IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,462,460
Granted Patent B2
US 9,462,460 · App. 14/552,962 · Granted Oct 4, 2016

Virtual access point using single service set identifiers

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,462,460
App. No.
14/552,962
Granted
Oct 4, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An Access Point (“AP”) apparatus comprising one or more processors containing program code. The program code may be configured to: (i) cause the AP to broadcast a beacon containing a single SSID indentifying the AP; (ii) cause the AP to receive from the STA an query for network information for at least one network operator accessible through the AP; and (iii) cause the AP to send to the STA, for the at least one network operator, a network information description element, in response to the network information query. The AP providing the plural responses broadcasts only a single service set identification (“SSID”).

Claims (48)

1. An Access Point (AP) apparatus comprising one or more processors containing instructions configured to cause the AP to:

broadcast a single Service Set Identification (SSID) identifying the AP;

send to a user device station (STA) a list of a plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID;

receive from the STA), a capability query for each of at least one of the plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID; and

send to the STA, a capability response for each of the at least one of the plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID, before the STA is associated with the AP.

2. The AP apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capability query is for querying a network characteristic of each of the at least one of the plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID.

3. The AP apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capability query is an Internet Protocol (IP) Address Type Availability query and the capability response comprises an IP Address Type Availability information element.

4. The AP apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the capability query is a Wide Area Network (WAN) Metrics query and the capability response comprises a WAN Metrics information element.

5. The AP apparatus claim 1 , wherein the capability query is a Connection Capability Query and the capability response comprises a Connection Capability information element.

6. The AP apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors contains program code configured to receive the capability query and send the capability response using an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP).

7. The AP apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the capability query and the capability response comprises an operator network identifier identifying a particular operator network of the plurality of operator networks.

8. The AP apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the AP comprises a Wi-Fi AP.

9. A method for an Access Point (AP) for indicating network capabilities, the method comprising:

broadcasting a single Service Set Identification (SSID) identifying the AP;

sending to a user device station (STA) a list of a plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID;

receiving from the STA, a capability query for each of at least one of the plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID; and

sending to the STA, a capability response for each of the at least one of the plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID, before the STA is associated with the AP.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the capability query is for querying a network characteristic of each of the at least one of the plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the capability query is an Internet Protocol (IP) Address Type Availability query and the capability response comprises an IP Address Type Availability information element.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the capability query is a Wide Area Network (WAN) Metrics query and the capability response comprises a WAN Metrics information element.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the capability query is a Connection Capability Query and the capability response comprises a Connection Capability information element.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the capability query and sending the capability response uses an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP).

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the capability query and the capability response comprises an operator network identifier identifying a particular operator network of the plurality of operator networks.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the AP comprises a Wi-Fi AP.

17. A mobile station (STA) comprising one or more processors containing instructions configured to cause the STA to:

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

receive from the AP a list of a plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID;

send to the AP a capability query for each of at least one of the plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID; and

receive from the AP, a capability response for each of the at least one of the plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID, before the STA is associated with the AP.

18. The STA apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the capability query is for querying a network characteristic of each of the at least one of the plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID.

19. The STA apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the capability query is an Internet Protocol (IP) Address Type Availability query and the capability response comprises an IP Address Type Availability information element.

20. The STA apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the capability query is a Wide Area Network (WAN) Metrics query and the capability response comprises a WAN Metrics information element.

21. The STA apparatus claim 17 , wherein the capability query is a Connection Capability Query and the capability response comprises a Connection Capability information element.

22. The STA apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors contains program code configured to send the capability query and receive the capability response using an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP).

23. The STA apparatus of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the capability query and the capability response comprises an operator network identifier identifying a particular operator network of the plurality of operator networks.

24. The STA apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the AP comprises a Wi-Fi AP.

25. A method for a mobile station (STA) for requesting network capabilities, the method comprising:

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

receiving from the AP a list of a plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID;

sending to the AP a capability query for each of at least one of the plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID; and

receiving from the AP, a capability response for each of the at least one of the plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID, before the STA is associated with the AP.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the capability query is for querying a network characteristic of each of the at least one of the plurality of operator networks accessible through the AP identified by the single SSID.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the capability query is an Internet Protocol (IP) Address Type Availability query and the capability response comprises an IP Address Type Availability information element.

28. The method of claim 25 , wherein the capability query is a Wide Area Network (WAN) Metrics query and the capability response comprises a WAN Metrics information element.

29. The method of claim 25 , wherein the capability query is a Connection Capability Query and the capability response comprises a Connection Capability information element.

30. The method of claim 25 , wherein the one or more processors contains program code configured to send the capability query and receive the capability response using an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP).

31. The method of claim 25 , wherein at least one of the capability query and the capability response comprises an operator network identifier identifying a particular operator network of the plurality of operator networks.

32. The method of claim 25 , wherein the AP comprises a Wi-Fi AP.