Method and apparatus for selecting a multi-band access point to associate with a multi-band mobile station

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting one of a plurality of multi-band access points (APs) to associate with a multi-band wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are disclosed. The multi-band APs broadcast frequency band information regarding multiple frequency bands on which the multi-band AP is configured to operate. The multi-band WTRU selects a particular multi-band AP to associate with and a frequency band to use to communicate with the selected multi-band AP based on the frequency band information. If the multi-band WTRU receives frequency band information from the selected multi-band AP which indicates that a characteristic, (e.g., throughput, path loss, load, capacity, backhaul), of the selected frequency band is unacceptable, the multi-band WTRU determines whether to disassociate with the selected multi-band AP or to continue to associate with the selected multi-band AP via a different frequency band.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed by a multi-band access point (AP), comprising:
 receiving a probe request message from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), wherein the probe request message includes first frequency band information;   transmitting a probe response message to the WTRU, wherein the probe response message is responsive to the probe request message and includes information regarding a first frequency band and a second frequency band supported by the multi-band AP;   establishing an association with the WTRU on the first frequency band;   transmitting second frequency band information to the WTRU; and   subsequent to transmitting the second frequency band information, maintaining the association with the WTRU on the second frequency band or terminating the association with the WTRU.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the WTRU is a multi-band WTRU. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first frequency band information indicates a multi-band capability of the WTRU. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an association request message from the WTRU; and   transmitting an association response message to the WTRU.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating data with the WTRU on the first frequency band.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether to maintain the association with the WTRU on the second frequency band or to terminate the association with the WTRU based on a quality metric.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the quality metric is one of: throughput, path loss, load, capacity, and backhaul. 
     
     
         8 . A multi-band access point (AP), comprising:
 a processor; and   a transceiver in communication with the processor,   wherein the transceiver and the processor are configured to:
 receive a probe request message from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), wherein the probe request message includes first frequency band information; 
 transmit a probe response message to the WTRU, wherein the probe response message is responsive to the probe request message and includes information regarding a first frequency band and a second frequency band supported by the multi-band AP; 
 establish an association with the WTRU on the first frequency band; 
 transmit second frequency band information to the WTRU; and 
 subsequent to transmission of the second frequency band information, maintain the association with the WTRU on the second frequency band or terminate the association with the WTRU. 
   
     
     
         9 . The multi-band AP of  claim 8 , wherein the WTRU is a multi-band WTRU. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-band AP of  claim 8 , wherein the first frequency band information indicates a multi-band capability of the WTRU. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-band AP of  claim 8 , wherein the transceiver and the processor are further configured to:
 receive an association request message from the WTRU; and   transmit an association response message to the WTRU.   
     
     
         12 . The multi-band AP of  claim 8 , wherein the transceiver and the processor are further configured to:
 communicate data with the WTRU on the first frequency band.   
     
     
         13 . The multi-band AP of  claim 8 , wherein the transceiver and the processor are further configured to:
 determine whether to maintain the association with the WTRU on the second frequency band or to terminate the association with the WTRU based on a quality metric.   
     
     
         14 . The multi-band AP of  claim 13 , wherein the quality metric is one of: throughput, path loss, load, capacity, and backhaul. 
     
     
         15 . A multi-band access point (AP), comprising:
 a processor; and   a transceiver in communication with the processor,   wherein the transceiver and the processor are configured to:
 receive a probe request message from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), wherein the probe request message includes first frequency band information; 
 transmit a probe response message to the WTRU, wherein the probe response message is responsive to the probe request message and includes information regarding a first frequency band and a second frequency band supported by the multi-band AP; 
 receive an association request message from the WTRU; 
 transmit an association response message to the WTRU; 
 transmit second frequency band information to the WTRU; and 
 subsequent to transmission of the second frequency band information, maintain the association with the WTRU on the second frequency band or terminate the association with the WTRU. 
   
     
     
         16 . The multi-band AP of  claim 15 , wherein the WTRU is a multi-band WTRU. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-band AP of  claim 15 , wherein the first frequency band information indicates a multi-band capability of the WTRU. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-band AP of  claim 15 , wherein the transceiver and the processor are further configured to:
 communicate data with the WTRU on the first frequency band.   
     
     
         19 . The multi-band AP of  claim 15 , wherein the transceiver and the processor are further configured to:
 determine whether to maintain the association with the WTRU on the second frequency band or to terminate the association with the WTRU based on a quality metric.   
     
     
         20 . The multi-band AP of  claim 19 , wherein the quality metric is one of: throughput, path loss, load, capacity, and backhaul.