Method and system for delivery of assistance data

Abstract

A method and apparatus are used for providing assistance data to wireless transmit/receive units (WTRU)s. The assistance data may include information regarding neighboring access points (AP)s. The assistance data may be transmitted to WTRUs using multicast, broadcast, and/or point-to-point signaling. The assistance data may be used to facilitate ring and handover of WTRUs from one AP to another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An access point (AP) comprising:
 a transmitter configured to transmit a command to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) indicating that the WTRU is to perform a scan of neighboring APs; and   a receiver configured to receive a report from the WTRU in response to the command, wherein the report is based on a beacon received by the WTRU from at least one neighboring AP, wherein the beacon includes an indicator that indicates, on a condition that the beacon includes neighbor AP information, a first value to indicate a presence of neighbor AP information in the beacon, and wherein the neighbor AP information includes an indication of a channel on which a neighbor AP is operating.   
     
     
         2 . The AP of  claim 1 , wherein the scan is an active scan. 
     
     
         3 . The AP of  claim 1 , wherein the scan is a passive scan. 
     
     
         4 . The AP of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator indicates, on a condition that the beacon does not include neighbor AP information, a second value to indicate an absence of neighbor AP information in the beacon. 
     
     
         5 . The AP of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit a second beacon, wherein the second beacon includes a second indicator that indicates, on a condition that the second beacon includes second neighbor AP information, a third value to indicate a presence of second neighbor information in the second beacon. 
     
     
         6 . The AP of  claim 5 , wherein the second neighbor information includes a second indication of a channel on which the neighbor AP is operating. 
     
     
         7 . A method for use in an access point (AP), the method comprising:
 transmitting a command to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), wherein the command is to perform a scan of neighboring APs; and   receiving a report in response to the command, wherein the report is based on a beacon from at least one neighboring AP, wherein the beacon includes an indicator that indicates, on a condition that the beacon includes neighbor AP information, a first value to indicate a presence of neighbor AP information in the beacon, and wherein the neighbor AP information includes an indication of a channel on which another AP is operating.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the scan is an active scan. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the scan is a passive scan. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the indicator indicates, on a condition that the beacon does not include neighbor AP information, a second value to indicate an absence of neighbor AP information in the beacon. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 transmitting a second beacon, wherein the second beacon includes a second indicator that indicates, on a condition that the second beacon includes second neighbor AP information, a third value to indicate a presence of second neighbor information in the second beacon.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second neighbor information includes a second indication of a channel on which the neighbor AP is operating.