US 12,452,769 B2
Methods and apparatus for discovering hidden network service set identifiers
Venkata Divvi, Centennial, CO (US); and Christopher Teague, Highlands Ranch, CO (US)
Assigned to Charter Communications Operating, LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Charter Communications Operating, LLC, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/696,431.
Prior Publication US 2023/0300719 A1, Sep. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. H04W 48/08 (2009.01); H04W 48/16 (2009.01)
CPC H04W 48/08 (2013.01) [H04W 48/16 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A communications method comprising:
receiving, at a mobile device, a first beacon frame having a Service Set Identifier (SSID) field set to NULL from a first Access Point;
determining, at the mobile device, based on information received from the first Access Point that the mobile device is provisioned to connect to a first network advertised by the first beacon frame; and
discovering, by the mobile device, a first SSID name for the first network advertised by the first beacon frame for which the mobile device is provisioned; and
wherein said discovering, by the mobile device, the first SSID name for the first network advertised by the first beacon frame for which the mobile device is provisioned includes:
(i) transmitting, by the mobile device, a first enhanced probe request to the first Access Point, said first enhanced probe request including a SSID name query with a set of criterion;
(ii) receiving, by the mobile device, a first enhanced probe response from the first Access Point in response to said first enhanced probe request; and
(iii) determining said first SSID name from the first enhanced probe response.