EP1133208A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for selecting an access point in a wireless network
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 2001-02-26
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2021-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for use in a wireless communications network searches for the best serving access point of a base station as a function of communication link quality and load levels, thereby allowing a subscriber terminal to react to changes in RF conditions and load levels. In one implementation, a wireless modem in a fixed wireless access network initiates an access point searching algorithm in response to a triggering condition, such as initially powering-up the subscriber terminal or degradation of communication link quality or load levels. After detecting beacons for a plurality of neighboring access points, the wireless modem selects the best access point as a function of communication link quality and relative load levels to maintain adequate service quality. and to react to changes in load levels. After an initial selection, the wireless modem may continually monitor quality/load conditions to determine whether to select a new access point.
Inventors
- 👤 Peretz Moshes Feder
- 👤 Walter Honcharenko
- 👤 Haim Shalom Ner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:32
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W16/00; H04W16/02; H04W16/06; H04W48/00; H04W48/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of selecting an access point in a wireless
communications network, comprising: detecting access channel information ("beacons") from a
plurality of access points of one or more base stations, each
beacon indicating a load level associated with the corresponding
access point; and selecting a single access point as a function of
the relative load levels associated with the plurality of access
points.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of selecting an access point in a wireless
communications network, comprising: detecting access channel information ("beacons") from a
plurality of access points of one or more base stations, each
beacon indicating a load level associated with the corresponding
access point; and selecting a single access point as a function of
the relative load levels associated with the plurality of access
points.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of selecting a single
access point considers communication link quality associated with
each of the plurality of access points.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2, wherein communication link quality
is forward link quality.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2, wherein communication link quality
is reverse link quality.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting
beacons from a plurality of access points is initiated when a load
level associated with a currently serving access point exceeds a
threshold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting
beacons from a plurality of access points is initiated when
communication link quality for a currently serving access point
degrades below a threshold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting
beacons includes obtaining a neighbor list indicating radio
frequency channels associated with a plurality of neighboring
access points.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of detecting
beacons from a plurality of access points includes: detecting a beacon of an access point on a selected radio
frequency search channel; obtaining a neighbor list from the detected beacon, the
neighbor list indicating radio frequency channels associated with a
plurality of neighboring access points; and detecting a beacon of each of the neighboring access points
on the radio frequency channels indicated in the neighbor list.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said step of detecting a
beacon includes: setting an initial radio frequency search channel; determining whether a beacon can be detected on the initial
radio frequency search channel; and setting an updated frequency search channel, within an
acceptable range of search channels, wherein said step of setting an updated frequency search
channel is repeated until a beacon can be detected. 10. The
method of claim 1, wherein said wireless communications network
is a fixed wireless access network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said steps of detecting
beacons and selecting a single access point are performed by a
wireless modem of the fixed wireless access network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said step of detecting
beacons from a plurality of access points is initiated when the
wireless modem is powered-up.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2, wherein communication link quality
is determined by receive signal strength measurements and/or
signal quality measurements.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for selecting an access point in a wireless
communications network, comprising: detecting means for detecting access channel information
("beacons") from a plurality of access points of one or more base
stations, each beacon indicating a load level associated with the
corresponding access point; and selecting means for selecting a single access point as a
function of the relative load levels associated with the plurality of
access points
Claim 15
Independent Claim
69 words
An apparatus for selecting an access point in a wireless
communications network, comprising: detecting means for detecting access channel information
("beacons") from a plurality of access points of one or more base
stations, each beacon indicating a load level associated with the
corresponding access point; and selecting means for selecting a single access point as a
function of the relative load levels associated with the plurality of
access points
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said selecting means
considers communication link quality associated with each of the
plurality of access points when selecting the single access point.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein communication link
quality is forward link quality.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein communication link
quality is reverse link quality.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said detecting means
initiates detecting beacons from a plurality of access points when a
load level associated with a currently serving access point exceeds
a threshold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said detecting means
initiates detecting beacons from a plurality of access points when
communication link quality for a currently serving access point
degrades below a threshold.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said detecting means
detects beacons by obtaining a neighbor list indicating radio
frequency channels associated with a plurality of neighboring
access points.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said detecting means
detects beacons from a plurality of access points by: detecting a beacon of an access point on a selected radio
frequency search channel; obtaining a neighbor list from the detected beacon, the
neighbor list indicating radio frequency channels associated with a
plurality of neighboring access points; and detecting a beacon of each of the neighboring access points
on the radio frequency channels indicated in the neighbor list.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said detecting means
detects a beacon by: setting an initial radio frequency search channel; determining whether a beacon can be detected on the initial
radio frequency search channel; and setting an updated frequency search channel, within an
acceptable range of search channels, wherein setting an updated frequency search channel is
repeated until a beacon can be detected.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said wireless
communications network is a fixed wireless access network.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said apparatus is a
wireless modem of the fixed wireless access network.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said detecting means
initiates detecting beacons from a plurality of access points when
said wireless modem is powered-up.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein communication link
quality is determined by receive signal strength measurements
and/or signal quality measurements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.