U.S. patent application number 14/175327 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-05 for wireless wide area network characteristics indicated over a wireless local area network.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sprint Communications Company L.P.. The applicant listed for this patent is Sprint Communications Company L.P.. Invention is credited to Jeremy R. Breau, Douglas Alan Olding, Cesar Perez, Trevor Daniel Shipley.
Application Number | 20140153543 14/175327 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50348891 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140153543 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shipley; Trevor Daniel ; et
al. |
June 5, 2014 |
WIRELESS WIDE AREA NETWORK CHARACTERISTICS INDICATED OVER A
WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK
Abstract
What is disclosed is a method of operating a communications
system. The method includes transferring a wireless local area
network (WLAN) beacon signal from a wireless transceiver, where the
WLAN beacon signal comprises packets identifying the WLAN. The
method further provides receiving wireless wide area network (WWAN)
signals into the wireless transceiver and determining WWAN
characteristics. The WWAN characteristics comprise at least one of
signal strength, data rate, and transceiver battery status. The
method further includes, in the wireless transceiver, inserting a
characteristic indicator into the packet headers of the WLAN beacon
signal indicating the WWAN characteristics.
Inventors: |
Shipley; Trevor Daniel;
(Olathe, KS) ; Breau; Jeremy R.; (Leawood, KS)
; Perez; Cesar; (Olathe, KS) ; Olding; Douglas
Alan; (Overland Park, KS) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sprint Communications Company L.P. |
Overland Park |
KS |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sprint Communications Company
L.P.
Overland Park
KS
|
Family ID: |
50348891 |
Appl. No.: |
14/175327 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13182754 |
Jul 14, 2011 |
8687616 |
|
|
14175327 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/331 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 36/0022 20130101;
H04W 48/10 20130101; H04W 88/02 20130101; H04W 84/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/331 |
International
Class: |
H04W 36/00 20060101
H04W036/00; H04W 88/02 20060101 H04W088/02 |
Claims
1. A method of operating a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) communication
system to transfer Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system
information, the method comprising: wirelessly receiving an LTE
signal from an LTE communication system and processing the LTE
signal to determine LTE Radio Frequency (RF) signal strength;
generating a data packet indicating the WiFi communication system
and the LTE RF signal strength; and wirelessly transferring a WiFi
signal from the WiFi communication system including the data packet
indicating the WiFi communication system and indicating the LTE RF
signal strength.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising wirelessly transferring
another WiFi signal from the WiFi communication system including a
software module configured to direct a user communication device to
display the LTE RF signal strength.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising wirelessly transferring
another WiFi signal from the WiFi communication system including a
software module configured to direct a user communication device to
simultaneously display the LTE RF signal strength and a WiFi signal
strength.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing the LTE
signal to determine an LTE data rate and wherein generating and
transferring the data packet in the WiFi signal comprises
generating and transferring the data packet indicating the LTE data
rate in the WiFi signal.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising: processing the LTE
signal to determine an LTE data rate; wherein generating and
transferring the data packet in the WiFi signal comprises
generating and transferring the data packet indicating the LTE data
rate in the WiFi signal; and wirelessly transferring another WiFi
signal from the WiFi communication system including a software
module configured to direct a user communication device to display
the LTE data rate.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a battery
power status for the WiFi communication system and wherein
generating and transferring the data packet in the WiFi signal
comprises generating and transferring the data packet indicating
the battery power status for the WiFi communication system in the
WiFi signal.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining a battery
power status for the WiFi communication system; wherein generating
and transferring the data packet in the WiFi signal comprises
generating and transferring the data packet indicating the battery
power status for the WiFi communication system in the WiFi signal;
and wirelessly transferring another WiFi signal from the WiFi
communication system including a software module configured to
direct a user communication device to display the battery power
status for the WiFi communication system.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein generating and transferring the
data packet comprises generating and transferring the data packet
indicating a Service Set Identifier (SSID) for the WiFi
communication system.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein generating and transferring the
data packet comprises generating and transferring a user datagram
protocol packet.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein generating and transferring the
data packet comprises generating and transferring a media access
control layer packet.
11. A Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) communication system to transfer
Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication system information
comprising: an LTE network interface configured to wirelessly
receive an LTE signal from an LTE communication system and process
the LTE signal to determine LTE Radio Frequency (RF) signal
strength; a processing system configured to generate a data packet
indicating the WiFi communication system and the LTE RF signal
strength; and a WiFi network interface configured to wirelessly
transfer a WiFi signal including the data packet indicating the
WiFi communication system and indicating the LTE RF signal
strength.
12. The WiFi communication system of claim 11 wherein the WiFi
network interface is configured to wirelessly transfer another WiFi
signal including a software module configured to direct a user
communication device to display the LTE RF signal strength.
13. The WiFi communication system of claim 11 wherein the WiFi
network interface is configured to wirelessly transfer another WiFi
signal including a software module configured to direct a user
communication device to simultaneously display the LTE RF signal
strength with a WiFi signal strength.
14. The WiFi communication system of claim 11 wherein: the LTE
network interface is configured to process the LTE signal to
determine an LTE data rate; the processing system is configured to
generate the data packet indicating the LTE data rate; the WiFi
network interface is configured to wirelessly transfer the WiFi
signal including the LTE data rate.
15. The WiFi communication system of claim 11 further comprising:
the LTE network interface is configured to process the LTE signal
to determine an LTE data rate; the processing system is configured
to generate the data packet indicating the LTE data rate; and the
WiFi network interface is configured to wirelessly transfer the
WiFi signal including the LTE data rate and to wirelessly transfer
another WiFi signal including a software module configured to
direct a user communication device to display the LTE data
rate.
16. The WiFi communication system of claim 11 wherein: the
processing system is configured to determine a battery power status
for the WiFi communication system and to generate the data packet
indicating the battery power status for the WiFi communication
system; and the WiFi network interface is configured to wirelessly
transfer the WiFi signal including the data packet indicating the
battery power status for the WiFi communication system.
17. The WiFi communication system of claim 11 wherein: the
processing system is configured to determine a battery power status
for the WiFi communication system and to generate the data packet
indicating the battery power status for the WiFi communication
system; and the WiFi network interface is configured to wirelessly
transfer the WiFi signal including the data packet indicating the
battery power status for the WiFi communication system and to
wirelessly transfer another WiFi signal including a software module
configured to direct a user communication device to display the
battery power status for the WiFi communication system.
18. The WiFi communication system of claim 11 wherein: the
processing system is configured to generate the data packet
indicating a Service Set Identifier (SSID) for the WiFi
communication system; and the WiFi network interface is configured
to wirelessly transfer the WiFi signal including the data packet
indicating the SSID for the WiFi communication system.
19. The WiFi communication system of claim 11 wherein the data
packet comprises a user datagram protocol packet.
20. The WiFi communication system of claim 11 wherein the data
packet comprises a media access control layer packet.
Description
RELATED CASES
[0001] This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/182,754 that was filed on Jul. 14, 2011 and
is entitled "WIRELESS WIDE AREA NETWORK CHARACTERISTICS INDICATED
OVER A WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK." U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 13/182,754 is hereby incorporated by reference into this patent
application.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Aspects of the disclosure are related to the field of
wireless networks and wireless communications, and in particular,
information delivery to user devices on a wireless local area
network access point.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
[0003] Wireless user devices, such as computers, smartphones,
gaming devices, or other devices, are typically able to connect to
communication services, such as Internet services, through wireless
transceiver devices. These transceivers provide a wireless local
area network for the user devices to communicate with the
transceiver devices and also to access communication services.
Wireless local area networks can include Wi-Fi-style local area
wireless networks, among other examples. Wireless transceiver
devices can include a router, gateway, or bridge functionality to
connect user devices on the provided local area networks to other
networks and systems, such as the Internet or other packet
networks.
[0004] In some examples, wireless transceiver devices also include
radio equipment for bridging communications of the local area
network through a second wireless communication system, such as
through a base station of a cellular communication system.
Generally, wireless user devices operating on the wireless local
area network do not have information about the second wireless
connection.
Overview
[0005] What is disclosed is a method of operating a communications
system. The method includes transferring a wireless local area
network (WLAN) beacon signal from a wireless device, where the WLAN
beacon signal comprises packets identifying the WLAN. The method
further includes receiving wireless wide area network (WWAN)
signals into the wireless device and determining WWAN
characteristics in the wireless device. The characteristics could
include signal strength, data rate, or transceiver battery status.
The method further includes, in the wireless device, inserting a
characteristic indicator into packet headers of the WLAN beacon
signal indicating the WWAN characteristics.
[0006] What is also disclosed is a wireless device. The wireless
device includes a network interface configured to receive wireless
wide area network (WWAN) signals and a local interface configured
to transfer a wireless local area network (WLAN) beacon signal. The
WLAN beacon signal comprises packets identifying the WLAN. The
wireless device further includes a processing system configured to
obtain WWAN characteristics, including at least one of signal
strength, data rate, or transceiver battery status. The processing
system is also configured to insert a characteristic indicator into
the packets of the WWAN beacon signal indicating the WWAN
characteristics.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a communication
system.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method of
operation of a communication system.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating a communication
system.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method of
operation of a communication system.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example beacon
packet.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless
transceiver device.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a user device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating communication system
100. Communication system 100 includes wireless communication
system 110, wireless device 120, and user device 130. User device
130 and wireless device 120 exchange communication signals 140.
Wireless device 120 transmits beacon packet signals 142. Possible
recipients of the beacon packet signals 142 include user device
130. However, the beacon packet signals 142 may be transmitted
without regard to potential recipients. Wireless communication
system 110 and wireless device 120 exchange wireless communication
signals 141. In the example shown in FIG. 1, wireless device 120
can provide a wireless local area network for user devices, such as
user device 130. Through wireless device 120, user device 130 can
access communication services provided by wireless communication
system 110, or communicate over wireless communication system 110.
Although one user device is shown in FIG. 1, it should be
understood that more than one user device could be included.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method of
operation of communication system 100. In FIG. 2, wireless
communication system 110 exchanges Wireless Wide Area Network
(hereinafter "WWAN") communication signals 141 with wireless device
120. In this example, WWAN communications signals 141 traverse a
wireless medium. Wireless device 120 exchanges Wireless Local Area
Network (hereinafter "WLAN") communication signals 141 with user
device 130. In this example, WLAN communication signals traverse a
wireless medium. WLAN communication signals 140 could comprise an
IEEE 802.11 WLAN link, although other WLANs could be employed. The
wireless device 120 transmits WLAN beacon signals 142 that comprise
packets identifying the WLAN. User device 130 receives WLAN beacon
signals 142.
[0016] Characteristic information could be associated with the
WWAN, wireless device 120, or WWAN link 141, such as battery status
of wireless device 120, signal strength, and data rate, among other
information. The characteristic information could be determined by
wireless device 120. Wireless device 120 indicates the
characteristic information to user device 130 by inserting
characteristic indicators into WLAN beacon signal 142 packet
headers.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating communication system
300. Communication system 300 includes wireless communication
system 310, base station (BS) 312, wireless device 320, and user
device 330. Wireless device 320 and user device 330 communicate
over wireless link 350. In this example, wireless link 350 could
comprise an IEEE 802.11 WLAN, such as a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi)
network. Although FIG. 3 shows an individual link 350 to user
device 330, it should be understood that this link is merely
representative of WLAN communications between user device 330 and
wireless device 320. Also, FIG. 3 shows only a single user device
330. However, it should be understood that more than one user
device could be included. Wireless device 320 and base station 312
communicate over wireless link 340. In this example, wireless link
340 comprises a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) link for exchanging
user communications associated with user device 330, and could also
include single-carrier radio transmission technology link (1xRTT)
portions for exchanging overhead communications over wireless link
340.
[0018] In FIG. 3, wireless device 320 includes local transceiver
322, processor 324, and cellular transceiver 326. Wireless device
320 may include a database, operating system, logs, utilities,
drivers, and networking software portions. In one example, wireless
device 320 is a cellular phone. Cellular transceiver 326
communicates over a cellular communication link, such as with base
station 312 of wireless communication system 310. Cellular
transceiver 326 receives WWAN communication signals 340 into the
wireless device 320. Processor 324 determines characteristics of
the WWAN, including signal strength, data rate, and battery status
of wireless device 320. Local transceiver 322 provides the WLAN
associated with wireless link 350 to user devices, such as user
device 330. Local transceiver 322 includes network transceiver,
routing, and gateway equipment for exchanging communications over a
WLAN and routing the WLAN communications over wireless link
350.
[0019] User device 330 includes user interface 332 and WLAN
transceiver 334. In this example, user device 330 comprises a
computing device and could comprise a computer, wireless
smartphone, gaming device, or other user equipment capable of
communicating over a WLAN. User device 330 receives WLAN signals
that include beacon packets through WLAN transceiver 334. User
device 330 may include software that can be executed to process the
beacon packets and graphically display WWAN characteristics on user
interface 332. User interface 332 could include a screen,
touchscreen, keyboard, indicator lights, among other user interface
equipment.
[0020] Base station 312 comprises RF communication and control
circuitry, antenna elements, and communication routing equipment
and systems. The RF communication circuitry typically includes
amplifiers, filters, RF modulators, transceivers, and signal
processing circuitry. Base station 312 also includes equipment to
communicate with wireless communication devices, such as wireless
device 320, over wireless link 340. Base station 312 may route
communications between wireless communication system 310 and
wireless communication devices such as wireless device 320, receive
registration requests from wireless communication devices to
establish wireless links, or provide network information, handoff
information, or configuration information to wireless communication
devices, among other operations.
[0021] Wireless communication system 310 includes equipment,
including base station 312, to provide wireless access to
communication services within different geographic coverage areas
to wireless communication devices and route communications of the
communication services to and from wireless communication devices
through base stations. Wireless communication system 310 may also
comprise further base stations, base transceiver stations (BTS),
base station controllers (BSC), mobile switching centers (MSC),
radio node controllers (RNC), call processing systems,
authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) equipment,
access service network gateways (ASN-GW), packet data switching
nodes (PDSN), home agents (HA), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
support nodes, Internet access nodes, telephony service nodes,
wireless data access points, or other wireless communication
equipment.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method of
operation of communication system 300. In FIG. 4, local transceiver
322 provides a WLAN to communication devices capable of receiving
WLAN communications, which includes a WLAN beacon signal in this
example. In this example, wireless link 350 represents a WLAN link.
The WLAN beacon signal includes packets identifying the WLAN, among
other information. When an operator of user device 330, such as
user 360, powers on user device 330, user device 330 receives the
WLAN communications, including the WLAN beacon signal, into user
device 330 through WLAN transceiver 334. Local transceiver 322 also
can exchange the WWAN communications, or a portion thereof, in WLAN
communications over WLAN link 350 to communication devices capable
of receiving WLAN communications. In FIG. 4, the WLAN
communications and the WWAN communications could be transferred
throughout the operations of FIG. 4, such as when other user
devices are communicating over the WLAN.
[0023] User 360 may request a WLAN registration request with
wireless device 320 over wireless link 350. Local transceiver 322
receives the WLAN registration request. After receiving the WLAN
registration request, local transceiver 322 transfers the request
to processor 324. Processor 324 processes the WLAN registration
request and registers user device 330. In response to the WLAN
registration request, processor 324 may also send a request to user
device 330 through local transceiver 322 over WLAN link 350
requesting that user device 330 download (D/L) software. User
device 330 receives the software download request through WLAN
transceiver 334. The request is processed and may be displayed on
user interface 332 for user 360 to view. In this example, user 360
accepts the software download on user device 330. The message
indicating user 360 accepts the software download is transferred
from WLAN transceiver 334 over the WLAN link 350, received into
local transceiver 322, and transferred to the processor 324. In
response to the indication of acceptance, processor 324 formats a
message including the software and addressing information, and
transfers the message to local transceiver 322. Local transceiver
322 transfers the message to user device 330 over WLAN link 350,
and the message is received into WLAN transceiver 334. Upon receipt
of the message, user device 330 processes the message and installs
the software on user device 330.
[0024] During and after the software transfer, cellular transceiver
326 receives WWAN communications over WWAN link 340. The signals
are transferred to processor 324. Processor 324 is configured to
determine characteristic information associated with the WWAN or
wireless device 320 for delivery to user device 330. In one
example, processor 324 could derive wireless device 320 battery
status from battery and associated power circuitry in wireless
device 320, such as when wireless device 320 is a portable device.
Wireless device 320 could also include radio-frequency signal
strength determining circuitry or other functionality or circuitry
from which processor 324 could derive WWAN characteristics or other
characteristics of the communications associated with WWAN link 340
or equipment status of portions of wireless device 320.
[0025] Processor 324 is configured to determine and process the
characteristic information and format the characteristic
information into characteristic indicators. The processor 324
formats the characteristic indicators in an appropriate format for
transfer to user devices on the WLAN, such as in a packet format,
IP packet format, transmission control protocol (TCP) packet
format, Ethernet data format, web page, javascript format, or
hypertext markup language (HTML) format, among other formats. In an
example, the processor 324 inserts the characteristic indicators
into headers of the beacon signal packets of the WLAN. In a further
example, processor 324 can determine WLAN characteristics to be
formatted for delivery to user device 330 in a beacon signal
packet.
[0026] Once formatted, processor 324 transfers the beacon signal
packets to local transceiver 322. Local transceiver 322 transfers
the beacon packets comprising the characteristic indicators over
WLAN link 340. The beacon packet signals may comprise media access
control (MAC) layer packets, user datagram protocol (UDP) packets,
among other packet formats. User device 330 receives the WLAN
communications, including the beacon packets, into WLAN transceiver
334. In response to receiving the packets, WLAN transceiver 334
transfers the packets to the software portion of user device 330
that was previously downloaded over WLAN link 340. The software
processes the beacon signal packet headers and graphically displays
the characteristic information on user interface 334 of user device
330. The displayed characteristic information provides information
to user 360 about the status of the WWAN or wireless device 320,
including a low battery of wireless device 320. The software may
also determine and process WLAN characteristics, such as WLAN
signal strength. In this example, user device 330 may be capable of
graphically displaying both the WLAN signal strength and the WWAN
signal strength on the same display or graphical user interface
elements on user interface 334.
[0027] Base station 312 exchanges WWAN communications over wireless
link 340. In this example, wireless link 340 represents a WWAN link
for exchanging WWAN communications. The WWAN communications are
received into cellular transceiver 326 of wireless device 320.
Cellular transceiver 326 transfers the WWAN communications, or
associated data, to processor 324 for processing. Processor 324
transfers the WWAN communications, or a portion thereof, for
delivery to local transceiver 322. The WWAN communications, as
processed and transferred by processor 324, are received into local
transceiver 322. Local transceiver 322 also can exchange the WWAN
communications, or a portion thereof, in WLAN communications over
WLAN link 350 to communication devices capable of receiving WLAN
communications. The WLAN communications and the WWAN communications
could be transferred throughout the operations of FIG. 4, such as
when other user devices are communicating over the WLAN.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a beacon packet 500.
In FIG. 5, the beacon packet is representative of an 802.11 beacon
packet. It should be understood that beacon packet 500 could be
structured in various ways, and be of a different type of packet
than an 802.11 beacon packet. In this example, beacon packet 500
includes header 510 and payload 530. Header 510 includes source
address 512, destination address 514, packet number information
516, WWAN signal strength 518, battery power 520, and WWAN data
rate 522. In this example, the available bytes are distributed
among the source address, destination address, packet ordering
information, WWAN signal strength, battery power, WWAN data rate.
In another example, WWAN characteristic indicator data could be
reported less often, freeing up space in the beacon packet header
to allow other characteristics to be reported. For example, battery
power, WWAN signal strength, and WWAN data rate could use the same
field and change at set intervals. Payload 530 may include
timestamp, beacon interval, capability information, service set
identifiers (SSID), supported rates, parameter sets, and traffic
indication map (TIM).
[0029] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating wireless device 600,
as an example of wireless device 120 found in FIG. 1 or wireless
device 320 found in FIG. 3, although wireless devices 120 and 320
could use other configurations. Wireless device 600 includes wide
area network interface 610, local area network interface 612, user
interface 614, processing system 620, and power system 616. Wide
area network interface 610, local area network interface 612, user
interface 614, processing system 620, and power system 616 each
communicate over bus 660. Wireless device 600 may be distributed
among multiple devices that together form the various illustrated
elements of wireless device 600.
[0030] Wide area network interface 610 comprises communication
equipment for communicating over link 662, such as transferring
content requests, receiving content, routing packet communications,
communicating over a packet network, and communicating with a
wireless communication system, among other equipment. In some
examples, wide area network interface 610 comprises a wireless
communication device, such as a cellular data communication device,
and includes RF communication and control circuitry, and antenna
elements. Wide area network interface 610 also receives command and
control information and instructions from processing system 620
over bus 660. Link 662 could use various protocols or communication
formats as described herein for WWAN links 141 or 340, including
combinations, variations, or improvements thereof.
[0031] Local area network interface 612 comprises RF communication
and control circuitry, antenna elements, and communication routing
equipment and systems. The RF communication circuitry typically
includes amplifiers, filters, RF modulators, transceivers, and
signal processing circuitry. In many examples, local area network
interface 612 includes circuitry and equipment to provide a
wireless local area network to user devices, route user
communications between network interface 610 and user devices over
wireless link 663 and bus 660, transfer software to user devices,
and send signals that include characteristic indicators, among
other operations. Wireless link 663 could use various protocols or
communication formats as described herein for WLAN links 140 or
350, including combinations, variations, or improvements
thereof.
[0032] User interface 614 comprises an interface for a user or
operator of wireless device 600 to transfer messages for delivery
to user devices associated with wireless device 600. In some
examples, user interface 614 is incorporated into the elements of
local area network interface 612, wide area network interface 610,
or processing system 620, and is configured to allow a user device
communicating over wireless link 662 to transfer a message for
delivery to other user devices. In an example, user interface 614
includes a user interface system, such as a display, human input
device, or other user interface to allow a user or operator of
wireless device 600 to enter a message for delivery to user devices
associated with wireless link 663. In further examples, user
interface 614 provides a software or web-based user interface over
link 664. A combination of software and human interface device
interfaces could comprise user interface 614. Link 664 could be
incorporated into wireless link 662 or wireless link 663 in some
examples, or comprise a portion of wireless link 662 or wireless
link 663. Link 664 could use various protocols or communication
formats as described herein for links 140-141 or 340 or 350,
including combinations, variations, or improvements thereof.
[0033] Processing system 620 includes storage system 622.
Processing system 620 retrieves and executes software 630 from
storage system 622. In some examples, processing system 620 is
located within the same equipment in which wide area network
interface 610, local area network interface 612, user interface 614
or power system 616 are located. In further examples, processing
system 620 comprises specialized circuitry, and software 630 or
storage system 622 could be included in the specialized circuitry
to operate processing system 620 as described herein. Storage
system 622 could include a non-transitory computer-readable medium
such as a disk, tape, integrated circuit, server, or some other
memory device, and also may be distributed among multiple memory
devices.
[0034] Software 630 may include an operating system, logs,
utilities, drivers, networking software, and other software
typically loaded onto a computer system. Software 630 could contain
application programs, web server software, firmware, or some other
form of computer-readable processing instructions. When executed by
processing system 620, software 630 directs processing system 620
to operate as described herein, such as establish and control a
WLAN, control the various interfaces of wireless device 600,
determine device status of wireless device 600 including battery
status, determine WWAN characteristics, determine messages for
delivery to user devices such as software downloads, among other
operations.
[0035] In this example, software 630 includes message module 632.
It should be understood that a different configuration could be
employed, and individual modules of software 630 could be included
in different equipment than wireless device 600. Message module 630
determines messages, such as software downloads, for delivery to
user devices associated with wireless device 600. In some examples,
message module 632 monitors device status or equipment status for
wireless device 600 and determines messages for user devices based
on the device or equipment status. In an example, message module
632 could determine and process status of power system 616, such as
a battery level status, and determine a message based on the
battery level status. In another example, message module 632 could
determine other WWAN characteristics such as data rate by
monitoring traffic throughput. In a further example, message module
could determine WWAN signal strength. Message module 632 could
convert the WWAN characteristics into numbers representing the
characteristic that can be interpreted by a user device and
graphically represented. In an example, a characteristic indicator
of the WWAN signal strength may include a number from 1 to 8, with
8 indicating that the WWAN signal strength is high. Message module
may also determine and process WLAN characteristics such as signal
strength. Message module 632 formats the messages for delivery to
user devices, such as packetizing, determining addresses for
packets associated with the messages, or determining web page
content to present the messages to user devices. In an example,
message module 632 formats characteristic information into
characteristic indicators and inserts the characteristic indicators
into beacon signal packet headers. The characteristic indicators
may be reported in the beacon signal packet headers at different
intervals. In an example, signal strength could be an element
included in every beacon signal packet header, or signal strength
could be sampled after set intervals and included in the header
after the sampling. In a further example, message module 632 could
process and determine the WWAN characteristics and report an
average of each characteristic at the scheduled time or frame.
[0036] As an alternative to inserting characteristic indicators
into beacon signal headers, message module 632 could change the
calculations used to fill in information contained in existing or
standardized beacon packet elements such as the Supported Rates
element, and insert the characteristic information into the
existing beacon packet elements based on the changed calculations.
The changed calculations could be determined so as to encode the
characteristic information in the existing beacon packet elements,
where a user device receiving the encoded characteristic
information could decode the encoded characteristic information for
subsequent interpretation and display to a user of the user
device.
[0037] Message module 632 also responds to user device requests
such as user WLAN registration requests. In response to
registration requests, message module transfers a message through
the local area network interface 612 to a user device requesting
that the user download software to the user device. In response to
a user accepting the software download, message module 632
identifies and locates the software to be transferred to the user
device and formats a message comprising the software to be
delivered to the user device through the local area network
interface 612. In some examples, the software to be transferred to
the user device is stored in storage system 622. In other examples,
the software to be transferred to the user device is received over
one of links 662-664.
[0038] Power system 616 includes circuitry and a power source to
provide power to the elements of wireless device 600. The power
source could include a battery, solar cell, spring, flywheel,
capacitor, thermoelectric generator, chemical power source, dynamo,
or other power source. In some examples, power system 616 receives
power from an external source, such as a wall outlet. Power system
616 also includes circuitry to condition, monitor, and distribute
electrical power to the elements of wireless device 600.
[0039] Bus 660 comprises a physical, logical, or virtual
communication link, capable of communicating data, control signals,
power, and communications, along with other information. In some
examples, bus 660 is encapsulated within the elements of wide area
network interface 610, local area network interface 612, user
interface 614, processing system 620, or power system 616, and may
be a software or logical link, apart from the associated power
elements. In other examples, bus 660 includes various communication
media, such as air, space, metal, optical fiber, or some other
signal propagation path, including combinations thereof. Bus 660
could be a direct link or might include various equipment,
intermediate components, systems, and networks.
[0040] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating user device 700, as
an example of user device 130 found in FIG. 1 or user device 330
found in FIG. 3, although user devices 130 and 330 could use other
configurations. User device 700 includes user interface 710, WLAN
interface 712, processing system 720, and power system 740. User
interface 710, WLAN interface 712, processing system 720, and power
system 740 communication over bus 752. User device 700 may be
distributed among multiple devices that together form the various
illustrated elements of user device 700.
[0041] User interface 710 comprises an interface for a user or
operator of user device 700 to control the operations of user
device 700. In some examples, user device 700 is incorporated into
the elements of WLAN interface 712 or processing system 720 and is
configured to communicate over wireless link 750. In other
examples, user interface 710 includes a user interface system, such
as a display, human input device, keyboard, touchscreen, or other
user interface elements. In further examples, user interface 710
provides a software or web-based user interface over link 750. A
combination of software and human interface device interfaces could
comprise user interface 710. Link 750 could be incorporated into
wireless link 751 in some examples, or comprise a portion of
wireless link 751. Link 750 could use various protocols or
communication formats as described herein for links 140 or 350,
including combinations, variations, or improvements thereof.
[0042] WLAN interface 712 comprises RF communication and control
circuitry, antenna elements, and communication routing equipment
and systems. The RF communication circuitry typically includes
amplifiers, filters, RF modulators, transceivers, and signal
processing circuitry. In many examples, WLAN interface 712 includes
circuitry and equipment to exchange communications with over
wireless link 751 and bus 752, transfer requests for WLAN
registration, and receive WLAN communications, some of which may
include characteristic indicators, among other operations. Wireless
link 751 could use various protocols or communication formats as
described herein for links 140 or 350, including combinations,
variations, or improvements thereof.
[0043] Processing system 720 includes storage system 722.
Processing system 720 retrieves and executes software 730 from
storage system 722. In some examples, processing system 720 is
located within the same equipment in which user interface 710, WLAN
interface 712, or power system 740 are located. In further
examples, processing system 720 comprises specialized circuitry,
and software 730 or storage system 722 could be included in the
specialized circuitry to operate processing system 720 as described
herein. Storage system 722 could include a non-transitory
computer-readable medium such as a disk, tape, integrated circuit,
server, or some other memory device, and also may be distributed
among multiple memory devices.
[0044] Software 730 may include an operating system, logs,
utilities, drivers, networking software, and other software
typically loaded onto a computer system. Software 730 could contain
application programs, web server software, firmware, or some other
form of computer-readable processing instructions. When executed by
processing system 720, software 730 directs processing system 720
to operate as described herein, such as to control the processes of
user device 700, or process and display characteristic indicators,
among other operations.
[0045] In this example, software 730 includes content module 732
and message module 734. It should be understood that a different
configuration could be employed, and individual modules of software
730 could be included in different equipment than user device 700.
Message module 734 processes messages received by WLAN interface
712. In an example, message module may process requests received
into the WLAN transceiver from a wireless transceiver over wireless
link 751 to download software. In a further example, message module
734 may instruct processing system 620 to install the software
after downloading the software. Message module 734 may also
determine messages for deliver to wireless interfaces associated
with WLAN. Message module 734 formats messages, such as
registration requests, to be transferred through WLAN interface
712. Content module 732 may include software downloaded and
installed by message module 734. Content module 732 processes
beacon signal packets with characteristic indicators in the
headers, or other information, such as encoded information, to
determine the associated characteristic information. Content module
732 may graphically display the characteristic information on user
interface 710.
[0046] Content module 732 may also be configured to process WLAN
characteristics such as signal strength that may be included in the
beacon signal packet received by the WLAN transceiver. Content
module 732 may graphically display WLAN signal strength and WWAN
signal strength on the same display, such as in a graphical user
interface. In an example, content module 732 may use a single
composite icon to show WLAN signal strength modified to account for
WWAN signal strength. In an example, an icon can include 4 separate
bars, stacked vertically. Horizontal coloring of the bars could
indicate WLAN signal strength. For example is 4 bars are shaded,
that indicates high WLAN throughput. Vertical stripes through the
bars could indicate WWAN signal strength. For example, if only one
bar has a vertical stripe, WWAN throughput is low. It should be
understood that other graphical representation of signal strength
or other characteristic information could be employed.
[0047] Power system 740 includes circuitry and a power source to
provide power to the elements of user device 700. The power source
could include a battery, solar cell, spring, flywheel, capacitor,
thermoelectric generator, chemical power source, dynamo, or other
power source. In some examples, power system 740 receives power
from an external source, such as a wall outlet. Power system 740
also includes circuitry to condition, monitor, and distribute
electrical power to the elements of user device 700.
[0048] Bus 752 comprises a physical, logical, or virtual
communication link, capable of communicating data, control signals,
power, and communications, along with other information. In some
examples, bus 752 is encapsulated within the elements of user
interface 710, WLAN interface 712, processing system 720, or power
system 740, and may be a software or logical link, apart from the
associated power elements. In other examples, bus 752 includes
various communication media, such as air, space, metal, optical
fiber, or some other signal propagation path, including
combinations thereof. Bus 740 could be a direct link or might
include various equipment, intermediate components, systems, and
networks.
[0049] Referring back to FIG. 1, user device 130 comprises radio
frequency (RF) communication circuitry and antenna elements. The RF
communication circuitry typically includes amplifiers, filters,
modulators, and signal processing circuitry. In many examples, user
device 130 includes circuitry and equipment to exchange
communications of wireless communication services over a wireless
link, request content, and exchange control information for
wireless access, among other operations. User device 130 may also
include user interface systems, memory devices, non-transient
computer-readable storage mediums, software, processing circuitry,
or other communication components. User device 130 may be a
wireless communication device, computer, subscriber equipment,
customer equipment, access terminal, smartphone, mobile wireless
telephone, e-book, mobile Internet appliance, wireless network
interface card, media player, game console, or some other wireless
communication apparatus, including combinations thereof.
[0050] Wireless device 120 comprises RF communication and control
circuitry, antenna elements, and communication routing equipment
and systems. The RF communication circuitry typically includes
amplifiers, filters, RF modulators, transceivers, and signal
processing circuitry. In many examples, wireless device 120
includes circuitry and equipment to provide a wireless local area
network to user devices, route user communications between wireless
communication system 110 and user devices such as user device 130,
transfer messages such as WWAN characteristic indicators to user
devices, and transfer software to user devices, among other
operations. Wireless device 120 may also comprise a wireless
hotspot, a wireless router, data buffers, data modems, packet
routers, servers, memory devices, software, processing systems,
cabling, network communication interfaces, physical structural
supports, user interfaces, or other communication apparatuses.
Wireless device 120 may also comprise transceiver equipment to
communicate over a cellular communication link, such as with a base
station of a cellular communication system. Wireless device 120 may
also include processing systems, computer-readable media,
application programs, firmware, or some other form of non-transient
computer-readable processing instructions. The non-transient
computer-readable media may include a disk, tape, integrated
circuit, server, or some other memory device, and also may be
distributed among multiple memory devices.
[0051] Wireless communication system 110 includes cellular
networks, cellular data networks, packet network systems,
communication links, routers, gateways, and other associated
equipment for routing packet communications, such as Internet
protocol (IP) packets, between different endpoints. Additional
systems and equipment could communicate through wireless
communication system 110, such as content providers, application
service providers, web content providers, streaming media
providers, voice over packet providers, among other communication
service providers and content providers. Packet communications
transferred by the various endpoints are transferred by wireless
communication system 110 for delivery to destinations associated
with the packets. Wireless communication system 110 could also
include base stations, base station controllers (BSC), mobile
switching centers (MSC), radio node controllers (RNC), call
processing systems, authentication, authorization and accounting
(AAA) equipment, access service network gateways (ASN-GW), Internet
access nodes, telephony service nodes, wireless data access points,
or other communication systems, including combinations thereof.
Wireless communication system 110 may also comprise optical
networks, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks, packet
networks, metropolitan-area networks (MAN), Internet systems, or
other network topologies, equipment, or systems, including
combinations thereof.
[0052] WLAN communication signals 140 and WWAN communication
signals 141 may be transported using the air or space as the
transport media. The transport of WLAN communication signals 140
may use various protocols, such as IEEE 802.11, Wireless Fidelity
(Wi-Fi), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX),
Internet Protocol (IP), wireless Ethernet, Bluetooth, or some other
wireless local area network format, including combinations,
improvements, or variations thereof.
[0053] The transport of WWAN communications signals 141 may use
various communication protocols such as Internet Protocol (IP),
Ethernet, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Code Division
Multiple Access (CDMA), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO),
single-carrier radio transmission technology link (1xRTT),
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Global
System for Mobile Communication (GSM), Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), High
Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Radio Link Protocol (RLP), Time
Division Multiplex (TDM), or some other communication format,
including combinations, improvements, or variations thereof.
[0054] The communications exchanged between wireless device 120 and
user device 130 and communications exchanged between wireless
communication system 110 and wireless device 120 may each include
many different signals sharing the same link, such as access
channels, paging channels, notification channels, forward links,
reverse links, user communications, communication sessions,
overhead communications, frequencies, other channels, carriers,
timeslots, spreading codes, transportation ports, logical
transportation links, network sockets, packets, or communication
directions.
[0055] FIGS. 1-7 and the previous descriptions depict specific
embodiments to teach those skilled in the art how to make and use
the best mode. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles,
some conventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those
skilled in the art will appreciate variations from these
embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention. Those
skilled in the art will also appreciate that the features described
above can be combined in various ways to form multiple embodiments.
As a result, the invention is not limited to the specific
embodiments described above, but only by the claims and their
equivalents.
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