METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DISCOVER NETWORK CAPABILITIES AVAILABLE VIA WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20160165528A1
• Filed: 02/17/2016
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: MONTEMURRO, Michael Peter, McCann, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 9,642,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

An example method for network selection involves discovering network capabilities by performing an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) query at a wireless terminal, and receiving a subsequent ANQP response from an access point of a wireless local area network. The network capabilities are indicated in the subsequent ANQP response. The example method also involves comparing the network capabilities with configured capabilities, finding a match between at least a portion of the network capabilities and at least a portion of the configured capabilities, and joining the wireless terminal with the access point based on the at least the portion of the network capabilities matching the at least the portion of the configured capabilities.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method in a mobile device for network discovery, the method comprising:

scanning for hotspot-capable networks;

performing Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) exchanges to determine capabilities of the hotspot-capable networks prior to IEEE 802.11 association; and

selecting at least one of the hotspot-capable networks based on a priority order of the hotspot-capable networks.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising enabling the mobile device for manual selection of at least one of the hotspot-capable networks with which to connect.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the ANQP exchanges comprise:

transmitting queries to the hotspot-capable networks; and

receiving responses from the hotspot-capable networks based on determining that the hotspot-capable networks support ANQP.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing one or more network capabilities profiles, each network capabilities profile specifying network capabilities for a particular hotspot-capable network to be suitable for the mobile device to connect with; and

ranking the one or more network capabilities profiles based on configurations of the mobile device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising comparing the capabilities of the hotspot-capable networks with at least one of the one or more network capabilities profiles.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the priority order of the hotspot-capable networks is determined based on at least a portion of the capabilities of the hotspot-capable networks matching at least a portion of the one or more network capabilities profiles and the ranking of the one or more network capabilities profiles.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the capabilities of the hotspot-capable networks comprise at least one of roaming relationships, network services, multi-media access services, supported authentication, security methods, or emergency services.

23. A mobile device, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one hardware processor communicatively coupled with the memory and configured to;

scan for hotspot-capable networks;

perform Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) exchanges to determine capabilities of the hotspot-capable networks prior to IEEE 802.11 association; and

select at least one of the hotspot-capable networks based on a priority order of the hotspot-capable networks.

24. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein at least one hardware processor is further configured to enable the mobile device for manual selection of at least one of the hotspot-capable networks with which to connect.

25. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the ANQP exchanges comprise:

transmitting queries to the hotspot-capable networks; and

receiving responses from the hotspot-capable networks based on determining that the hotspot-capable networks support ANQP.

26. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein at least one hardware processor is further configured to:

store one or more network capabilities profiles, each network capabilities profile specifying network capabilities for a particular hotspot-capable network to be suitable for the mobile device to connect with; and

rank the one or more network capabilities profiles based on configurations of the mobile device.

27. The mobile device of claim 26, wherein at least one hardware processor is further configured to compare capabilities of the hotspot-capable networks with at least one of the one or more network capabilities profiles.

28. The mobile device of claim 27, wherein the priority order of the hotspot-capable networks is determined based on at least a portion of the capabilities of the hotspot-capable networks matching at least a portion of the one or more network capabilities profiles and the ranking of the one or more network capabilities profiles.

29. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the capabilities of the hotspot-capable networks comprise at least one of roaming relationships, network services, multi-media access services, supported authentication, security methods, or emergency services.

30. A method for network selection in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising:

performing an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) exchange with a mobile device to provide a list of network capabilities of an access point of the WLAN; and

joining the mobile device with the WLAN associated with the access point based on at least a portion of the list of network capabilities matching at least a portion of credentials of the mobile device.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the ANQP exchange comprises:

receiving a request from the mobile device based on determining that the mobile device supports ANQP; and

transmitting a response from the access point.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the network capabilities comprise at least one of roaming relationships, network services, multi-media access services, supported authentication, security methods or emergency services.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the credentials are credential of the mobile device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the credentials include one or more network capabilities profiles, each network capabilities profile specifying network capabilities for a particular WLAN to be suitable for the mobile device to join.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the one or more network capabilities profiles are ranked by the mobile device based on configurations of the mobile device.