Network access technology indication

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for exchanging network connection access technology information amongst nodes in a communication network. An access point such as a router can include an indication of the access technology used for its network connection in a router advertisement message. A network device can connect to the router using a different access technology, but use the router's network access technology to determine operating information.

1 . A method performed by a network device, the method comprising:
 establishing a local network connection with an access point using a first access technology;   receiving, from the access point, an indication of a second access technology used by the access point to connect to an access network; and   selecting a mode of operation of the network device based at least in part on the second access technology used by the access point to connect to the access network, wherein selecting the mode of operation includes restricting data communication activity between the network device and the access point.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, receiving, from the access point, a local network advertisement message indicating an availability of the local area network offered by the access point. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the indication of the second access technology used by the access point to connect to the access network is included in the received local network advertisement message. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the local network advertisement message is one of: a network information control message, a router advertisement message, a service set identifier (SSID) beacon, and a Neighbor Discovery Protocol message. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the mode of operation of the network device is further based at least in part on the first access technology used by the network device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network device is tethered to the access point via one of a wireless connection or a wired connection, and the access point is connected to the access network via a cellular connection. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, determining that the first access technology and the second access technology are different access technologies. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, responsive to determining that the first access technology and the second access technologies are different access technologies, switching from selecting the mode of operation of the network device based on the first access technology to selecting the mode of operation of the network device based on the second access technology. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first mode of operation configures the network device to perform automatic upload/download functions, and a second mode of operation configures the network device to suspend automatic upload/download functions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein restricting data communication activity includes restricting at least one of uploading and downloading data. 
     
     
         11 . A network device comprising circuitry including a processor and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor whereby the network device is operative to:
 establish a local network connection with an access point using a first access technology;   receive, from the access point, an indication of a second access technology used by the access point to connect to an access network; and   select a mode of operation of the network device based at least in part on the second access technology used by the access point to connect to the access network, wherein selecting the mode of operation includes restricting data communication activity between the network device and the access point.   
     
     
         12 . The network device of  claim 11 , further operative to receive, from the access point, a local network advertisement message indicating an availability of the local area network offered by the access point. 
     
     
         13 . The network device of  claim 12 , wherein the indication of the second access technology used by the access point to connect to the access network is included in the received local network advertisement message. 
     
     
         14 . The network device of  claim 12 , wherein the local network advertisement message is one of: a network information control message, a router advertisement message, a service set identifier (SSID) beacon, and a Neighbor Discovery Protocol message. 
     
     
         15 . The network device of  claim 11 , wherein selecting the mode of operation of the network device is further based at least in part on the first access technology used by the network device. 
     
     
         16 . The network device of  claim 11 , wherein the network device is tethered to the access point via one of a wireless connection or a wired connection, and the access point is connected to the access network via a cellular connection. 
     
     
         17 . The network device of  claim 11 , further operative to determine that the first access technology and the second access technology are different access technologies. 
     
     
         18 . The network device of  claim 17 , further operative to, responsive to determining that the first access technology and the second access technologies are different access technologies, switch from selecting the mode of operation of the network device based on the first access technology to selecting the mode of operation of the network device based on the second access technology. 
     
     
         19 . The network device of  claim 11 , wherein a first mode of operation configures the network device to perform automatic upload/download functions, and a second mode of operation configures the network device to suspend automatic upload/download functions. 
     
     
         20 . The network device of  claim 11 , wherein restricting data communication activity includes restricting at least one of uploading and downloading data.