Wireless local area network discovery using non-WLAN timing reference

#Many mobile devices are capable of connecting to Wireless Access Points (WAPs) to transmit and receive data. Before connecting to a WAP, a mobile device may conduct a search to discover WAPs within range of the mobile device. Conventional methods for discovering WAPs include passive scanning and active scanning.

#In passive scanning (also known as beacon scanning), a mobile device may dwell on each channel of a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and wait to receive a beacon from a WAP on each channel. The mobile device may dwell on each channel for a time between a minimum and maximum limit. In active scanning (also known as probe scanning), the mobile device may broadcast a single probe request (e.g., on a given channel) and wait for a response from WAPs within range of the mobile device.

#In a typical WAP discovery process using passive or active scanning, the mobile device may spend a good portion of its power transmitting probe requests to, or listening for beacons or responses from, WAPs that either are nonexistent or do not ultimately establish a connection with the mobile device. Because the radio resources used to transmit and receive wireless communications may consume a significant amount of power, searching for WLAN access points using these conventional methods may be power inefficient and may shorten the usable battery life of the mobile device.

#A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present systems and methods may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

#FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example of a wireless communications system;

#FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating a device for assisting WLAN discovery in accordance with various embodiments;

#Management of WLAN discovery in a wireless communications system is described. In a wireless communications system having WAPs and UEs capable of communicating via a WLAN, discovery of the WLAN by the UEs may be made more efficient by using a timing reference originating from a non-WLAN radio technology such as, but not limited to, a cellular network or a satellite network (e.g., a Global Positioning System (GPS)). In one example, a WAP may identify or receive the timing reference and use it to broadcast a beacon on the WLAN according to a beacon transmission schedule that is based at least in part on the timing reference. Likewise, a UE may identify the timing reference and use it to wake a WLAN receiver of the UE according to the beacon transmission schedule. Because the timing reference originates from a non-WLAN radio technology, the UE may be able to acquire the timing reference more efficiently, and in advance of when it needs to listen for a beacon on the WLAN, thereby enabling the UE to wake the WLAN receiver during a smaller time window around the time it expects the WAP to broadcast its beacon, thereby conserving the UE's power.

#The following description provides examples, and is not limiting of the scope, applicability, or configuration set forth in the claims. Changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, the methods described may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in other embodiments.

#Referring first to FIG. 1, a block diagram illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 100 in accordance with various embodiments. The system 100 includes components capable of communicating via a WLAN radio technology (e.g., a WLAN 155) and components capable of communicating via a non-WLAN radio technology (e.g., a cellular network 130). Some components are capable of communicating via both radio technologies.