Determining identifiers for wireless networks
View Patent ↗A method for determining an identifier of a wireless network to which a mobile device can connect. For at least one wireless network, an identifier and at least one address for component(s) in that network is stored on the mobile device. An address of a component in an available network is received. If the address of the component is received without an identifier for the network, the received address is compared with at least one stored address. If the received address matches one of the at least one stored address, the identifier stored in association with that address is obtained. A module and a mobile device for implementing the method comprise a memory, a receiver, a comparison module and an interface module.
1. A method, in a wireless device, the method comprising:
for at least one wireless network, storing on the wireless device a Service Set Identifier (SSID), at least one MAC address for a component in the network, and an indicator, the indicator indicating whether or not the stored SSID is expected to be provided with a MAC address for a component of the at least one wireless network;
receiving, by means of passive scanning, a MAC address of a component in an available network;
if the MAC address of the component of the available network is received with an SSID for the available network, comparing the received SSID with at least one stored SSID;
if the received SSID matches the stored SSID and the indicator indicates that the SSID is not expected to be provided, updating the indicator to indicate that the SSID is expected to be provided; and
if the MAC address of the component of the available network is received without an SSID, comparing the received MAC address with the at least one stored MAC address and
if the MAC address of the component of the available network matches the at least one stored MAC address, obtaining the SSID stored in association with that MAC address; and
if the MAC address of the component of the available network does not match any of the at least one stored MAC address, conducting a directed probe for availability of at least one wireless network having an indicator that the stored SSID is not expected to be provided.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one network is a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network).
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one component is an AP (Access Point).
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
comparing MAC addresses received in response to the directed probe with at least one MAC address stored in association with the network for which the probe was conducted; and
storing, in association with the network, any MAC addresses received in response to the directed probe that do not match any of the at least one stored MAC address.
5. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor in a wireless device, that when executed implement the method according to claim 1 .
6. A computer readable medium according to claim 5 , wherein the network is a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network).
7. A computer readable medium according to claim 5 , wherein the component is an AP (Access Point).
8. A mobile device adapted to be connected to at least one wireless network, the mobile device comprising:
a wireless access radio for communicating with the at least one wireless network;
a memory, having stored thereon, for at least one wireless network, a Service Set Identifier (SSID), at least one MAC address for a component in the network, and an indicator, the indicator indicating whether or not the stored SSID is expected to be provided with a MAC address for a component of the at least one wireless network;
a receiver for receiving, by means of passive scanning, a MAC address of a component in an available network;
SSID comparing function for comparing the received SSID with at least one stored SSID, if the MAC address of the component of the available network is received with an SSID for the available network, and
an updating function for updating the indicator to indicate that the SSID is expected to be provided, if the received SSID matches the stored SSID and the indicator indicates that the SSID is not expected to be provided,
a MAC address comparing function for comparing the received MAC address with the at least one stored MAC address, if the MAC address of the component of the available network is received without an SSID; and
a processor for:
if the MAC address of the component of the available network matches the at least one stored MAC address, obtaining the SSID stored in association with that MAC address; and
if the MAC address of the component of the available network does not match any of the at least one stored MAC address, conducting a directed probe for availability of at least one wireless network having an indicator that the stored SSID is not expected to be provided.
9. A mobile device according to claim 8 , further comprising a user interface adapted to permit a user to select a wireless network to which to connect.