Discovering network information available via wireless networks
AssigneeBlackBerry Limited
InventorsStephen McCann, Michael Peter Montemurro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims16
A method for communicating in a wireless network comprising:
- transmitting, from a wireless device to an access point (AP) to which the wireless device is not associated and while operating at a medium access control (MAC) sublayer of a data link layer, a request for information describing latency existing in the wireless network between the access point and another device in the wireless network, wherein the request comprises a first Wide Area Network (WAN) Latency Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) element, and wherein the latency existing in the wireless network is determined at least partially according to a round-trip delay time measured by the access point;
- and
- receiving at the wireless device, a response from the AP, wherein the response comprises a second WAN Latency ANQP element that contains information describing the latency existing in the wireless network between the access point and the another device in the wireless network.
A wireless device for communicating in a wireless network comprising:
- a processor interconnected with a memory, the processor configured for:
- transmitting, from the wireless device, a request for information describing latency existing in the wireless network between an access point (AP) and another device in the wireless network to which the wireless device is not associated and while operating at a media access control (MAC) sublayer of a data link layer, wherein the request comprises a first Wide Area Network (WAN) Latency Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) element, and wherein the latency existing in the wireless network is determined at least partially according to a round-trip delay time measured by the access point;
- and
- receiving, at the wireless device, a response from the AP that comprises a second WAN Latency ANQP element, wherein the second WAN Latency ANQP element contains information describing the latency existing in the wireless network between the AP and the another device in the wireless network.
An access point (AP) associated with a wireless local area network comprising:
- a processor interconnected with a memory, the processor configured to:
- receive, from a wireless device to which the AP is not associated and while operating at a media access control (MAC) sublayer of a data link layer, a request for information describing latency existing in the wireless local area network, wherein the request comprises a first Wide Area Network (WAN) Latency Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) element for information describing latency existing in the wireless local area network between the AP and another device in the wireless network, and wherein the latency existing in the wireless network is determined at least partially according to a round-trip delay time measured by the access point;
- and
- transmit, to the wireless device, a response, wherein the response comprises a second WAN Latency ANQP element that contains information describing the latency existing in the wireless local area network between the AP and the another device in the wireless network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.