Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for enabling a subscriber station to start a settings provisioning process in a WiMAX system. The method includes receiving a request from a subscriber station, the request requesting information for enabling the subscriber station to begin a settings provisioning process. A bootstrap document is then fetched, and a response is transmitted to the subscriber station. The response includes the bootstrap document and the bootstrap document includes the information for enabling the subscriber station to begin the settings provisioning process.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program operate so as to formulate a request at a terminal for a network access node to transmit a broadcast message; to transmit the request on an out-of-band radio channel for reception by the network access node; and to receive the broadcast message prior to a next scheduled time for the broadcast message to be transmitted. The network may be a WiMAX network, and the broadcast message may be at least one of a downlink channel descriptor/uplink channel descriptor and system identity information advertisement message. Also disclosed is a corresponding network access node that operates so as to receive a request from at least one terminal, where the request is a request to transmit a broadcast message and is received on an out-of-band radio channel. The network access node responds by transmitting the broadcast message prior to a next scheduled time for the broadcast message to be transmitted.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program operate so as to formulate a request at a terminal for a network access node to transmit a broadcast message; to transmit the request on an out-of-band radio channel for reception by the network access node; and to receive the broadcast message prior to a next scheduled time for the broadcast message to be transmitted. The network may be a WiMAX network, and the broadcast message may be at least one of a downlink channel descriptor/uplink channel descriptor and system identity information advertisement message. Also disclosed is a corresponding network access node that operates so as to receive a request from at least one terminal, where the request is a request to transmit a broadcast message and is received on an out-of-band radio channel. The network access node responds by transmitting the broadcast message prior to a next scheduled time for the broadcast message to be transmitted.

Abstract: A terminal's home network service provider H-NSP determines that the terminal is connected to an access provider, and sends to the terminal a list of access providers and a list of service providers. The list of access providers indicates the H-NSP's preferences of the listed access providers relative to one another, and the list of service providers indicates the H-NSP's preferences of the listed service providers relative to one another. The terminal receives the list and connects to an access provider and a service provider according to the preferences indicated. Methods, apparatus, and software/hardware/firmware is detailed for implementing these aspects, from the H-NSP, V-NSP and terminal's perspectives. Much additional information is described that may be included in the preference lists according to various embodiments, and the invention is particularly advantageous for use in a WiMAX system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for enabling a subscriber station to start a settings provisioning process in a WiMAX system. The method includes receiving a request from a subscriber station, the request requesting information for enabling the subscriber station to begin a settings provisioning process. A bootstrap document is then fetched, and a response is transmitted to the subscriber station. The response includes the bootstrap document and the bootstrap document includes the information for enabling the subscriber station to begin the settings provisioning process.