Abstract:
A method of administering network selections for a mobile station between a second generation/third generation wireless network and wireless local area networks includes detecting when the mobile station encounters a wireless area network, and communicating an identity of the encountered wireless area network to the second generation/third generation wireless network. The communicating prompts a query for permission to establish a session between the mobile station and the encountered wireless local area network. When permission is granted, the method includes receiving a key distributed to the mobile station. The key is used by the mobile station to establish a session between the mobile station and the encountered wireless local area network.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the art of wireless communications and/or networks. It will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that the present invention is also amenable to other like applications. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Second generation (2G) (e.g., digital personal communication services (PCS)) and third generation (3G) wireless technologies typically provide data access rates which vary from a low of, e.g., approximately 14.4 kilobytes/second (Kbps) for 2G, to a medium rate of, e.g., somewhere around 384 Kbps, to a maximum high end of, e.g., approximately 2 megabytes/second (Mbps) for 3G. These rates are generally adequate for services employing a low to medium bandwidth, e.g., voice communications, text messaging, instant messaging, electronic mail (e-mail) with no or relatively small attachments, etc. These data access rates tend to be marginal, if not sufficient at all, for services which demand or would otherwise benefit from a higher bandwidth, e.g., video e-mail, full motion video on demand, large file downloads, etc. However, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) employing, e.g., the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of protocols, HIgh PErformance Radio Local Area Network HIPERLAN standards, or other like protocols, specifications or standards, can achieve data access rates from 2 to 55 Mbps. 
   The installation of and/or access to WLANs is becoming more widespread. In addition to offices, WLANs can be found in many places including, e.g., airports, hotels, restaurants, educational institutions and/or campuses, etc. Often, depending upon the amount of data and/or speed desired, it would be advantageous to utilize the relatively faster data access rates achievable via the WLAN when it is available. However, the geographic range of a WLAN is more limited as compared to 2G and 3G wireless technologies. Therefore, mobility is relatively limited with a WLAN. 
   The present invention contemplates a new and improved method and/or system for handling wireless network selection which overcomes the above-referenced problems and others. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method of administering network selections between a second generation/third generation wireless network and wireless local area networks is provided for a mobile station. The method includes detecting when the mobile station encounters a wireless area network, and communicating an identity of the encountered wireless area network to the second generation/third generation wireless network. The communicating prompts a query for permission to establish a session between the mobile station and the encountered wireless local area network. When permission is granted, the method includes receiving a WLAN encryption key distributed to the mobile station. The encryption key is used by the mobile station to establish a session between the mobile station and the encountered wireless local area network. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a client is provided. The client administers network selections of a mobile communications device between a second generation/third generation wireless network and wireless local area networks. The client includes: means for detecting when the mobile station encounters a wireless area network; means for communicating an identity of the encountered wireless area network to the second generation/third generation wireless network, the communicating prompting a query for permission to establish a session between the mobile station and the encountered wireless local area network; and, means for receiving a key distributed to the mobile station when permission is granted, the key being used by the mobile station to establish a session between the mobile station and the encountered wireless local area network. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of administering network selections for a mobile station between a second generation/third generation wireless network and wireless local area networks includes: receiving a communication from the mobile station over the second generation/third generation wireless network when the mobile station encounters a wireless area network, the communication providing an identity of the wireless area network encountered; and, querying the encountered wireless local area network for permission for the mobile station to establish a session with the encountered wireless local area network such that when permission is granted, an encryption key is distributed to the mobile station, the encryption key being used by the mobile station to establish the session with the encountered wireless local area network. 
   One advantage of the present invention is the ability to provide for network selection between 2G/3G networks and WLANs. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to provide for dynamic provisioning of conditions and/or behaviors for network selections between 2G/3G networks and WLANs. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to base network selections between 2G/3G networks and WLANs on user and/or provider preferences. 
   Yet another advantage of the present invention is the ability to provide shifted data transfers. 
   Still further advantages and benefits of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Further, it is to be appreciated that the drawings are not to scale. 
       FIG. 1  is diagrammatic illustration showing a mobile station functional with both a 2G/3G network and a WLAN in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an event diagram illustrating an exemplary network selection process administered by a client running on the mobile station of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an event diagram illustrating another exemplary network selection process administered by a client running on the mobile station of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is diagrammatic illustration showing an exemplary client which runs on the mobile station of  FIG. 1  and administers a network selection process and/or shifted data transfers in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a mobile station preferably includes a client  10  running on a mobile communications device  12 . As shown, the device  12  is a personal digital assistant (PDA) equipped with radio frequency (RF) or like interfaces, including: a 2G/3G interface  14  (e.g., a mobile modem or the like) which enables selective wireless connection of the device  12  to a 2G and/or 3G network  20 ; and, a WLAN interface  16  (e.g., a WLAN PC card or the like) which enables selective wireless connection of the device  12  to a WLAN  30 . Optionally, a common interface which enables selective wireless connection to both networks may be employed. Preferably, the WLAN  30  employs a protocol such as, e.g., the IEEE 802.11 family of protocols (as shown), the HIPERLAN protocol, and/or another like protocol. While the device shown is a PDA, other similarly equipped mobile communications devices are contemplated. Suitable mobile communications devices include, e.g., mobile phones, laptop computers, etc., equipped with interfaces  14  and  16 . 
   The client  10  handles the selection of network connections for the device  12  when there is overlapping geographic coverage, and administers hand-offs between the 2G/3G network  20  and the WLAN  30 . That is to say, the client  10  controls or regulates the selective connection of the device  12  to the 2G/3G network  20  and/or the WLAN  30 . While only the single WLAN  30  is shown for simplicity and clarity herein, it is to be appreciated that a plurality of similarly situated WLANs to which the client  10  administers may exist within the boundaries of the 2G/3G network  20 . In addition, it is to be appreciated that a plurality of the WLANs may have geographic coverage areas that also overlap with one another. Preferably, the client  10  employs Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) or the like to communicate with the 2G/3G network  20  for the administration of the network selection process. 
   In what is nominally termed herein the normal operational mode, which is the operational mode when the device  12  is outside the geographic boundaries of the WLAN  30 , the device  12  connects to and/or interfaces with the 2G/3G network  20  in the usual manner. There is no network selection to be administered by the client  10  since the WLAN  30  is unavailable. In the normal operational mode, the mobile station is free to roam within the boundaries of the 2G/3G network  20 . Upon encountering the WLAN  30 , however, it may be desirable to connect the device  12  therewith, e.g., to obtain the benefit of a faster data access rate. Accordingly, the client  10  administers the network selection process. 
   When the presence of the WLAN  30  is detected or otherwise made known to the device  12 , e.g., due to the mobile station entering the geographic boundaries of the WLAN  30 , the client  10  captures the WLAN&#39;s name, identifier and/or other pertinent information (e.g., provider information). Preferably, the client  10  is periodically, or otherwise as desired, checking for WLANs via the interface  16 . 
   Using the interface  14  of the device  12 , the captured information or data is sent in the body of a SIP INVITE message  100  or other like session initiator over the 2G/3G network  20  to the 2G/3G network&#39;s Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) functional entity, shown here as a home location register (HLR)  22  for the 2G/3G network  20 . In response to the received INVITE message  100 , the HLR  22  sends a corresponding AAA Query  110 , employing a protocol such as, e.g., Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS), DIAMETER, Light Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), WEB service, etc., to an AAA server  32  for the WLAN  30 . Upon verification of the identity and permissions for the mobile station or user thereof by the AAA server  32 , the AAA server  32  sends an AAA Response  112  to the HLR  22 , and initiates a WLAN crypto key distribution, e.g., via the IEEE 802.11 protocol (as shown) or some other comparable protocol. The AAA Query and Response  110  and  112 , respectively, are preferably carried over wire lines and/or other network connections which join the AAA server  32  and the HLR  22 . 
   Preferably, the crypto key distribution includes sending an encryption key  120  to the client  10  running on the device  12 , which then, if properly received, responds with an OK message  122  sent to the AM server  32 . Preferably, the crypto key distribution is carried out over the WLAN  30 . The crypto key distribution permits the client  10  to establish and conduct a session on the WLAN  30  via the interface  16  of the device  12 . Note, 802.1x is an authentication and encryption key distribution protocol for the 802 family of network specification (i.e., 802.3—wired Ethernet, and/or 802.11a, b, g - wireless Ethernet). Of course, other suitable encryption protocols may be used. 
   Preferably after the crypto key distribution, the client  10  sends another SIP INVITE message  130  to the HLR  22  via the 2G/3G network  20  signaling that the crypto key distribution is complete. The HLR  22  sends back a SIP OK message  132  to the client  10  over the 2G/3G network  20  to determine if and/or confirm that the session as been properly established with the WLAN  30 . Provided that the session has been properly established, the client  10  replies over the 2G/3G network  20  with a SIP acknowledge (ACK) message  134  confirming the same. 
   The mobile station, having established a session on the WLAN  30 , is now free to roam within the boundaries thereof while enjoying the enhanced data access rate provided by the WLAN  30 , as compared to the 2G/3G network  20 . The mobile station has been effectively handed-off from the 2G/3G network  20  to the WLAN  30 . 
   In a preferred embodiment, the client  10  is programmed with or has access to a selectable, default and/or otherwise determined set of user preferences  200  (see  FIG. 4 ) which are employed to regulate hand-offs between the 2G/3G network  20  and the WLAN  30 . In this manner, the administration of the network selection process by the client  10  may be tailored or customized to the user&#39;s preferences. The user preferences  200 , for example, optionally specify time, date and/or location restrictions outside of which the user does not desire to have the mobile station handed-off to the WLAN  30 . The user preferences  200  also optionally specify which WLAN to favor for network selection purposes when more than one WLAN is available. 
   Via the user preferences  200 , the transparency of hand-offs may also be set. For example, the user preferences  200  may specify levels of transparency for selected WLANs to which the mobile station may be handed-off. If desired by the user, the preference for hand-offs to the WLAN  30  may be set for completely transparency, in which case a hand-off thereto would proceed as described. Alternately, if desired by the user, the preference for hand-offs to the WLAN  30  may be set for confirmation, in which case, once the WLAN  30  is detected by the device  12 , the client  10  obtains (e.g., via a pop up window or the like) confirmation from the user of the mobile station that the hand-off to the WLAN  30  is desired before proceeding. Of course, different WLANs can be set to different levels of transparency, or they could all be set the same, they could all default to complete transparency, or otherwise, as desired. 
   With reference to  FIG. 3 , the following embodiment includes some structural and/or functional components or steps which are the same as or similar to those described in the previous embodiment. For clarity and simplicity herein, these components or steps are referenced using the same reference numerals used previously. 
   Preferably, a network operator or service provider, which provides the network service or services to the mobile station over the 2G/3G network  20  and/or the WLAN  30 , is optionally able to provision, among other factors, conditions and behaviors for the network selection process administered by the client  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the mobile station is activated, periodically, or as otherwise desired, the HLR  22  sends the client  10  a SIP SUBSCRIBE message  102  or the like over the 2G/3G network  20 . Upon proper receipt of the SIP SUBSCRIBE message  102 , the client  10  responds, to confirm the same, with a SIP OK message  104  or the like sent to the HLR  22  over the 2G/3G network  20 . 
   When the presence of the WLAN  30  is detected or otherwise made known to the device  12 , e.g., due to the mobile station entering the geographic boundaries of the WLAN  30 , the client  10  captures the WLAN&#39;s name, identifier and/or other pertinent information (e.g., provider information). Using the interface  14  of the device  12 , a SIP NOTIFY message  106  or the like is sent from the client  10  over the 2G/3G network  20  to the HLR  22 . The SIP NOTIFY message  106  notifies or alerts the HLR  22  that the identified WLAN  30  has been encountered. In response to proper reception of the SIP NOTIFY message  106 , the HLR  22  sends the client  10  a SIP OK message  108  or the like over the 2G/3G network  20  to confirm the reception. Thereafter, the hand-off proceeds the same as or similar to that which is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   The SIP SUBSCRIBE message  102  sets or otherwise specifies service provider preferences  202  (see  FIG. 4 ) which operate (or optionally are) the same as or similar to the user preferences. That is to say, the provider preferences  202  program the client  10  or are accessible thereto, such that the administration of the network selection process by the client  10  is tailored or customized to take into account the provider&#39;s preferences. For example, the provider preferences  202  optionally specify: time, date and/or location restrictions outside of which the mobile station may not be handed-off to the WLAN  30 ; which WLAN to favor for network selection purposes when more than one WLAN is available; the transparency (from the user&#39;s perspective) of hand-offs; etc. Additionally, the provider preferences  202  optionally specify the WLANs and/or services available to the mobile station. Being that the service provider sets these preferences, they can be updated as circumstances change (e.g., as services are added or removed, or WLANs are added or removed, etc.), thereby dynamically provisioning, from the provider side without direct interaction or input from the user side, the conditions and/or behaviors of the network selection process administered by the client  10 . 
   With added reference to  FIG. 4 , the client  10  is shown with user preferences  200  and provider preferences  202 . On occasion, the preferences  200  and  202  may be in conflict. Preferably, a conflict resolution layer  204  of the client  10  is programmed or otherwise provides for resolution of any conflicts to achieve a set of active preferences  206  upon which the client  10  relies to tailor administration of the network selection process. Operation of the conflict resolution layer  204  is optionally programmable, selectable, predefined, defaulted or otherwise determined to achieve desired overriding results such as, e.g., having one set of preferences always override the other, or having selected preferences from either set be the overriding one, or having selected overriding preferences conditioned on time, date, location, the WLAN concerned, etc. The overriding preference is then the one passed to the active preferences  206 . Where no conflict exists, preferences are preferably passed to the active preferences  206  from either or both of the user and/or provider preferences  200  and/or  202 , respectively. Optionally, when a conflict arises, the conflict resolution layer  204  creates a modified preference taking into account both the user and provider preference to set, selected, or otherwise determined degrees. The modified preference is then the one passed to the active preferences  206 . 
   The provisioning of hand-offs between the 2G/3G network  20  and the WLAN  30  opens the door for shifted data transfers, which, in a preferred embodiment, are also administered by the client  10 . Shifted transfers optionally include both “shift-in-time” and “shift-in-space” data transfers. 
   A shift-in-time data transfer is where the mobile station requests or orders a data transfer from a device or service over the 2G/3G network  20  and receives delivery of that data over a WLAN at a later time when the mobile station has been handed-off thereto. Alternately, another entity, device or service may request or order the data transfer to the mobile station. Optionally, delivery may automatically commence upon the mobile station&#39;s very next established session on any WLAN after an order has been placed, or after some designated period has lapsed. Such a shift-in-time data transfer is particularly beneficial when the data being transferred is not desired immediately and may be voluminous. In this case, it is preferable to wait and make the transfer when the data access rate benefits of a WLAN are available. 
   A shift-in-space data transfer is where the mobile station requests or orders a data transfer from a device or service over the 2G/3G network  20  and receives delivery of that data over a specified WLAN when the mobile station has been handed-off thereto. Alternately, another entity, device or service may request or order the data transfer to the mobile station. Optionally, delivery may automatically commence upon the mobile station&#39;s very next established session on the specified WLAN after an order has been placed, or after some designated period has lapsed. Such a shift-in-space data transfer is particularly beneficial when the data being transferred is to be used or is desired at a specific location, and may be voluminous. In this case, it is preferable to wait and make the transfer when the data access rate benefits of a WLAN are available. For example, a presentation may be ordered over the 2G/3G network  20  for delivery to a specified meeting room utilizing the WLAN  30  while the mobile station is en-route thereto. Upon arrival, the presentation is transferred to the mobile station over the WLAN  30 . 
   In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , shifted data transfer orders are maintained in a database  210  or the like which is accessed by or otherwise available to the client  10  for administration of shifted data transfers. They may be enter through the device  12  by a user of the mobile station, or received via the 2G/3G network  20  or the WLAN  30 . The database  210  and/or orders therein are monitored by the client  10  and include pertinent information for execution of delivery (e.g., identification of the data to be transferred, delivery location, designated delay, the origin of the data to be transferred, etc.). When the designated or otherwise determined condition for delivery is achieved, the client  10  triggers the transfer of the data over the WLAN  30 . 
   Alternately, in a similar fashion, the database  210  may be maintained on the service provider side. In the case of shift-in-space data transfers, the orders may be maintained at the WLAN level with each order residing on its designated WLAN. In the case of shift-in-time data transfers, the orders are preferably maintain at the 2G/3G network level being that a particular WLAN is not specified. 
   The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.