Discovering network information available via wireless networks
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.
1. A non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions, wherein execution of the computer executable instructions is for:
transmitting, from a wireless device to an access point (AP), an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) request for a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) capabilities element prior to the wireless device associating with the AP; and
receiving, at the wireless device prior to the wireless device associating with the AP, an ANQP response from the AP, wherein the ANQP response includes the 3GPP capabilities element, wherein the 3GPP capabilities element includes information about switching access between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a cellular network.
2. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the 3GPP capabilities element further contains an indication of network support.
3. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the 3GPP capabilities element is received using a generic advertisement service (GAS).
4. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 3 , wherein the GAS provides support for a network selection operation of the wireless device.
5. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the information about switching access between the WLAN and the cellular network includes one or more of:
Columbia;
mobile internet protocol (IP);
cellular IP;
hierarchical mobile IP (HMIP);
fast mobile IP (FMIP);
general packet radio service (GPRS) tunneling protocol (GTP); or
proxy mobile IP version 6 (PMIPv6).
6. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the 3GPP capabilities element is defined as a Wi-Fi Alliance element.
7. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 1 , wherein the 3GPP capabilities element further includes information about at least one of:
Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) support;
Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) support; or
Generic Access Network (GAN) support.
8. A method for communicating in a wireless network, comprising:
receiving, by an access point (AP) from a wireless device, an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) request for a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) capabilities element prior to the wireless device associating with the AP; and
transmitting to the wireless device prior to the wireless device associating with the AP, an ANQP response, wherein the ANQP response includes the 3GPP capabilities element, wherein the 3GPP capabilities element includes information about switching access between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a cellular network.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the 3GPP capabilities element further contains an indication of network support.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the 3GPP capabilities element is transmitted using a generic advertisement service (GAS).
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the GAS provides support for a network selection operation of the wireless device.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the information about switching access between the WLAN and the cellular network includes one or more of:
Columbia;
mobile internet protocol (IP);
cellular IP;
hierarchical mobile IP (HMIP);
fast mobile IP (FMIP);
general packet radio service (GPRS) tunneling protocol (GTP); or
proxy mobile IP version 6 (PMIPv6).
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the 3GPP capabilities element is defined as a Wi-Fi Alliance element.
14. A non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium encoded with computer executable instructions, wherein execution of the computer executable instructions is for:
receiving, by an access point (AP) from a wireless device, an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) request for a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) capabilities element prior to the wireless device associating with the AP; and
transmitting to the wireless device prior to the wireless device associating with the AP, an ANQP response, wherein the ANQP response includes the 3GPP capabilities element, wherein the 3GPP capabilities element includes information about switching access between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a cellular network.
15. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the 3GPP capabilities element further contains an indication of network support.
16. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the 3GPP capabilities element is transmitted using a generic advertisement service (GAS).
17. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the GAS provides support for a network selection operation of the wireless device.
18. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the information about switching access between the WLAN and the cellular network includes one or more of:
Columbia;
mobile internet protocol (IP);
cellular IP;
hierarchical mobile IP (HMIP);
fast mobile IP (FMIP);
general packet radio service (GPRS) tunneling protocol (GTP); or
proxy mobile IP version 6 (PMIPv6).
19. The non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the 3GPP capabilities element is defined as a Wi-Fi Alliance element.