Patent ID: 7873348

Claim:
A method for transmitting data in a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), comprising: transmitting a WLAN message between a terminal device and an access node of the WLAN network in a Layer 2 protocol layer, the WLAN message comprising information concerning a data connection of the terminal device via the access node to at least one network connectable to the WLAN network; wherein an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) message is transmitted in the WLAN message, the EAP message comprising a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message having SIP authentication data, the SIP message of the EAP Message also comprising a Session Description Protocol (SDP) message, wherein the SIP authentication data at least partially defines an authentication mechanism, and transmitting a message from the access node to a network connected to the access node; evaluating data connection information provided in the SIP message with the network connected to the access node; determining whether data connection is possible with the network connected to the access node; determining available data connections that meet criteria provided within the SIP message with the network connected to the access node; and sending a message with the network connected to the access node that is configured to provide the terminal device with a message identifying data connection options that meet the criteria provided within the SIP message.