Wireless network connection switching management system and method

An access point comprising:

• communication logic for providing a limited-area wireless communication service;
• detection logic which detects the presence of a terminal within the limited area by measuring intensity of radio waves used for a wireless wide area network (WWAN) communication protocol while the terminal is receiving a public wireless communication service from a base station of the public wireless communication system;
• output logic which sends a direction, including access point connection information, via the WWAN communication protocol, to the terminal to establish a connection to the access point and to switch to the limited-area wireless communication service based on the detection by said detection logic absent a search by said terminal for said limited-area wireless communication service;
• said base station utilizing a wireless wide area network communication protocol;
• and
• said access point utilizing a wireless local area network communication protocol.

A terminal detection device comprising:

• detection logic which detects the presence of a terminal within a limited area where a limited-area wireless communication service is provided by measuring intensity of radio waves used for a wireless wide area network (WWAN) communication protocol, the terminal receiving a public wireless communication service from a base station of the public wireless communication system wherein the terminal detection device includes a first receiver for receiving signals via the public wireless communication system and a second receiver for receiving signals via the limited-area wireless communication service;
• said base station utilizing the WWAN communication protocol;
• said limited area communication service utilizing a wireless local area network communication protocol;
• and
• output logic which sends a direction and access point connection information via the WWAN communication protocol to the base station for the terminal to establish connection to said access point and to direct a switch to the limited-area wireless communication service based on detection by said detection logic and the established connection.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first communication logic which provides a wide-area wireless communication;
• said wide-area wireless communication utilizing a wireless wide area network communication protocol;
• a second communication logic for receiving a wireless communication service provided within a limited area;
• said limited-area communication utilizing a wireless local area network communication protocol;
• and
• reception logic which receives information via said first communication logic through said wide-area wireless communication service, that the wireless communication service can be executed, wherein an access point is enabled to detect said apparatus utilizing the low-speed wireless communication service by measuring intensity of radio waves used for the wireless wide area network communication and direct said terminal to establish connection to said access point and to switch to the high speed wireless communication service with access point connection information provided via the wide area network communication protocol to the terminal;
• wherein said second communication logic is powered off when said reception logic receives said information that the wireless communication service can be executed.

A method comprising the steps of:

• detecting the presence of a terminal within a limited area by measuring intensity of radio waves used for a wireless wide area network (WWAN) communication protocol where a limited-area wireless communication service is provided by an access point external to the terminal, the terminal receiving a public wireless communication service from a base station of a public wireless communication system;
• said base station utilizing the WWAN communication protocol;
• said limited area communication service utilizing a wireless local area network communication protocol;
• and
• directing, by the access point, the base station to switch the terminal to the limited area wireless communication service by providing access point connection information via the WWAN communication protocol and based on said detection of the presence of the terminal.

A method comprising the steps of:

• a terminal receiving direction, including access point connection information, via a wide area network communication protocol from an access point, remote from the receiving terminal, to establish a connection to the access point and to switch to a wireless communication service for a limited area, via the wide area wireless communication service, wherein the access point is enabled to detect said terminal utilizing the low-speed wireless communication service by measuring intensity of radio waves used for the wide area wireless communication service;
• said wide area communication service utilizing a wireless wide area network communication protocol;
• said access point utilizing a wireless local area network communication protocol;
• and
• switching from the wide-area wireless communication service to the wireless local area communication service in response to said switching direction;
• wherein said switching includes powering on a transceiver for the wireless communication service that was powered off during said receiving of said direction.

A program product comprising:

• a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer readable program code in said program product implementing functions effective to:
• detect the presence of a terminal within a limited area by measuring intensity of radio waves used for a public wireless communication service wherein a limited-area wireless communication service is provided by an access point remote from the terminal, the terminal receiving a the public wireless communication service from a base station of a public wireless communication system;
• said base station utilizing a wireless wide area network communication protocol;
• said access point utilizing a wireless local area network communication protocol;
• and
• the access point directing the terminal to establish connection to the access point and to switch to the limited-area wireless communication service by providing access point connection information via the wide area network communication protocol to the terminal and based on the detection of the presence of the terminal.

A program product comprising:

• a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer readable program code in said program product implementing functions effective to:
• receive a direction with access point connection information via a wide area wireless communication service, to establish connection to the access point and to switch to a limited-area wireless communication service via the wide-area wireless communication service absent a search for a different communication service;
• said wide-area communication service utilizing a wireless wide area network communication protocol;
• said limited area communication service utilizing a wireless local area network communication protocol;
• and
• switch from the wide-area wireless communication service to the limited-area wireless communication service in response to said received direction, wherein an access point is enabled to detect a terminal utilizing the low-speed wireless communication service by measuring intensity of radio waves used for the wide area wireless communication service;
• wherein said switching includes powering on a transceiver for the wireless communication service that was powered off during said receiving of said direction.