METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING A CELLULAR NETWORK TO FACILITATE ACCESS BY A MOBILE DEVICE TO A LOCAL WIRELESS ACCESS POINT

A local wireless access capability is disclosed. A mobile device (MD) receives cellular service from a cellular service provider and is also configured to be able to access local wireless access points (LWAPs) of respective wireless hotspots. The MD detects one or more LWAPs. The MD determines access point information associated with each detected LWAP. The MD propagates the access point information toward a service provider controller (SPC) of the cellular service provider. The SPC determines, for each of one or more of the one or more detected LWAPs, whether the MD is authorized to access the LWAP. The SPC determines whether the MD is authorized to access an LWAP using the service information of the cellular service provider and the access point information associated with the LWAP. The SPC identifies one of the LWAPs to be accessed by the MD. The SPC provides credential data for the LWAP either to the MD (such that the MD may provide the credential information to the LWAP to access the LWAP) or to the LWAP (on behalf of the MD for authenticating the MD to the LWAP). The MD may then access the selected LWAP.