Configuring preferred user zone lists for private access points for wireless networking

A method performed on an access point, comprising:

• receiving information identifying a first geographic location of the access point;
• communicating the information to a configuration server;
• receiving access information from the configuration server;
• receiving, from a portable access terminal, an indication that the portable access terminal has determined that the first geographic location is within a predetermined range of a second geographic location of the portable access terminal, the indication being based at least in part on comparing, in the access terminal, the second geographic location of the portable access terminal with the first geographic location of the access point;
• and
• after receiving the indication, providing the portable access terminal access to a radio access network using the access information;
• wherein the first geographic location of the access point is stored in the portable access terminal in a list of access points.

A method comprising:

• receiving geographic location information identifying a geographic location of an access point in a radio access network;
• assigning access information to the access point;
• communicating the access information to the access point;
• and
• communicating the access information and the geographic location information to a portable access terminal configured to:
• update a list of preferred access points, the list being stored on the portable access terminal and the list comprising geographic locations of preferred access points;
• and
• compare, in the portable access terminal, the geographic location information of the access point to the geographic location information of the portable access terminal.

An apparatus comprising:

• a portable access terminal for accessing a radio access network, the portable access terminal being configured to:
• store, in a memory, a definition of a first access point as a preferred access point;
• in the memory, associate a first geographic location with the preferred access point;
• receive information identifying a second geographic location of the access terminal;
• compare, in the portable access terminal, the second geographic location of the portable access terminal with the first geographic location of the first access point, the first geographic location of the first access point being stored in the portable access terminal in a list of preferred access points;
• and
• access a radio access network through the preferred access point if the first geographic location is within a predetermined range of the second geographic location.

An apparatus comprising:

• an access point for providing access to a radio access network, the access point being configured to:
• receive information identifying a first geographic location of the access point;
• communicate the first geographic location information to a configuration server;
• receive access information from the configuration server;
• receive, from a portable access terminal, an indication that the portable access terminal has determined that the first geographic location is within a predetermined range of a second geographic location of the portable access terminal by comparing, in the portable access terminal, the second geographic location of the portable access terminal with the first geographic location of the access point;
• and
• after receiving the indication, provide a portable access terminal access to a radio access network using the access information;
• wherein the first geographic location of the access point is stored in the portable access terminal in a list of access points.

An apparatus comprising:

• a configuration server for use in a radio access network, the configuration server being configured to:
• receive information identifying a geographic location of an access point in the radio access network;
• assign access information to the access point;
• communicate the access information to the access point;
• and
• communicate the access information and the geographic location information to a portable access terminal configured to:
• update a list of preferred access points, the list being stored on the portable access terminal and the list comprising geographic locations of preferred access points;
• and
• compare, in the portable access terminal, the geographic location information of the access point to the geographic location information of the portable access terminal.

A non-transitory computer readable medium encoding instructions to cause a portable access terminal in a radio access network to:

• store, in a memory, a definition of a first access point as a preferred access point;
• in the memory, associate a first geographic location with the preferred access point;
• receive information identifying a second geographic location of the portable access terminal;
• compare, in the portable access terminal, the second geographic location of the portable access terminal with the first geographic location of the first access point, the first geographic location of the first access point being stored in the portable access terminal in a list of preferred access points;
• and
• access a radio access network through the preferred access point if the first geographic location is within a predetermined range of the second geographic location.

A non-transitory computer readable medium encoding instructions to cause an access point for providing access to a radio access network to:

• receive information identifying a first geographic location of the access point;
• communicate the first geographic location information to a configuration server;
• receive access information from the configuration server;
• receive, from a portable access terminal, an indication that the portable access terminal has determined that the first geographic location is within a predetermined range of a second geographic location of the portable access terminal by comparing, in the portable access terminal, the second geographic location of the portable access terminal with the first geographic location of the access point;
• and
• after receiving the indication:
• provide a portable access terminal access to a radio access network using the access information;
• wherein the first geographic location of the access is stored in the portable access terminal in a list of access points.

A non-transitory computer readable medium encoding instructions to cause a configuration server in a radio access network to:

• receive information identifying a geographic location of an access point in the radio access network;
• assign access information to the access point;
• communicate the access information to the access point;
• and
• communicate the access information and the geographic location information to a portable access terminal configured to:
• update a list of preferred access points, the list being stored on the portable access terminal and the list comprising geographic locations of preferred access points;
• and
• compare, in the portable access terminal, the geographic location information of the access point to a geographic location information of the portable access terminal.

A method performed on a portable access terminal, comprising:

• determine a first global positioning system (GPS) location of the portable access terminal;
• identifying a first private access point as a preferred private access point, the first private access point providing access to a communications network;
• determining that the portable access terminal will access the communications network through the first private access point, the determining comprising:
• accessing a list stored on the portable access terminal, the list specifying the first private access point as a preferred private access point, wherein the list comprises a second GPS location of the first private access point;
• comparing, in the portable access terminal, the first GPS location with the second GPS location;
• and
• determining, based at least in part on the comparing, that the first GPS location is within a threshold range of the second GPS location;
• and
• accessing the communications network through the first access point based at least in part on determining that the first GPS location is within a threshold range of the second GPS location.