KR100931902B1 - Wireless terminal making connection determination based on the movement state - Google Patents

Abstract

A wireless terminal for making a connection determination based on a moving state is disclosed. The new approach operates to associate and connect with one or more types of WAPs (wireless access points) (including, for example, wireless local area network access points, WiMAX access points, or cellular access points). The communication device is provided by being designed to properly connect to any WAP based on the movement state of the communication device. For example, if a communication device is being utilized by a user in a fast moving vehicle, its service area is so limited that it operates to provide a wider service range than a WAP that will soon be out of service. It would be more desirable to be associated with the WAP. In contrast, when a user is walking or relatively stationary, it may be sufficient to associate with a WAP having a relatively much smaller service area.

Description

A wireless terminal that makes a connection determination based on a mobile state {WIRELESS TERMINAL MAKING ATTACHMENT DECISIONS BASED UPON MOBILITY}

The present invention relates generally to communication networks. More specifically, the present invention relates to a selective connection between a wireless terminal in such communication networks and a WAP selected from a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs).

Communication systems support wireless to wired communication between wireless or wired communication devices. Such communication systems range from domestic or international cellular telephony systems to the Internet or point-to-point in-home wireless networks. Each type of communication system is built and operated in accordance with one or more communication standards. For example, wireless communication systems include IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), and local multi-point (LMDS). may operate in compliance with one or more standards, including distribution systems), multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS) or the respective variants, and such standards are not limited to the above examples.

Depending on the type of wireless communication system, wireless communication devices, such as cellular telephones, two-way radios, personal digital assistants (PDAs), personal computers (PCs), Laptop computers, home entertainment devices, and the like communicate with other wireless communication devices directly or indirectly. In the case of direct communication (also known as point-to-point communications), the wireless communication devices participating in the communication may have their own receivers and transmitters on the same channel or on the same channel (i.e., Tuning to one of the radio frequency (RF) carriers and communicating over its channel (s). In the case of indirect wireless communication, each wireless communication device is associated with a base station (for cellular related services) associated with it through an assigned channel, or an associated access point (for a home or indoor wireless network). Communicate directly. In order to complete a communication connection between such wireless communication devices, the associated base stations or associated access points can communicate with each other, through a system controller, through a public switched telephone network (PSTN), Communicate directly via the Internet or through other wide area networks.

For each wireless communication device participating in wireless communication, it may include a built-in radio transceiver (ie, a receiver and a transmitter), or an associated wireless transceiver (eg, home to indoor radio). A base station for a communication network or an RF modem). As is known, the receiver is coupled to an antenna and includes a low noise amplifier (LNA), one or more intermediate frequency stages, a filtering stage and a data recovery stage. do. The low noise amplifier receives inbound RF signals via an antenna and amplifies them. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix the amplified RF signals with one or more local oscillating signals to convert the amplified RF signals into baseband signals or intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The filtering stage filters the baseband signals or the IF signals to attenuate unwanted out of band signals and generate filtered signals. The data recovery stage recovers raw data from the filtered signals in accordance with the particular wireless communication standard.

As is known, the transmitter comprises a data modulation stage, one or more intermediate frequency stages and a power amplifier. The data modulation stage converts raw data into baseband signals in compliance with certain wireless communication standards. One or more of the intermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signal with one or more local oscillation signals to generate RF signals. The power amplifier amplifies the RF signals prior to transmitting through the antenna.

In many systems, the transmitter includes one antenna for transmitting RF signals, which are received by a single antenna or a plurality of antennas at the receiver. If the receiver comprises two or more antennas, the receiver may select one of them to receive the applied RF signals. In this example, the wireless communication between the transmitter and the receiver is called single-output-single-input (SISO) communication, even if the receiver is to receive diversity antennas (ie, RF signals that are applied). This case also includes a plurality of antennas utilized as a configuration for selecting one of the plurality of antennas. In SISO wireless communications, a transceiver includes one transmitter and one receiver. Currently, most IEEE 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b or 802.11g wireless local area networks (WLANs) employ the SISO wireless communication scheme.

Other forms of wireless communication include single-input-multiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input-single-output (MISO), and multiple input-multiple outputs. (multiple-input-multiple-output, MIMO). In SIMO wireless communications, a single transmitter processes the data to generate a radio frequency to be transmitted to the receiver. The receiver includes two or more antennas and two or more receiver paths. Each of the antennas receives RF signals and provides them to corresponding receiver paths (eg, paths including LNAs, down conversion modules, filters and analog to digital converters (ADCs)). Each of the receiver paths processes the received RF signals to produce digital signals, which are then synthesized and processed to recover the transmission data.

For multiple input-to-output (MISO) wireless communications, the transmitter comprises two or more transmission paths (e.g., a path consisting of digital analog converters, filters, up-conversion modules and power amplifiers) Each transmission path converts corresponding baseband signals into RF signals, and the RF signals are transmitted to the receiver via corresponding antennas. The receiver has a single receiver path to receive multiple RF signals from the transmitter. In this example, the receiver uses a beamforming technique that combines the plurality of RF signals into one signal for signal processing.

In the case of a multiple input-multi-output (MIMO) wireless communication scheme, the transmitter and receiver each comprise a plurality of paths. In such communication, the transmitter uses the spatial and time encoding function to parallelize the data to produce two or more data streams. The transmitter converts each stream of data into a plurality of RF signals including a plurality of transmitter paths. The receiver receives the plurality of RF signals through a plurality of receiver paths, and the plurality of receiver paths recapture a stream of data using a spatial and time decoding function. The streams of recovered data are combined and processed sequentially to recover the original data.

Generally speaking, some communication devices may be implemented to connect to a communication network through any of a number of connectable wireless access points (WAPs). One of several possible problems that may arise in such communication systems may be that the communication device is mobile. For example, when a user is using a communication device, the user may sometimes not move, and sometimes may move slowly, sometimes moving quickly. Depending on the communication device or the mobile state of the user carrying such communication device, some of the WAPs may be less than ideal for secure connection. As a possible example, a communication device may be carried by a user aboard a vehicle traveling at a relatively high speed (e.g., a car, train, or bus), the communication device being serviced to a particular area. A WAP with a relatively limited area can be detected and undesirably attempted to access it. If the communication device connects to such a WAP, then the user and the communication device later move out of the WAP's service area, the communication will be disrupted or greatly disrupted in performance.

Other limitations and shortcomings according to existing traditional approaches will become apparent to those skilled in the art through comparison of conventional systems with some aspects of the invention described with reference to the figures in the remainder of this application. will be.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for performing the operation described in more detail through a brief description of the drawings, a detailed description of the invention and claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless terminal belonging to a packet switched communication network including a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs), the wireless terminal comprising:

A radio detecting the plurality of WAPs and connecting to a communication network via at least one WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs,

When the rate of change of the position of the wireless terminal relative to a first WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs is lower than a threshold, the wireless device connects to the communication network via the first WAP,

When the rate of change of the position of the wireless terminal relative to the first WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs is higher than a threshold, the wireless device connects to the communication network via a second WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs.

Preferably, one WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs is a wireless local area network access point compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard or a WiMAX access point compliant with the IEEE 802.16 standard.

Preferably, the threshold is a first threshold,

When the rate of change of the position of the wireless terminal relative to the first WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs is lower than the first threshold and the distance between the wireless terminal and the first WAP is smaller than a second threshold, The wireless device connects to the communication network via the first WAP.

Preferably, the threshold is a first threshold,

The wireless device determines a corresponding signal strength upon signal transmission or signal reception over each communication link between the wireless device and each WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs,

The plurality of WAPs includes a plurality of WAPs and accessible WAPs,

If the signal strength of the communication link between the wireless device and any corresponding WAP is lower than a second threshold, the corresponding WAP will belong to the plurality of inaccessible WAPs,

If the signal strength of the communication link between the wireless device and any corresponding WAP is greater than or equal to a second threshold, the corresponding WAP will belong to the plurality of accessible WAPs,

Among the plurality of unconnectable WAPs and the plurality of connectable WAPs, the wireless device is implemented to connect to the communication network only through a plurality of connectable WAPs.

Advantageously, the rate of change of the position of said wireless terminal relative to said first WAP belonging to said plurality of WAPs is speed or acceleration.

Preferably, the wireless device automatically connects to the communication network via one WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs.

Preferably, the wireless terminal,

Further comprising a user interface for providing information to the user and receiving input,

The wireless terminal displays a connection approval request to the user through the user interface,

The wireless device connects to the communication network via the WAP as long as the user belongs to the plurality of WAPs when the user authenticates the access authorization request through the user interface.

Preferably,

The threshold is a first threshold,

The wireless device sends a first packet to the first WAP,

The first WAP sends a second packet to the wireless device,

Based on the first packet and the second packet, the wireless device determines a communication link quality between the wireless device and the first WAP,

If the communication link quality is greater than or equal to a second threshold, the wireless device accesses the communication network via the first WAP,

If the communication link quality is lower than a second threshold, the wireless device connects to the communication network via the second WAP or another WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs.

Preferably,

The threshold is a first threshold,

The wireless device sends a corresponding first packet to each WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs,

Each WAP sends a corresponding second packet to the wireless device,

Based on each of the corresponding first packets and each of the corresponding second packets, the wireless device corresponds to a plurality of communication links corresponding to the plurality of communication links between the wireless device and each WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs. Determine communication link qualities of

The plurality of WAPs includes a plurality of non-accessible WAPs and a plurality of accessible WAPs,

WAPs with communication link quality whose corresponding communication link is greater than or equal to a second threshold are included in the plurality of connectable WAPs,

WAPs having a communication link quality whose corresponding communication link is lower than a second threshold are included in the plurality of unreachable WAPs,

Of the plurality of unreachable WAPs and the plurality of connectable WAPs, the wireless device connects to the communication network only through the plurality of connectable WAPs.

Preferably,

The plurality of WAPs includes a plurality of non-accessible WAPs and a plurality of accessible WAPs,

Based on the connection history between the wireless device and the plurality of WAPs, WAPs that the wireless device has previously connected to are included in the plurality of connectable WAPs,

Based on the connection history between the wireless device and the plurality of WAPs, WAPs to which the wireless device has not previously connected are included in the plurality of unreachable WAPs,

Of the plurality of unreachable WAPs and the plurality of connectable WAPs, the wireless device connects to the communication network only through the plurality of connectable WAPs.

Preferably, the wireless terminal is

Further comprising a user interface for providing information to the user and receiving input,

The plurality of WAPs includes a plurality of non-accessible WAPs and a plurality of accessible WAPs,

Based on the connection history between the wireless device and the plurality of WAPs, WAPs that the wireless device has previously connected to are included in the plurality of connectable WAPs,

Based on the connection history between the wireless device and the plurality of WAPs, WAPs to which the wireless device has not previously connected are included in the plurality of unreachable WAPs,

Of the plurality of inaccessible WAPs and the plurality of accessible WAPs, only the plurality of accessible WAPs are presented to the user via the user interface, and the wireless device is configured to provide the user with the plurality of accessible WAPs only. It is implemented to connect to a communication network.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless terminal belonging to a packet switched communication network including a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs), the wireless terminal comprising:

A wireless device detecting the plurality of WAPs and connecting to a communication network via at least one WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs,

Based on a first moving state of the wireless terminal for a first WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs and a second moving state of the wireless terminal for a second WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs, Selectively connect to the communication network via either the first WAP or the second WAP.

Preferably, one WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs is a wireless local area network access point compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard or a WiMAX access point compliant with the IEEE 802.16 standard.

Preferably,

The first moving state is a first speed of the wireless terminal for the first WAP, or a first acceleration of the wireless terminal for the first WAP,

The second moving state is a second speed of the wireless terminal for the second WAP or a second acceleration of the wireless terminal for the second WAP.

Preferably,

The wireless device,

Determine a first distance between the wireless terminal and the first WAP,

Determine a second distance between the wireless terminal and the second WAP,

Based on the first moving state, the second moving state, the first distance, and the second distance, the wireless device selectively connects to the communication network via either the first WAP or the second WAP. Connect.

Preferably,

The wireless device,

Determine a first communication link quality of a first communication link between the wireless terminal and the first WAP,

Determine a second communication link quality of a second communication link between the wireless terminal and the second WAP,

Based on the first moving state, the second moving state, the first communication link quality, and the second communication link quality, the wireless device may selectively via either the first WAP or the second WAP. Connect to the communication network.

Preferably, the wireless terminal is

Further comprising a user interface for providing information to the user and receiving input,

The wireless terminal displays a connection approval request to the user through the user interface,

The wireless device connects to the communication network via the WAP as long as the user belongs to the plurality of WAPs when the user authenticates the access authorization request through the user interface.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation method performed by a wireless terminal belonging to a packet switched communication network including a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs).

Detecting the plurality of WAPs;

Determining a first movement state of the wireless terminal for a first WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs;

Determining a second movement state of the wireless terminal for a second WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs; And

Selectively connecting to the communication network via either the first WAP or the second WAP based on the first and second mobile states.

Preferably,

One WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs is a wireless local area network access point compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard or a WiMAX access point compliant with the IEEE 802.16 standard.

Preferably,

The first moving state is a first speed of the wireless terminal for the first WAP, or a first acceleration of the wireless terminal for the first WAP,

The second moving state is a second speed of the wireless terminal for the second WAP or a second acceleration of the wireless terminal for the second WAP.

Preferably, the operation method,

Determining a first distance between the wireless terminal and the first WAP;

Determining a second distance between the wireless terminal and the second WAP; And

Selectively connecting to the communication network via either the first WAP or the second WAP based on the first moving state, the second moving state, the first distance, and the second distance. It includes more.

Preferably, the operation method,

Determining a first communication link quality of a first communication link between the wireless terminal and the first WAP;

Determining a second communication link quality of a second communication link between the wireless terminal and the second WAP; And

Selectively via either one of the first WAP or the second WAP based on the first moving state, the second moving state, the first communication link quality and the second communication link quality. The method further includes the step of connecting.

Preferably, the method of operation

Displaying an access approval request to the user through the user interface; And

If the user authenticates to the access authorization request via the user interface, accessing the communication network via the WAP as long as belonging to the plurality of WAPs.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description and drawings, together with the details of the embodiments illustrated in this regard. .

The wireless terminal selects an appropriate WAP capable of establishing a connection path to the desired communication network based on the mobile state. Furthermore, in addition to the simple mobile state of the wireless terminal, additional considerations may also be used in determining which WAP should be connected to allow the wireless terminal to access the communication network. Some of these considerations include the distance between the wireless terminal and the WAPs, the strength of the signal or the quality of the signal provided over the connection between the wireless terminal and the WAPs, and the characteristics of the means of communication (e.g., protocol Or standard, or other parameters), modulation scheme, code rate, or other parameters that govern the communication link between the wireless terminal and the WAPs.

A new approach is presented in which a wireless terminal selects one WAP among a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs) and connects the wireless terminal to a desired communication network via the selected WAP. In some embodiments, the desired communication network can be a packet switched communication network. Based on the mobile state of the wireless terminal, the wireless terminal selects an appropriate WAP capable of establishing a connection path to the desired communication network. Multiple available WAPs are detected by the wireless terminal, although there may be examples in which the wireless terminal may connect with many of such detected WAPs, but the wireless terminal is different from the WAP in contacting the communication network. Choose one WAP as appropriate, which may be more ideal than WAPs.

In addition to the simple mobile state of any wireless terminal, additional considerations can also be used in determining which wireless terminal should be connected to access the communication network via WAP. Some of these considerations include the distance between the wireless terminal and the WAPs, the strength of the signal or the quality of the signal provided over the connection between the wireless terminal and the WAPs, and the characteristics of the means of communication (e.g., protocol Or standard, or other parameters), modulation scheme, code rate, or other parameters governing the communication link between the wireless terminal and the WAPs.

1 illustrates an embodiment of a communication system 100, in which the communication system 100 includes a plurality of base stations or access points 12 and 16, a plurality of wireless communications. Devices 18 to 32 and a network hardware component 34. The network hardware 34 may be a router, a switch, a bridge modem, a system controller, or the like, which is a wide area network for the communication system 10. Note that it provides a wide area connection 42. Further, the wireless communication devices 18 to 32 each include laptop host computers 18 and 26, which include a wireless transceiver, and personal digital asssistant. Note that it includes PDA) hosts (20, 30), personal computer hosts (24, 32) and cellular telephone hosts (22, 28). Details regarding the wireless communication device will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

The wireless communication devices 22, 23, 24 are located within an independent basic service set (IBSS) area and can communicate directly with each other (ie, point-to-point communication). In this configuration, these devices 22, 23, 24 can only communicate between each of them. In order to communicate with other wireless communication devices in the system 100, or to communicate with the outside of the system 100, the devices 22, 23, 24 may be connected to any of the base stations or access points 12 or 16. You need to affix one.

The base stations or access points 12, 16 are located within the basic service set (BSS) area 11, 13, respectively, and are connected to the network hardware 34 via local area network connection structures 36, 38. It is operatively connected. This connection relationship provides the base station or access point 12, 16 with connectivity to other devices in the system 100 and also provides other networks via a wide area network (WAN) connection structure 42. It also provides connectivity to. In order to communicate with wireless communication devices located within the basic service set 11, 13, the base stations or access points 12, 16 may have an associated antenna or antenna array. For example, the base station or access point 12 communicates wirelessly with the wireless communication devices 18, 20, while the base station or access point 16 communicates wirelessly with the wireless communication devices 26-32. do. Typically, the wireless communication devices register with one particular base station or access point 12, 16 to receive service from the communication system 100.

Typically, base stations are used in various cellular telephone systems or similar systems, and access points are used in home or office wireless networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16 and the respective versions, Bluetooth or other forms of high frequency). Wireless based network protocol). Regardless of whether it is a particular type of communication system, each wireless communication device includes a built-in radio or is coupled to a separate wireless device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wireless communication system 200, which includes host devices 18 to 32 and associated radios 60. In the case of cellular telephone hosts, the wireless device 60 is an embedded component. In the case of personal digital assistant hosts, laptop hosts, or personal computer hosts, the wireless device 60 may be a built-in component or an externally coupled component.

As illustrated, the host devices 18 to 32 include a processing module 50, a memory 52, a radio interface 54, an input interface 58, and an output interface 56. . The processing module 50 and the memory 52 execute corresponding instructions that are typically performed at the host device. For example, if it is a cellular telephone host device, the processing module 50 performs the corresponding communication functions in accordance with that particular cellular telephone standard.

The wireless device interface 54 may allow data to be received from or sent to the wireless device 60. In the case of data received from the wireless device 60 (eg, inbound data), the wireless device interface 54 may route the data for further processing or to the output interface 54. route to the processing module 50. The output interface 56 provides connectivity so that the received data can be displayed on an output display device, such as a display, monitor, speaker, or the like. The wireless device interface 54 may also provide data from the processing module 50 to the wireless device 60. The processing module 50 may receive outbound data to be output via the input interface 58 from an input device such as a keyboard, keypad, microphone, or the like, or may generate such data by itself. When data is received via the input interface 58, the processing module 50 may perform a corresponding host function on the data, or via the wireless device interface 54, the wireless device. Route to (60).

The wireless device 60 includes a host interface 62, a digital receiver processing module 64, an analog to digital converter 66, a high pass filter (HPF) and a low pass filter (LPF) module 68, an intermediate frequency (IF). IF mixing down conversion stage (70), receiver filter (71), low noise amplifier (72), transmitter / receiver switch (73), local oscillation module ( 74, memory 75, digital transmitter processing module 76, digital analog converter 78, filtering / gain module 80, IF mixing up conversion stage 82, power amplifier ( power amplifier 84, transmitter filter module 85, channel bandwidth adjustment module 87, and antenna 86. The antenna 86 may be a single antenna shared by the transmit and receive paths controlled by the Tx / Rx switch 73, or may be separate for each transmit and receive path. And may include antennas. The implementation of the antenna may be determined according to a particular standard to which the wireless communication device 200 complies.

The digital receiver processing module 64 and the digital transmitter processing module 76 perform digital receiver functions and digital transmitter functions, respectively, with instructions relating to operations stored in the memory 75. The digital receiver functions include digital intermediate frequency to baseband signal conversion, demodulation, constellation demapping, decoding to descrambling, and However, it is not limited thereto. The digital transmitter functions include, but are not limited to, scrambling, encoding, constellation mapping, modulation, and digital baseband to IF conversion. It is not limited. The digital receiver and transmitter processing modules 64, 76 may be implemented using a shared processing device, separate processing devices, or a plurality of processing devices. Such processing devices include microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, microcomputers, central processing units, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and PLDs. (programmable logic device), state machine, logic circuit, analog circuit, digital circuit, or any device capable of manipulating signals (analog signal or digital signal) based on instructions instructing operation Can be. The memory 75 may be a single memory device or a plurality of memory devices. Such memory devices include read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory ( It can be any device capable of storing dynamic memory, flash memory and other digital information. The processing modules 64 or 76 are memories that store instructions for the corresponding operation when one or more of the functions are implemented through state machines, analog circuits, digital circuits or logic circuits. May be embedded in a chip together with a circuit portion composed of the above state machine, analog circuits, digital circuits or logic circuits.

In operation, the wireless device 60 receives outbound data 94 from the host device via the host interface 62. The host interface 62 routes the outbound data 94 to the digital transmitter processing module 76 and the digital transmitter processing module 76 routes the outbound data 94 to a specific wireless communication standard (e.g., For example, an outbound baseband signal 96 is generated by processing in accordance with IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, Bluetooth, etc.). The outbound baseband signal 96 may be digital baseband signals (eg having zero intermediate frequency) or digital low IF signals. In this case, the low IF may be in the frequency range typically on the order of hundred kHz to several MHz.

The digital analog converter 78 converts outbound baseband signals 96 from the digital domain to the analog domain. The filtering / gain module 80 filters the analog signals and adjusts their gain before providing the analog signals to the IF mixing stage 82. The IF mixing stage 82 converts the analog baseband signal or low IF signals into an RF signal based on the transmitter local oscillation signal 83 provided by the local oscillation module 74. The power amplifier 84 amplifies the RF signals to produce outbound RF signals 98, which are filtered by the transmitter filter module 85. The antenna 86 transmits the outbound RF signals 98 toward a desired device, such as a base station, access point or other wireless communication device 200.

The wireless device 60 also receives inbound RF signals 88 transmitted from a base station, access point or other wireless communication device via the antenna 86. The antenna 86 provides the inbound RF signals 88 to the receiver filter module 71 via the Tx / Rx switch 73. In this case, the receiver filter Rx filter 71 performs bandpass filtering on the inbound RF signals 88. The Rx filter 71 provides the filtered RF signals to the low noise amplifier 72, which amplifies the signals 88 to produce amplified inbound RF signals. The low noise amplifier 72 provides amplified inbound RF signals to the IF mixing module 70, and the IF mixing module 70 provides the amplified inbound RF signals from the local oscillation module 74. Direct conversion to inbound low IF signals or baseband signals based on local oscillation signal 81. The down conversion module 70 provides the inbound low IF signals or baseband signals to the filtering / gain module 68. The high pass and low pass filter module 68 filters the inbound low IF signals to the inbound baseband signals based on setting values provided by the channel bandwidth adjustment module 87 to filter the inbound signal. Create them.

The analog-to-digital converter 66 converts the filtered inbound signals from the analog domain to the digital domain to generate inbound baseband signals 90, wherein the inbound baseband signals 90 are digital baseband signals. Or digital low IF signals, which may typically fall within the frequency range of 100 kHz to several MHz. The digital receiver processing module 64 decodes, descrambles, demaps or demodulates the inbound baseband signal 90 based on a setting value provided by the channel bandwidth adjustment module 87 so that the wireless device 60 Restore inbound data 92 in accordance with the particular wireless communication standard implemented in < RTI ID = 0.0 > The host interface 62 provides the recovered inbound data 92 to the host devices 18 to 32 via the wireless device interface 54.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the wireless communication device 200 of FIG. 2 may be implemented using one or more integrated circuits (ICs). For example, a host device may be implemented in one integrated circuit, the digital receiver processing module 64, the digital transmitter processing module 76 and the memory 75 may be implemented in a second integrated circuit, and the wireless The remaining components of the device 60 can be implemented in a third integrated circuit, except for the antenna 86. As another example, the wireless device 60 may all be implemented on a single integrated circuit. As another example, the processing module 50 of the host device and the digital receiver and transmitter processing modules 64, 76 may be a common processing device implemented on a single integrated circuit. Furthermore, the memory 52 and the memory 75 may be implemented on a single integrated circuit, and even in common with the processing module 50 of the host device and the digital receiver and transmitter processing modules 64, 76. It may be implemented on the same integrated circuit as the processing modules.

3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wireless communication system 300 that includes a wireless terminal 310 whose position changes as a function of time and a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs). In particular, the WAP 320 has a WAP service area 322, and the WAP 330 has a WAP service area 332, and so on for each of the WAP 340, WAP 350, and WAP 360. . Any of these WAPs may be one of a variety of WAPs, including a WAP that operates to support communication over one or more standards or protocols. For example, some WAPs may be access points in a wireless local area network that is compatible with the IEEE 802.11 standard. Alternatively, another WAP may be a WiMAX access point that is compliant with the IEEE 802.16 standard. In another embodiment, any of the WAPs may be a WAP of a cellular system. The wireless terminal 310 may be implemented to be connected to any of the WAPs in the communication system 300.

As can be seen, the wireless terminal 310 is located at the first location at time point 1 and at the second location at time point 2. The rate of change of position for any one of the WAPs of the wireless terminal 310 may be represented as speed (first time derivative) or acceleration (second time derivative). Of course, the relative rate of change for each WAP of the wireless terminal 310 may be different. For example, the wireless terminal 310 has a first position change rate with respect to the WAP 360 and a second position change rate with respect to the WAP 340. Based on the mobility of the wireless terminal 310 for either one of the WAPs or for all WAPs, the wireless terminal 310 connects to a given communication network via one appropriately selected WAP. A radio operative to act. For example, assuming a first WAP, the state of movement of the wireless terminal 310 with respect to the first WAP is determined by a certain threshold (which may be predetermined, programmed, or adaptively). The wireless device of the wireless terminal 310 connects to such a first WAP. Alternatively, if the state of movement of the wireless terminal 310 for the first WAP is greater than or equal to the threshold, the wireless terminal 310 connects to the communication network via another WAP among the WAPs. do.

If necessary, additional considerations may also be taken into account when determining which WAP to connect to. For example, distance may be the second consideration. At time point 1, the distance between the wireless terminal 310 and the WAP 320 is 361 apart, and the distance between the wireless terminal 310 and the WAP 330 is 362 apart. Thus, both the movement state of the wireless terminal 310 with respect to a particular WAP and the distance between the wireless terminal 310 and a particular WAP are necessary for the wireless terminal 310 to make association decisions. Can be used. Similarly, other considerations may also be added to the decision regarding which WAP to connect to. For example, the communication scheme that a particular WAP supports may be additional considerations (eg, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11g, 802.11p, etc.).

Several examples are provided in the future to show how mobility status can be used. If the user uses the wireless terminal in a stationary state, a WAP having a relatively narrow service area may be more suitable than a WAP having a relatively wide service area. This is because a walking user will have a relatively slow moving state for any WAP. Conversely, for a user using a wireless terminal in a vehicle (the state of movement will be relatively fast), such a corresponding wireless terminal would have to be connected to a WAP with a larger coverage area. In the example where there is a user in a vehicle, even if certain WAPs can be detected by the user's wireless terminal, some of those WAPs may be unsuitable for connecting. Such some of the WAPs, even if detected, may only have a relatively narrow service area, and thus would not be ideal for wireless terminals with high mobility to connect. In addition, with respect to the connection state of this wireless terminal to either one WAP, each WAP or all WAPs, there may be some WAPs that are better or closer to connecting.

Note that the decision process for which WAP to connect to may also be implemented such that the decision requires user intervention (eg, approval or selection by the user), or such a connection is made automatically. .

4 illustrates a wireless communication system 400 including a wireless terminal 410 operative to determine communication link quality across a plurality of WAPs 420, 430, 440, 450 and a plurality of communication links between them. A diagram showing an embodiment. The wireless terminal 410 operates to obtain information related to the communication link quality set between itself and each of the WAPs. This determination may be made by the wireless terminal 410 and may be in either of the respective WAPs, or in cooperation between the wireless terminal 410 and the WAPs (ie, at each end of the communication link). Each of the devices may be partially performed). For example, communication link quality 445 corresponds to a communication link between wireless terminal 410 and WAP 420. Similar communication link qualities 435, 445, 455 may each be determined as corresponding to each of the communication link formed between each of the WAPs and the wireless terminal 410.

In embodiments where the wireless terminal 410 is mobile, the communication link quality of each of the communication links may also vary dynamically. The wireless terminal 410 may be implemented to monitor each of these communication link quality items similarly even when the wireless terminal 410 is mobile.

In determining which WAP the wireless terminal 410 should connect to, any one or more of these communication link qualities may be used. Communication link qualities can be selected and changed as desired for a particular application. For example, communication link quality can be a measure of the level of interference, power quality, or other measurable items on the link, such as signal to noise ratio (SNR), intersymbol interference, and so on. Include. In addition, the communication link quality corresponds to one or more operating parameters relating to the communication quality, for example, code rate, modulation scheme, or other operating parameters affecting communication over the communication link. can do. For example, when error correction capability is one of the quality measures, the low code rate case provides better quality than the high code rate case over any given communication link. That is, due to higher levels of excess components). In another example, if throughput is a quality measure, higher code rate operating parameters will be considered to represent higher quality. As can be seen, a variety of quality measures can be utilized, and the definition of which end of the spectrum means higher quality can vary greatly in different applications.

5 illustrates a wireless communication system 500 including a wireless terminal 510 operative to determine the strength of a signal over a plurality of WAPs 520, 530, 540, 550 and a plurality of communication links between them. A diagram showing an embodiment.

The wireless terminal 510 operates to obtain information related to the signal strength between itself and each WAP. Determination in this case may be made by the wireless terminal 510, may be made in any of the respective WAPs, and cooperatively (ie the communication link) between the wireless terminal 510 and any of the WAPs. Each device at each end of the device may be partially implemented). For example, the signal strength attribute 525 corresponds to the communication link between the wireless terminal 510 and the WAP 520. Similar signal strength attributes 535, 545, 555 correspond to each of the communication links between the respective WAPs and the wireless terminal 510, and may be determined individually. The present embodiment is a method used to make a determination as to which WAP the wireless terminal 510 should connect to, wherein one or more of the wireless terminals 510 are created between the wireless terminal 510 and one or more respective WAPs. The specific measurements (ie, signal strength in this case) obtained along the communication links above are depicted.

6 is used to determine signal strength, communication link quality, or other operational and performance measures between wireless terminal 610 and a plurality of WAPs (ie, WAP 620 and WAP 630). Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of a system 600 that includes a plurality of WAPs and a wireless terminal operable to support two-way communications wireless communications. In this embodiment, a first packet is transmitted in one direction along each communication link formed between the wireless terminal 610 and each WAP for a first time. Thereafter, a second packet is transmitted in the opposite direction as previously along each communication link formed between the wireless terminal 610 and each WAP for a second time. The first packet may be sent from the wireless terminal 610 to the WAP for a first time, and the second packet may be sent from the WAP to the wireless terminal 610 for a second time. The reverse can also be used. For example, the first packet may be sent from the WAP to the wireless terminal 610 for a first time, and the second packet may be sent from the wireless terminal 610 to the WAP for a second time.

Specifically, the first packet 641 is transmitted in one direction along a communication link formed between the wireless terminal 610 and the WAP 620 for a first time, and the second packet 642 During a second time period, transmissions are made in opposite directions along a communication link formed between the WAP 620 and the wireless terminal 610. Similarly, a first packet 651 is transmitted in one direction along a communication link formed between the wireless terminal 610 and the WAP 630 for a first time, and the second packet 652 is transmitted for a second time. Is transmitted in the opposite direction along a communication link formed between the WAP 630 and the wireless terminal 610.

Regardless of which packet transmission is first and which packet is second, the signal strength, communication link quality, or, for the corresponding communication link in one incoming and outgoing communication between the wireless terminal 610 and each of the WAPs, or It is possible to accurately determine other operation and performance measurements. This characterization can be used during the decision process regarding which WAP the wireless terminal 610 should connect to.

Using this bidirectional communication link characterization, the device at one end of the communication link has information about what is being transmitted, and the device at the other end of the communication link has information about what is received. Thus, accurate evaluation of various parameters regarding the communication link can be made. By using a bidirectional scheme, complete information (ie, information about what is transmitted and received for one direction and information about what is transmitted and received for the other direction) becomes available. In addition, by using a bi-directional scheme, devices on both sides of the communication link can participate in communication link characterization. For example, one device may perform the first part of the characterization and another device may perform the second part of the characterization.

In another embodiment, a single packet is transmitted in only one direction (e.g., from wireless terminal 610 to WAP, or from that WAP to wireless terminal 610), and the corresponding receiving end device receives the signal strength. , To determine operation and performance measures for the communication link quality, or otherwise corresponding communication link. This unidirectional approach may in some cases be slightly less accurate than a system employing a bidirectional approach, which nevertheless is how, within the communication system 600, the characterization of the respective communication links and corresponding WAPs is achieved. Can show if it can be

7 is a diagram of a communication system 700 that includes a variety of different users, each of which shows its own mobile state relative to at least one WAP 720. The WAP 720 has a WAP service area 722 so that each of the wireless terminals used by each of the users depicted in the figure can detect the WAP 720.

As shown, each wireless terminal being used by several users has a different mobile state relative to WAP 720. A user running / jogging has a mobile state 733 relative to the WAP 720, which is clearly a stationary user having a mobile state 734 relative to the WAP 720, or the WAP 720. The moving state is relatively larger than a walking user who has a moving state 732 for. However, the user in the vehicle will have a movement state 731 with respect to the WAP 720, which is probably the largest movement state compared to other users. A user riding a bicycle has a travel state 735, which is between the travel state 731 (at the highest end of the spectrum) and the travel state 734 (at the lowest end of the spectrum) of the travel state spectrum. Will be placed somewhere.

Note that for each of these users with different mobility states, the probability that the network connection through the WAP 720 is the most ideal connection will be different. For example, there may be another WAP that is more suitable than the WAP 720 depicted for some of these users. For some of these users, each of their wireless terminals actually detected the WAP 720, but after processing about the user's movement status relative to the WAP 720, the wireless terminal has determined that WAP 720. There may be instances where the wireless terminal may not be included in an accessible WAP group to which it can connect. However, this WAP 720 may satisfy the criteria or criteria for accessing it.

FIG. 8 is an embodiment illustrating an embodiment of a classification operation 800 that divides a plurality of WAPs into a plurality of connectable WAPs 891 and a plurality of inaccessible WAPs 892. During each time period 801, time period 802, and time period 803, the wireless terminal 810 connects to a different WAP among a plurality of WPAs.

More specifically, the wireless terminal 810 detects respective WAPs during these time periods 801, 802, 803, and different time periods 801, 802 based on decision criteria or criteria applied to each time period. 803, respectively, to connect to different WAPs. During each of these time periods 801, 802, 803, the wireless terminal 810 establishes a connection history. Based on this connection history, each WAP included in the plurality of WAPs is included in a plurality of connectable WAPs 891 and a plurality of inaccessible WAPs 892.

For example, during time period 801, the wireless terminal 810 connects to the WAP 820. At time interval 802, the wireless terminal 810 connects to WAP 830, and at time interval 803 the wireless terminal 810 connects to WAP 860. Thus, according to this access history, each of the WAPs 820, 830, 860 belongs to a plurality of accessible WAPs group 891, and each of the WAPs 840, 850, 870 is a plurality of WAPs. It belongs to a group of inaccessible WAPs 892.

The memory implemented in the wireless terminal 810 may be used to store the access history and the classification result of the WAPs. Thus, based on this connection history and the sorting of the plurality of connectable WAPs 891 and the plurality of unreachable WAPs 892, the wireless terminal 810 is configured to provide the plurality of accessible WAPs ( Operate only to connect to WAPs within 891. The sorting task of the plurality of connectable WAPs 891 and the plurality of inaccessible WAPs 892 may also be updated later. For example, the classification for a WAP may change over time, and as a result of the updated classification, it may catch such a change in status.

FIG. 9 is yet another embodiment illustrating one embodiment of a classification task 900 that divides a plurality of WAPs into a plurality of connectable WAPs 991 and a plurality of inaccessible WAPs 992. Somewhat similar to the embodiment shown in the previous figures, in this embodiment each of the WAPs is classified as connectable WAPs 991 or inaccessible WAPs 992. However, in this embodiment, the connection details are not directly used, but only a predetermined parameter condition, for example, communication link quality, signal strength, operation mode, or a plurality of WAPs to which the WAPs can be connected and a plurality of inaccessible to the WAPs. Use parametric conditions that can be separated into WAPs. The wireless terminal 910 communicates with each of the WAPs 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, and 970 in some preferred manner (eg, simultaneously, sequentially, or otherwise), And operable to evaluate one or more parameters that characterize respective communication links formed between the wireless terminal 910 and each of the WAPs 920, 930, 940, 950, 960, and 970.

As shown in this embodiment, the WAPs 920, 940, 950 are shown to satisfy or satisfy one or more parameter conditions, such that the WAPs 920, 940, 950 are capable of connecting to the plurality of accessible devices. Belong to a group of WAPs 991. However, the WAPs 930, 960, 970 have been shown to meet or fail to meet one or more parameter conditions, so that these WAPs 930, 960, 970 can be replaced by the plurality of groups of unconnected WAPs ( 992).

As described above with respect to other embodiments, the characterization for each individual WAP may be changed as a function of time, with some WAPs belonging to a plurality of accessible WAPs in the first time period to a plurality of times in a later time period. It may belong to a group of inaccessible WAPs.

10 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an interface 1000 between a user 1099 and a wireless terminal 1010. The wireless terminal 1010 operates to provide information to the user 1099 (denoted by reference numeral 1022 in the drawing), and also to receive input (reference number 1024) received from the user 1099. ).

Through this user interface 1020, the user 1099 can determine which particular WAP is the specific WAP that is used to characterize it as an accessible WAP or an inaccessible WAP (eg, the various parameters considered above). Have the opportunity to program or select them.

Additionally, the user interface 1020 may include information such as specific information, such as which WAPs are detected, which WAPs are accessible, which WAPs are considered accessible, which WAPs are considered inaccessible, and the like. May be used to display to the user 1099. Information provided to the user 1099 through the user interface 1020 may also be programmed or selected by the user 1099. For example, the user 1099 may select, via reference numeral 1024 means, that only accessible WAPs may be displayed to the user 1099. For example, even if the wireless terminal 1010 detects a particular WAP, if that WAP does not meet a particular determination criterion (eg, the mobile terminal's mobile state with respect to the WAP), the particular WAP is It is not included in the plurality of connectable WAPs.

Any of the various types of wireless terminals 1010 capable of connecting to one or more types of WAPs may be used in this embodiment, including PDAs, personal computers (including laptop computers), or the like. Various forms of portable computers, mobile phones and the like. Any wireless terminal 1010 capable of connecting to one or more schemes of WAPs may also include such interfacing 1000 to the user 1099. From this interfacing 1000, the user can select any one or more restrictions (e.g., thresholds) used in the determination regarding accessing a particular WAP, and also the user 1099 May also be provided with any form of desired information, such as whether a particular WAP is accessible or not (depending on the classification task employed for the communication device 1010). In addition, the information provided to the user 1099 may be provided in a format selected by the user 1099.

11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are diagrams showing embodiments of a method for selectively connecting a wireless terminal to a certain WAP.

Referring to the method 1100 of FIG. 11, the method 1100 begins with detecting one or more WAPs, as shown at block 1110. Some wireless terminals include a radio that operates to detect the presence of a plurality of WAPs, that is, WAPs including WAPs operating according to different communication standards, protocols, and the like. As indicated by block 1120, the method 1100 continues with determining a first mobility state of the wireless terminal for the first WAP. Thereafter, the method 1100 continues with determining a second mobility state of the wireless terminal for a second WAP, as shown in block 1130. As such, based on the first and second moving states, the method 1100 provides the wireless terminal to the communication network via either the first WAP or the second WAP, as shown in block 1140. Selectively connecting.

Referring to the method 1200 of FIG. 12, the method 1200 begins with detecting one or more WAPs, as shown in block 1210. As shown at block 1220, the method 1200 continues with determining whether the first mobile state of the communication device for the first WAP is below a certain threshold or not. Such thresholds may, in various embodiments, be predetermined or programmed, for example, or adaptively determined by the user, for example. Subsequently, if such a parameter condition is satisfied at block 1220 (ie, determined to be “yes” in the figure), then the method 1200 may be networked over the first WAP, as indicated at block 1230. Leads to the step of connecting. Otherwise, if the parameter condition is not satisfied at the block 1220 (ie, determined to be “no” in the figure), then the method 1200 may pass through the second WAP, as indicated at block 1240. The step of connecting to the communication network is followed.

Referring to the method 1300 of FIG. 13, the method 1300 is somewhat similar to the method 1200 of FIG. 12. However, in this embodiment one or more parameter conditions are used in the decision process regarding which WAP to connect to. Of course, additional parameter conditions may be added to further refine this determination process.

The method 1300 begins by detecting one or more WAPs, as shown in block 1310. As indicated at decision step 1320, the method 1300 continues with determining two separate conditions. The conditions are related to (1) whether the rate of change of position with respect to the first WAP of the wireless terminal is lower than the first threshold value, and (2) whether the distance between the wireless terminal and the first WAP is smaller than the second threshold value. will be. Subsequently, if both of these parameter conditions are satisfied at block 1320 (ie, determined to be “yes” in both conditions), then the method 1300 may be executed as shown in block 1330. 1 It leads to the step of accessing the communication network through the WAP. Otherwise, if any of the parameter conditions are not satisfied at block 1320 (ie, determined to be “no”), then the method 1300 may be over a second WAP, as indicated at block 1340. The step of connecting to the communication network is followed.

Referring to the method 1400 of FIG. 14, the method 1400 begins with detecting a plurality of WAPs, as shown at block 1410. The method 1400 then continues with determining the communication link quality between each WAP and the wireless terminal, as indicated at block 1420. As shown at block 1430, the method 1400, for each communication link, indicates that the communication link quality of the communication link is less than a certain threshold (which may be predetermined, programmed or adaptively determined). And determining whether it is low. Then, if at block 1430 the communication link quality of any given communication link is lower than the threshold, then the method 1400 may correspond to the WAPs corresponding to the respective communication links, as shown at block 1440. In the plurality of inaccessible WAPs groups. Alternatively, if it is determined that the communication link quality of a given communication link is higher than or equal to the threshold at block 1430, the method 1400, as indicated at block 1450, corresponds to the WAP corresponding to the communication link. Is included in the plurality of accessible WAPs group. The method 1400 continues with connecting to the communication network via any one of the accessible WAPs, as shown at block 1460.

Referring to the method 1500 of FIG. 15, the method 1500 includes two different parameter conditions that may be performed simultaneously (eg, in parallel) or sequentially (eg, one by one). do.

Looking at one of these parameter conditions, the method begins with detecting a plurality of WAPs, as shown in block 1510. As shown in decision block 1520, the method 1500 continues with determining, for each WAP, which wireless terminal has previously connected to that WAP. This may be understood as determining whether a particular WAP is included in the connection history of which wireless terminal. Thereafter, if the wireless terminal has previously connected to a particular WAP (ie, determined to be “Yes”), the method 1500 then associates the WAP with the accessible WAP, as indicated at block 1550. This includes the inclusion in the group. In contrast, if the wireless terminal has never previously connected to that particular WAP (ie, determined to be “no”), the method 1500 may not associate the WAP with the unreachable connection, as indicated by block 1540. Including the WAP group. The method 1500 may then lead to connecting to a communication network via any one of the connectable WAPs, as shown in block 1560, or the method 1500 may be further modified with other parameter conditions. It can be determined whether it is satisfied.

Looking at the remaining parameter conditions, after the method 1500 performs the step of detecting a plurality of WAPs as shown in block 1510, the method 1500 for each WAP, as shown in decision block 1530, is performed. And determining whether the user of the wireless terminal has authorized to connect to the WAP. If the user of the wireless terminal has granted access to a particular WAP (ie, determined to be “yes”), the method may assign the WAP to the plurality of accessible groups of WAPs, as indicated at block 1550. Leading to the inclusion. Alternatively, if the user of the wireless terminal does not approve the connection to the particular WAP (ie, determined to be “no”), the method 1500 may generate the plurality of WAPs as shown in block 1540. In the group of unreachable WAPs. The method 1500 continues with connecting to a communication network via one of the connectable WAPs, as shown at block 1560.

Note that the characterization and classification for any particular WAP detected can be updated later. For example, some of the attributes of a WAP may change over time, and updating the characterization and classification for that WAP may provide a better decision as to which WAP to connect to. Can help.

The present invention has been described above with the use of method steps illustrating the performance of the specified functions and the relationships between them. The boundaries and sequences of these functional building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily described for convenience of description. As long as these specific functions and the relationships between them are performed properly, other boundaries and orders may be defined. Any other such boundaries or sequences are included within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.

The present invention has also been described above using functional building blocks illustrating the performance of some important functions. The boundaries of these building blocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description. As long as the important functions are performed properly, other boundaries may be defined. Similarly, the blocks in the flowchart may also be arbitrarily defined to illustrate important functionality. The boundaries and order of the flowchart block may still perform such an important function, although defined differently. Functional building blocks and flowchart blocks and their definitions in other forms are thus included within the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that these functional building blocks and other exemplary blocks, modules, and components in this specification are implemented as illustrated, or may be discrete components, application specific integrated circuits. circuits, ASICs), processors executing appropriate software or the like, or combinations thereof.

Furthermore, although described in detail for purposes of simplicity and clarity and understanding using the embodiments described above, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. As the spirit and scope of the invention are limited only by the description of the appended claims, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. something to do.

1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wireless communication system.

2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wireless communication system.

3 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a wireless communication system including a wireless terminal whose location varies as a function of time and a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs).

4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wireless communication system including a wireless terminal operative to determine communication link quality across a plurality of communication links between a plurality of WAPs and itself.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wireless communication system including a wireless terminal operative to determine signal strength over a plurality of communication links between a plurality of WAPs and themselves.

6 illustrates a wireless terminal and a plurality of wireless terminals operative to support two-way communications wireless communications that may be used to determine signal strength, communication link quality, or other operational status and performance measurements between both the wireless terminal and the plurality of WAPs. A diagram illustrating one embodiment of a system including WAPs.

7 is a diagram of a communication system that includes a variety of different users, each of which shows its own mobile state based on at least one WAP.

8 illustrates an embodiment of classifying a plurality of WAPs into a plurality of connectable WAPs and a plurality of unconnectable WAPs.

9 is another embodiment illustrating an embodiment of classifying a plurality of WAPs into a plurality of connectable WAPs and a plurality of unconnectable WAPs.

10 illustrates an embodiment of interfacing between a user and a wireless terminal.

11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are diagrams showing embodiments of a method for selectively connecting a wireless terminal to a certain WAP.

Claims (10)

A wireless terminal belonging to a packet switched communication network comprising a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs), A radio detecting the plurality of WAPs and connecting to a communication network via at least one WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs, The wireless device, Classify the plurality of WAPs into a plurality of accessible WAPs and a plurality of inaccessible WAPs based on whether the wireless device has previously accessed the plurality of detected WAPs, Among the plurality of non-accessible WAPs and the plurality of accessible WAPs, the wireless device is implemented to connect to the communication network only through a plurality of accessible WAPs, When the rate of change of the position of the wireless terminal relative to a first WAP belonging to the plurality of connectable WAPs is lower than a threshold, the wireless device connects to the communication network via the first WAP, When the rate of change of the position of the wireless terminal relative to the first WAP belonging to the plurality of accessible WAPs is higher than a threshold, the wireless device enters the communication network via a second WAP belonging to the plurality of accessible WAPs. Wireless terminal, characterized in that for connecting. The wireless terminal of claim 1, wherein one WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs is a wireless local area network access point compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard, or a WiMAX access point compliant with the IEEE 802.16 standard. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold is a first threshold, When the rate of change of the position of the wireless terminal relative to the first WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs is lower than the first threshold and the distance between the wireless terminal and the first WAP is smaller than a second threshold, And the wireless device connects to the communication network via the first WAP. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold is a first threshold, The wireless device determines a corresponding signal strength upon signal transmission or signal reception over each communication link between the wireless device and each WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs, The plurality of WAPs includes a plurality of WAPs and accessible WAPs, If the signal strength of the communication link between the wireless device and any corresponding WAP is lower than a second threshold, the corresponding WAP will belong to the plurality of inaccessible WAPs, If the signal strength of the communication link between the wireless device and any corresponding WAP is greater than or equal to a second threshold, the corresponding WAP will belong to the plurality of accessible WAPs, Of said plurality of inaccessible WAPs and said plurality of connectable WAPs, said wireless device being implemented to connect to said communication network only via a plurality of connectable WAPs. The wireless terminal of claim 1, wherein a rate of change of the position of the wireless terminal relative to the first WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs is speed or acceleration. A wireless terminal belonging to a packet switched communication network comprising a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs), A wireless device detecting the plurality of WAPs and connecting to a communication network via at least one WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs, The wireless device, Classify the plurality of WAPs into a plurality of accessible WAPs and a plurality of inaccessible WAPs based on whether the wireless device has previously accessed the plurality of detected WAPs, Among the plurality of non-accessible WAPs and the plurality of accessible WAPs, the wireless device is implemented to connect to the communication network only through a plurality of accessible WAPs, Based on a first moving state of the wireless terminal for a first WAP belonging to the plurality of accessible WAPs and a second moving state of the wireless terminal for a second WAP belonging to the plurality of accessible WAPs; And the wireless device selectively connects to the communication network via either the first WAP or the second WAP. The wireless terminal of claim 6, wherein a WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs is a wireless local area network access point compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard or a WiMAX access point compliant with the IEEE 802.16 standard. A method of operating a wireless terminal belonging to a packet switched communication network comprising a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs), Detecting the plurality of WAPs; Classifying the plurality of WAPs into a plurality of accessible WAPs and a plurality of inaccessible WAPs based on whether the wireless device has previously accessed from among the detected plurality of WAPs; Among the plurality of non-accessible WAPs and the plurality of accessible WAPs, the wireless device is implemented to connect to the communication network only through a plurality of accessible WAPs, Determining a first movement state of the wireless terminal for a first WAP belonging to the plurality of connectable WAPs; Determining a second mobility state of the wireless terminal for a second WAP belonging to the plurality of accessible WAPs; And Selectively connecting to the communication network via either the first WAP or the second WAP based on the first and second mobile states. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein one WAP belonging to the plurality of WAPs is a wireless local area network access point compliant with the IEEE 802.11 standard or a WiMAX access point compliant with the IEEE 802.16 standard. The method of claim 8, wherein the first moving state is a first speed of the wireless terminal for the first WAP, or a first acceleration of the wireless terminal for the first WAP, And wherein the second moving state is a second speed of the wireless terminal for the second WAP or a second acceleration of the wireless terminal for the second WAP.

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