Patent · US Expired

Method for intelligently selecting a wireless communication access point

US7509417B1 · kind B1 · utility

16Cited by
23References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 28, 2002
Grant dateMar 24, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 1, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W84/18
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system for selecting and connecting to an access point in a wireless network of devices, such as a Bluetooth network. Initially, an initiator device is preconfigured with a list of available access point addresses. The initiator device broadcasts an inquiry message that is received by available wireless devices which, in turn, respond with their respective addresses, occupancy level and device classification. The initiator device compares the respondent addresses with the preconfigured access point addresses and connects to a match, thus terminating the inquiry, provided certain fitness functions are satisfied. The fitness functions might include such considerations as occupancy rate, device classification, signal strength, or physical distance of separation. The list of addresses on the initiator device is updated automatically upon connecting with a network server whenever a new device is added or an old one removed from the network server's access point address list.

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