Patent Description:
A so-called hotspot is a physical location where a user of a mobile communication device may obtain Internet access via a wireless local-area network (WLAN) by accessing a WLAN device, typically a router, which is connected to an Internet service provider. Hotspots typically are public locations, for example in coffee shops or in hotels, which may be used to connect customer devices with the Internet.

Public hotspots are typically created from wireless access points configured to provide Internet access, controlled to some degree by the venue. In its simplest form, venues that have broadband Internet access can create public wireless access by configuring an access point (AP), in conjunction with a router to connect the AP to the Internet, wherein these functions may also be combined in a single wireless router. WLAN communication typically is based on one of the standards IEEE <NUM>. 11a, IEEE <NUM>. 11b, IEEE <NUM>, IEEE <NUM>. 11n, IEEE <NUM>. 11ac, or IEEE <NUM>. 11ax, also referred to as Wi-Fi.

Often several hotspots of different providers are present at the same location, and the user typically may also select the mobile radio network, i.e. the cellular network based for example on one of the standards GSM, UMTS or LTE, to be used for accessing the Internet. Users may access the wireless connection provided by the hotspot with their end devices, but typically get no information, what kind of service quality the hotspot provides. If cellular communications as well as several access points of different providers are available at a hotspot, it is not clear, whether it would be worth it to select the first access point of the hotspot, the second access point of the hotspot or the cellular communications as access point. If end devices automatically log into the access point of the hotspot, the user possibly gets a worse connection as before. From the user's point of view this is a problem.

From <CIT> a short-range wireless communication connection method and apparatus are known, by which a terminal can automatically provide information about other connectable external devices, after the terminal is connected to a specific external device by short-range wireless communication.

<CIT> describes methods, systems and codes for discovering service information, wherein an embodiment of the method comprises coding roaming service information to form a roaming information code, and wirelessly transmitting the roaming information code from a network access point to a mobile terminal of a user.

<CIT> describes techniques and protocols that enable a mobile device to scan a dedicated channel to obtain a neighbor report from an access point. From <CIT> a wireless network is known, said wireless network having mobile stations that determine to which access point they will associate based upon received beacon signal power levels and access point load information sent to the mobile station, thereby enhancing overall network performance by more efficient access point loading.

From <CIT> a method for mobile terminal access to a wireless local area network is known, wherein the method includes broadcasting service information relating to an access point in the wireless local area network, and associating the mobile terminal with the access point when the broadcasted service information matches a service profile stored in the mobile terminal.

From <CIT> a method of automatically connecting a mobile communication device to a communication network using a network resource classification database is known, wherein a communication network access point is detected using the mobile communication device and network attributes associated with the access point are reported to a resource classification server. The server analyzes and stores the network attributes, determines auxiliary data related to the access point, and uses a rules database to determine a category identifier associated with the access point. The server creates a resource classification characterizing the access point based upon the network attributes, auxiliary data, and category identifier. The mobile communication device queries the server, receives a resource classification, and connects to an access point based upon the received resource classification.

It is an object of the invention to show how a selection between several available options for accessing a pre-defined communciation network, in particular the Internet, with a mobile communication device can be performed in a better and/or simpler way, wherein the available options in particular comprise access via at least one WLAN access point and/or a cellular network.

The inventive solution is provided by the features of the independent claims. Accordingly, the object of the invention is achieved by a method according to claim <NUM>, by a WLAN device according to claim <NUM> and a mobile communication device according to claim <NUM>. Preferred and/or advantageous embodiments are provided in the dependent claims.

Generally, any aspect or advantage described in the following with respect to the subject matter of an independent claim also relates to the subject matter of any other independent claim. In particular, any aspect or advantage described in the following in the context of a method generally also applies in the context of a device or system and vice versa.

<FIG> in a schematic and simplified manner shows a scenario, in which a mobile communication device <NUM>, which may for instance be a smartphone, is located at a WLAN hotspot <NUM>. The WLAN hotspot location is depicted as the area <NUM>, which shall represent the coverage of WLAN access points <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>. In the shown embodiment, the WLAN access points are provided as WLAN routers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, each of which provides WLAN access to a pre-defined communication network, in particular to the Internet, for a plurality of WLAN-capable end devices. In the shown embodiment, the mobile communication device <NUM> may access a cellular network via exemplary shown base station <NUM>, so that the pre-defined network, which in particular is the Internet, may also be accessed by the mobile communication device <NUM> via the cellular network. However, also a mobile communication device may be used, which is not adapted for communication via a cellular network.

A schematic view of an exemplary design of a WLAN access point <NUM> provided as a WLAN router is shown in <FIG>, wherein the WLAN access point <NUM> shown in <FIG> is exemplary for each of the WLAN access points <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> shown in <FIG>, and a schematic view of the design of the mobile communication device <NUM> is shown in <FIG>.

The invention provides a method for providing information relating to network attributes associated with at least one of the WLAN access points <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> to the mobile communication device <NUM>, wherein the respective WLAN access point <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> determines network attributes associated with the respective WLAN access point, and, depending on the determined network attributes, generates respective network attribute information and transmits the network attribute information to the mobile communication device <NUM> and possibly also to other mobile communication devices within the coverage area of the hotspot <NUM>.

The network attributes, which may be determined by one of the WLAN access points <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM> comprise for example a maximum bit rate downstream and/or upstream, a currently available bit rate downstream and/or upstream, an average uptime, a volume limit, a login type, an information on whether VPN is allowed, a maximum number of currently allowable additional users, and/or an information on blocked ports. Uptime is a measure of reliability of the WLAN access point, given as a percentage of time, during which the respective WLAN access point has in the past been in operation and accessible. A volume limit may define a limit for an amount of data each mobile communication device, which accesses the respective WLAN access point, may download and/or upload during a pre-defined time duration, e.g. per day. The login type may define whether the WLAN access point is openly accessible or whether login credentials are needed for login.

In a first preferred embodiment, the step of determining the network attributes comprises retrieving, by the respective WLAN access point <NUM>, static network attributes, which are stored in a memory <NUM> of the WLAN access point <NUM>. Static network attributes may for instance be the maximum bit rate downstream and/or upstream, the volume limit, the login type, the information whether VPN is allowed and/or an information on blocked ports.

In a second preferred embodiment, the step of determining the network attributes comprises determining, by the respective WLAN access point <NUM>, current values of dynamically changing network attributes associated with the WLAN access point <NUM>. Dynamically changing network attributes may for instance be the currently available bit rate or throughput downstream and/or upstream, the average uptime and/or the maximum number of currently allowable additional users.

Generally, the network attributes are suitable to indicate the service quality of the respective WLAN access point <NUM>. In addition to the above stated examples, also any other network attributes, which are suitable for this purpose, may be utilized.

It is important to note that the network attributes are locally determined by the respective WLAN access point <NUM>, so that with respect to the dynamically changing network attributes a maximum currentness is achieved.

The steps of determining the network attributes, of generating the network attribute information and/or of transmitting the network attribute information preferably are repeated at pre-determined times, in particular cyclically in pre-defined time intervals, which also supports the currentness of the network attribute information.

For transmitting the network attribute information to the mobile communication device <NUM>, the invention proposes two approaches.

In a first approach the network attribute information is transmitted to the end device, in the shown embodiment the mobile communication device <NUM>, by means of an interpretable standardized name of the network identifier of the WLAN access point <NUM> located at the hotspot <NUM>, wherein said network attribute information enables the end device <NUM> prior to establishing a connection to obtain the information whether a transition to the WLAN access point <NUM> at hotspot <NUM> is worthwhile. The network identifier, the so-called SSID (service set identifier), today consists of an arbitrary term, wherein often network identifiers are chosen, which are easy to read by a human. Alternatively network identifiers may designate a device type or provider name.

But today they are not used as identifiers, which comprise information with respect to usage possibilities regarding the data transmission procided by a WLAN access point. Contrary to that, the invention proposes to utilize an interpretable standardized name as a network identifier, wherein the information in the name is for example the maximum allowable bit rate or the like. For example, today the SSID of an access point at a hotspot is "ProviderA". According to the invention the network ID of a hotspot, i.e. the SSID of the respective access point, may for instance have the form of "DT-O-<NUM>-<NUM>-V-", wherein in this example "DT" identifies the provider, "O" indicates an open network, whereas "C" would indicate a closed network, "<NUM>" indicates the maximum download bit rate in Megabit/s , "<NUM>" indicates the maximum upload bit rate in Megabit/s, and "V" indicates that the network allows VPN (Virtual Private Network), whereas "N" might indicate that the network does not allow VPN. By means of a software the end device <NUM> may decide, whether it is worthwhile to use the WLAN access point <NUM> at the hotspot or to remain in the cellular network, which may for instance be based on LTE. So, in addition to a name the network ID may comprise a further sequence of character or letter combinations, which can be decoded by the software in the end device <NUM>. By evaluating the network ID the software in the end device <NUM> then can decide whether the WLAN access point <NUM> at the hotspot <NUM> or a mobile radio network is chosen. Also a choice between at least two available WLAN access points <NUM> is enabled, wherein this is advantageous also for end devices, which are not adapted for communication via a cellular network, but via WLAN.

In the given example, in which the SSID has the form of "DT-O-<NUM>-<NUM>-V-" the end device <NUM> may decode the character sequence in such a way that the sequence is interpreted from left to right with five sub-sequences of characters being expected, respectively corresponding to the network attributes provider, login type, maximum download bitrate, maximum upload bitrate and information on VPN allowance, wherein the end of each subsequence is indicated by the delimiter symbol.

Hence, the network attribute information preferably is generated in the form of a service set identifier, which comprises information on the determined network attributes, and which is transmitted by broadcasting said service set identifier by the WLAN access point <NUM>.

The network identifier, i.e. the SSID, of each of the WLAN access points <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> preferably is renamed, when the respective WLAN access point is first put into operation, or when the connection of the WLAN access point is changed, in particular the broadband connection to an Internet service provider.

In the end device <NUM> a software is installed, which is adapted to interpret the network IDs of the WLAN access points and to decide thereupon whether the respective WLAN access point is used.

In a second approach, current dynamical information on network utilization of the WLAN access point <NUM> of the hotspot <NUM> are provided in such a way that the end device <NUM> or the user of the end device <NUM> can retrieve information on the current capacity utilization and usage of the WLAN access point <NUM> via a web page, which is accessible via the WLAN access point <NUM>, wherein the web page is accessible via a defined URL (Uniform Resource Locator). The web page is machine-readable and preferably comprises, in addition or alternatively to the static information, dynamical information on current capacity utilization or the maximum number of users still allowed. Then, the end device <NUM> can interpret the web page and then, on the basis of the information, the end device <NUM> can decide to choose the WLAN access point <NUM> or during usage the end device <NUM> can decide to again leave the WLAN access point <NUM>. For that purpose the web page is retrieved cyclically or on demand and the information is interpreted and a decision is made by comparison.

For the above purpose, in the WLAN access point <NUM> a webserver is installed. The webserver provides a URL with a web page, on which the current information on service quality may be accessed. On end devices, such as mobile communication device <NUM>, a software is installed, which is adapted to interpret the contents of the web page and to decide on that basis, whether the hotspot is used, the hotspot is left, or, if appropriate, the hotspot is used again.

Accordingly, the method comprises generating a machine-readable web page, which comprises information on the determined network attributes, and transmitting said web page from a webserver, which is integrated in the WLAN access point <NUM>, to the mobile communication device <NUM>, wherein the mobile communication device <NUM> automatically interprets the received web page to extract network attribute information.

The above-described first approach is particularly advantageous for providing information on static network attributes, wherein the approach is simple and only requires renaming the network identifiers, i.e. the SSIDs, and adapting the mobile communication device <NUM> for enabling it to interpret the network identifier. However, it may also be conceivable to transmit dynamically changing network attributes by means of the network identifier.

The above-described second approach is particularly advantage for providing information on dynamically changing network attributes, wherein the inventive approach has the advantage of high currentness of the provided information on service quality of a WLAN access point. Such a high currentness, which results from the WLAN access point locally determining the network attributes, typically cannot be achieved by solutions known from the prior art, which for instance employ a central network resource classification database.

In a preferred embodiment of the method the mobile communication device <NUM> respectively receives a different piece of network attribute information from each of the WLAN access points <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM>, located at the same hotspot <NUM> and the mobile communication device <NUM>, depending on the received network attribute information associated with the WLAN access points <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> automatically selects one of WLAN access points or a mobile radio network for accessing a destination network, in particular the Internet. The selection preferably is made based on a comparison of at least one pre-defined network attribute. For instance, a WLAN access point or the cellular network is selected depending on which of these provides the highest download bitrate or depending on which provides the highest reliability.

In <FIG> a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a WLAN access point <NUM> is shown, exemplary provided as a WLAN router. The WLAN access point <NUM> provides WLAN access for a plurality of WLAN-capable mobile communication devices, such as mobile communication device <NUM>, by utilizing WLAN interface <NUM> having a respective transceiver. The WLAN access point <NUM> is adapted to provide broadband Internet access using for instance a fiber optic or a DSL connection, which is connected to WAN port <NUM>. In the shown embodiment, the WLAN access point <NUM> is further provided with several LAN ports <NUM> for connecting to local devices via Ethernet. The WLAN access point <NUM> further comprises a microprocessor <NUM>, a data memory <NUM>, and a program memory <NUM>, wherein in the program memory <NUM> executable instructions are stored, which are adapted, when executed by the microprocessor <NUM>, to determine network attributes associated with the WLAN device <NUM>, to generate network attribute information depending on the determined network attributes, and to transmit said network attribute information to the mobile communication device <NUM> via WLAN.

In the data memory <NUM> with advantage static network attributes are stored. Furthermore, the WLAN access point <NUM> is preferably adapted to determine current values of dynamically changing network attributes associated with the WLAN access point <NUM>.

The WLAN access point <NUM> is adapted to regularly broadcast an SSID, wherein the SSID comprises information on network attributes, in particular the static network attributes stored in data memory <NUM>. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the WLAN access point <NUM> may comprise a webserver, which may be part of a program stored in the program memory <NUM>. The web server may for example be integrated in a firmware of the WLAN access point <NUM>. The WLAN access point <NUM> is adapted to provide and/or generate a machine-readable web page, which comprises information on determined network attributes. This web page may be accessed by the mobile communication device <NUM> via the web server. The web page may be provided as a so-called captive portal, which typically is a web page that is automatically displayed to newly connected users of a WLAN before they are granted broader access to network resources, and which according to the invention is automatically interpreted by mobile communication device <NUM>.

In <FIG> a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a mobile communication device <NUM> is shown, which may be provided as a smartphone, a notebook, a notepad, or the like. In the shown embodiment the communication device <NUM> is adapted to communicate via a cellular network using a mobile radio interface <NUM>, and it is adapted to communicate via WLAN using a WLAN interface <NUM>. In the shown embodiment the mobile communication device <NUM> comprises a microprocessor <NUM>, a data memory <NUM> and a program memory <NUM>. In the program memory <NUM> executable instructions are stored, which are adapted, when executed by the microprocessor <NUM>, to automatically receive network attribute information from at least one of the WLAN access points <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> and/or <NUM>-<NUM>, wherein said network attribute information is generated by the respective WLAN access point depending on network attributes, which are determined by the respective WLAN access point, to process the received network attribute information and to select one of the WLAN access points or a mobile radio network for accessing a destination network, in particular the Internet, depending on the result of processing the received network attribute information.

For this purpose, the mobile communication device <NUM> is adapted to automatically extract information from a received service set identifier and/or from a received web page. An SSID may for instance be interpreted using a pre-defined delimiter symbol for separating a pre-defined number of character sequences, each of which may then be interpreted in a pre-defined manner, for example as a text or as a number. For extracting information from a web page, the web page in particular is generated to be machine-readable, wherein the mobile communication device <NUM> is adapted to read the web page. The web page for this purpose may for example have XML format.

It is to be noted that the described method may of course also be employed with a mobile communication device, which comprises a WLAN interface <NUM>, but which is not adapted to communicate via a cellular network and accordingly is not provided with a mobile radio interface <NUM>. This is for instance the case for most notebooks. In case a cellular network cannot be accessed, due to a lack of a respective interface or due to a lack of reception in the mobile radio network, one of at least two available WLAN access points may be selected for accessing a destination network depending on respectively received network attribute information.

It is further to be noted that the above-described method preferably is performed automatically, so that the mobile communication device <NUM> automatically selects the best available access path according to a pre-defined selection parameter, and either accesses a WLAN access point of possibly several WLAN access points or accesses a cellular network. Alternatively, the relevant network attribute information may also be displayed to a user of the mobile communication device <NUM>, and the user then makes the selection.

At least some of the preferred aspects of the invention are again summarized below.

According to one aspect, a method for providing information relating to network attributes associated with a WLAN access point <NUM> to a mobile communication device <NUM> is provided, which comprises the steps of:.

Preferably, steps a), b) and/or c) are repeated at pre-determined times, in particular cyclically in pre-defined time intervals.

Step a) advantageously comprises retrieving, by the WLAN access point <NUM>, static network attributes, which are stored in a memory <NUM> of the WLAN access point <NUM>, and/or determining, by the WLAN access point <NUM>, current values of dynamically changing network attributes associated with the WLAN access point <NUM>.

Step b) advantageously comprises generating a service set identifier, which comprises information on the determined network attributes, wherein step c) comprises broadcasting said service set identifier by the WLAN access point <NUM>. Step b) comprises generating a machine-readable web page, which comprises information on the determined network attributes, wherein step c) comprises transmitting said web page from a webserver, which is integrated in the WLAN access point <NUM>, to the mobile communication device <NUM>, and wherein the mobile communication
device <NUM> automatically interprets the received web page to extract network attribute information.

In a preferred embodiment, a URL of the web page is provided to the mobile communication device <NUM> and the mobile communication device <NUM> accesses the web page via the web server using the URL, at pre-determined times, in particular cyclically in pre-defined time intervals.

In the case that at a hotspot <NUM> more than one WLAN access point <NUM> is present, wherein the WLAN access points in particular are operated by different providers, the mobile communication device <NUM> with advantage receives at least two pieces of network attribute information, respectively associated with different WLAN access points, wherein said different WLAN access points are located at the same hotspot.

Depending on received network attribute information associated with at least one WLAN access point <NUM> located at a given hotspot <NUM>, the mobile communication device <NUM> automatically selects one of said at least one WLAN access points or a mobile radio network for accessing a destination network, in particular the Internet.

The network attributes, which are determined in step a), preferably comprise a maximum bit rate downstream and/or upstream, a currently available bit rate downstream and/or upstream, an average uptime, a volume limit, a login type, an information on whether VPN is allowed, a maximum number of currently allowable additional users, and/or an information on blocked ports.

According to another aspect of the invention a WLAN device <NUM> is provided, which is adapted to operate as a WLAN access point, and which provides WLAN access for a plurality of WLAN-capable mobile communication devices, wherein the WLAN device comprises a processor <NUM>, a memory, a first interface <NUM> for connecting to a communication network, in particular to the Internet, a second interface <NUM> for providing WLAN access, said second interface comprising a transceiver, wherein in said memory <NUM> executable instructions are stored, which are adapted, when executed by said processor, to perform the steps of:.

In a preferred embodiment static network attributes are stored in the memory and/or the WLAN device <NUM> is adapted to determine current values of dynamically changing network attributes associated with the WLAN device <NUM>.

Furthermore, the WLAN device <NUM> preferably is adapted to generate and broadcast a service set identifier, which comprises information on the determined network attributes.

The WLAN device <NUM> comprises a webserver and is adapted to generate a machine-readable web page, which comprises information on the determined network attributes, and to transmit said web page from said webserver to the at least one mobile communication device <NUM>.

According to another aspect of the invention a mobile communication device <NUM> is provided, which comprises a processor <NUM>, a memory, and an interface <NUM> for connecting to a WLAN, wherein in said memory executable instructions are stored, which are adapted, when executed by said processor <NUM>, to automatically perform the steps of:.

The mobile communication device <NUM> is adapted to automatically extract information on network attributes associated with at least one WLAN access point <NUM> from a received web page, and preferably is adapted to automatically extract information on network attributes associated with at least one WLAN access point <NUM> from a received service set identifier.

Claim 1:
A method for providing information relating to network attributes associated with a WLAN access point (<NUM>) to a mobile communication device (<NUM>), comprising the steps of:
a) determining, by a WLAN access point (<NUM>), network attributes associated with the WLAN access point (<NUM>), wherein said WLAN access point (<NUM>) is located at a hotspot (<NUM>),
b) generating, by the WLAN access point (<NUM>), depending on the determined network attributes, a machine-readable web page, which comprises information on the determined network attributes, and
c) transmitting, by the WLAN access point (<NUM>), said web page from a webserver, which is integrated in the WLAN access point (<NUM>), to at least one mobile communication device (<NUM>) via a WLAN communication, wherein the mobile communication device (<NUM>) automatically interprets the received web page to extract network attribute information.