Abstract: A mobile communication device identifies and selects a wireless local area network (WLAN) available for communications in its coverage area. Automatically, without detecting any requests made by a user via a browser application. The mobile device initiates a request (e.g. an HTTP GET request) to a predetermined server site of a communication network which is outside of the WLAN. In response to initiating the request, the mobile device receives a response message via the WLAN and identifies, from the response message, whether the request to the predetermined server site has been redirected to a redirect server site. The WLAN may be a WLAN “hotspot,” where the redirect server site is a login server. The identifying may be performed by comparing content from the response message to predetermined content of the predetermined server site. In response to identifying that the request has been redirected, the mobile device causes an indication to be produced at its user interface.

Abstract: A system, device and method are described for operating a communication device communicating with a wireless network. The method comprises in a power save mode wherein a communication subsystem of the communication device has been deactivated: for a first period beginning at a first instance, re-activating the subsystem, executing an action relating to a link layer connection condition, and then de-activating the subsystem; and for a second period beginning at a second instance, re-activating the subsystem, executing an action relating to a network layer connection condition, and then de-activating the subsystem. For the method, the first period is repeated on a cycle based on a first frequency timed to allow the communication device to process a beacon signal from the wireless network; and the second period is repeated on a cycle based on a second frequency of occurrence of an Address Resolution Protocol request in the wireless network.

Abstract: A mobile communication device identifies and selects a wireless local area network (WLAN) available for communications in its coverage area. Automatically, without detecting any requests made by a user via a browser application.. The mobile device initiates a request (e.g. an HTTP GET request) to a predetermined server site of a communication network which is outside of the WLAN. In response to initiating the request, the mobile device receives a response message via the WLAN and identifies, from the response message, whether the request to the predetermined server site has been redirected to a redirect server site. The WLAN may be a WLAN “hotspot,” where the redirect server site is a login server. The identifying may be performed by comparing content from the response message to predetermined content of the predetermined server site. In response to identifying that the request has been redirected, the mobile device causes an indication to be produced at its user interface.

Abstract: A system, device and method are described for operating a communication device communicating with a wireless network. The method comprises in a power save mode wherein a communication subsystem of the communication device has been deactivated: for a first period beginning at a first instance, re-activating the subsystem, executing an action relating to a link layer connection condition, and then de-activating the subsystem; and for a second period beginning at a second instance, re-activating the subsystem, executing an action relating to a network layer connection condition, and then de-activating the subsystem. For the method, the first period is repeated on a cycle based on a first frequency timed to allow the communication device to process a beacon signal from the wireless network; and the second period is repeated on a cycle based on a second frequency of occurrence of an Address Resolution Protocol request in the wireless network.

Abstract: A system, device and method are described for operating a communication device communicating with a wireless network. The method comprises in a power save mode wherein a communication subsystem of the communication device has been deactivated: for a first period beginning at a first instance, re-activating the subsystem, executing an action relating to a link layer connection condition, and then de-activating the subsystem; and for a second period beginning at a second instance, re-activating the subsystem, executing an action relating to a network layer connection condition, and then de-activating the subsystem. For the method, the first period is repeated on a cycle based on a first frequency timed to allow the communication device to process a beacon signal from the wireless network; and the second period is repeated on a cycle based on a second frequency of occurrence of an Address Resolution Protocol request in the wireless network.

Abstract: A mobile communication device identifies and selects a wireless local area network (WLAN) available for communications in its coverage area. Automatically, without detecting any requests made by a user via a browser application. The mobile device initiates a request (e.g. an HTTP GET request) to a predetermined server site of a communication network which is outside of the WLAN. In response to initiating the request, the mobile device receives a response message via the WLAN and identifies, from the response message, whether the request to the predetermined server site has been redirected to a redirect server site. The WLAN may be a WLAN “hotspot,” where the redirect server site is a login server. The identifying may be performed by comparing content from the response message to predetermined content of the predetermined server site. In response to identifying that the request has been redirected, the mobile device causes an indication to be produced at its user interface.

Abstract: A system, device and method are described for operating a communication device communicating with a wireless network. The method comprises in a power save mode wherein a communication subsystem of the communication device has been deactivated: for a first period beginning at a first instance, re-activating the subsystem, executing an action relating to a link layer connection condition, and then de-activating the subsystem; and for a second period beginning at a second instance, re-activating the subsystem, executing an action relating to a network layer connection condition, and then de-activating the subsystem. For the method, the first period is repeated on a cycle based on a first frequency timed to allow the communication device to process a beacon signal from the wireless network; and the second period is repeated on a cycle based on a second frequency of occurrence of an Address Resolution Protocol request in the wireless network.

Abstract: A system, device and method are described for operating a communication device communicating with a wireless network. The method comprises in a power save mode wherein a communication subsystem of the communication device has been deactivated: for a first period beginning at a first instance, re-activating the subsystem, executing an action relating to a link layer connection condition, and then de-activating the subsystem; and for a second period beginning at a second instance, re-activating the subsystem, executing an action relating to a network layer connection condition, and then de-activating the subsystem. For the method, the first period is repeated on a cycle based on a first frequency timed to allow the communication device to process a beacon signal from the wireless network; and the second period is repeated on a cycle based on a second frequency of occurrence of an Address Resolution Protocol request in the wireless network.

Abstract: A system and method for authenticating a peer device onto a network using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). The key lifetime associated with the keying material generated in the peer device and the authentication server is communicated from the authenticator to the peer device within the EAP Success message. The peer device, having been provided with the key lifetime, can anticipate the termination of its authenticated session and initiate re-authentication prior to expiry of the key lifetime.

Abstract: A mobile communication device identifies and selects a wireless local area network (WLAN) available for communications in its coverage area. Automatically, without detecting any requests made by a user via a browser application. The mobile device initiates a request (e.g. an HTTP GET request) to a predetermined server site of a communication network which is outside of the WLAN. In response to initiating the request, the mobile device receives a response message via the WLAN and identifies, from the response message, whether the request to the predetermined server site has been redirected to a redirect server site. The WLAN may be a WLAN “hotspot,” where the redirect server site is a login server. The identifying may be performed by comparing content from the response message to predetermined content of the predetermined server site. In response to identifying that the request has been redirected, the mobile device causes an indication to be produced at its user interface.

Abstract: A mobile communication device identifies and selects a wireless local area network (WLAN) available for communications in its coverage area. Automatically, without detecting any requests made by a user via a browser application. The mobile device initiates a request (e.g. an HTTP GET request) to a predetermined server site of a communication network which is outside of the WLAN. In response to initiating the request, the mobile device receives a response message via the WLAN and identifies, from the response message, whether the request to the predetermined server site has been redirected to a redirect server site. The WLAN may be a WLAN “hotspot,” where the redirect server site is a login server. The identifying may be performed by comparing content from the response message to predetermined content of the predetermined server site. In response to identifying that the request has been redirected, the mobile device causes an indication to be produced at its user interface.

Abstract: Techniques are described for use in scanning by a mobile device which is configured to communicate in compliance with regulatory requirements of a regulatory domain based on country information communicated in one or more beacon frames. The mobile device scans a radio frequency (RF) band using passive scan operations on RF channels having passive scan status, where each passive scan operation involves monitoring an RF channel in attempt to decode a beacon frame. When the mobile device successfully decodes, on an RF channel for a passive scan operation, an information frame of a type that is different from a beacon frame, it changes the passive scan status of the RF channel to an active scan status and performs an active scan operation on the RF channel.

Abstract: A system and method for authenticating a peer device onto a network using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). The key lifetime associated with the keying material generated in the peer device and the authentication server is communicated from the authenticator to the peer device within the EAP Success message. The peer device, having been provided with the key lifetime, can anticipate the termination of its authenticated session and initiate re-authentication prior to expiry of the key lifetime.

Abstract: In one illustrative example, a method in a mobile communication device operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN) involves performing, via a wireless AP of the WLAN, a first authentication procedure with an authentication server for obtaining a first session key and a key lifetime value associated with the first session key; establishing a first secure connection with the wireless AP based on the first session key; setting a timer with an initial value that is less than or equal to the key lifetime value, and running the timer; communicating in a media session over the first secure connection with the wireless AP; and in response to an expiration of the timer during the media session: performing, during the media session, a second authentication procedure with the authentication server for obtaining a second session key; and establishing, during the media session, a second secure connection with the wireless AP using the second session key; and communicating in the media session over the second secure

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system and a method for reducing power consumption of a communication device. The method has a power save mode controlling a deactivated communication subsystem of the device, where: for a first period, re-activating the subsystem, executing an action relating to a data link layer connection condition for the network, and then de-activating the subsystem; and for a second period, re-activating the subsystem, generating and transmitting a frame to a host in the network, and then de-activating the subsystem. The first period is repeated on a first frequency timed to allow the device to process a beacon signal that is received at an interval of at most every third beacon signal in a succession of beacon signals from the network; and the second period relates to a frequency of transmission of an Address Resolution Protocol request for an Internet Protocol address for the device.

Abstract: A system and method for authenticating a peer device onto a network using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). The key lifetime associated with the keying material generated in the peer device and the authentication server is communicated from the authenticator to the peer device within the EAP Success message. The peer device, having been provided with the key lifetime, can anticipate the termination of its authenticated session and initiate re-authentication prior to expiry of the key lifetime.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communications device includes a user-visible peripheral, such as a display, and a processor. A reset management block is associated with the processor to manage reset of the device. The processor includes the use of an operating system (OS) which is resettable along with a reset of a state of the user-visible peripheral. The operating system is also resettable without resetting the state of the user-visible peripheral to avoid a user-visible change therein.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring the quality of a communication session with a first electronic device. Should the communication session degrade, rather than dropping the communication session the user of a second electronic device communicating with the first electronic device is prompted to wait while an attempt is made to improve the quality of the communication session. Similarly if the user of the first electronic device moves out of a coverage area, rather than dropping the communication session the user of the second electronic device communicating with the first electronic device is prompted to wait until a new communication session can be established.

Abstract: A mobile device sends to a message a wireless network. The message indicates a plurality of different protocol types of broadcast messages to be processed as broadcast-to-unicast messages during a low power mode of operation of the mobile device. The protocol type of a given broadcast message is identifiable in a protocol identifier field of the broadcast message. The mobile device maintains its wireless receiver in a powered down state during the low power mode of operation while broadcast messages are broadcasted from the wireless network. For each broadcast message of each said indicated protocol type provided in the message sent to the wireless network, the mobile device monitors to receive via the wireless receiver a unicast message from the wireless network. The mobile device identifies broadcast message information of the broadcast message within the unicast message.

Abstract: Techniques are described for use in scanning by a mobile device which is configured to communicate in compliance with regulatory requirements of a regulatory domain based on country information communicated in one or more beacon frames. The mobile device scans a radio frequency (RF) band using passive scan operations on RF channels having passive scan status, where each passive scan operation involves monitoring an RF channel in attempt to decode a beacon frame. When the mobile device successfully decodes, on an RF channel for a passive scan operation, an information frame of a type that is different from a beacon frame, it changes the passive scan status of the RF channel to an active scan status and performs an active scan operation on the RF channel.