Patent ID: 8654698

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing a computer program; in which the at least one memory with the computer program is configured with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to at least: receive from a first device a first broadcast message which comprises a network identifier for an enabling station; use the network identifier to associate with the enabling station and obtain from it a list of at least one license-exempt channel, in which the at least one license-exempt channel comprises at least a portion of television white spaces (TVWS) spectrum; join a first ad hoc network with the first device, in which the first broadcast message comprises a first identifier for the first ad hoc network; transmit a second broadcast message which comprises the network identifier for the enabling station; receive from a third device a third broadcast message which comprises a second identifier for a second ad hoc network; and to select joining the first ad hoc network over the second ad hoc network based on at least one of: a service offered in the first ad hoc network but not in the second ad hoc network; and recognizing the first ad hoc network as trusted.