Patent · US Expired

Accelerating discovery of access points in a wireless local area network

US7440418B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
1References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 21, 2004
Grant dateOct 21, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 21, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W88/08
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for accelerating discovery of access points (APs) in a wireless local area network begins by transmitting an advertisement packet by an AP via at least one channel other than a channel on which the AP transmits beacon signals. The advertisement packet is received by a station (STA), which then determines whether to associate to the transmitting AP. The advertisement packet can include reassociation information, such that the STA can associate to the AP based on the information in the advertisement packet, or timing information, such that the STA can tune to the AP and receive the AP's beacon without dwelling on the AP for an extended period of time.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.