Service-assisted network access point selection

Abstract

Embodiments enable prioritization and selection of network access points (NAP) by a computing device using NAP attribute values. The computing device obtains the attribute values based on a location of the computing device and/or proximate NAPs detected by the computing device. The obtained attribute values are compared to a state of the computing device (e.g., sensor values), user preferences, or other criteria to select at least one of the NAPs for connection with the computing device. In some embodiments, a user of the computing device is presented with a list of Wi-Fi access points ranked according to relevance to the computing device and/or user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a memory area associated with a mobile computing device, said memory area storing attribute values corresponding to a set of network access points (NAPs); and   a processor programmed to:
 obtain attribute values corresponding to one or more of the set of NAPs; 
 establish connection, based on the obtained attribute values, to one of the NAPs; 
 generate a report including at least one of a quality of service and a connection duration with the one of NAPs; and 
 update, based on the generated report, the attribute values corresponding to the one of the NAPs. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the attribute values corresponding to the one or more of the set of NAPs are obtained by the mobile computing device from a NAP directory service. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to submit the generated report to a NAP directory service for updating the attribute values corresponding to the one of the NAPs based on the generated report. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device is outside a range of at least one of the one or more of the set of NAPs. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the attribute values corresponding to the NAPs are obtained by the mobile computing device without scanning for the NAPs. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
 detect the one or more of the set of NAPs as proximate to the mobile computing device; and   query a NAP directory service for obtaining the attribute values corresponding to the detected NAPs.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the attribute values stored in the memory area represent at least one of a cached attribute values observed by the mobile computing device and cached attribute values pushed by a NAP directory service. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed to obtain the attribute values corresponding to the one or more of the set of NAPs from a cloud-based NAP directory service. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to filter the obtained attribute values based on a location of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 obtaining, by a computing device, attribute values corresponding to one or more of a set of network access points (NAPs);   establishing connection, based on the obtained attribute values, to one of the NAPs;   generating a report including at least a quality of service and a connection duration with the one of the NAPs; and   submitting the generated report to a NAP directory service for updating the attribute values corresponding to the one of the NAPs.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the NAPs are detected by the computing device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the attribute values corresponding to the NAPs are obtained by the computing device without scanning for the NAPs. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein obtaining the attribute values comprises pre-fetching the attribute values. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the NAP directory service determines the generated report to be reliable, for updating the attribute values, based on at least a number of reports submitted previously by the computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the NAP directory service further:
 aggregates the attribute values from a plurality of computing devices; and   shares at least a portion of the aggregated attribute values with one or more NAP providers.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least a portion of the aggregated attribute values are shared in response to one or more queries from the one or more NAP providers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the shared attribute values are anonymized by the NAP directory service. 
     
     
         18 . One or more computer storage media embodying computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor associated with a computing device, perform operations comprising:
 obtaining, by the computing device, attribute values corresponding to one or more of a set of network access points (NAPs);   establishing a connection, based on the obtained attribute values, to one of the NAPs;   generating a report describing at least a quality of service and a connection duration with the one of the NAPs; and   submitting the generated report to a NAP directory service for updating the attribute values corresponding to the one of the NAPs.   
     
     
         19 . The computer storage media of  claim 18 , wherein the processor further performs operations comprising:
 aggregating the attribute values from a plurality of other computing devices; and   sharing at least a portion of the aggregated attribute values with one or more NAP providers.   
     
     
         20 . The computer storage media of  claim 19 , wherein the at least a portion of the aggregated attribute values are shared in response to one or more queries from the NAP providers.