METHODS AND APPARATUS TO PRESENT NETWORK CAPABILITIES AVAILABLE VIA WIRELESS NETWORKS
Example methods and apparatus to present network capabilities available via wireless networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves discovering a first network that supports a network query protocol and retrieving at least one network service from the first network prior to joining the first network. The at least one retrieved network service is presented.
1 . A method for presenting available network services at a wireless terminal, the method comprising:
discovering a first network that supports a network query protocol;
retrieving at least one network service from the first network prior to joining the first network; and
presenting the at least one retrieved network service.
2 . A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the network query protocol is a Generic Advertisement Service.
3 . A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising caching the at least one retrieved network service at the wireless terminal.
4 . A method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the presenting is via a user interface.
5 . A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising selecting, at the wireless terminal, the at least one presented network service.
6 . A method as defined in claim 5 , further comprising joining the wireless terminal to the first network based on the at least one selected network service.
7 . A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
discovering a second network that supports the network query protocol;
retrieving at least a second network service from the second network prior to joining the second network; and
presenting the at least the second network service.
8 . A method as defined in claim 7 , further comprising selecting, at the wireless terminal, the at least the second network service.
9 . A method as defined in claim 8 , further comprising joining the wireless terminal to the second network associated with the at least the selected second network service.
10 . A method as defined in claim 7 , wherein the first network is different from the second network.
11 . A method as defined in claim 7 , further comprising:
filtering the at least one network service and the second network service based on cached rankings at the wireless terminal; and
presenting the at least the one network service and the second network service based on the filtering.
12 . A method as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
filtering the at least one network service and other network services from other discovered networks based on cached rankings at the wireless terminal; and
presenting the filtered network services.
13 . An apparatus to present available network services at a wireless terminal, the apparatus comprising:
a processor to:
discovering a first network that supports a network query protocol;
retrieve at least one network service from the first network prior to joining the first network; and
present the at least one retrieved network service.
14 . An apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the network query protocol is a Generic Advertisement Service.
15 . An apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the processor is to cache the at least one retrieved network service at the wireless terminal.
16 . An apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the processor is to present the at least one retrieved network service via a user interface.
17 . An apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the processor is to select, at the wireless terminal, the at least one presented network service.
18 . An apparatus as defined in claim 17 , wherein the processor is to join the wireless terminal to the first network based on the at least one selected network service.
19 . An apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the processor is to:
discover a second network that supports the network query protocol;
retrieve at least a second network service from the second network prior to joining the second network; and
present the at least the second network service.
20 . An apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the processor is to select, at the wireless terminal, the at least the second network service.
21 . An apparatus as defined in claim 20 , further comprising joining the wireless terminal to the second network associated with the at least the selected second network service.
22 . An apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the first network is different from the second network.
23 . An apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the processor is to:
filter the at least one network service and the second network service based on cached rankings at the wireless terminal; and
present the at least the one network service and the second network service based on the filtering.
24 . An apparatus as defined in claim 13 , wherein the processor is to:
filter the at least one network service and other network services from other discovered networks based on cached rankings at the wireless terminal; and
present the filtered network services.