System and Method for Efficient Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) Discovery of Multiple Access Points (APs)
AssigneeFuturewei Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGeorge Calcev, Lin Cai, Xingxin Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An extension to the Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) protocol allows stations (STAs) to discover multiple APs via a single ANQP request/response exchange. A STA can send a single ANQP request message to request information for multiple APs, e.g., two or more neighboring APs. The receiving AP may retrieve discovery information for one or more neighboring APs, and send an AP response message including the retrieved discovery information to the requesting STA. The ANQP request message identify the multiple APs for which discovery information is sought, and may specify which information is being requested for that corresponding AP.
Claims28
A method for wireless local area network (WLAN) discovery, the method comprising:
- receiving, by an access point (AP), a request from a station (STA) when the STA roams into a coverage area, wherein the AP is one of multiple neighboring APs in the coverage area;
- and
- transmitting, by the AP, a response to the STA, wherein the response includes discovery information for each of the multiple neighboring APs.
A Wi-Fi access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the Wi-Fi AP comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to:
- receive a request from a station (STA) when the STA roams into a coverage area, wherein the Wi-Fi AP is one of multiple neighboring APs in the coverage area;
- and
- transmit a response to the STA, wherein the response includes discovery information for each of the multiple neighboring APs.
A method for wireless local area network (WLAN) discovery, the method comprising:
- sending, by a station (STA), a request to an access point (AP) when the STA roams into a coverage area, wherein the AP is one of multiple neighboring APs in the coverage area;
- and
- receiving, by the STA, a response from the AP, wherein the response includes discovery information for each of the multiple neighboring APs.
A station (STA) adapted to perform wireless local area network (WLAN) discovery, the STA comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to:
- send a request to an access point (AP) when the STA roams into a coverage area, wherein the AP is one of multiple neighboring APs in the coverage area;
- and
- receive a response from the AP, wherein the response includes discovery information for each of the multiple neighboring APs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.