IP Library Patent Application 14366195
Patent Application
App. No. 14/366,195

Network Connectivity Management in Wireless Apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
14/366,195
Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer program for managing network connectivity are disclosed. After successfully establishing a radio connection with an access point, a wireless apparatus using the radio connection to access a network beyond the access point is configured to carry out a network connection test. If the network connection test fails, the access point is blacklisted for a determined time period defined by a timer counted in the wireless apparatus.

Claims (42)

1 . A method comprising:

causing a wireless apparatus to establish a radio connection with an access point;

after completing the establishment of the radio connection, carrying out a network connection test in the wireless apparatus, the network connection test comprising testing whether or not the access point has a working connection with a network server and, if the network connection test fails, terminating the radio connection and changing a classification of the access point in the wireless apparatus temporarily into a no-connectivity class indicating that the access point is not capable of providing a network connection, wherein a duration the access point is maintained in the no-connectivity class is defined by a timer counted in the wireless apparatus.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: upon expiry of the timer, changing the classification of the access point into a class other than the no-connectivity class and allowing reestablishment of the radio connection to the access point.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the network connection test operates on a higher layer than a medium access control layer.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the access point belongs to a wireless network of a plurality of access points, the method further comprising: changing the classification of the wireless network into the no-connectivity class.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the access point belongs to a wireless network of access points, the method further comprising: changing the classification of an access point of the wireless network into the no-connectivity class only if the network connection test directed to the access point itself fails.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a time period counted by the timer is at least one hour.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

upon an application executed in the wireless apparatus requesting a radio connection with an access point currently having the no-connectivity classification, reiterating the network connection test for the requested access point after the establishment of the radio connection has been completed;

if the network connection test is successful, changing the classification of the access point into a class other than the no-connectivity class; and

if the network connection test is failed, maintaining the classification of the access point.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing, in connection with each access point known to the wireless apparatus, unique display content in a display of the wireless apparatus for the following situations: successful radio connection and network connection; and successful radio connection and failed network connection.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the network connection test is arranged to test a connection to at least one of the following: the internet, an intranet, a digital living network alliance server, wireless application protocol network services.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the network connection test comprises testing network connection speed, the method further comprising:

comparing the determined network connection speed with a determined speed threshold; and

if the determined network connection speed is less than the speed threshold, changing the classification of the access point in the wireless apparatus temporarily into the no-connectivity class.

13 . An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

cause a wireless apparatus to establish a radio connection with an access point;

after the establishment of the radio connection has been completed, carry out a network connection test in the wireless apparatus, in which network connection test the apparatus is configured to test whether or not the access point has a working connection with a network server and, if the network connection test fails, to terminate the radio connection and change a classification of the access point in the wireless apparatus temporarily into a no-connectivity class indicating that the access point is not capable of providing a network connection, wherein a duration the access point is maintained in the no-connectivity class is defined by a timer counted in the wireless apparatus.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to, upon expiry of the timer, change the classification of the access point into a class other than the no-connectivity class and allow reestablishment of the radio connection to the access point.

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to carry out the network connection test on a higher layer than a medium access control layer.

16 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the access point belongs to a wireless network of a plurality of access points, and wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to change the classification of the wireless network into the no-connectivity class.

17 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the access point belongs to a wireless network of access points, and wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to change the classification of an access point of the wireless network into the no-connectivity class only if the network connection test directed to the access point itself fails.

18 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a time period counted by the timer is at least one hour.

19 . (canceled)

20 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

upon an application executed in the wireless apparatus requesting a radio connection with an access point currently having the no-connectivity classification, reiterate the network connection test for the requested access point after the establishment of the radio connection has been completed;

if the network connection test is successful, change the classification of the access point into a class other than the no-connectivity class; and

if the network connection test is failed, maintain the classification of the access point.

21 . (canceled)

22 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to provide, in connection with each access point known to the wireless apparatus, unique display content in a display of the wireless apparatus for the following situations: successful radio connection and network connection; and successful radio connection and failed network connection.

23 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to test during the network connection test a connection to at least one of the following: the internet, an intranet, a digital living network alliance server, wireless application protocol network services.

24 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:

test network connection speed during the network connection test;

compare the determined network connection speed with a determined speed threshold; and

if the determined network connection speed is less than the speed threshold, change the classification of the access point in the wireless apparatus temporarily into the no-connectivity class.

25 - 27 . (canceled)

Assignments (9)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2021
From: PROVENANCE ASSET GROUP LLC
To: RPX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059352/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2021
From: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKETS SERVICES LLC
To: PROVENANCE ASSET GROUP HOLDINGS LLC; PROVENANCE ASSET GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 058983/0104 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2021
From: NOKIA US HOLDINGS INC.
To: PROVENANCE ASSET GROUP HOLDINGS LLC; PROVENANCE ASSET GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 058363/0723 →
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 14, 2019
From: NOKIA USA INC.
To: NOKIA US HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 048370/0682 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2017
From: PROVENANCE ASSET GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC; PROVENANCE ASSET GROUP, LLC
To: CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 043967/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2017
From: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY; NOKIA SOLUTIONS AND NETWORKS BV; ALCATEL LUCENT SAS
To: PROVENANCE ASSET GROUP LLC
Reel/Frame 043877/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2017
From: PROVENANCE ASSET GROUP HOLDINGS, LLC; PROVENANCE ASSET GROUP LLC
To: NOKIA USA INC.
Reel/Frame 043879/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 26, 2015
From: NOKIA CORPORATION
To: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
Reel/Frame 035258/0116 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2014
From: RANTANEN, TOMMI; TASA, MIKKO; LEVA, VILLE; NIEMI, ANSSI; ALA-VANNESLUOMA, MARKKU
To: NOKIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033121/0044 →