Method and apparatus for searching for access point in wireless communication system

1. A method by a terminal to scan an access point (AP) in a wireless communication system comprising:

setting, by the terminal via a user interface in the terminal, a policy set for priority access to an AP related to an operator;

transmitting a probe request frame containing an identifier related to the operator for searching for the AP related to the operator, the identifier being determined based on the policy set for the priority access;

receiving, from the AP related to the identifier, a probe response frame containing the identifier related to the operator; and

attempting to access the AP that transmitted the probe response frame.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probe request frame further comprises at least one of the following:

an identifier related to a location, and an identifier indicating a public AP.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting a probe request frame comprises:

broadcasting the probe request frame.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving a probe response frame comprises:

receiving the probe response frame via a unicast message.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

running a timer; and

when a probe response frame in response to the probe request frame has not been received before the time expires, transmitting a probe request frame for scanning all APs.

6. A method by an access point (AP) to respond to the AP scan in a wireless communication system comprising:

receiving, from a terminal, a probe request frame containing an identifier related to an operator for searching for an AP related to the operator, the identifier being determined based on a policy set for priority access;

identifying an identifier related to the operator contained in the probe request frame;

determining whether the identified identifier corresponds to an identifier related to the AP; and

when the identified identifier corresponds to the identifier related to the AP, transmitting, to the terminal, a probe response frame containing the identifier related to the AP in response to the probe request frame,

wherein the policy set for priority access to the AP related to the operator is set by the terminal via a user interface in the terminal.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

when the identified identifier does not correspond to the identifier related to the AP, dismissing the transmission of a probe response frame in response to the probe request frame.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the probe request frame further comprises at least one of the following:

an identifier related to a location, and an identifier indicating a public AP.

9. A terminal configured to scan access points (APs) in a wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication interface for transmitting and receiving a signal; and

a WLAN access management for setting, via an interface in the terminal, a policy set for priority access to an AP related to an operator, transmitting a probe request frame containing an identifier related to the operator for searching for the AP related to the operator, the identifier being determined based on the policy set for the priority access, receiving, from the AP related to the identifier, a probe response frame containing the identifier related to the operator, and performing a control operation to attempt to access the AP that transmitted the probe response frame.

10. The terminal of claim 9 , wherein the probe request frame further comprises at least one of the following:

an identifier related to a location, and an identifier indicating a public AP.

11. The terminal of claim 9 , wherein the WLAN access management performs a control operation to broadcast the probe request frame.

12. The terminal of claim 9 , wherein the probe response frame is received via a unicast message.

13. The terminal of claim 9 , wherein the WLAN access management instructs the WLAN communication interface to scan the AP related to the operator.

14. The terminal of claim 9 , wherein the WLAN access management runs a timer after transmitting the probe request frame, and transmits a probe request frame for scanning all APs when a probe response frame in response to the probe request frame has not been received before the time expires.

15. The terminal of claim 9 , wherein the WLAN access management: determines whether a probe response frame is received from an AP related to the identifier, before transmitting the probe request frame; and performs, when a probe response frame is received from an AP related to the identifier, a control operation to attempt to access the AP that transmitted the probe response frame.

16. An access point (AP) configured to respond to the AP scan in a wireless communication system comprising:

a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication interface for receiving and a transmitting a signal; and

a controller for receiving, from a terminal, a probe request frame containing an identifier related to an operator for searching for an AP related to the operator, the identifier being determined based on a policy set for priority access, identifying, when receiving the probe request frame from the terminal, an identifier related to the operator AP contained in the probe request frame, determining whether the identified identifier corresponds to an identifier related to the AP, and transmitting, when the identified identifier corresponds to the identifier related to the AP, a probe response frame containing the identifier related to the AP in response to the probe request frame to the terminal,

wherein the policy set for priority access to the AP related to the operator is set by the terminal via an interface in the terminal.

17. The AP of claim 16 , wherein, when the identified identifier does not correspond to the identifier related to the AP, the controller dismisses the transmission of a probe response frame in response to the probe request frame.

18. The AP of claim 16 , wherein the probe request frame comprises at least one of the following:

an identifier related to a location, and an identifier indicating a public AP.