Broadcast/multicast based network discovery

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to apparatus, system and method for use of WLAN access enabled mobile devices such as notebooks and handheld communication devices. In particular, embodiments of the invention relate to methodology whereby WiFi enabled devices can automatically select the appropriate service provider, in a power efficient manner, thereby taking advantage of different services offered by different service providers.

1 . A method for wireless discovery of network services, comprising:
 transmitting a probe request from a first networking client to a network access point, wherein the first networking client has a wireless communication capability; and   receiving a probe response, from the network access point, by the first networking client, wherein the probe response includes an indication of network services available to the first networking client.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: calculating service availability from the probe response. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: ranking service provider preference based on the probe response. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: using a beacon to formulate the probe request. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: using the probe response to formulate a second probe request. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the probe request is created using a specific device configuration information of the first networking client. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication capability is operating using a wireless network protocol selected from the group consisting of IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16 and WiMAX. 
   
   
       8 . A method for wireless discovery of network services by a first networking client, comprising:
 receiving a probe response from the network access point, by the first networking client, wherein the probe response was transmitted in broadcast mode in response to a probe request from a second networking client, wherein the probe response includes an indication of network services available to the second networking client; and   using data from the probe response to configure communication access by the first networking client.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 calculating service availability from the probe response; and   ranking service provider preference based on the probe response.   
   
   
       10 . An apparatus to perform wireless discovery of network services comprising:
 a processor configured to create a probe request;   a wireless transmitter in communication contact with the processor, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit the probe request;   a wireless receiver in communication contact with the processor, the wireless receiver configured to receive a probe response, wherein the probe response includes an indication of network services available to the apparatus.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the wireless transmitter operates with a communications protocol selected from the group consisting of IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16 and WiMAX. 
   
   
       12 . A system for wireless discovery of network services comprising:
 a network access point, having a first processor, configured to receive a probe request from a first networking client, wherein the first processor creates a primary advertisement query from the probe request;   a Network Advertising Provider Advertising Server, in communication contact with the network access point, configured to receive the primary advertisement query from the network access point;   a second processor, within the Network Advertising Provider Advertising Server, wherein the second processor is configured to determine a primary advertisement response, wherein the primary advertisement response is communicated from the Network Advertising Provider Advertising Server to the network access point,   wherein the first processor creates a query response for transmission to the first networking client, using information from the primary advertisement response.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a Subscription Service Provider Network advertising server in communication contact with the Network Advertising Provider Advertising Server, the Network Advertising Provider Advertising Server configured to transmit a secondary advertisement query to the Subscription Service Provider Network advertising server;   a third processor, within the Subscription Service Provider Network advertising server, wherein the third processor is configured to determine a secondary advertisement response, wherein the secondary advertisement response is communicated from the Subscription Service Provider Network advertising server to the Network Advertising Provider Advertising Server,   wherein the second processor creates the primary advertisement response for transmission to the network access point, using information from the secondary advertisement response.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising: a plurality of network elements,
 wherein at least one of the plurality does not transmit a probe request, but can receive and act upon a probe response.   
   
   
       15 . A method for wireless discovery of network services, comprising:
 receiving a probe request from a first networking client, by a network access point;   creating a primary advertisement query from the probe request by the network access point;   transmitting the primary advertisement query from the network access point to a Network Advertising Provider Advertising Server in communication contact with the network access point;   creating a primary advertisement response by the Network Advertising Provider Advertising Server;   transmitting the primary advertisement response from the Network Advertising Provider Advertising Server to the network access point; and   using information from the primary advertisement response to create a composite query response for transmission to the first networking client.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 transmitting a secondary advertisement query from the Network Advertising Provider Advertising Server to the Subscription Service Provider Network advertising server;   determining a secondary advertisement response, by the Subscription Service Provider Network advertising server, using the secondary advertisement query;   transmitting the secondary advertisement response from the Subscription Service Provider Network advertising server to the Network Advertising Provider Advertising Server; and   using information from the secondary advertisement response to create the primary advertisement response for transmission to the network access point.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the query response is transmitted in broadcast mode, suitable for reception by a networking client different than the first networking client. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the secondary advertisement response is formed by analyzing system capability by the Subscription Service Provider Network advertising server. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the composite query response is queued in the network access point. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein transmitting the composite query response further comprises:
 forming a plurality of sections of the composite query response;   transmitting a plurality of messages, wherein each message includes at least one section of the composite query response.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the composite query response is transmitted as at least one multicast message.