Method and apparatus for controlling communication between communication devices

Abstract

A wireless network includes a base transceiver station configured to transmit signals over a wireless connection to a plurality of communication devices and receive signals over a wireless connection from a plurality of communication devices. A first communication device may receive a connect message from at least one second communication device. The connect message may comprise an identifier. Communication between the first communication device and the at least one second communication device may be prevented until communication is allowed. An indication of the at least one second communication device may be displayed via an integral user interface. The integral user interface may detect entry of a control command. Communication between the first communication device and the at least one second communication device may be allowed based on the detected entry of a control command.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising:
 generating first information to display, via a user interface, a device identifier associated with a terminal that is associated with the WLAN;   receiving an indication of a cleartext name;   associating the device identifier with the cleartext name;   generating second information to display, via a user interface, the cleartext name;   receiving an indication of a selection of the cleartext name associated with the device identifier indicating that the terminal is to be disassociated from the WLAN; and   disassociating the terminal from the WLAN.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is a display. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device identifier is a medium access control (MAC) address. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface (GUI). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indication of the selection is received via the user interface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second information comprises a world wide web (WWW) page. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the WWW page is generated by an access point of the WLAN. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface of a device in wireless communication with an AP via the WLAN. 
     
     
         9 . An access point (AP) in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the AP comprising:
 a processor operable to generate first information to display, via a user interface, a device identifier associated with a terminal that is associated with the WLAN;   a receiver operable to receive an indication of a cleartext name;   the processor operable to associate the device identifier with the cleartext name;   the processor operable to generate second information to display, via a user interface, the cleartext name;   the receiver operable to receive an indication of a selection of the cleartext name associated with the device identifier indicating that the terminal is to be disassociated from the WLAN; and   the processor operable to disassociate the terminal from the WLAN.   
     
     
         10 . The AP of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface is a display. 
     
     
         11 . The AP of  claim 9 , wherein the device identifier is a medium access control (MAC) address. 
     
     
         12 . The AP of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface (GUI). 
     
     
         13 . The AP of  claim 9 , wherein the indication of the selection is received via the user interface. 
     
     
         14 . The AP of  claim 9 , wherein the second information comprises a world wide web (WWW) page. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface of a device in wireless communication with the AP via the WLAN.