Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating WLAN selection by a mobile node
View Patent ↗Apparatus, and an associated method, by which to facilitate selection of a WLAN through which a mobile node communicates. Selection takes into account the geographic positioning of the mobile node. The mobile node ascertains its geographic positioning by monitoring cellular-positioning signals. And, availability of WLANs through which to communicate is ascertained by detecting signals broadcast by the WLANs.
1. A method for facilitating wireless network selection of a first-type wireless network at a user equipment, said method comprising:
detecting, at the user equipment, second-type-wireless-network-transmitted location information that includes at least one of a country code designation and a network code designation of a second-type wireless network, wherein the second-type wireless network operates according to a technology different from a technology of the first-type wireless network;
maintaining a network list of at least first-type wireless networks at the user equipment, the network list identifying the at least first-type wireless networks and respective associated location information, each respective associated location information identifying a geographic area of operation of a respective at least one of the first-type wireless networks, wherein the location information of the network list comprises second-type-wireless-network location information;
detecting, at the user equipment, first-type-wireless-network-identifying information;
selecting, at the user equipment, a first-type wireless network from among the first-type wireless networks identified by the network list with which to communicate, the selecting made utilizing the second-type-wireless-network-transmitted location information, the network list of the at least first-type wireless networks and the associated second-type-wireless-network location information, and the first-type-wireless-network-identifying information.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said maintaining comprises maintaining a home wireless network list.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the home wireless network list comprises entries that identify first-type wireless networks and associated geographic areas of operation.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said maintaining comprises maintaining a preferred network list.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the preferred network list comprises entries that identify first-type wireless networks and associated geographic areas of operation.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein said maintaining comprises maintaining more than one preferred network list.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said maintaining comprises maintaining a neutral network list.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the neutral network list comprises entries that identify first-type wireless networks and associated geographic areas of operation.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein said maintaining comprises maintaining more than one neutral network list.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein said maintaining comprises maintaining a plurality of network lists, each network list associated with a different location.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the second-type-wireless-network-transmitted location information is detected responsive to a channel scan.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first-type wireless networks identified by the network list include wireless local area networks (WLANs).
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second-type wireless network is a cellular wireless network.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selected first-type wireless network operates according to a communication protocol different from a communication protocol of the second-type wireless network.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the country code designation of the second-type-wireless-network-transmitted location information specifies a country code associated with the second-type wireless network.
16. An apparatus for facilitating wireless network selection of a first-type wireless network at a user equipment, said apparatus comprising:
a location information detector embodied at the user equipment and configured to detect second-type-wireless-network-transmitted location information that includes at least one of a country code designation and a network code designation of a second-type wireless network, wherein the second-type wireless network operates according to a technology different from a technology of the first-type wireless network;
a network list of at least first-type wireless networks maintained at the user equipment, the network list identifying the at least first-type wireless networks and respective associated location information, each respective associated location information identifying a geographic area of operation of a respective at least one of the first-type wireless networks, wherein the location information of the network list comprises second-type-wireless network location information;
a network-identifier detector configured to detect at the user equipment first-type-wireless-network-identifying information; and
a selector embodied at the user equipment and configured to select a first-type wireless network from among the first-type wireless networks identified by the network list with which to communicate, the selecting made utilizing the second-type-wireless network-transmitted location information, the network list of the at least first-type wireless networks and the associated second-type-wireless network location information, and the first-type-wireless-network-identifying information.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said network list maintained at the user equipment comprises a home wireless network list including entries that identify first-type wireless networks and associated geographic areas of operation.
18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said network list maintained at the user equipment comprises a preferred network list comprising entries that identify first-type wireless networks and associated geographic areas of operation.
19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said network list maintained at the user equipment comprises a neutral network list comprising entries that identify first-type wireless networks and associated geographic areas of operation.
20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first-type wireless networks identified by the network list include wireless local area networks (WLANs).
21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the second-type wireless network is a cellular wireless network.
22. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the selected first-type wireless network operates according to a communication protocol different from a communication protocol of the second-type wireless network.
23. A user equipment comprising:
a network list identifying at least first-type wireless networks and respective associated location information, each respective associated location information identifying a geographic area of operation of a respective at least one of the first-type wireless networks, wherein the location information of the network list comprises second-type-wireless network location information;
at least one processor configured to:
detect second-type-wireless-network-transmitted location information transmitted by a second-type wireless network and that includes at least one of a country code designation and a network code designation of the second-type wireless network, wherein the second-type wireless network operates according to a communication protocol different from a communication protocol of the first-type wireless networks;
detect first-type-wireless-network-identifying information; and
select a first-type wireless network from among the first-type wireless networks identified by the network list with which to communicate, the selecting based on the second-type-wireless network-transmitted location information, the network list of the at least first-type wireless networks and the associated second-type-wireless network location information, and the first-type-wireless-network-identifying information.
24. The user equipment of claim 23 , wherein the first-type wireless networks identified by the network list include wireless local area networks (WLANs).
25. The user equipment of claim 24 , wherein the second-type wireless network is a cellular wireless network.