Methods And Apparatus For Selecting A Wireless Networking Device Based On Criteria Associated With An Application

Abstract

A technique in a wireless device for use in establishing wireless connections is described. The device stores at least one list of wireless networking information. The device receives a request for executing one of a first application or a second application. For executing the first application, the device selects first wireless networking information from the at least one list, where the first wireless networking information is associated with one or more wireless networking devices of a first type, and scans to identify the one or more wireless networking devices of the first type for establishing a wireless connection therewith for communication with the first application. For executing the second application, the device selects second wireless networking information from the at least one list, where the second wireless networking information is associated with one or more wireless networking devices of a second type, and scans to identify the one or more wireless networking devices of the second type for establishing a wireless connection therewith for communication with the second application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method in a wireless device for use in establishing wireless connections, the method comprising:
 storing at least one list of wireless networking information;   receiving a request for executing one of a first application or a second application;   for executing the first application:
 selecting first wireless networking information from the at least one list, the first wireless networking information being associated with one or more wireless networking devices of a first type; 
 scanning to identify one or more wireless networking devices of the first type for establishing a wireless connection therewith for communication with the first application; 
   for executing the second application:
 selecting second wireless networking information from the at least one list, the second wireless networking information being associated with one or more wireless networking devices of a second type; and 
 scanning to identify one or more wireless networking devices of the second type for establishing a wireless connection therewith for communication with the second application. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 for executing the third application:
 selecting third wireless networking information from the at least one list, the third wireless networking information associated with one or more wireless networking devices of a third type; and 
 scanning to identify one or more wireless networking devices of the third type for establishing a wireless connection therewith for communication with the third application. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving first service data from the one or more wireless networking devices of the first type; and   storing the first service data in association with the first wireless network information, the first service data indicating the first type.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first application comprises a messaging application. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first type of one or more wireless networking devices provides a connection to the Internet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second application comprises a video player application or a media player application. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the third application comprises a video game application. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one list of wireless networking information comprises a plurality of lists of wireless networking information, including a first list having the first wireless networking information and a second list having the second wireless networking information. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , which is performed by computer instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer instructions being executable on one or more processors of the mobile device. 
     
     
         10 . A wireless device, comprising:
 a controller;   a radio frequency (RF) transceiver coupled to the controller;   a memory coupled to the controller;   the memory having at least one list of wireless networking information;   the controller being configured for:
 receiving a request for executing one of a first application or a second application; 
 for executing the first application:
 selecting first wireless networking information from the at least one list, the first wireless networking information being associated with one or more wireless networking devices of a first type; 
 scanning with the RF transceiver to identify one or more wireless networking devices of the first type for establishing a wireless connection therewith for communication with the first application; 
 
 for executing the second application:
 selecting second wireless networking information from the at least one list, the second wireless networking information being associated with one or more wireless networking devices of a second type; and 
 scanning with the RF transceiver to identify one or more wireless networking devices of the second type for establishing a wireless connection therewith for communication with the second application. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The wireless device  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for:
 for executing the third application:
 selecting third wireless networking information from the at least one list, the third wireless networking information associated with one or more wireless networking devices of a third type; and 
 scanning with the RF transceiver to identify one or more wireless networking devices of the third type for establishing a wireless connection therewith for communication with the third application. 
   
     
     
         12 . The wireless device  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured for:
 receiving first service data from the one or more wireless networking devices of the first type; and   storing the first service data in association with the first wireless network information, the first service data indicating the first type.   
     
     
         13 . The wireless device  claim 10 , wherein the first application comprises a messaging application. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless device  claim 13 , wherein the first type of one or more first wireless networking devices provides a connection to the Internet. 
     
     
         15 . The wireless device  claim 14 , wherein the second application comprises a video player application or a media player application. 
     
     
         16 . The wireless device  claim 11 , wherein the third application comprises a video game application. 
     
     
         17 . The wireless device  claim 10 , wherein the at least one list of wireless networking information comprises a plurality of lists of wireless networking information, which includes a first list having the wireless networking information and a second list having the second wireless networking information. 
     
     
         18 . The wireless device of  claim 10 , wherein the first type comprises a background traffic class type and the second type comprises a streaming class type. 
     
     
         19 . The wireless device  claim 10 , wherein the first application comprises an e-mail application and the second application comprises a video player application. 
     
     
         20 . The wireless device  claim 10 , wherein the first application comprises an audio player application and the second application comprises a video player application.