METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN FACILITATING THE COMMUNICATION OF NEIGHBORING NETWORK INFORMATION TO A MOBILE TERMINAL WITH USE OF A RADIUS COMPATIBLE PROTOCOL
A disclosed example method for requesting neighboring network information from a device involves encoding a request for neighboring network information and sending the request to an authentication server to obtain the neighboring network information. The example method also involves receiving a response to the request, retrieving the neighboring network information contained in the response, and decoding the neighboring network information. The decoded neighboring network information is stored.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A method for requesting neighboring network information by a wireless device, the method comprising:
during a discovery procedure, sending, by the wireless device, a request for neighboring network information, the request including a Service Set Identifier (SSID) indicator, to an access point (AP) within a wireless local area network (WLAN); and
receiving, by the wireless device, a response to the request, the response including the neighboring network information, the neighboring network information including information about one or more neighbor APs whose SSID correspond to the SSID indicator in the request.
22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising encoding the request for neighboring network information.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the encoding is based on an IEEE 802.11 format.
24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the neighboring network information comprises one or more network identifiers corresponding to one or more access points.
25 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the access point is in communications with an access network server.
26 . A method of an access point (AP) within a wireless local area network (WLAN) for responding with neighboring network information to a wireless device, the method comprising:
during a discovery procedure, receiving by the AP from the wireless device, a request for neighboring network information, the request including a Service Set Identifier (SSID) indicator; and
responding, by the AP, a response to the request, the response including the neighboring network information, the neighboring network information including information about one or more neighbor APs whose SSIDs correspond to the SSID indicator in the request.
27 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising decoding the request for neighboring network information based on an IEEE 802.11 format.
28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the neighboring network information comprises one or more network identifiers corresponding to one or more access points.
29 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the access point is in communications with an information server.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the information server is an access network server.
31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the information server is a mobility server.