Assisted system scanning with paired devices

Abstract

A method in a first wireless device, the method performing wireless network scanning to discover available wireless networks; and communicating results of the scanning to a second wireless device, the results containing information to enable the second wireless device to connect to at least one of the available wireless networks without the second wireless device having to perform the same wireless network scanning or reduce the amount of scanning required to connect to at least one of the available wireless network. Also a method in a first wireless device, the method receiving results of wireless network scanning performed on a second wireless device, the results containing information enabling the first wireless device to connect to at least one available wireless network discovered during the scanning without the first wireless device having to perform the same wireless network scanning.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method in a first wireless device, the method comprising:
 receiving scanning device selection information;   selecting the first wireless device as at least one device to perform wireless network scanning to discover one or more available wireless networks, the selection of the first wireless device being based on the scanning device selection information;   performing the wireless network scanning; and   communicating results of the scanning to a second wireless device, the results containing information to enable the second wireless device to connect to at least one of the one or more available wireless networks without the second wireless device having to perform wireless network scanning.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein scanning device selection information is received through a user interface of the first wireless device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein scanning device selection information is received from the second wireless device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: recognizing, before the selecting, the second wireless device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the scanning device selection information directly indicates that the first wireless device is to perform wireless network scanning. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the scanning device selection information indicates at least one battery related property of at least one of the first and second wireless devices to be used in the selecting. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one battery related property includes one or more of relative battery energy storage capacities of the first and second wireless devices, relative charge levels of the first and second wireless devices, or relative battery energy levels of the first and second wireless devices. 
     
     
         8 . A method in a first wireless device, the method comprising:
 receiving scanning device selection information;   selecting a second wireless device as at least one device to perform wireless network scanning to discover one or more available wireless networks, the selection of the second wireless device being based on the scanning device selection information; and   receiving results of wireless network scanning performed on the second wireless device, the results containing information enabling the first wireless device to connect to at least one available wireless network discovered during the scanning without the first wireless device having to perform wireless network scanning.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein scanning device selection information is received through a user interface of the first wireless device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein scanning device selection information is received from the second wireless device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: recognizing, before the selecting, the second wireless device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the scanning device selection information directly indicates that the second wireless device is to perform wireless network scanning. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the scanning device selection information indicates at least one battery related property of at least one of the first and second wireless devices to be used in the selecting. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one battery related property includes one or more of relative battery energy storage capacities of the first and second wireless devices, relative charge levels of the first and second wireless devices, or relative battery energy levels of the first and second wireless devices. 
     
     
         15 . A wireless device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory storing therein computer readable instructions; and   at least one wireless communication interface for communicating with one or more wireless networks,   wherein the wireless device is configured to:   receive scanning device selection information;   select the first wireless device as at least one device to perform wireless network scanning to discover one or more available wireless networks, the selection of the first wireless device being based on the scanning device selection information;   perform the wireless network scanning; and   communicate results of the scanning to a second wireless device, the results containing information to enable the second wireless device to connect to at least one of the one or more available wireless networks without the second wireless device having to perform wireless network scanning.   
     
     
         16 . The wireless device of  claim 15 , further comprising a user interface, wherein the wireless device is configured to receive scanning device selection information through the user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The wireless device of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless device is configured to receive scanning device selection information from the second wireless device. 
     
     
         18 . The wireless device of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless device is further configured to recognize, before the selecting, the second wireless device. 
     
     
         19 . The wireless device of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless device is configured to select the first wireless device to perform wireless network scanning based on received scanning device selection information directly indicating that the first wireless device is to perform scanning. 
     
     
         20 . The wireless device of  claim 15 , wherein the wireless device is configured to select the first wireless device to perform wireless network scanning based on received scanning device selection information indicating at least one battery related property of at least one of the first and second wireless devices.