Amazon patents letting phones use Wi-Fi via cellular network credentials
Amazon describes a system where a phone connects to a private Wi-Fi network using credentials provided by its cellular carrier. Instead of manually entering a password, the device asks the cellular network for access to the Wi-Fi and uses that permission to transfer data.
In the filing’s own words
Disclosed are various embodiments for managing simultaneous use of private wireless local area networks (WLANs) and cellular radio-based networks. In one embodiment, a user equipment (UE) device authenticates for access to a cellular radio-based network using a profile in an electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM). The UE device determines to transfer data via a WLAN rather than the cellular radio-based network. The UE device requests an access credential for the WLAN from the cellular radio-based network. The UE device uses the access credential to connect to the WLAN to transfer the data.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A system, comprising: a wireless local area network (WLAN) using Wi-Fi; a cellular radio-based network using licensed or allocated spectrum; and a computing device configured to perform a network function for the cellular radio-based network, the network function comprising: authenticating a user equipment (UE) device for access to the cellular radio-based network using a profile in an electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM) of the UE device; determining to configure the UE device to transfer data via the WLAN rather than the cellular radio-based network; and configuring the UE device to connect to the WLAN to transfer the data.
Facts
- Company
- Amazon (Amazon Technologies, Inc.)
- Official title
- Managing simultaneous use of private wireless local area networks and cellular radio-based networks
- Patent number
- US12764528B2
- Application number
- 18326953
- Filed
- May 31, 2023
- Granted
- Oct 13, 2026
- Inventors
- 6
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04W 12/06 Electricity & electronicsH04W 12/72 Electricity & electronicsH04W 48/18 Electricity & electronicsH04W 84/12 Electricity & electronicsMore from Amazon in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.