Wireless network service type

1. A service type announcement method performed by an access point (AP) that supports a wireless network, the method comprising:

generating a service type announcement element indicating one or more network service types offered by the AP or offered by the wireless network through the AP;

transmitting the service type announcement element to a mobile device by:

including the service type announcement element in a beacon frame; and

transmitting the beacon frame by the AP to the mobile device,

receiving, from the mobile device, a service request in a first layer 2 frame, the service request comprising a service hash value for a service; and

generating and transmitting to the mobile device, a service response in a second layer 2 frame in response to the service request, the service response comprising one or more attributes of the service;

wherein the service type announcement element is transmitted to the mobile device prior to the mobile device being associated with the AP.

2. The service type announcement method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising including in the service type announcement element identifiers of one or more upper layer protocols offered by the AP or offered by the wireless network through the AP.

3. A service type discovery method performed by a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the mobile device, a beacon frame transmitted by an access point (AP) that supports a wireless network, the beacon frame including a service type announcement element, the service type announcement element indicating one or more network service types offered by the AP or offered by the wireless network through the AP, wherein the service type announcement element is received prior to association with the AP;

generating and transmitting a service request to the AP in a first layer 2 frame, the service request comprising a service hash value for a service;

receiving a service response to the service request from the AP in a second layer 2 frame, the service response comprising one or more attributes of the service; and

making a determination whether any of the one or more network service types can assist with an operation of an application on the mobile device.

4. The service type discovery method as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising:

implementing a network selection algorithm based on the determination.

5. The service type discovery method as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising:

providing the service response to a network selection algorithm.

6. The service type discovery method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the service request is a service descriptor request.

7. The service type discovery method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the service descriptor request makes reference to the one or more network service types.

8. The service type discovery method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the service type announcement element includes identifiers of one or more upper layer protocols offered by the AP or offered by the wireless network through the AP.

9. The service type discovery method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein making the determination whether any of the one or more network service types can assist with the operation of the application on the mobile device takes into account the identifiers of the one or more upper layer protocols offered by the AP or offered by the wireless network through the AP.

10. A mobile device comprising:

a processor; and

a wireless network interface coupled to the processor, the wireless network interface configured to:

receive a beacon frame transmitted by an access point (AP) that supports a wireless network, the beacon frame including a service type announcement element, the service type announcement element indicating one or more network service types offered by the AP or offered by the wireless network through the AP, wherein the service type announcement is received prior to association with the AP;

generate and transmit a service request to the AP in a first layer 2 frame, the service request comprising a service hash value for a service;

receive a service response to the service request from the AP in a second layer 2 frame, the service response comprising one or more attributes of the service; and

make a determination whether any of the one or more network service types can assist with an operation of an application on the mobile device.

11. The mobile device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the wireless network interface is further configured to implement a network selection algorithm based on the determination.

12. The mobile device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the wireless network interface is further configured to provide the service response to a network selection algorithm.

13. The mobile device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the service request is a service descriptor request.

14. The mobile device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the service descriptor request makes reference to the one or more network service types.

15. The mobile device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the service type announcement element includes identifiers of one or more upper layer protocols that are offered by the AP or offered by the wireless network through the AP.

16. The mobile device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the wireless network interface is configured to take into account the identifiers of the one or more upper layer protocols offered by the AP or offered by the wireless network through the AP in making the determination whether any of the one or more network service types can assist with the operation of the application on the mobile device.