Patent ID: 7924744

Claim:
A method of associating a multi access terminal, connected to a mobile communication network of a first access technology type, with a second communication network of a second access technology type, the second access technology type being different from the first access technology type, the method comprising: retrieving at least one parameter from the mobile communication network by the terminal, the at least one parameter characterizing a connection between the terminal and the mobile communication network; sending the at least one parameter from the terminal to an access point of the second communication network in a subfield of a header of a medium access control (MAC) frame, the header of the MAC frame further comprising an access technology type subfield specifying the access technology that the terminal is using to access the mobile communication network, the specified access technology being one of a plurality of defined access technologies; sending an association request for obtaining access to the second communication network from the terminal to the access point of the second communication network; and receiving an association response comprising an indication of whether the association request has been accepted or rejected by the access point, the association response being sent from the access point of the second communication network to the terminal wherein the access point of the second communication network uses the at least one parameter and the access technology type subfield in determining whether to accept or reject the association request, and if the access point accepts the association request, the terminal obtains access to the second communication network.