System and method for a mobile device to learn information about the access networks within its neighborhood

Abstract

A system and method for a mobile device to learn information about the access networks within its neighborhood is disclosed. In certain embodiments, information about networks in a neighborhood of a particular network is stored in a database associated with a dynamic host configuration protocol server. Periodic beacons of an access point of at least one network identified in the database are received by mobile stations. One of the mobile stations requests capability and configuration information of one or multiple target networks or all networks in the database. The requested capability and configuration information is provided to the mobile station.

1 . A network having a dynamic host configuration protocol server, comprising: 
 a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server embedded in a network being in a neighborhood of identified wireless networks;    a database, in data communication with the DHCP server, configured to store at least media access control (MAC) address of each identified network; and    an access point, in communication with the DHCP server, configured to send beacons to at least one mobile station, wherein each beacon has at least a MAC address of the access point;    wherein the DHCP server receives a request for configuration and capability information of one or more of the identified networks, obtains the requested information from the database, and provides the requested information to a mobile station that requested the information.    
   
   
       2 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein request for configuration and capability information is for all the identified networks in the database.  
   
   
       3 . A network discovery method, comprising: 
 maintaining a database of network identifiers associated with a plurality of networks in a neighborhood of a particular network;    sending beacons from an access point of at least one network identified in the database;    receiving a request for capability and/or configuration information of at least one network identified in the database; and    providing the requested capability and/or configuration information to a mobile station.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , additionally comprising connecting the mobile station to a selected network based on the provided information.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the connection is with the mobile station via an access point to the selected network.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the database is maintained by a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the providing is performed by the DHCP server.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the DHCP server is associated with the particular network.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the DHCP server is associated with the particular network, and wherein at least one of the networks in the neighborhood of the particular network includes its own DHCP server and database.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the request for capability and/or configuration information comprises a request for capability and/or configuration information of all the networks in the database.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the beacons are received by the mobile station.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile station identifies networks by their media access control addresses.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 3 , additionally comprising displaying the provided capability and configuration information to a user of the mobile station.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the beacons are periodically sent by the access point.  
   
   
       15 . A network discovery system, comprising: 
 means for storing information about identified networks in a neighborhood of a particular network;    means for sending beacons from an access point of at least one network identified in the storing means;    means for receiving a request for capability and/or configuration information of at least one network identified in the storing means; and    means for providing the requested capability and/or configuration information to a mobile station.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the means for storing information comprises a database.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the means for storing information comprises a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the means for sending beacons additionally comprises means for identifying networks by their media access control addresses.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the information includes a media access control address.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the information includes a network operator identifier, a network access server identifier and an Internet protocol identifier.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the beacons are periodically sent by the access point.  
   
   
       22 . A network discovery method, comprising: 
 storing information about a plurality of networks in a neighborhood of a particular network;    sending beacons from an access point of at least one of the neighborhood networks;    requesting capability and configuration information of at least one network; and    providing the requested capability and configuration information to a mobile station.    
   
   
       23 . A network discovery method, comprising: 
 learning information about one or more access networks within a neighborhood of a mobile host via dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP).    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , additionally comprising learning a configuration and capability of the identified networks by the mobile host.  
   
   
       25 . A network discovery method, comprising: 
 learning a configuration and capability of a given access network via dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) by a mobile station.