Systems and methods for enhanced network handoff to wireless local area networks

Abstract

A method of managing a wireless device includes receiving location information via a wireless wide area network interface and identifying a set of access points within connection range of the wireless device via a wireless local area network interface using the location information. The method also includes transmitting information associated with the set of access points to the wireless device via the wireless wide area network interface and transmitting station information associated with the wireless device to an access point within connection range of the wireless device. The method further includes initiating a handoff of the wireless device from the wireless wide area network interface to the wireless local area network interface via the access point based on the information and the station information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of managing a wireless device, the method comprising:
 receiving a set of location information for the wireless device via a wireless wide area network interface;   identifying a set of access points within connection range of the wireless device via a wireless local area network interface using the set of location information;   transmitting a set of access point information associated with the set of access points to the wireless device via the wireless wide area network interface;   transmitting a set of station information associated with the wireless device to at least one access point in the set of access points within connection range of the wireless device; and   initiating a handoff of the wireless device from the wireless wide area network interface to the wireless local area network interface via the at least one access point based on the set of access point information and the set of station information.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless wide area network interface comprises a cellular network interface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cellular network interface is configured to connect to at least one of a third generation (3G) network, a fourth generation (4G) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, a time division multiple access (TDMA) network, or a long-term evolution (LTE) network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of station information comprises station (STA) information associated with the wireless device, the STA information comprising at least one of media access control (MAC) information associated with the wireless device, key information associated with the wireless device, or Internet protocol (IP) address information associated with the wireless device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of access point information comprises at least one of media access control (MAC) information associated with the at least one access point, a set of channel information associated with the at least one access point, a set of service set identification (SSID) information associated with the at least one access point, or cost information for data link access through the at least one access point. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a set of security key information to the wireless device and the at least one access point. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising initiating a fast authentication process between the wireless device and the at least one access point based on the set of security key information. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of location information comprises at least one of location information captured via global positioning system (GPS) data, base station pilot data, geographic cell identifier data, cellular network data, Doppler effect data, or signal strength data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the receiving a set of location information, transmitting a set of access point information, or the transmitting a set of station information comprises initiating a transmission over a secure transmission link with the wireless device. 
     
     
         10 . A method of configuring data connections on a wireless device, the method comprising:
 transmitting a set of location information for the wireless device via a wireless wide area network interface to a wireless handoff gateway;   receiving, in the wireless device from the wireless handoff gateway, a set of access point information associated with a set of access points within connection range of the wireless device via a wireless local area network;   transmitting a set of station information associated with the wireless device to the wireless handoff gateway;   identifying at least one access point in the set of access points to establish a data connection for the wireless device via the wireless local area network; and   transitioning the data connection of the wireless device from the wireless wide area network interface to a wireless local area network interface via the at least one access point in the set of access points.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transmitting the set of location information comprises at least one of transmitting the set of location information at predetermined intervals, or transmitting the set of location information on an event-triggered basis. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the set of location information comprises at least one of location information captured via global positioning system (GPS) data, base station pilot data, geographic cell identifier data, cellular network data, Doppler effect data, or signal strength data. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transitioning the data connection comprises performing an authentication process with the at least one access point based on the set of access point information and the set of station information. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the authentication process comprises a fast authentication process. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the fast authentication process comprises at least one of an Otway Rees protocol, or an Extensible Authentication Protocol Re-Authentication (ERP) protocol. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transitioning the data connection comprises performing an association process with the at least one access point. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the association process comprises an active/passive scan process. 
     
     
         18 . A method of associating a wireless device with an access point, the method comprising:
 transmitting, from the access point to a wireless handoff gateway, a set of access point information;   receiving, from the wireless handoff gateway, a set of location information for the wireless device via a wireless wide area network interface;   transmitting a set of access point information associated with the access point to the wireless handoff gateway;   receiving, via the wireless handoff gateway, a set of station information associated with the wireless device in the access point; and   establishing, with the access point, a data connection with the wireless device via a wireless local area network based on the set of access point information and the set of station information.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising receiving a set of location information for the wireless device via the wireless handoff gateway. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the receiving the set of station information comprises receiving the set of station information when the wireless device is approaching or within range of the access point, based on the set of location information.