Method and apparatus for scanning access points in a portable terminal

Abstract

A method for scanning an Access Point (AP) in a portable terminal includes determining whether a request to activate the portable terminal is detected; and upon detecting the request, immediately and additionally scanning an AP independently of a predetermined scan cycle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for extending a battery life of a portable terminal, comprising:
 determining whether a request for activating the portable terminal is detected; and   if so, immediately scanning for at least one Access Point (AP) independently of a predetermined scan cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising accessing the at least one AP that is discovered by the immediate scanning 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising scanning for the at least one AP at the predetermined scan cycle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising accessing the at least one AP that is discovered by the scanning performed at the predetermined scan cycle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining step comprises determining whether a display of the portable terminal is activated in response to the request activating the portable terminal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined scan cycle is set by system settings of the portable terminal. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for extending a battery life battery of a portable terminal, comprising:
 a key input unit for inputting a request;   a short-range communication module for providing a short-range wireless communication function based on an IEEE 802.11 standard;   a display for outputting various display information; and   a controller for determining whether a request for activating the portable terminal is detected via the key input unit, and if so, immediately scanning for at least one Access Point (AP) independently of a predetermined scan cycle.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the controller accesses the at least one AP that is discovered by the immediate scanning. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the controller scans the at least one AP at the predetermined scan cycle. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the controller accesses the at least one AP that is discovered by the scanning performed at the predetermined scan cycle. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the determining comprises determining whether the display is activated upon activating the display via the key input unit. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined scan cycle is set by system settings of the portable terminal. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the short-range communication module transmits a probe request signal for discovering the at least one AP near the portable terminal, and in response, receives information needed for connection from the at least one AP. 
     
     
         14 . A portable terminal for extending a battery life, comprising:
 a display; and   a controller for detecting an activation request of the portable terminal, for scanning at least one AP at a predetermined scan cycle, and for immediately scanning for the at least one AP in response to the activation request regardless of the predetermined scan cycle.   
     
     
         15 . The portable terminal of  claim 14 , wherein the controller further accesses the at least one AP that is discovered by the immediate scanning 
     
     
         16 . The portable terminal of  claim 14 , wherein the controller further accesses the at least one AP that is discovered by the scanning performed at the predetermined scan cycle. 
     
     
         17 . The portable terminal of  claim 14 , further comprising a short-range communication module for providing a short-range wireless communication function based on an IEEE 802.11 standard. 
     
     
         18 . The portable terminal of  claim 14 , wherein the short-range communication module transmits a probe request signal for discovering the at least one AP near the portable terminal, and in response, receives information needed for connection from the at least one AP. 
     
     
         19 . The portable terminal of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined scan cycle is set by system settings of the portable terminal.