Apparatus and method for connecting to a local area communication in a portable terminal

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for connecting to a local area communication resource in a portable terminal are provided. The method includes receiving access point connection-related information and automatic connection support-related information from a plurality of access points, identifying at least one access point capable of supporting automatic connection among the plurality of access points based on the automatic connection support-related information, receiving connection information from an information server connected to the at least one access point, selecting one access point from the at least one access points based on Base Station Subsystem (BSS) link information included in the access point connection-related information with respect to the at least one access point, Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) information, and link information of an external network included in the connection information, and performing a local area communication with the selected access point.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for connecting to a local area communication resource in a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising:
 a controller which receives access point connection-related information and automatic connection support-related information from a plurality of access points, identifies at least one access point capable of performing automatic connection support among the plurality of access points based on the automatic connection support-related information, receives connection information from an information server connected to the at least one access point, selects one access point from the at least one access points based on Base Station Subsystem (BSS) link information included in the access point connection-related information with respect to the at least one access point, Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) information, and link information of an external network included in the connection information, and   a local area communication unit, performs a local area communication with the selected access point.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the BSS link information includes a channel load rate and a number of portable terminals connected to a corresponding access point. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection information includes link information of an external network connected to a corresponding access point, information of a service provider providing a local area network, and connection information including a connection type for connecting to the local area connection resource. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of access points are provided by different service providers. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller selects one access point from the at least one access point based on a channel load rate included in the BSS link information corresponding to the at least one access point, a download speed included in the link information of the external network, and the RSSI information. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller identifies at least one access point with a download speed higher than a predetermined standard download speed among the at least one access point, determines at least one access point with a channel load rate lower than a predetermined standard channel load rate among the at least one identified access point, and selects an access point with a maximum RSSI from the at least one determined access point. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller selects one access point from the at least one access point based on a channel load rate included in the BSS link information corresponding to the at least one access point, a transmission speed included in the link information of the external network, and the RSSI information. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller determines a transmission speed corresponding to an RSSI corresponding to the at least one access point, estimates at least one final transmission speed based on the determined transmission speed and the transmission speed of the external network, and selects an access point with a maximum final transmission speed from the at least one access point. 
     
     
         9 . A method for connecting to a local area communication resource in a portable terminal, the method comprising:
 receiving access point connection-related information and automatic connection support-related information from a plurality of access points;   identifying at least one access point capable of supporting automatic connection among the plurality of access points based on the automatic connection support-related information;   receiving connection information from an information server connected to the at least one access point;   selecting one access point from the at least one access points based on Base Station Subsystem (BSS) link information included in the access point connection-related information with respect to the at least one access point, Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) information, and link information of an external network included in the connection information; and   performing a local area communication with the selected access point.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the BSS link information includes a channel load rate and a number of portable terminals connected to a corresponding access point. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the connection information includes link information of an external network connected to a corresponding access point, information of a service provider providing a local area network, and connection information including a connection type for connecting to the local area communication resource. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of access points are provided by different service providers. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the selecting of the access point comprises selecting one access point from the at least one access point based on a channel load rate included in the BSS link information corresponding to the at least one access point, a download speed included in the link information of the external network, and the RSSI information. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the selecting of the access point comprises:
 identifying at least one access point with a download speed higher than a predetermined standard download speed among the at least one access point;   determining at least one access point with a channel load rate lower than a predetermined standard channel load rate among the at least one identified access point; and   selecting an access point with a maximum RSSI from the at least one determined access point.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the selecting of the access point comprises selecting one access point from the at least one access point based on a channel load rate included in the BSS link information corresponding to the at least one access point, a transmission speed included in the link information of the external network, and the RSSI information. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the selecting of the access point comprises:
 determining a transmission speed corresponding to the RSSI information corresponding to the at least one access point,   estimating at least one final transmission speed based on the determined transmission speed and the transmission speed of the external network, and   selecting an access point with a maximum final transmission speed from the at least one access point.