Apparatus and method for determining validity of wifi connection in wireless communication system

Abstract

An apparatus and method for determining validity of a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) connection in a wireless apparatus is provided. In the method, a query is performed on a specific Domain Name Server (DNS) via a connected Access Point (AP). When a response to the query on the specific DNS is received, a connection to a specific node is attempted via the connected AP. When the connection to the specific node is successful, a valid WiFi connection is determined. The WiFi connection is maintained. Therefore, a WiFi apparatus is allowed to connect to only a valid AP, so that convenience is provided to a user and the WiFi apparatus is prevented from wasting power.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . An electronic device comprising:
 a screen;   a Wi-Fi communication unit; and   a controller configured:
 to control the screen to display a list of a plurality of Access Points (APs) on the screen of the electronic device, and to detect a selection of an AP from the list of the plurality of APs, 
 to control the Wi-Fi communication unit to establish a Wi-Fi connection with the selected AP, and 
 to transmit, to the Wi-Fi connected AP, a query which is designated to be sent to a Domain Name Server (DNS), 
   wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the Wi-Fi connected AP has a valid internet connection based on whether there is a response to the query from the DNS, and   wherein the query comprises a predetermined domain name which is stored in the electronic device.   
     
     
         32 . The electronic device of  claim 31 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide a visual feedback indicating whether the Wi-Fi connected AP has a valid internet connection via the screen, based on the response to the query of the DNS. 
     
     
         33 . The electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein the validity of the internet connection of the Wi-Fi connected AP is determined based on at least one of the response to the query of the DNS and failure to respond to the query of the DNS. 
     
     
         34 . The electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein, the visual feedback includes displaying that the Wi-Fi connected AP has a valid internet connection if there is a response to the query. 
     
     
         35 . The electronic device of  claim 34 , wherein the response of the query from the DNS comprises at least IP address. 
     
     
         36 . The electronic device of  claim 35 , wherein the at least IP address comprises an IP address of the predetermined domain name. 
     
     
         37 . The electronic device of  claim 32 , wherein, the visual feedback includes displaying that the Wi-Fi connected AP has a invalid internet connection if there is no response to the query. 
     
     
         38 . The electronic device of  claim 31 , wherein the controller is further configured to remove the Wi-Fi connected AP from the plurality of APs if there is no response to the query. 
     
     
         39 . The electronic device of  claim 31 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the Wi-Fi communication unit to establish a Wi-Fi connection with other AP among the plurality of APs, if there is no response to the query. 
     
     
         40 . The electronic device of  claim 39 , wherein the controller is further configured:
 to transmit, to the Wi-Fi connected other AP, a query which is designated to be sent to the DNS, and   to determine whether the Wi-Fi connected other AP has a valid internet connection based on whether there is a response to the query from the DNS.   
     
     
         41 . An electronic device comprising:
 a screen;   a wireless communication unit; and   a controller configured:
 to control the screen to display a list of a plurality of Access Points (APs) on the screen of the electronic device, and to detect a selection of an AP from the list of the plurality of APs, 
 to control the wireless communication unit to establish a wireless connection with the selected AP, and 
 to transmit, to the connected AP, a query which is designated to be sent to a Domain Name Server (DNS), 
   wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the connected AP has a valid internet connection based on whether there is a response to the query from the DNS, and   wherein the query comprises a predetermined domain name which is stored in the electronic device.   
     
     
         42 . The electronic device of  claim 41 , wherein the wireless communication unit comprises a Wi-Fi communication module. 
     
     
         43 . The electronic device of  claim 41 , wherein the controller is further configured to provide a visual feedback indicating whether the connected AP has a valid internet connection via the screen, based on the response to the query of the DNS. 
     
     
         44 . The electronic device of  claim 43 , wherein, the visual feedback includes displaying that the connected AP has a valid internet connection if there is a response to the query. 
     
     
         45 . A method for checking validity of an internet connection in an electronic device, the method comprising:
 displaying a list of a plurality of Access Points (APs);   detecting a selection of an AP from the list of the plurality of APs;   establishing a Wi-Fi connection with the selected AP;   transmitting, to the Wi-Fi connected AP, a query which is designated to be sent to a Domain Name Server (DNS); and   determining whether the Wi-Fi connected AP has a valid internet connection based on whether there is a response to the query from the DNS,   wherein the query comprises a predetermined domain name which is stored in the electronic device.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising:
 providing a visual feedback indicating whether the Wi-Fi connected AP has a valid internet connection, based on the response to the query of the DNS.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein, the visual feedback includes displaying that the Wi-Fi connected AP has a valid internet connection if there is a response to the query. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the response of the query from the DNS comprises at least IP address. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the at least IP address comprises an IP address of the predetermined domain name. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein, the visual feedback includes displaying that the Wi-Fi connected AP has an invalid internet connection if there is no response to the query.