Multiple network access system and method
Methods and devices for operating a wireless communication device that can communicate with at least two different wireless networks using a single radio frequency modem are described. The communication device attaches to a first wireless network through the radio frequency (RF) modem, and then detaches from the first wireless network at a predetermined time before a start time of a selected event on a second wireless network. The device attaches to the second wireless network using the same RF modem before the start time of the selected event and collects at least a portion of event data associated with the selected event. After collecting at least a portion of event data, the device detaches from the second wireless network and re-attaches to the first wireless network.
1. A method performed by a mobile device, the method comprising:
receiving, from a first access point (AP) of a plurality of co-located APs, first information corresponding to the first AP, wherein the first information comprises: first state information and one or more first operational parameters, wherein the first information indicates a first frequency;
receiving, from the first access point (AP), second information corresponding to a second AP of the plurality of co-located APs, wherein the second information comprises: second state information and one or more second operational parameters, wherein the second information indicates a second frequency, wherein the first information is different than the second information and the first AP is different than the second AP;
establishing a first wireless link with a first wireless network of the first AP, in accordance with the first frequency;
establishing a second wireless link with a second wireless network of the second AP, in accordance with the second frequency; and
simultaneously receiving first data of the first wireless network from the first AP and second data of the second wireless network from the second AP;
wherein the first wireless network is a bidirectional wireless network and the second information is received prior to establishing the second wireless link.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving internet protocol (IP) packets over the second wireless link, wherein the IP packets are Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) traffic stream packets.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving broadcast video on the second wireless link; and
not receiving broadcast video on the first wireless link.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is incapable of transmitting on the second wireless network while receiving on the first wireless network.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are non-overlapping frequencies.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing the first information and second information in memory of the mobile device;
wherein the storing is performed when the mobile device is not associated with the first AP.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises a first base station transmitter identification (BSID) corresponding to the first AP and the second information comprises a second base station transmitter identification (BSID) corresponding to the second AP, wherein the first BSID is different than the second BSID;
wherein the first information and the second information is are received from the first AP when the mobile device is not associated with the first AP.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
entering into an idle mode by detaching from the second wireless network; and
receiving data on the first wireless network while in the idle mode.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
not discarding association data after entering the idle mode; and
transmitting a request, to the first AP, for the first information and the second information.
10. A mobile device comprising:
a receiver operable to receive, from a first access point (AP) of a plurality of co-located APs, first information corresponding to the first AP, wherein the first information comprises: first state information and one or more first operational parameters, wherein the first information indicates a first frequency;
the receiver operable to receive, from the first access point (AP), second information corresponding to a second AP of the plurality of co-located APs, wherein the second information comprises: second state information and one or more second operational parameters, wherein the first information indicates a second frequency, wherein the first information is different than the second information and the first AP is different than the second AP;
circuitry operable to establish a first wireless link with a first wireless network, of the first AP, in accordance with the first frequency;
circuitry operable to establish a second wireless link with a second wireless network of the second AP, in accordance with the second frequency; and
the receiver operable to simultaneously receive first data of the first wireless network from the first AP and second data of the second wireless network from the second AP;
wherein the first wireless network is a bidirectional wireless network and the second information is received prior to establishing the second wireless link.
11. The mobile device of claim 10 , further comprising:
the receiver operable to simultaneously receive internet protocol (IP) packets over the first wireless link and the second wireless link.
12. The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the first information is received when the mobile device is not associated with the first AP.
13. The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the second information is received from the first AP when the mobile device is not associated with the first AP.
14. The mobile device of claim 10 , further comprising:
circuitry operable to enter into an idle mode upon detachment from the second wireless network; and
the receiver operable to receive data of the first wireless network while in the idle mode.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information comprises information identifying the first AP and the second information comprises information identifying the second AP.
16. The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the first state information comprises at least one counter which is maintained by the mobile device when the mobile device is not associated with the first AP.
17. The mobile device of claim 10 , further comprising:
the receiver operable to receive an indication to switch to an AP, of the plurality of co-located APs, from one of the first AP or the second AP.
18. A mobile device comprising:
a receiver operable to receive, from a first access point (AP) of a plurality of co-located APs, information comprising: a first base station transmitter identification (BSID) and a second BSID, wherein the first BSID corresponds to a first wireless network of the first AP and the second BSID corresponds to a second wireless network of a second AP of the plurality of co-located APs, wherein the first wireless network and the second wireless network are different wireless networks, wherein the first BSID and second BSID are different BSIDs; and
the receiver operable to receive first data of the first wireless network from the first AP and second data of the second wireless network from the second AP;
wherein the second wireless network is a bidirectional wireless network and the information is received prior to reception of the second data.
19. The mobile device of claim 18 , wherein the receiver is only operable to receive data from the first AP and the second AP on an alternating basis.
20. The mobile device of claim 18 , wherein the information includes state information corresponding to a counter; wherein the counter is maintained in memory of the mobile device when the mobile device is not associated with the first AP.