Methods and Apparatus to Discover Network Capabilities Available via Wireless Networks

1. A method for selecting a network, the method comprising: determining network capabilities at a wireless terminal by: scanning for wireless local area networks (WLANs); and performing discovery Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) exchanges to determine a list of network capabilities of access points of WLANs; comparing the list of network capabilities with at least a portion of credentials; finding a match between at least a portion of the list of network capabilities and at least the portion of the credentials; filtering out the list of network capabilities that do not match at least the portion of the credentials; and joining the wireless terminal with an access network associated with an access point of a WLAN based on the at least the portion of the list of network capabilities matching the at least the portion of the credentials.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein filtering out includes a remaining list of network capabilities ordered by preference which the wireless terminal has previously configured.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 , wherein the preference assigned to the network capabilities pertains to the wireless terminal.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the discovery ANQP exchanges include queries performed at the wireless terminal and the subsequent responses received from the access points based on determining that the access points support ANQP.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein the credentials are credentials of the wireless terminal.

6. An apparatus for network selection, the apparatus comprising: a processor to: determine network capabilities at a wireless terminal by: scanning for wireless local area networks (WLANs); and performing discovery Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) exchanges to determine a list of network capabilities of access points of WLANs; compare the list of network capabilities with at least a portion of credentials; find a match between at least a portion of the list of network capabilities and at least the portion of the credentials; filter out the list of network capabilities that do not match at least the portion of the credentials; and join the wireless terminal with an access network associated with an access point of a WLAN based on the at least the portion of the list of network capabilities matching the at least the portion of the credentials.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein filtering out includes a remaining list of network capabilities ordered by preference which the wireless terminal has previously configured.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 , wherein the preference assigned to the network capabilities pertains to the wireless terminal.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the discovery ANQP exchanges include queries performed at the wireless terminal and the subsequent responses received from the access points when the access points support ANQP.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 , wherein the credentials are credentials of the wireless terminal.

11. A non-transitory tangible machine readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to: determine network capabilities at a wireless terminal by: scanning for wireless local area networks (WLANs); and performing discovery Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) exchanges to determine a list of network capabilities of access points of WLANs; compare the list of network capabilities with at least a portion of credentials; find a match between at least a portion of the list of network capabilities and at least the portion of the credentials; filter out the list of network capabilities that do not match at least the portion of the credentials; and join the wireless terminal with an access network associated with an access point of a WLAN based on the at least the portion of the list of network capabilities matching the at least the portion of the credentials.

12. The non-transitory tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 11 , wherein filtering out includes a remaining list of network capabilities ordered by preference which the wireless terminal has previously configured.

13. The non-transitory tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 12 , wherein the preference assigned to the network capabilities pertains to the wireless terminal.

14. The non-transitory tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 11 , wherein the discovery ANQP exchanges include queries performed at the wireless terminal and the subsequent responses received from the access points when the access points support ANQP.

15. The non-transitory tangible machine readable storage medium as defined in claim 11 , wherein the credentials are credentials of the wireless terminal.