Method of probing a node

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request at a node, the request comprising a string of network identity information, wherein the string of network identity information comprises a part of at least one of network characteristic information and network operator information, wherein the string of network identity information includes a wildcard service set identifier;

determining, at the node, whether network identity information of one or more networks supported by the node contains the string of network identity information, the network identity information of the one or more networks comprising at least one of network characteristic information and network operator information; and

sending a response comprising the determined network identity information of the one or more networks.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said node comprises an access node.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

sending a plurality of said determined network identity information to a sender of said request.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting one of the determined network identity information.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said selecting is carried out by said node.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said network identity information comprises a service set identifier.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said node comprises a wireless local area network entity.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said receiving further comprises receiving wireless local area network identity information as said network identity information.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a transmitter configured to send a request to a node, the request comprising a string of network identity information, wherein the string of network identity information comprises a part of at least one of network characteristic information and network operator information, wherein the string of network identity information includes a wildcard service set identifier, wherein the request sent to the node enables the node to determine whether network identity information of one or more networks supported by the node contains the string of network identity information, the network identity information of the one or more networks comprising at least one of network characteristic information and network operator information; and

a receiver configured to receive a response comprising the determined network identity information of the one or more networks.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:

a processor configured to formulate said request.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is configured to be connected with a network identified by said network identity information.

12. The apparatus claimed in claim 9 , wherein the apparatus comprises a wireless local area network entity.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said network identity information comprises wireless local area network identity information.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said node comprises an access node.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:

a processor configured to select one of the network identity information.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said network identity information comprises a service set identifier.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a request comprising a string of network identity information, wherein the string of network identity information comprises a part of at least one of network characteristic information and network operator information, wherein the string of network identity information includes a wildcard service set identifier;

a processor configured to determine whether network identity information of one or more networks supported by the node contains the string of network identity information, the network identity information of the one or more networks comprising at least one of network characteristic information and network operator information; and

a transmitter configured to send a response comprising the determined network identity information of the one or more networks.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , where said apparatus comprises an access node.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to send a plurality of said determined network identity information to a sender of said request.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to select one of the network identity information.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said network identity information comprises a service set identifier.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the apparatus comprises a wireless local area network entity.

23. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said network identity information comprises wireless local area network identity information.

24. A method, comprising:

sending a request to a node, the request comprising a string of network identity information, wherein the string of network identity information comprises a part of at least one of network characteristic information and network operator information, wherein the string of network identity information includes a wildcard service set identifier, wherein the request sent to the node enables the node to determine whether network identity information of one or more networks supported by the node contains the string of network identity information, the network identity information of the one or more networks comprising at least one of network characteristic information and network operator information; and

receiving a response comprising the determined network identity information of the one or more networks.

25. The method as claimed in claim 24 , further comprising: formulating said request.

26. The method as claimed in claim 24 , further comprising:

connecting to a network identified by one of said determined network identity information of the one or more networks.

27. The method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein said node comprises an access node.

28. The method as claimed in claim 24 , further comprising:

selecting one of the received determined network identity information of the one or more networks.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said selecting is carried out by said sender of said request.

30. The method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein said network identity information comprises a service set identifier.

31. The method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein said node comprises a wireless local area network entity.

32. The method as claimed in claim 24 , wherein said sending comprises sending wireless local area network identity information as said network identity information.

33. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program configured to control a processor to perform a process, the process comprising:

receiving a request at a node, the request comprising a string of network identity information, wherein the string of network identity information comprises a part of at least one of network characteristic information and network operator information, wherein the string of network identity information includes a wildcard service set identifier;

determining, at the node, whether network identity information of one or more networks supported by the node contains the string of network identity information, the network identity information of the one or more networks comprising at least one of network characteristic information and network operator information; and

sending a response comprising the determined network identity information of the one or more networks.

34. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program configured to control a processor to perform a process, the process comprising:

sending a request to a node, the request comprising a string of network identity information, wherein the string of network identity information comprises a part of at least one of network characteristic information and network operator information, wherein the string of network identity information includes a wildcard service set identifier, wherein the request sent to the node enables the node to determine whether network identity information of one or more networks supported by the node contains the string of network identity information, the network identity information of the one or more networks comprising at least one of network characteristic information and network operator information; and

receiving a response comprising the determined network identity information of the one or more networks.