Virtual access point using single service set identifiers

1. An Access Point (AP) apparatus, comprising:

at least one antenna; and

one or more processors containing program code configured to:

cause the AP to broadcast a beacon containing a single Service Set Identification (SSID) identifying (i) the AP, and (ii) plural network operators accessible through said AP;

cause the AP to receive from a user device station (STA) an Internet Protocol (IP) Address Type Availability Query for each of the plural network operators accessible through the AP; and

cause the AP to send to the STA, for each of the plural network operators, an IP address type availability information element in response to the IP Address Type Availability Query, and before the STA is associated with one of said network operators.

2. The AP apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors contains program code configured to:

cause the AP to receive from the STA, for at least one network operator, a Wide Area Network (WAN) Metrics Query before the STA is associated with one of said network operators; and

cause the AP to send to the STA, for the at least one network operator, a WAN Metrics Information element, in response to the WAN Metrics Query before the STA is associated with one of said network operators.

3. The AP apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors contain program code configured to:

cause the AP to receive from the STA, for at least one network operator, a Connection Capability Query before the STA is associated with one of said network operators; and

cause the AP to send to the STA, for the at least one network operator, a connection capability information element, in response to the Connection Capability Query before the STA is associated with one of said network operators.

4. The AP apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors contains program code configured to communicate with the STA using IEEE 802.11 Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP).

5. The AP apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors contains program code configured to cause the AP to send the single SSID in a IEEE 802.11 beacon.

6. The AP apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors contains program code configured to cause the AP to associate with the STA.

7. The AP apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the AP comprises a Wi-Fi AP.

8. A mobile station (STA) apparatus, comprising:

at least one antenna; and

one or more processors containing program code configured to:

cause the STA to receive from an Access Point (AP) a beacon containing a single Service Set Identification (SSID) identifying the AP;

cause the STA to send to the AP an Internet Protocol (IP) Address Type Availability Query for at least one network operator accessible through the AP; and

cause the STA to receive from the AP, for the at least one network operator, an IP address type availability information element, in response to the IP Address Type Availability Query before the STA is associated with one of said at least one network operator.

9. The STA apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors contains program code configured to:

cause the STA to send to the AP, for the at least one network operator, a Wide Area Network (WAN) Metrics Query before the STA is associated with one of said at least one network operator; and

cause STA to receive from the AP, for the at least one network operator, a WAN Metrics Information element, in response to the WAN Metrics Query before the STA is associated with one of said at least one network operator.

10. The STA apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors contains program code configured to:

cause the STA to send to the AP a Connection Capability Query regarding at least one network operator before the STA is associated with one of said at least one network operator; and

cause the STA to receive from the AP a connection capability information element regarding the at least one network operator, in response to the Connection Capability Query before the STA is associated with one of said at least one network operator.

11. The STA apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors contains program code configured to communicate with the AP using IEEE 802.11 Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP).

12. The STA apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors contains program code configured to receive from the AP the single SSID in a IEEE 802.11 beacon.

13. The STA apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors contains program code configured to cause the STA to associate with the AP.

14. A computer implemented method for indicating network capabilities at an Access Point (AP), the method comprising the steps of:

the AP broadcasting a beacon containing a single Service Set Identification (SSID) identifying (i) the AP and (ii) plural network operators accessible through said AP;

receiving from an STA an Internet Protocol (IP) Address Type Availability Query for each of the plural network operators accessible through the AP; and

sending to the STA, for each of the plural network operators, an IP address type availability information element, in response to the IP Address Type Availability Query.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the STA, for each of the plural network operators, a Wide Area Network (WAN) Metrics Query; and

sending to the STA, for each of the plural network operators, a WAN Metrics Information element, in response to the WAN Metrics Query.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:

receiving from the STA, for each of the plural network operators, a Connection Capability Query; and

sending to the STA, for each of the plural network operators, a connection capability information element, in response to the Connection Capability Query.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein communicating between the AP and the STA is facilitated using IEEE 802.11 Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP).

18. A computer-implemented method for indicating network capabilities at a receiving station (STA), the method comprising the steps of:

receiving from an Access Point (AP) a beacon containing a single Service Set Identification (SSID) identifying the AP;

sending to the AP an Internet Protocol (IP) Address Type Availability Query for at least one network operator accessible through the AP; and

receiving from the AP, for the at least one network operator, an IP address type availability information element, in addition to standard Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) protocol, in response to the IP Address Type Availability Query.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:

sending to the AP, for at least one network operator, a Wide Area Network (WAN) Metrics Query before the STA is associated with one of said network operators; and

receiving from the AP, for the at least one network operator, a WAN Metrics Information element, in response to the WAN Metrics Query before the STA is associated with one of said network operators.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:

sending to the AP a Connection Capability Query regarding at least one network operator before the STA is associated with one of said network operators; and

receiving from the AP a connection capability information element regarding the at least one network operator, in response to the Connection Capability Query before the STA is associated with one of said network operators.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein communicating between the AP and the STA is facilitated using IEEE 802.11 Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP).