(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2003/0118015 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jun. 26, 2003
`GunnarSSOn et al.
`
`US 2003.0118O15A1
`
`(54)
`
`(76)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`
`(51)
`(52)
`
`LOCATION BASED NOTIFICATION OF
`WLAN AVAILABILITY WIA WIRELESS
`COMMUNICATION NETWORK
`
`Inventors: Magnus Gunnarsson, San Diego, CA
`(US); Sven Anders Borje Svensson,
`San Diego, CA (US)
`Correspondence Address:
`COATS & BENNETT, PLLC
`PO BOX 5
`RALEIGH, NC 27602 (US)
`Appl. No.:
`10/027,322
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 20, 2001
`
`Publication Classification
`
`Int. Cl. ............................................... H04L 12/28
`U.S. Cl. ............................................ 370/389; 370/401
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A wireleSS mobile terminal is alerted to the presence of an
`available Wireless Local Area Network by a communication
`network, based on the location of the mobile terminal. The
`mobile terminal alerts a wireleSS computing device, either
`via a wired or wireleSS interface, or by paging the user.
`Alternatively, the mobile terminal and the wireleSS comput
`ing device may form an integrated unit with interfaces to
`both the WLAN and the communication network. The
`wireless computing device initiates a scan for the WLAN, or
`logs onto the WLAN based on information transmitted to the
`mobile terminal. When the user is not in the range of a
`WLAN, the wireless computing device conserves battery
`power by not scanning for a WLAN. The communication
`network may additionally be connected to the WLAN for
`data exchange. The alert criteria may be customized and
`Stored in a Subscriber database at the communication net
`work.
`
`- to
`
`
`
`Petitioners Microsoft Corporation and HP Inc. - Ex. 1014, p. 1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 26, 2003 Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 2003/0118015 A1
`
`-1
`
`
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Petitioners Microsoft Corporation and HP Inc. - Ex. 1014, p. 2
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 26, 2003 Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 2003/0118015 A1
`
`30
`
`Codma2000
`
`
`
`50
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Petitioners Microsoft Corporation and HP Inc. - Ex. 1014, p. 3
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 26, 2003 Sheet 3 of 5
`
`US 2003/0118015 A1
`
`
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Petitioners Microsoft Corporation and HP Inc. - Ex. 1014, p. 4
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 26, 2003 Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 2003/0118015 A1
`
`30
`
`Codma2000
`
`
`
`
`
`2O
`
`802.11 (b)
`
`FIG. 4
`
`Petitioners Microsoft Corporation and HP Inc. - Ex. 1014, p. 5
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication Jun. 26, 2003. Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 2003/0118015 A1
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`START
`
`DETERMINE LOCATION
`OF COMM DEVICE
`
`WLAN
`IN REGION?
`
`YES
`
`NOTIFY COMM
`DEVICE OF WLAN
`
`102
`
`
`
`
`
`COMM DEVICE ALERTS
`COMPUTING DEVICE OF WLAN
`
`COMPUTING DEVICE LOGS
`ONTOWLAN
`
`100
`
`104
`
`106
`
`108
`
`FIG. 5
`
`Petitioners Microsoft Corporation and HP Inc. - Ex. 1014, p. 6
`
`

`

`US 2003/0118015 A1
`
`Jun. 26, 2003
`
`LOCATION BASED NOTIFICATION OF WLAN
`AVAILABILITY WIA WIRELESS
`COMMUNICATION NETWORK
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0001. The present invention relates generally to the field
`of wireleSS communications and computing, and Specifically
`to a method of notifying a mobile terminal of the availability
`of a wireless local area network through a communications
`network, based on the location of the mobile unit.
`0002 Wireless access to communications and informa
`tion Services is a recent and growing trend in the telecom
`munications and data processing industries. WireleSS com
`munications Services, Such as cellular telephone Services,
`have become ubiquitous and are today used to get wide area
`access to computer networkS Such as the Internet. WireleSS
`local access to computer networks are also becoming com
`monplace, particularly in areas frequented by travelers, Such
`as airport lounges, coffee shops, hotels, and the like. Con
`currently, the line between consumer communications
`devices Such as pagers and cellular telephones, and data
`processing devices Such as laptop computers, continue to
`blur as each incorporates functionality of the other.
`0003. Due primarily to the different bandwidth needs
`between communications and computing devices, different
`wireleSS networks are built and deployed by Service provid
`ers to address each application. Typically, wireleSS commu
`nication networks span large geographic regions, while
`WireleSS computing networks are more limited in geographic
`extent. Additionally, wireless computing networks are far
`leSS eXtensively deployed than are wireleSS communications
`networks in these limited areas. Thus, a number of wireleSS
`local acceSS networks are typically Subsumed within the
`coverage area of one or more wireleSS communications
`networks.
`0004 Wireless consumer electronics devices- both com
`munications and computing devices-are nearly Synony
`mous with battery-powered mobile devices. The minimiza
`tion of power dissipation and the maximization of battery
`life are prime concerns. Many mobile consumer computing
`devices currently must either continuously Search for a
`wireless local access network, wasting battery power, or
`alternatively the user may forego the advantages of the
`wireless local access network if the user is not aware of its
`presence and availability.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0005 The present invention includes a method of alerting
`a mobile terminal connected to a wireleSS communication
`network of the availability of a wireless local area network.
`The method comprises determining the location of the
`mobile terminal; comparing that location with the known
`location of the wireleSS local area network, and notifying the
`mobile terminal of the wireless local area network via the
`wireleSS communication network in response to the com
`parison. The notification may include transferring data
`regarding the wireleSS local area network to the mobile
`terminal.
`0006 The present invention additionally includes a
`method of a mobile unit accessing a wireless local area
`network. The method comprises connecting to a wireleSS
`
`communication network operative to determine the location
`of the mobile unit, receiving from the wireleSS communi
`cation network, in response to the location determination, a
`notification of the availability of a wireless local area
`network, and accessing the wireless local area network in
`response to the notification. The mobile unit may include at
`least a communication device and a computing device. The
`two devices may be integrated into a common unit, or may
`be separate and connected in a data transfer relationship. The
`data may be transferred between the communication and
`computing devices via a wired connection Such as a wire or
`optical cable or a wireleSS connection Such as an infrared
`data link or a BLUETOOTH interface.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`0007 FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting a wireless commu
`nications network and wireless local area networks,
`0008 FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting the lines of commu
`nication between the networks and Separate wireleSS user
`devices,
`0009 FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting the lines of commu
`nication between the networks and wireleSS user devices
`connected by a data transfer interface;
`0010 FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting the lines of commu
`nication between the networks and integrated wireleSS user
`devices, and
`0011 FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting the method step
`according to one embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`0012 FIG. 1 depicts a wireless communication network,
`indicated generally by the numeral 10, providing wireleSS
`communication Services to mobile terminals 60 over a large
`geographic area. The Service area is divided into a plurality
`of regions or “cells' 12. A cell 12 may be subdivided into
`Sectors two or more Sectors. Each cell 12 typically includes
`a base Station 14 for communicating with mobile terminals
`60 within that cell 12. As used herein, the term “mobile
`terminal” means any device capable of wireleSS communi
`cations, and may include a cellular radiotelephone; a Per
`sonal Digital Assistant (PDA) that combines a cellular
`radiotelephone with data processing capabilities, or a con
`ventional laptop and/or palmtop computer including a radio
`telephone transceiver. Mobile terminals may also be referred
`to as “pervasive computing devices.
`0013 Wireless communication network 10 may provide
`Voice Services, data Services, or both Voice and data Services.
`Numerous Standards exist for wireleSS communication net
`works. Representative standards include Time Division
`Multiple Access (TDMA) standards such as the Telecom
`munications Industry Association (TIA)/Electronics Indus
`try Alliance (EIA) standard TIA/EIA-136, or the Global
`System for Wireless communication (GSM), and Code Divi
`sion Multiple Access (CDMA) standards such as IS-95,
`cdma2000, and Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA). While the
`present invention is explained in the context of a CDMA
`network and provides examples utilizing features and capa
`bilities Specific to that Standard, the present invention is not
`thus limited, and may be implemented by one of skill in the
`
`Petitioners Microsoft Corporation and HP Inc. - Ex. 1014, p. 7
`
`

`

`US 2003/0118015 A1
`
`Jun. 26, 2003
`
`art in a wide variety of wireleSS communication networks,
`utilizing analogous features to implement the same or Simi
`lar functions.
`0014 FIG. 1 additionally depicts Wireless Local Area
`Networks (WLANs) 20. WLANs 20 provide wireless access
`to high-bandwidth data networks to appropriately equipped
`wireleSS computing devices 70. AS used herein, the term
`"wireleSS computing device' means a computing device,
`Such as a laptop computer or Personal Digital ASSistant
`(PDA), equipped with a wireless interface for connecting
`wirelessly with a computer network, Such as the Internet or
`private network, via a wireless access point. WLANs may be
`implemented according to a variety of protocols and tech
`nical standards, such as for example, IEEE 802.11(b) (also
`known as “Wi-Fi'); the short-range wireless ad hoc network
`developed and promulgated by Telefonaktiebolaget L. M.
`Ericsson, known commercially as BLUETOOTH; IEEE
`802.11(a); or HiperLAN/2.
`0015 WLANs 20 are characterized by high bandwidth
`data communications, and have a limited Service coverage
`area. WLANs 20 may be deployed for private use within
`offices, universities, laboratories, and the like, and for public
`use in airport lounges, coffee shops, hotels, and the like.
`WLANs 20 may additionally be deployed over wider areas,
`Such as a university campus, or Several city blocks. Two or
`more WLANs 20 may be interconnected to provide high
`bandwidth data communications over a metropolitan area.
`The areas covered by WLANs 20 typically form islands
`Surrounded by areas with no Such Service. These islands are
`commonly referred to as “hot spots.”
`0016 WLANs 20 may be provided by the same service
`provider as the wireless communication network 10. Alter
`natively, WLANs 20 may be provided by independent
`service providers, such as Wireless Internet Service Provid
`ers (WISPs) or site operators. User access to the WLANs 20
`may be restricted, Such as for example, by Subscription with
`only Subscribed users granted access, or open to the general
`public, either on a pay-per-use basis or without billing, Such
`as to induce customers to patronize an establishment. The
`particulars of access to WLANs 20, and billings therefore,
`are not germane to the present invention and are not further
`discussed herein.
`0017 Users of wireless computing devices 70 may prefer
`to access WLANs 20 whenever possible for network con
`nectivity, Such as Internet access, and for high-bandwidth
`data transferS. However, the radio frequency interfaces in
`wireleSS computing devices 70 may consume a great deal of
`power when constantly or periodically Searching for an
`active WLAN 20 connection, dramatically reducing battery
`life.
`0.018. The present invention provides a method of noti
`fying Subscribers to a wireleSS communication network 10
`of WLAN availability when the user is in the vicinity of a
`WLAN 20. The wireless communication network 10 tracks
`the current location of a mobile terminal 60 associated with
`the user and Sends a notification to the Subscriber via the
`mobile terminal 60 when there is a WLAN in the vicinity of
`the user's current location. The mobile terminal 60 may be
`integrated with a wireleSS computing device 70 to form an
`integrated mobile unit with two interfaces. Alternatively, the
`mobile terminal 60 and wireless computing device 70 may
`comprise two Separate devices. In the latter case, the wire
`
`less computing device 70 may have a first WLAN interface
`(such as an IEEE 802.11(b) interface) for communicating
`with the WLAN 20 and a second interface (such as a
`BLUETOOTH radio interface) for communicating with the
`mobile terminal 60. If the mobile terminal 60 and wireless
`computing device 70 are part of an integrated mobile unit,
`the mobile unit may automatically activate a WLAN inter
`face responsive to the notification from the wireleSS com
`munication network 10 and begin searching for the WLAN.
`If the mobile terminal comprises a separate device, the
`mobile terminal may forward the notification from the
`mobile terminal 60 to the wireless computing device 70 via
`the second interface, which may in turn activate its WLAN
`interface. If there is no interface between the mobile termi
`nal 60 and the wireless computing device 70, the user may
`manually activate wireleSS computing device 70 and/or the
`WLAN interface in the wireless computing device 70. The
`present invention allows the wireleSS computing device
`an/or WLAN interface to be placed in an inactive mode
`when there is no WLAN available and awakened only when
`the wireless computing device 70 is in the vicinity of a
`WLAN, thus conserving battery power.
`0019 FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary communication
`environment in which the present invention may be used. In
`FIG. 2, the user has two separate communication
`devices-a mobile terminal 60 for communicating with a
`first wireleSS communication network, Such as a TIA/EIA/
`IS-2000 network 10, and a separate wireless computing
`device 70 for communicating with a second wireless com
`munication network 20, Such as WLAN 20. The mobile
`terminal 60 includes a radio interface 62, generally known
`as the A interface in the TIA/EIA/IS-2000 standards, for
`communicating with the wireleSS communication network
`10. Wireless communication network 10 connects the
`mobile terminal 60 to the PSTN and may additionally
`connect the mobile terminal to a packet data network, Such
`as the Internet 40. The mobile terminal 60 may further
`comprise a positioning receiver, Such as a GPS receiver, for
`receiving signals from a GPS satellite 50 and determining its
`current location. The wireless computing device 70 includes
`an interface, Such as an 802.11(b) compliant interface, for
`communicating with the WLAN 20, which serves as an
`access point to the Internet 40 or other packet data network.
`The WLAN 20 may, for example, implement the IEEE
`802.11(b) protocol.
`0020. The user may be roaming within the service area of
`the wireless communication network 10 and may want to
`know when a WLAN 20 is available. To alert a user that he
`or she is within range of a WLAN 20 (or to directly alert the
`user's computing device, as described below), the wireless
`communication network 10 must determine the user's loca
`tion, which for the purposes of the present invention may be
`taken as the location of the user's mobile terminal 60. In one
`embodiment, the location of a mobile terminal 60 may
`simply comprise the cell 12 within which the mobile termi
`nal 60 is located, as indicated by the base station 14 that is
`serving the mobile terminal 60. For example, referring to
`FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 60 in a cell 12 which at least
`partially overlaps the coverage area of a WLAN20 would be
`alerted to search for the WLAN 20, even though the mobile
`terminal 60 may not actually be within the coverage area of
`WLAN 20. For example, a mobile terminal 60 located
`anywhere in cell B, C, D, or F would be alerted to search for
`a WLAN 20, which my result in many unsuccessful searches
`
`Petitioners Microsoft Corporation and HP Inc. - Ex. 1014, p. 8
`
`

`

`US 2003/0118015 A1
`
`Jun. 26, 2003
`
`by mobile terminals 60 within these cells but outside of the
`coverage area of a WLAN 20. The location of a mobile
`terminal 60 may be determined with greater specificity in a
`Sectored cell, Such as cell D. For example, as depicted in
`FIG. 1, mobile terminal 60 may only be alerted to the
`presence of WLAN 20 when it is being serviced within
`sector D1 and might not be so alerted in sectors D2 and D3.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the
`determination of the location of a mobile terminal 60 is
`simply an identification of the cell 12 or sector in which the
`mobile terminal 60 is operating, the alert transmitted by the
`wireless communication network 10 if a WLAN 20 is
`available in the cell 12 or sector (as described more fully
`below) may comprise a message broadcast to all mobile
`terminals 60 in the relevant cell 12 or sector.
`0021) While location of a mobile terminal 60 at the
`granularity of a cell 12 or Sector allows the wireleSS com
`puting device 70 to Save power by not unnecessarily Search
`ing for WLANs 20 outside of a cell 12 or sector where a
`WLAN 20 is present, the wireless computing device 70 may
`Still consume battery power unnecessarily Searching for
`WLANs 20 when it is within the indicated cell 12 or sector
`but outside of the coverage area of the WLANs 20. A wide
`variety of techniques are known in the wireleSS communi
`cation arts for more precisely determining the location of a
`mobile terminal 60 within the wireless communication net
`work 10, any of which may be advantageously applied to the
`present invention. For example, the relative signal Strengths,
`Signal propagation delay, phase shift, or the like of Signals
`transmitted by the mobile terminal 60 to three or more base
`Stations 14 may be compared to triangulate or more pre
`cisely locate the position of the mobile terminal 60. The
`mobile terminal 60 may include a positioning receiver and
`processing circuit for receiving Satellite navigation signals
`from a Satellite 50 or terrestrial antenna, and determining its
`position therefrom, transmitting that position information to
`the communication network 10. One example of such a
`satellite navigation system is the U.S. Global Positioning
`System (GPS). The mobile terminal 60 may determine its
`position from GPS Signals independently, or alternatively, it
`may receive assistance data, Such as Satellite ephemeris data
`or approximate location, from the communication network
`10. A wide variety of systems and methods for determining
`and tracking the precise location of mobile terminals 60
`within a wireless communication network 10 have been
`developed to Support location-based Services Such as adver
`tising and emergency call point-of-origin reporting. These
`Systems and methods are known in the art, and may be
`advantageously applied to the present invention.
`0022. Once the wireless communication network 10 has
`determined the location of a mobile terminal 60, that loca
`tion may be compared to the known location and extent of
`WLANs 20, the location of the WLAN 20 may be stored in
`various databases and other information resources within the
`communication network 10. If the mobile terminal 60 is
`within a predetermined range of one or more WLANs 20
`(for example, as measured from the center of the WLAN),
`the communication network 10 may notify the mobile
`terminal 60 of that fact via a transmission through the
`communication network 10. Within the predetermined
`range, the mobile terminal 60 may be located within the
`coverage area serviced by the WLAN 20 or may be
`approaching Such coverage area. In either case, the notifi
`cation is desirable to bring the wireless computing device 70
`
`out of an inactive state, to begin searching for WLAN 20. In
`one embodiment, this notification may be as simple as a
`paging message Sent to the mobile terminal 60, causing the
`mobile terminal 60 to signal the user, Such as by emitting a
`predefined “beep.” Alternatively, or in addition, the wireless
`communication network 10 may send the mobile terminal 60
`a brief text message, such as for example, “WLAN
`DETECTED.” The communication network 10 may send
`the text message to the mobile terminal 60 using a defined
`protocol, such as the Short Message Service (SMS), which
`is displayed to the user. The user may then manually enable
`the wireless computing device 70 to search for a WLAN 20.
`0023. As shown in FIG. 3, both the mobile terminal 60
`and wireleSS computing device 70 may be equipped with a
`Second interface 74 for communicating with one another.
`The Second interface 74 may comprise a wireleSS interface,
`such as a radio interface (e.g., BLUETOOTH interface) or
`infrared interface, or a wire or optical cable interface. In the
`embodiment of FIG.3, the wireless communication network
`10 determines the location of the user, which may comprise
`cell identification or ranging as described above, or may
`comprise receiving location information directly from the
`mobile terminal 60, that calculates its location from Satellite
`signals received from the GPS system 50. If the user's
`location corresponds to the known service area of a WLAN
`20, as Stored in a database accessible to the wireleSS com
`munication network 10, the network 10 sends an alert to the
`mobile terminal 60. This alert may include data, such as the
`carrier frequency of the WLAN 20, which can be sent
`utilizing in-band Signaling within a SMS message. The
`Signaling protocols could also be modified to enable Such
`information to be transmitted to the mobile terminal 60 as a
`control message. The mobile terminal 60 may then Signal the
`wireless computing device 70 (e.g., via a BLUETOOTH
`message) via interface 74, causing the wireless computing
`device 70 to power-up or otherwise enable its WLAN
`interface 72 to establish wireless data communication with
`the WLAN 20. The information signal sent to the mobile
`terminal 60 may simply indicate the availability of a WLAN
`20, causing the computing device 70 to search for the
`WLAN 20. Alternatively, the information signal may
`include the carrier frequency of the WLAN 20, and/or
`various information such as the WLAN 20 system operator,
`acceSS policies and protocols, Services available, billing
`information, and the like. In this embodiment, the enabling
`of the WLAN interface 72 on the wireless computing device
`70 is completely automatic with respect to the user. As the
`user moves into range of a WLAN 20, the wireless com
`puting device 70 enables its WLAN interface 72 and con
`nects to the WLAN 20. As the user moves out of the range
`of a WLAN 20, the wireless computing device 70 shuts
`down its WLAN interface 72, such as by placing the
`circuit(s) in “sleep” mode, thus conserving battery power
`and compute resources.
`0024 FIG. 4 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the
`invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the mobile
`terminal 60 is integrated with the wireleSS computing device
`70 to form an integrated mobile unit with at least two
`wireless interfaces 72 and 76. The first wireless interface 72
`is a WLAN interface and the second interface is a TIA/EIA/
`IS-2000 interface. The wireless computing device 70 com
`municates with the WLAN 20 via the WLAN interface 72
`and communicates directly with the wireleSS communication
`network 10 via the second interface 76. In this embodiment,
`
`Petitioners Microsoft Corporation and HP Inc. - Ex. 1014, p. 9
`
`

`

`US 2003/0118015 A1
`
`Jun. 26, 2003
`
`the mobile computing device 70 may place the first wireless
`interface 72 in an inactive mode when it is outside the range
`of a WLAN 20. As the mobile computing device moves
`closer to a WLAN 20, the wireless communication network
`10 sends a notification to the wireless computing device 70,
`which is received via the second interface 76. The notifica
`tion may take any of the forms described above, but pref
`erably includes information to facilitate establishing a con
`nection with the WLAN 20. Upon receiving the notification
`form the wireless communication network 10, the wireless
`computing device 70 wakens its WLAN interface 72, begins
`searching for the WLAN 20, and establishes a connection if
`a WLAN 20 is found. Alternatively, the user may be
`prompted before connecting with the WLAN 20.
`0.025 The manner in which the wireless communication
`network 10 alerts the mobile terminal 60 of the presence of
`WLAN 20, and the information communicated to the mobile
`terminal 60, may vary according to a user-specific profile,
`for example Stored in a Subscriber database in the commu
`nication network 10 such as the Home Location Register
`(HLR), as is well known to those of skill in the art. For
`example, such a database may indicate the WLAN 20
`Systems to which the user Subscribes, or billing charges the
`user is willing to incur. The database may also indicate the
`manner in which the user's mobile terminal 60 is to be
`notified, which may vary among users depending on their
`equipment and its capacities. In this manner, each user may
`customize the location-based alerts to available WLAN 20,
`and their automatic connection thereto, along a wide variety
`of parameters.
`0026. In one embodiment, in addition to alerting the
`mobile terminal 60 of the presence of a WLAN 20 in
`response to the location of the mobile terminal 60, the
`wireleSS communication network 10 may communicate with
`the WLAN 20 directly, such as across an IP interface 15. The
`communication network 10 may receive data from the
`WLAN 20 concerning its operation, access, billing, avail
`able Services, and the like for comparison to the user's
`preferences Stored in a Subscriber database, and/or for trans
`mission to the user. The communication network 10 may
`also transfer information regarding the user to the WLAN
`20, such as the user's identification, enabling the WLAN 20
`to access the user's email or perform other data processing
`in anticipation of the user registering with the WLAN 20.
`0.027 Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that
`the configuration depicted in FIGS. 2-4 is representative
`only. In particular, the communication network 10 may
`communicate with the WLAN 20 in a variety of ways, such
`as through an SS7 Signaling network, across a dedicated
`T1/E1 trunk, through the Internet 40, or the like. Similarly,
`the link 15 between the communication network 10 and the
`WLAN 20 may be omitted altogether, as may be the case if
`the respective Service providers are Separate business enti
`ties with no cooperative agreement or data-sharing protocol
`in place. In Such a case, the communication network 10 may
`simply alert the mobile terminal 60 to the presence of the
`WLAN 20, and allow the wireless computing device 70 to
`search for the WLAN 20 and perform all login and authen
`tication procedures.
`0028. A flowchart depicting a method implemented in
`wireless communication network 10 of alerting a mobile
`terminal 60 or wireless computing device 70 to the presence
`
`of a WLAN 20. Initially, the wireless communication net
`work 10 determines the location of the mobile terminal 60
`or wireless computing device 70 (block 100). This may be
`through cell or Sector identification, ranging, triangulation,
`or other technique as described above, or may simply
`comprise receiving location information from the mobile
`terminal 60 or wireless computing device 70, such as from
`a GPS receiver integrated therein. The current location of the
`mobile terminal 60 or wireless computing device 70 is
`compared with the known locations and extent of WLANs
`20 to determine whether the mobile terminal 60 or wireless
`computing device 70 is within the proximity of, or within the
`coverage area of, a WLAN 20 (block 102). If not, no alert
`is sent, and control returns to block 100 to monitor the
`location of the mobile terminal 60 or wireless computing
`device 70. If the mobile terminal 60 or wireless computing
`device 70 is determined to be within a predetermined range
`of a WLAN 20, the wireless communication network 10
`sends a notification to the mobile terminal 60 or wireless
`computing device 70, Such as by a page, text message,
`in-band Signaling data transfer, or the like, as described
`above (block 104). The response of the mobile terminal 60
`or wireless computing device 70 will depend upon the
`configuration of the user's mobile devices. If the notification
`is received by a mobile terminal 60 without an interface to
`the wireless computing device, the mobile terminal 60 may
`Simply alert the user by beeping, turning on an indicator, or
`displaying a text message on a display. If the mobile
`terminal 60 has an interface for communicating with a
`wireless computing device 70, the mobile terminal 60 may
`send a message to the wireless computing device 70 (block
`106). The wireless computing device 70 may also receive
`the notification directly form the wireleSS communication
`network 10 if the WireleSS computing device is equipped
`with a network interface 76. In the latter two cases, the
`wireless computing device 70 may activate its WLAN
`interface 72, begin searching for the WLAN 20, and estab
`lish a connection with the WLAN 20 (block 108) if a WLAN
`20 is found. Control then returns to block 100, where the
`communication network 10 continues to monitor the loca
`tion of the wireless computing device 70.
`0029. Although the present invention has been described
`herein with respect to particular features, aspects and
`embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that numerous
`variations, modifications, and other embodiments are pos
`Sible within the broad Scope of the present invention, and
`accordingly, all variations, modifications and embodiments
`are to be regarded as being within the Scope of the invention.
`The present embodiments are therefore to be construed in all
`aspects as illustrative and not restrictive and all changes
`coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the
`appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method of notifying a mobile terminal that a wireless
`local area network is present, Said mobile terminal being
`connected to a wireleSS communication network, compris
`ing:
`determining the location of Said mobile terminal;
`comparing Said location with a known location of Said
`wireless local area network, and
`
`Petitioners Microsoft Corporation and HP Inc. - Ex. 1014, p. 10
`
`

`

`US 2003/0118015 A1
`
`Jun. 26, 2003
`
`notifying Said mobile terminal of Said wireless local area
`network via Said wireleSS communication network in
`response to Said comparison.
`2. The method of claim 1 wherein notifying said mobile
`terminal of Said wireless local area network comprises
`transferring data regarding Said wireleSS local area network
`from Said wireleSS communication network to Said mobile
`terminal.
`3. The method of claim 2 wherein transferring data
`regarding Said wireless local area network comprises Send
`ing Said data as a SMS message.
`4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the loca
`tion of Said mobile terminal comprises determining the cell
`of Said wireleSS communication network in which said
`mobile terminal is located.
`5. The method of claim 4 wherein determining the loca
`tion of Said mobile terminal further comprises determining
`the sector of said cell in which said mobile terminal is
`located.
`6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the loca
`tion of Said mobile terminal comprises processing Signals
`received by said mobile terminal from two or more base
`Stations to compute the location of Said mobile terminal.
`7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the loca
`tion of Said mobile terminal comprises receiving location
`data from Said mobile terminal.
`8. The method of claim 7 wherein said location data is
`calculated from Satellite navigation Signals received at Said
`mobile terminal.
`9. The method of claim 1 wherein notifying said mobile
`terminal of Said wireless local area network comprises
`broadcasting a notification of Said wireless local area net
`work over a broadcast or paging channel.
`10. The method of claim 1 wherein notifying said mobile
`terminal of Said wireless local area network comprises
`notifying Said mobile terminal in a manner Specified by an
`entry in a Subscriber database of Said wireleSS communica
`tion network,