1. Network Discovery and Service Discovery
July 2013
doc.: IEEE /0788r1
November 2014
Network Discovery and Service Discovery
Date:
Authors:
Michael Montemurro, BlackBerry
Stephen McCann, Blackberry

2. Discussion slides for network discovery and service discovery
July 2013
doc.: IEEE /0788r1
November 2014
Abstract
Discussion slides for network discovery and service discovery
Michael Montemurro, BlackBerry
Stephen McCann, Blackberry

3. WLAN Network Selection
The STA determines its preferred network based on the provisioned information – taking into account user, operator, and enterprise preferences.
On a Mobile Device, there can be multiple sources and types of WLANs provisioned on a device:
Mobile Operator provisioned on a converged device
User provisioned network (e.g. Home, legacy Hotspot)
WLAN Hotspot Operator provisioned network (e.g. Airport Wi-Fi Network, Convention Center, Wi-Fi Aggregator)
Enterprise provisioned network
The elements of a WLAN configuration on a device are:
A network identifier (e.g. SSID, set of SSIDs, NAI Realm, PLMN, BSSID)
Security Type (e.g. Open, AKM)
Access Credentials

4. WLAN Network Selection – Priority
The user decides the priority order of subscriptions configured on a device
The priority can be static or dynamic
The priority could be influenced by an Application/Service or other information (e.g. Location)
The device scans for networks (either manually or automatically)
The device matches the scan results against subscriptions.
The device connects to the WLAN that matches the highest priority subscription.

5. Network Selection Procedures
General process is: Scan/Discover; Select; Connect
The WLAN connection manager performs complex calculations to determine the most preferred network.
It may take many criteria into account:
User preferences
Radio link conditions (e.g. signal quality)
Application/Service requirements (e.g. local vs remote, Wi-Fi Direct)
Radio co-existence condition (e.g. Bluetooth, LTE, Radar)
Location
Power (e.g. battery level)
History
Network Selection can be a time critical process.
What triggers a connection manager to re-select a different network?
Disconnection?, Application/Service?, User Action?, Change in Radio/Application conditions?

6. Service Discovery and Network Discovery
November 2014
Service Discovery and Network Discovery
Service discovery could be done in two ways:
Service Invocation/Notification:
Device performs Service Discovery (based on services “available” in the OS) with Network Selection procedures.
Device connects and invokes the services or notifies the OS that services are available.
Network prioritization takes precedence
Service selection:
Application/Service running on the device triggers query for services as part of network discovery.
Network prioritization may be taken into account but is secondary
How does this work if there are multiple services?
Michael Montemurro, BlackBerry