Patent ID: 7839832
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A tangible computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions that when executed by at least one processor included in a wireless station cause the at least one processor to implement a method operating at a link layer (L2) of a multi-layer network protocol in a wireless station having a wireless network device, the device capable of providing a link-layer (L2) interface to a wireless network, the method comprising: prior to the station being associated with a wireless network via the wireless network device, the station wirelessly-receiving L2 data units transmitted from one or more wireless access points of one or more wireless networks that the station can hear; and the station gathering information about the received L2 data units, including L2 information and L3 information, the L3 information gathered at L2 including whether an access point is sending one or more L3 packets from one or more mobility agents, such that the station may decide whether to associate with a wireless network via an access point based on one or more criteria including whether the access point is in communication with a mobility agent.