Abstract: A mobile device may transition between Extended Service Set (“ESS”) networks seamlessly, such that a consumer never loses the network connection despite the transition. The communication for enabling a transition may be prior to association with that network. The seamless transition may be enabled through the creation and utilization of a central key holder authority that advertises its identity to mobile devices in a pre-associated state. The mobile device can use the key discovery communication along with a key generation method to authenticate and/or associate with a network and transition from one ESS to another. There may be a common root key across ESSs. At each new access point (“AP”) that the mobile device encounters, ESS and key holder identities may be discovered through discovery communications.

Abstract: A method for a user agent to access a session policy in a network is provided. The method comprises the user agent sending a registration message to a first network node. The method further comprises the user agent receiving policy-related information from the first network node in a response to the registration message. The policy-related information is one of the session policy, a Uniform Resource Locator that points to the session policy, and a Policy-Contact header containing a policyContactURI for a policy document.

Abstract: A mobile device may retrieve service information about a network prior to associating with the network. Utilizing an advertisement protocol to transmit service query messages, a mobile device may receive service query responses from a network that identify the services available prior to establishing network capability. In other words, the messaging is prior to the exchange of any authentication parameters between the device and the network as well prior to the establishment of a recognized session between the device and the network.

Abstract: A disclosed example method for requesting neighboring network information from a device involves encoding a request for neighboring network information and sending the request to an authentication server to obtain the neighboring network information. The example method also involves receiving a response to the request, retrieving the neighboring network information contained in the response, and decoding the neighboring network information. The decoded neighboring network information is stored.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to register a device at a wireless local area network are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves receiving a registration request from the device, and sending a response to the device in response to the registration request, the response including one or more registration plans associated with registering the device for network access via the wireless local area network. The example method also involves receiving registration information from the device, the registration information associated with one of the one or more registration plans selected by the device.

Abstract: An example method for network selection involves discovering network capabilities by performing an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) query at a wireless terminal, and receiving a subsequent ANQP response from an access point of a wireless local area network. The network capabilities are indicated in the subsequent ANQP response. The example method also involves comparing the network capabilities with configured capabilities, finding a match between at least a portion of the network capabilities and at least a portion of the configured capabilities, and joining the wireless terminal with the access point based on the at least the portion of the network capabilities matching the at least the portion of the configured capabilities.

Abstract: Methods and systems for wireless network management are described. In one embodiment, a radio measurement of a characteristic of a wireless access technology may be taken. The wireless access technology may enable data communication through a wireless network when connected to an access point. A report may be transmitted through an alternate access technology. The report may be based on the radio measurement. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: Examples to discover network authentication information in a wireless network involve transmitting during network discovery and prior to authentication, a Generic Advertisement Services (GAS) request to a network access point. The request requests authentication information. In addition, a response to the request is received from the network access point. The network authentication information is retrieved from the response. The network authentication information includes a re-direct frame.

Abstract: Methods and systems for wireless network management are described. In one embodiment, a radio measurement of a characteristic of a wireless access technology may be taken. The wireless access technology may enable data communication through a wireless network when connected to an access point. A report may be transmitted through an alternate access technology. The report may be based on the radio measurement. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to discover authentication information in a wireless networking environment are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves transmitting a request message to a network access point requesting identifiers indicative of authentication information required by the network access point to authenticate a wireless terminal. In addition, at least one authentication requirement identifier is retrieved from a response message transmitted by the network access point. The at least one authentication requirement identifier is indicative of an authentication value obtainable using operations performed by the wireless terminal at a media access control layer without providing access to an internet protocol layer to retrieve the authentication value.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to discover authentication information in a wireless networking environment are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves transmitting, during network discovery, a Generic Advertisement Services (GAS) request to a network access point, the GAS request requesting authentication information, the authentication information being indicative of a credential required from a wireless terminal. In addition, a response to the GAS request is received from the network access point. The response includes the authentication information.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to discover network capabilities available via wireless networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves discovering first network capabilities by performing an exchange between a wireless terminal and an access point of a wireless local area network. The method also involves comparing the first network capabilities with cached network capabilities and joining the wireless terminal with the access point based on at least a portion of the first network capabilities matching at least a portion of the cached network capabilities.

Abstract: A method for a user agent to access a session policy in a network is provided. The method comprises sending, from the user agent, a single session policy request to a single network component, the single network component contacting a plurality of network components, wherein sending the single session policy request to the single network component utilizes a lower layer protocol. The lower layer protocol is at least one of Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP), Point to Point Protocol (PPP), and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Activate Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context. The method further comprises aggregating policy information and providing the aggregated policy information to the user agent.

Abstract: Communication devices capable of at least two communication modes (e.g. WLAN, WMAN and WWAN and/or wired modes) can be configured to optimize communications using a policy-based mechanism to configure connections and routes. A rules engine evaluates its policies on a state change (e.g. network availability, time of day, etc.) to configure a routing table and, together with communication APIs, provides an appropriate connection to an application for its respective communications. Policies may be responsive to various factors such as Radio Access Technology (high/low bandwidth), cost, presence, time of day, location, application type and quality of service (QoS) requirements among others to optimize communications.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to register a device at a wireless local area network are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves receiving a registration request from the device, and sending a response to the device in response to the registration request, the response including one or more registration plans associated with registering the device for network access via the wireless local area network. The example method also involves receiving registration information from the device, the registration information associated with one of the one or more registration plans selected by the device.

Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) client device is able to store one or more transient connection profiles. A transient connection profile of a WLAN may be overwritten by a transient connection profile of another WLAN. A transient connection profile may be automatically deleted from the client device without user action having been taken to explicitly delete the transient connection profile.

Abstract: A mobile station associated with a base station determines a measure of the quality of a communication link between the mobile station and the base station. The measure is determined by comparing either i) an expected data rate for communications over the link and an actual data rate of communications over the link, wherein the expected data rate takes into account radio frequency (RF) power levels of signals received at the mobile station over the link, or ii) an expected RF power level for communications over the link and RF power levels of signals received at the mobile station over the link, wherein the expected RF power level takes into account the actual data rate of communications over the link. This measure of the quality of the link may be a factor in triggering the mobile station to initiate a handoff.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to discover network capabilities for connecting to an access network are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves sending a request to a first access network of a first network type. The request is addressed to a database and requests network connectivity information for connecting to a second access network of a second network type different from the first network type. The example method also involves receiving a response from the first access network. The response includes the network connectivity information for connecting to the second access network.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to provide network capabilities for connecting to an access network are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves receiving a request at a first access network of a first network type. The request is addressed to a database and requests network connectivity information for connecting a wireless terminal to a second access network of a second network type different from the first network type. The example method also involves sending a response to the wireless terminal via the first access network. The response includes the network connectivity information for connecting the wireless terminal to the second access network.

Abstract: In the presence of high priority traffic received at a mobile station over a wireless medium or to be transmitted by the mobile station over the wireless medium, a fragmentation threshold in a wireless local area network (WLAN) medium access control (MAC) layer of the mobile station is adjusted according to a highest priority of the traffic. Packets received by the WLAN MAC layer are fragmented into packets each of which is no larger than the fragmentation threshold.