US 12,302,236 B2
Providing an alternative access network indication to a client device in a wireless local area network roaming federation
Mark Grayson, Berkshire (GB); and Jerome Henry, Pittsboro, NC (US)
Assigned to CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/903,326.
Prior Publication US 2024/0080757 A1, Mar. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. H04W 48/18 (2009.01); H04W 8/02 (2009.01); H04W 12/06 (2021.01); H04W 48/08 (2009.01); H04W 84/12 (2009.01)
CPC H04W 48/18 (2013.01) [H04W 8/02 (2013.01); H04W 12/06 (2013.01); H04W 48/08 (2013.01); H04W 84/12 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
obtaining, by an authentication element for an identity provider in a wireless local area network roaming federation, access network information for each of a plurality of access networks that neighbor a first access network, wherein the access network information is obtained through connection of a client device with the first access network involving a first identity provider profile for the client device;
determining, by the authentication element, one or more alternative access networks with which the client device is recommended to seek connection instead of the first access network or one or more alternative identity provider profiles with which the client device is recommended to connect to the first access network based, at least in part, on the access network information and roaming criteria of the identity provider; and
enabling, based on the determining, the client device to initiate a connection with at least one alternative access network of the one or more alternative access networks or to re-initiate a connection with the first access network utilizing one or more alternative identity provider profiles.