wireless device a plurality of the access points,

identify at least one access point in the set of access points to establish a data connection of the wireless device via the wireless local area network, and

transition the data connection of the wireless device from the first interface to the second interface based on the identification of the at least one access point.

58. The wireless device of claim 57, wherein the wireless handoff gateway comprises a platform that includes a second processor, and wherein transmitting the set of location information comprises at least one of transmitting the set of location information at predetermined intervals or transmitting the set of location information on an event-triggered basis.

59. The wireless device of claim 57, wherein the set of location information comprises at least one of location information captured via global position system (GPS) data, base station pilot data, geographic cell identifier data, cellular network data, Doppler effect data, or signal strength data.

60. The wireless device of claim 57, wherein transitioning the data connection comprises performing an authentication process with the at least one access point based on the set of access point information and the set of location information.

61. The wireless device of claim 60, wherein the authentication process is based on a set of security key information.

62. The wireless device of claim 61, wherein the security key information includes a temporary key generated by the wireless handoff gateway.

63. The wireless device of claim 57, wherein transitioning the data connection comprises performing an association process with the at least one access point.

64. The wireless device of claim 63, wherein the association process comprises:

an active/passive scan process between the wireless device and one or more access points in the set of access points; and

a determination that the at least one access point is available to accept association of the wireless device based on the active/passive scan process.

65. A wireless device, comprising:

first means for interfacing to a wireless wide area network;

second means for interfacing to a wireless local area network; and

means for processing information, the means for processing information coupled to the first means for interfacing and to the second means for interfacing, the means for processing information configured to;

communicate using the first means for interfacing and the second means for interfacing,

transmit, via a wireless wide area network interface, a set of location information associated with the wireless device to a wireless handoff gateway,

receive, in the wireless device from the wireless handoff gateway, a set of access point information associated with a set of access points that are within connection range of the wireless device via the wireless local area network, the set of access point information identifying to the wireless device a plurality of the access points,

identify at least one access point in the set of access points to establish a data connection of the wireless device via the wireless local area network, and

transition the data connection of the wireless device from the first means for interfacing to the second means for interfacing based on the identification of the at least one access point.

66. The wireless device of claim 65, wherein the wireless handoff gateway includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, and wherein transmitting the set of location information comprises at least one of transmitting the set of location information at predetermined intervals or transmitting the set of location information on an event-triggered basis.

67. The wireless device of claim 65, wherein the set of location information comprises at least one of location information captured via global position system (GPS) data, base station pilot data, geographic cell identifier data, cellular network data, Doppler effect data, or signal strength data.

68. The wireless device of claim 65, wherein transitioning the data connection comprises performing an authentication process with the at least one access point based on the set of access point information and the set of location information.

69. The wireless device of claim 68, wherein the authentication process is based on a set of security key information.

70. The wireless device of claim 69, wherein the security key information includes a temporary key generated by the wireless handoff gateway.

71. The wireless device of claim 65, wherein transitioning the data connection comprises performing an association process with the at least one access point.

72. The wireless device of claim 71, wherein the association process comprises:

an active/passive scan process between the wireless device and one or more access points in the set of access points; and

a determination that the at least one access point is available to accept association of the wireless device based on the active/passive scan process.

73. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by a computer to initiate operations comprising;

transmitting a set of location information associated with a wireless device via a wireless wide area network interface to a wireless handoff gateway;

receiving, in the wireless device from the wireless handoff gateway, a set of access point information associated with a set of access points that are within connection range of the wireless device via a wireless local area network, the set of access point information identifying to the wireless device a plurality of the access points;

identifying at least one access point in the set of access points to establish a data connection of the wireless device via the wireless local area network; and

transitioning the data connection of the wireless device from the wireless wide area network interface to a wireless local area network interface based on the identifying of the at least one access point.

74. The computer program product of claim 73, wherein the wireless handoff gateway includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, and wherein transmitting the set of location information comprises at least one of transmitting the set of location information at predetermined intervals or transmitting the set of location information on an event-triggered basis.

75. The computer program product of claim 73, wherein the set of location information comprises at least one of location information captured via global position system (GPS) data, base station pilot data, geographic cell identifier data, cellular network data, Doppler effect data, or signal strength data.

76. The computer program product of claim 73, wherein an instruction for causing the computer to transition the data connection causes the computer to perform an authentication process with the at least one access point based on the set of access point information and the set of location information.

77. The computer program product of claim 76, wherein the authentication process is based on a set of security key information.

78. The computer program product of claim 77, wherein the security key information includes a temporary key generated by the wireless handoff gateway.

79. The computer program product of claim 73, further comprising at least one instruction for causing the computer to perform an association process with the at least one access point.

80. The computer program product of claim 79, wherein the association process comprises:

an active/passive scan process between the wireless device and one or more access points in the set of access points; and

a determination that the at least one access point is available to accept association of the wireless device based on the active/passive scan process.

81. A method of associating a wireless device with an access point, the method comprising:

transmitting, from the access point to a wireless handoff gateway, a set of access point information;

receiving, from the wireless handoff gateway via a wireless wide area network interface, a set of location information associated with the wireless device;

transmitting a set of access point information associated with the access point to the wireless handoff gateway;

receiving, from the wireless handoff gateway, a set of station information associated with the wireless device in the access point; and

establishing a data connection between the access point and the wireless device via a wireless local area network interface based on the set of access point information and the set of station information.

82. The method of claim 81, further comprising receiving a set of location information associated with the wireless device from the wireless handoff gateway.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein receiving the set of station information comprises receiving the set of station information when the wireless device is approaching or within range of the access point, based on the set of location information.

84. The method of claim 81, wherein establishing the data connection comprises performing an authentication process with the access point based on the set of station information.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the authentication process is based on a set of security key information.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the security key information includes a temporary key generated by the wireless handoff gateway.

87. The method of claim 81, wherein establishing the data connection comprises performing an association process with the access point.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein the association process comprises:

an active/passive scan process between the wireless device and the access point; and

a determination that the access point is available to accept association of the wireless device based on the active/passive scan process.

89. The method of claim 81, wherein the data connection comprises a connection to the Internet.

90. An access point device, comprising:

a first interface configured to communicate with a wireless wide area network;

a second interface configured to communicate with a wireless local area network; and

a processor coupled to the first interface and to the second interface, the processor configured to;

communicate using the first interface and the second interface,

transmit, to a wireless handoff gateway, access point information that is associated with the access point device and that is included in a set of access point information provided to a wireless device, the set of access point information identifying a plurality of access points that includes the access point device,

receive, from the wireless handoff gateway, a set of station information associated with the wireless device, and

establish a data connection with the wireless device via the wireless local area network based on the set of access point information and the set of station information.

91. The access point device of claim 90, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a set of location information associated with the wireless device from the wireless handoff gateway, and wherein the wireless handoff gateway comprises a platform that includes a second processor.

92. The access point device of claim 91, wherein receiving the set of station information comprises receiving the set of station information when the wireless device is approaching or within range of the access point device, based on the set of location information.

93. The access point device of claim 90, wherein establishing the data connection comprises performing an authentication process with the wireless device based on the set of station information.

94. The access point device of claim 93, wherein the authentication process is based on a set of security key information.

95. The access point device of claim 94, wherein the security key information includes a temporary key generated by the wireless handoff gateway.

96. The access point device of claim 90, wherein establishing the data connection comprises performing an association process with the wireless device.

97. The access point device of claim 96, wherein the association process comprises:

an active/passive scan process between the wireless device and the access point device; and

a determination that the access point device is available to accept association of the wireless device based on the active/passive scan process.

98. The access point device of claim 90, wherein the data connection comprises a connection to the Internet.

99. An access point device, comprising:

first means for interfacing to a wireless wide area network;

second means for interfacing to a wireless local area network; and

means for processing information, the means for processing information coupled to the first means for interfacing and to the second means for interfacing, the means for processing information configured to;

communicate with the first means for interfacing and the second means for interfacing,

transmit, to a wireless handoff gateway, access point information that is associated with the access point device and that is included in a set of access point information provided to a wireless device, the set of access point information identifying a plurality of access points that includes the access point device,

receive, from the wireless handoff gateway, a set of station information associated with the wireless device, and

establish a data connection with the wireless device via the wireless local area network based on the access point information and the set of station information.

100. The access point device of claim 99, wherein the means for processing information is further configured to receive a set of location information associated with the wireless device from the wireless handoff gateway, and wherein the wireless handoff gateway comprises a platform that includes a processor.

101. The access point device of claim 100, wherein receiving the set of station information comprises receiving the set of station information when the wireless device is approaching or within range of the access point device, based on the set of location information.

102. The access point device of claim 99, wherein establishing the data connection comprises performing an authentication process with the wireless device based on the set of station information.

103. The access point device of claim 102, wherein the authentication process is based on a set of security key information.

104. The access point device of claim 103, wherein the security key information includes a temporary key generated by the wireless handoff gateway.

105. The access point device of claim 99, wherein establishing the data connection comprises:

an active/passive scan process between the wireless device the access point device; and

a determination that the access point device is available to accept association of the wireless device based on the active/passive scan process.

106. The access point device of claim 105, wherein establishing the data connection further comprises performing an association process.

107. The access point device of claim 99, wherein the data connection comprises a connection to the Internet.

108. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by a computer to initiate operations comprising;

transmitting, from an access point to a wireless handoff gateway, a set of access point information;

receiving, from the wireless handoff gateway, a set of location information associated with a wireless device;

transmitting access point information that is associated with the access point and that is included in a set of access point information provided to a wireless device, the set of access point information identifying a plurality of access points that includes the access point;

receiving, from the wireless handoff gateway, a set of station information associated with the wireless device in the access point; and

establishing a data connection between the access point and the wireless device based on the set of access point information and the set of station information.

109. The computer program product of claim 108, further comprising at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive a set of location information associated with the wireless device via a processor of the wireless handoff gateway.

110. The computer program product of claim 109, wherein receiving the set of station information comprises receiving the set of station information when the wireless device is approaching or within range of the access point, based on the set of location information.

111. The computer program product of claim 108, wherein establishing the data connection comprises performing an authentication process with the wireless device based on the set of station information.

112. The computer program product of claim 111, wherein the authentication process is based on a set of security key information.

113. The computer program product of claim 112, wherein the security key information includes a temporary key generated by the wireless handoff gateway.

114. The computer program product of claim 108, wherein establishing the data connection comprises performing an association process with the wireless device.

115. The computer program product of claim 114, wherein the association process comprises:

an active/passive scan process between the wireless device and the access point; and

a determination that the access point is available to accept association of the wireless device based on the active/passive scan process.

116. The computer program product of claim 108, wherein the data connection comprises a connection to the Internet.