Patent attributes
Apparatus and methods for providing information via an open-access network such as a wireless local area network (WLAN). In one embodiment, the information provided is contextually relevant to one or locations, more users or devices receiving the information. In one implementation, the information is provisioned by a network entity (for example, from a service provider network operator) and provided to one or more access points (APs) of the service provider network. The information is bit-stuffed into Wi-Fi beacon frames or other data structures that are broadcast by the APs to nearby client devices. A receiving client device extracts the information using a protocol embodied in application software on the client, and may also initiate a dedicated wireless connection with the AP for e.g., transmission of content related to the context and/or the bit-stuffed information, access of related Internet addresses, etc.
