Methods and apparatus to discover network capabilities available via wireless networks

• US 9,271,226 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• 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, McCann, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Jae Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Voltaire, Jean F
• Application Number:
  US14/584,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20150156710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 370328-332, 370/338
• 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. A method for selecting a network, the method comprising:

determining network capabilities at a wireless terminal by;

scanning for wireless local area networks (WLANs); and

performing discovery Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) exchanges to determine a list of network capabilities of access points of WLANs;

comparing the list of network capabilities with at least a portion of credentials;

finding a match between at least a portion of the list of network capabilities and at least the portion of the credentials;

filtering out the list of network capabilities that do not match at least the portion of the credentials; and

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

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein filtering out includes a remaining list of network capabilities ordered by preference which the wireless terminal has previously configured.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the preference assigned to the network capabilities pertains to the wireless terminal.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the discovery ANQP exchanges include queries performed at the wireless terminal and the subsequent responses received from the access points based on determining that the access points support ANQP.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the credentials are credentials of the wireless terminal.

6. An apparatus for network selection, the apparatus comprising:

a processor to;

determine network capabilities at a wireless terminal by;

scanning for wireless local area networks (WLANs); and

performing discovery Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) exchanges to determine a list of network capabilities of access points of WLANs;

compare the list of network capabilities with at least a portion of credentials;

find a match between at least a portion of the list of network capabilities and at least the portion of the credentials;

filter out the list of network capabilities that do not match at least the portion of the credentials; and

join the wireless terminal with an access network associated with an access point of a WLAN based on the at least the portion of the list of network capabilities matching the at least the portion of the credentials.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein filtering out includes a remaining list of network capabilities ordered by preference which the wireless terminal has previously configured.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the preference assigned to the network capabilities pertains to the wireless terminal.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the discovery ANQP exchanges include queries performed at the wireless terminal and the subsequent responses received from the access points when the access points support ANQP.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the credentials are credentials of the wireless terminal.

11. A non-transitory tangible machine readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to:

determine network capabilities at a wireless terminal by;

scanning for wireless local area networks (WLANs); and

performing discovery Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) exchanges to determine a list of network capabilities of access points of WLANs;

compare the list of network capabilities with at least a portion of credentials;

find a match between at least a portion of the list of network capabilities and at least the portion of the credentials;

filter out the list of network capabilities that do not match at least the portion of the credentials; and

join the wireless terminal with an access network associated with an access point of a WLAN based on the at least the portion of the list of network capabilities matching the at least the portion of the credentials.

12. The non-transitory tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 11, wherein filtering out includes a remaining list of network capabilities ordered by preference which the wireless terminal has previously configured.

13. The non-transitory tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 12, wherein the preference assigned to the network capabilities pertains to the wireless terminal.

14. The non-transitory tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the discovery ANQP exchanges include queries performed at the wireless terminal and the subsequent responses received from the access points when the access points support ANQP.

15. The non-transitory tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 11, wherein the credentials are credentials of the wireless terminal.