Discovering Network Information Available via Wireless Networks
AssigneeBlackBerry Limited
InventorsStephen McCann, Michael Peter Montemurro
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Network information may be discoverable without requiring a connection to that network. For example, Access Network Query Protocol (“ANQP”) may allow a device to discover information about a network prior to the device associating with that network. In other words, ANQP allows a network terminal to request additional network information prior to establishing network capability. The additional network information that may be discoverable includes network latency, cellular capabilities, hotspot capabilities, mobility capabilities, neighbor reports, station identification, and multiple hotspot session identification.
Claims15
A method for communicating in a wireless network comprising:
- transmitting, prior to a wireless device associating with a first access point (AP), a request from the wireless device to the first AP for a neighbor report on any neighboring APs;
- and
- receiving at the wireless device, prior to the wireless device associating with the AP, a response from the first AP, wherein the response comprises the neighbor report on neighboring APs and includes information describing the neighboring APs, wherein the information includes neighboring APs available as Basic Service Set (BSS) transition candidates for association.
A wireless device for communicating in a wireless network, comprising:
- a processor interconnected with a memory, the processor configured for:
- transmitting, prior to a wireless device associating with a first access point (AP), a request from the wireless device to the first AP for a neighbor report on any neighboring APs;
- and
- receiving at the wireless device, prior to the wireless device associating with the AP, a response from the first AP, wherein the response comprises the neighbor report on neighboring APs and includes information describing the neighboring APs, wherein the information includes neighboring APs available as Basic Service Set (BSS) transition candidates for association.
A non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions, wherein execution of the computer executable instructions is for:
- transmitting, prior to a wireless device associating with a first access point (AP), a request from the wireless device to the first AP for a neighbor report on any neighboring APs;
- and
- receiving at the wireless device, prior to the wireless device associating with the AP, a response from the first AP, wherein the response comprises the neighbor report on neighboring APs and includes information describing the neighboring APs, wherein the information includes neighboring APs available as Basic Service Set (BSS) transition candidates for association.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.