Method of operating wireless telecommunications network

Abstract

A method (400) of operating a wireless telecommunications network (100), the network comprising a plurality of user equipments (110), UEs, a wireless access point (120), WAP, and a wireless local area network (140), WLAN, provided by the WAP, the method comprising the steps of: associating, for each UE of the plurality of UEs, an item of information with a unique character slot (410) for the item of information; compiling each item of information into a character string, where the item of information is arranged according to each associated character slot (420); broadcasting, by the WAP, a network identifier of the WLAN, the network identifier comprising a compiled character string (430); identifying, by each of the UEs, a broadcasted network identifier (440); retrieving, by each UE, a character slot of the associated UE; and using, by each UE, the retrieved character slot to extract the associated information item from the identified network identifier.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of operating a wireless telecommunications network and parts thereof, and to a telecommunications network and components thereof. Background Art

[0002] A wireless access point (WAP) can facilitate data connections between a wide area network (e.g., a fixed access broadband network) and a wireless communication device (also referred to herein as a "user equipment", UE). To this end, a WAP provides a wireless local area network (WLAN) operating on a radio frequency spectrum with low transmit power, typically providing a range of several meters. RTM Any of the 802.11 family of standards (which form the Wi-Fi RTM WLAN is provided based on the

[0003] The UE is able to connect to a WLAN provided by a WAP. However, in order for the UE to connect to a WLAN, the UE must first identify the WAP that provides the WLAN and also identify the WLAN. For example, in the case of a Wi-Fi-based WLAN, a service set identifier (SSID) may be used to identify the WLAN, where the WAP will typically broadcast the SSID publicly. When broadcast, all devices in the local area can view these SSIDs.

[0004] A large number of UEs are capable of connecting to a WAP, and these UEs may be managed by a remote device management system (DMS) provided as part of: the WAP; the wide area network; and / or remote devices accessible via the wide area network. Such management is particularly desirable for UEs with resource and practical constraints (e.g., battery, physical accessibility, and low computing resources), such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

[0005] In order to remotely manage the UE securely, an authenticated connection may be established between the UE and the DMS via the WLAN. The DMS may then transmit instructions directly and continuously to each UE via the WLAN. For example, transmitting ten different instructions to ten different UEs would require the WAP to transmit ten instructions continuously to each UE, where each transmission occupies radio resources. Given the foreseen increase in the number of UEs that need to be managed by the DMS, this existing process may suffer from at least poor scalability.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least alleviate the above mentioned problems. Summary of the invention

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for operating a wireless telecommunication network, the network comprising a plurality of user equipments UE, a wireless access point WAP and a wireless local area network WLAN provided by the WAP, the method comprising the following steps: for each UE among the plurality of UEs, associating an information item with a unique character slot for the information item; compiling each information item into a character string, wherein the information item is arranged according to each associated character slot; broadcasting a network identifier of the WLAN by the WAP, the network identifier comprising the compiled character string; identifying the broadcasted network identifier by each UE among the UEs; retrieving the character slot of the associated UE by each UE; and using the retrieved character slot by each UE to extract the associated information item from the identified network identifier.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a wireless access point WAP for a wireless telecommunications network is provided, the network comprising a plurality of user equipments UE and a wireless local area network WLAN provided by the WAP, the method comprising the following steps: for each UE among the plurality of UEs, receiving an association between an information item and a unique character slot for the information item; compiling each information item into a character string, wherein the information item is arranged according to each associated character slot; broadcasting a network identifier of the WLAN by the WAP, the network identifier comprising the compiled character string, so that each UE that has retrieved and used the character slot for the associated UE extracts the associated information item from the broadcasted network identifier.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a user equipment UE for a wireless telecommunication network, the network comprising a plurality of user equipments, a wireless access point WAP and a wireless local area network WLAN provided by the WAP, and the wireless telecommunication network being configured to: for the UE and each UE, associate an information item with a unique character slot for the information item; compile each information item into a character string, wherein the information item is arranged according to each associated character slot; and broadcast a network identifier of the WLAN, the network identifier comprising the compiled character string; wherein the method comprises the steps of the UE: identifying the broadcasted network identifier; retrieving the character slot associated with the UE; and extracting the associated information item from the identified network identifier using the retrieved character slot.

[0010] Preferably, the or each UE extracts only the information items associated with it by using only the associated unique character slots.

[0011] Preferably, retrieving a character slot comprises receiving a communication specifying the character slot from a WAP and / or via the WLAN or another WLAN. Optionally, the communication is provided by the network identifier of the WLAN or another network identifier of another WLAN. Optionally, the character slot associated with a given UE of a plurality of UEs is predefined in a memory within the UE, and wherein the step of retrieving a character slot comprises accessing the memory to retrieve the associated character slot.

[0012] Preferably, each information item associated with each UE is different; that is, each information item may be unique among a plurality of UEs, and each unique information item is associated specifically and only with a given one of the UEs. Preferably, at least one or each information item is secret. Preferably, at least one or each of the associations between a UE and a character slot is secret.

[0013] Preferably, the network identifier comprises a given information item in an encoded form suitable for decoding by an associated UE. Optionally, the encoded form is a one-time code.

[0014] Preferably, the method further comprises: encrypting at least one of the information items into an encrypted form, wherein the broadcasted network identifier comprises the encrypted form; and decrypting the encrypted form by the associated UE to extract the associated information item.

[0015] Preferably, the decryption is performed using a decryption key common to all of the plurality of UEs. Optionally, the decryption is performed using a decryption key unique to the or each UE. Optionally, the or each UE stores predefined information comprising information items associated with the UE, and wherein the step of retrieving the character slot of the associated UE comprises identifying a character slot of a network identifier, the character slot being decrypted to generate the information item stored in the predefined information.

[0016] Preferably, the information item comprises instructions for the UE. Preferably, the instructions are predefined or transmitted between the WAP and the plurality of UEs, and more preferably transmitted between the WAP and the plurality of UEs via the WLAN or another WLAN. Preferably, the information item is a unique instruction code (or identifier), which in turn refers to the instruction. Preferably, the instruction is an instruction to cause the UE not to perform an action or not to perform any action and / or not to perform any change of an action. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of each UE executing only the instructions contained in the associated extracted information item.

[0017] Preferably, the method is performed without the or each UE being connected to or being connected to the WLAN or any WLAN. Optionally, the or each UE may be connected to another WLAN, which may be provided by the WAP or another WAP. Optionally, at least one of the plurality of UEs may not (optionally, ever) connect to the WLAN, or is prohibited from connecting to the WLAN. Optionally, at least one of the UEs may be connected to the WLAN, preferably having been authenticated by the WAP. Optionally, the WLAN does not provide the or each UE with a forward data connection to a wide area network accessible via the WAP.

[0018] Preferably, the network identifier is a service set identifier. Optionally, the network identifier consists solely of each information item (or optionally, a reversible derivative thereof). Optionally, the network identifier comprises a predefined code for (optionally only upon identification of said predefined code in the network identifier) ​​causing the or each UE to perform the step of retrieving a character slot and / or using the retrieved character slot to extract the associated information item.

[0019] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer readable carrier medium containing a computer program, which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of any of the aforementioned methods.

[0020] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless telecommunications network, comprising: a plurality of user equipments UE; a processor configured to associate, for each of the plurality of UEs, an information item with a unique character slot for the information item; a wireless access point WAP configured to: compile each information item into a character string, wherein the information item is arranged according to each associated character slot; and a broadcast network identifier, wherein the network identifier comprises the compiled character string; a wireless local area network WLAN, wherein the WLAN is provided by the WAP and has a network identifier associated therewith; and wherein each of the plurality of UEs is further configured to: identify the broadcast network identifier; retrieve the character slot of the associated UE; and extract the associated information item from the identified network identifier using the retrieved character slot.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, a wireless access point WAP for a wireless telecommunication network is provided, the network comprising a plurality of user equipments UE and a wireless local area network WLAN provided by the WAP, the WAP comprising: a processor configured to: for each UE in the plurality of UEs, receive an association between an information item and a unique character slot for the information item; and compile each information item into a character string, wherein the information item is arranged according to each associated character slot; and a controller configured to: broadcast a network identifier of the WLAN by the WAP, the network identifier comprising the compiled character string, so that each UE that has retrieved and used the character slot for the associated UE extracts the associated information item from the broadcasted network identifier.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user equipment UE operating within a wireless telecommunication network, the network comprising a plurality of UEs, a wireless access point WAP and a wireless local area network WLAN provided by the WAP, and the wireless telecommunication network being configured to: for the UE and each UE, associate an information item with a unique character slot for the information item; compile each information item into a character string, wherein the information item is arranged according to each associated character slot; and broadcast a network identifier of the WLAN, the network identifier comprising the compiled character string; and wherein the UE comprises: a processor configured to: identify the broadcasted network identifier; retrieve the character slot associated with the UE; and use the retrieved character slot to extract the associated information item from the identified network identifier.

[0023] As used herein, the term "user equipment" should preferably not be construed as limited to usage related to cellular telecommunications, and may include any client device that supports a wireless network.

[0024] Optionally, the information item comprises an ASCII symbol or an ASCII string. Optionally, the information item comprises a password and / or an access credential and is for example used to access a wireless telecommunication network and in particular for accessing the WLAN or another WLAN. Optionally, at least two of the associated character slots have different lengths. Optionally, the length of the character slot is selected according to the associated UE and / or information item, in particular according to the priority of the information item. Preferably, each character slot is non-overlapping. Optionally, at least two character slots are partially but not completely overlapping.

[0025] Preferably, the information items are arranged according to each associated character slot such that the position of the information item in the string and network identifier matches (optionally exactly) the character slot associated with the UE to which the information item is allocated.

[0026] Optionally, at least two of the character slots are consecutive. Optionally, at least two of the character slots are separated by at least one intermediate character that is not associated with an information item. Optionally, a plurality of unique character slots are associated with the UE or one of the UEs. As used herein, a "character slot" preferably refers to a set of index positions (or character positions) within a string. As used herein, when applied to character slots, the term "unique" preferably means that the character slot has at least one character position (i.e., a non-shared character position) that is assigned only to that character slot; that is, partially but not fully overlapping character slots may therefore be "unique".

[0027] Optionally, the index positions are consecutive or comprise at least two consecutive positions. Optionally, the index positions are discontinuous or comprise at least two discontinuous positions. Optionally, a further step is provided of (optionally, the WAP) retrieving a unique identifier for each UE, wherein each information item is associated with each unique identifier. Optionally, the unique identifier is a physical network address of the UE and may be a medium access control (MAC) address. Optionally, each UE is provided as part of a set of at least one UE, and wherein each set is associated with an information item and a unique character slot.

[0028] Optionally, the step of associating an information item with a unique character slot for each of the plurality of UEs is performed by a device remote from the WAP and in communication with the WAP.

[0029] Optionally, the information item conveys a subsequent character slot for use with a subsequent information item, the subsequent character slot being associated with a UE using the character slot to extract the information item. Preferably, the length of each character slot is less than the character string and / or network identifier.

[0030] The present invention includes any novel aspects described and / or illustrated herein. The present invention also extends to methods and / or apparatus substantially as described herein and / or as shown with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is also provided as a computer program and / or computer program product for performing any method described herein and / or for implementing any device features described herein, and a computer-readable medium on which a program for performing any method described herein and / or for implementing any device features described herein is stored. Features described as being implemented in hardware may alternatively be implemented in software, and vice versa.

[0031] Any means feature may also be provided as a corresponding step of the method, and vice versa.As used herein, means-plus-function features may alternatively be expressed in terms of their corresponding structure, for example as a suitably programmed processor.

[0032] Any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention in any appropriate combination. Any, some and / or all features in one aspect may be applied to any, some and / or all features in any other aspect in any appropriate combination. Specific combinations of various features described and defined in any aspect of the invention may be independently implemented and / or provided and / or used.

[0033] As used throughout, unless otherwise indicated, the word "or" may be construed in an exclusive and / or inclusive sense.

[0034] The invention extends to a method of operating a wireless telecommunications network, a method of operating a wireless access point, a method of operating a user equipment, a user equipment, a wireless access point and a wireless telecommunications network as herein described and / or substantially as illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary wireless telecommunications network;

[0036] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a wireless access point of a wireless telecommunications network;

[0037] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a user equipment device of a wireless telecommunications network; and

[0038] Figure 4 A process for operating a wireless telecommunications network is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Figure 1 An exemplary wireless telecommunication network 100 is shown, comprising: a collection of a plurality of wireless telecommunication devices (or user equipment devices UE) 110 ; a wireless access point (WAP) 120 ; and a wide area network 130 .

[0040] The WAP 120 is configured to create a wireless local area network (WLAN) 140 to which each of the UEs 110 can connect.

[0041] In one example, a WAP is a wireless router, gateway, edge device, extender, and / or repeater, and a WLAN can be based on IEEE RTM The UE may be in the form of any electronic communication device that includes a WLAN interface, and in particular: a personal computer (laptop or desktop); a mobile telecommunications device; an Internet of Things (IoT) device; a wireless repeater; and / or a wireless extender.

[0042] WAP 120 is connected (eg, via Ethernet) to wide area network 130, which includes, for example, fixed access broadband networks and / or cellular networks. Thus, UE 110 can connect to wide area network 130 via WLAN 140, and further to, for example, the Internet.

[0043] The WAP 120 is configured to broadcast a network identifier that identifies the WLAN 140 to the UE 110; the network identifier is in the form of a service set identifier (SSID), which is a configurable text-based identifier. The length of each individual SSID is defined by the standard. Typically, an SSID consists of a maximum of 32 ASCII characters (alphanumeric, case-sensitive characters from the 256 ASCII character set, with some restrictions on the first character).

[0044] like Figure 1 As shown in the example of , the total number of UEs in set 110 is two, all of which are located close enough to WAP 120 to be within the wireless range of the WAP, so WLAN 140 is detectable and identifiable to the UEs.

[0045] For more details, see Figure 2 , WAP 120 includes: a processor 210 ; a WAP instruction table 220 ; a WAP mode (WAPSchema) 230 ; and a WLAN controller and interface 240 .

[0046] The instruction table 220 provides a one-to-one association between UE executable instructions and unique instruction codes. An exemplary WAP instruction table is provided in Table 1, as shown below:

[0047] UE executable instructions Instruction code No instructions 6a Restart L％ renew aH Sleep 59 Reset network configuration #p

[0048] Table 1

[0049] The WAP pattern 230 includes a mapping that associates a unique identifier (discoverable by the WAP and, for example, a media access control address) of each UE 110 with a unique SSID character slot assigned to each UE. An exemplary WAP pattern 230 is provided in Table 2 below, as follows:

[0050] Unique identifier of the UE SSID character slot ED-0F-CD-82-24-7F 5-6 40-D5-A1-99-DE-28 7-8 ED-0F-CD-82-24-7F 9-10 40-D5-A1-99-DE-28 11-12 ED-0F-CD-82-24-7F 13-14 40-D5-A1-99-DE-28 15-16 ED-0F-CD-82-24-7F 17-18 40-D5-A1-99-DE-28 19-20

[0051] Table 2

[0052] In Table 2, the first UE and the second UE are associated with unique (MAC) identifiers "ED-0F-CD-82-24-7F" and "40-D5-A1-99-DE-28", respectively.

[0053] The SSID is a text string, and each character forming the string can be indexed consecutively and numerically, for example, in order from left to right. The index of each character is the character position. For example, an SSID in the form of the text string "HDU159L%6a59aH#p6aaH" has 20 characters, and the character "L" is located at the seventh character position (as the seventh character from left to right in the string). A character slot is a set of (at least one) character positions that are uniquely assigned to a given UE.

[0054] Therefore, WAP mode is a unique allocation of a unique set of SSID character slots to each UE. In the example of Table 2, the character slots to which the UE is allocated are non-overlapping characters of two consecutive character positions, but it should be understood that partially overlapping character slots may be used, particularly in the case of overlapping characters of the instruction code.

[0055] Thus, using the information in the WAP command table and the WAP mode, the SSID may be generated such that the command code may be embedded within the SSID in the slot allocated to the intended target UE for the command code.

[0056] The WLAN controller and interface 240 comprises a controller for establishing a communication interface of the WLAN 140 and for controlling the operation of said interface, in particular for configuring and causing the broadcast of the SSID of the WLAN.

[0057] The processor 210 communicates with the WAP instruction table 220, the WAP mode 230, and the WLAN controller and interface 240 (including at least a wireless transceiver).

[0058] For more details, see Figure 3 , the first UE 110 - 1 includes: a processor 310 ; a UE instruction table 320 ; a UE mode 230 ; and a WLAN controller and interface 340 .

[0059] The UE instruction table 320 and the UE mode include all or part of the WAP instruction table 220 and the WAP mode 230 respectively (as well as at least information related to the UE itself).

[0060] UE mode 230 includes character slots associated with UE 110-1 and therefore defines which characters in the broadcast SSID UE 110-1 is to process to retrieve instruction codes for the UE.Thus, to the extent that the UE and WAP include the same information, the SSID can be used to convey specific and targeted instructions to the UE.

[0061] The WLAN controller and interface 340 comprises a communication interface for utilizing the WLAN 140, in particular for detecting the SSID of the WLAN and for transmitting a unique identifier associated with the first UE, and a controller for controlling the operation of the interface.

[0062] The second UE 110-2 includes components corresponding to those of the first UE 110-1 and is configured accordingly.

[0063] For example, continuing with the examples of Tables 1 and 2 and the exemplary SSID string "HDU159L%6a59aH#p6aaH", the first UE and the second UE are configured to retrieve instructions for hibernation and restart, respectively, by using the corresponding UE mode and UE instruction tables because the characters in the SSID in the character slots assigned to each UE (i.e., 5-6 and 7-8, respectively) include instruction codes that are converted to these instructions (i.e., "59" and "L%", respectively).

[0064] It should be understood that WAP 120 and UE 110 include Figures 1 to 3 Shown and referenced Figures 1 to 3 Additional components to those described (as appropriate) are described, but are omitted for the sake of brevity.

[0065] With the aid of the aforementioned components, the WAP and the UE are configured to transmit dedicated instructions to each UE via the broadcasted SSID using the principles of multiplexing and demultiplexing. Figure 4 An exemplary process 400 is shown for addressing different instructions to each UE 110 in this manner.

[0066] In a first step 410, a command (and corresponding command code) is selected from the WAP command table 220 and distributed to each UE 110 (associated with each UE's unique identifier, as detected by the WAP).

[0067] Likewise, at step 410, SSID character slots are allocated and coordinated so that the character slot for a given UE is known to both the UE and the WAP. In one example, the SSID character slots are predefined or communicated to the UE by the WAP (e.g., via WLAN). Thus, the output of step 410 is a map associating each UE with an SSID character slot and an instruction code.

[0068] At step 420, all assigned instruction codes are compiled and arranged according to the sequence given by each associated character slot, thereby providing an SSID string. In this way, the SSID string is a string of instruction codes, where the position of each instruction code matches the character slot of the UE to which the corresponding instruction code is assigned. Continuing with the example of Tables 1 and 2, Table 3 shows an example of a mapping of information for deriving the SSID string "HDU159L%6a59aH#p6aaH".

[0069]

[0070] Table 3

[0071] At the next step 430, the generated SSID string is communicated to the processor 210, which causes the broadcast of the SSID for the WLAN 140, the SSID including the generated SSID string (generated after step 420).

[0072] In a subsequent step 440, each of the plurality of UEs 110 detects the broadcast SSID. Based on the information in each UE mode, each UE determines the character slot assigned to itself and then determines the character in the detected SSID corresponding to the character slot. The determined character is extracted and interpreted as an instruction code for the UE. Then, using the information in the UE instruction table, each UE then decodes the instruction code into an instruction and then executes the instruction 450.

[0073] In this manner, a single SSID may be used to communicate different specific instructions to multiple UEs, thereby alleviating the need to communicate the instructions to the UEs via a communication link using data packets over the WLAN 140 .

[0074] Where the underlying instructions and / or character slots are secret (ie, known only to the WAP and appropriate UEs), process 400 may also simultaneously achieve the result of hiding what instructions are being transmitted and / or to which UEs.

[0075] Alternatives and variants

[0076] In an alternative, WLAN 140 is visible only to UEs 110 that are prohibited or unable to connect to the WLAN. In this way, the WLAN is used only to transmit instructions to the UE via its SSID, rather than being used as a regular wireless data network.

[0077] In the alternative, steps 410 and / or 420 are performed by a device remote from the WAP, and for example a cloud-based device management system (DSM) that communicates with the WAP via the wide area network 130. Thus, the processor 210, WAP mode 230 and / or WAP repertoire 220 may be provided as part of the remote device.

[0078] In an alternative, the SSID includes the instruction code and an additional predefined code (e.g., a prefix (such as "HDU1") and / or a suffix) that indicates to UE 110 that the instruction code for demultiplexing is present in the SSID. Therefore, for processing efficiency, a UE that has been preconfigured to recognize the additional predefined code can identify which SSIDs contain the instruction code and, therefore, identify which SSIDs to process according to step 440.

[0079] In an alternative, the instructions are more generally data or information, such as alphanumeric or ASCII symbols.As such, process 400 may be used to transmit unique information to each UE, such as network access credentials and, for example, a password.

[0080] although Figure 1 The example of only shows two UEs, but it should be understood that the telecommunications network 100 can be used to include more UEs, wherein the process 400 is performed to transmit a unique set of instructions to all such UEs. In addition, in an alternative solution, the first UE and / or the second UE are a set of multiple UEs with the same character slot, and therefore all get the same instructions.

[0081] The character slots assigned to the UE can be changed dynamically, rather than statically. In one example, the change in the character slots is communicated to the UE by the WAP 140 via the SSID (e.g., as an instruction code). In another example, the SSID string "UE1_8-9-UE2_12-15" can be interpreted by the first UE and the second UE to assign to themselves (as recorded in the corresponding schema 330) character slots 8-9 and 12-15, respectively.

[0082] In one example, the instruction code can be converted into an encrypted string for broadcast as part of the SSID, and the UE is configured to also decrypt the encrypted string to output the instruction code at step 440. In one example, the encryption key is common to all UEs 110.

[0083] In an alternative, the encryption key is unique to each UE 110. In this case, a given UE may sacrifice having a priori knowledge of its assigned character slot, thereby avoiding the need for the WAP and UE to ensure corresponding knowledge of the assigned character slot. In this case, step 440 is modified so that each UE performs decryption on the SSID. In the event that such decryption produces a valid instruction code (i.e., corresponding to an entry in the UE instruction table), the UE knows that it has successfully identified an instruction intended for itself, and therefore also the character slot assigned to the UE.

[0084] There may be situations where command codes are inadvertently transmitted to unintended target UEs; this may be done accidentally or maliciously (e.g. SSID spoofing). To help reduce this risk, at least the following actions can be taken:

[0085] 1. Rapid changes to the allocated character slots to minimize the duration that any character slot is allocated to a UE;

[0086] 2. The command code is for one-time use and is burned after being broadcast and / or processed by the UE (i.e., never repeated);

[0087] 3. Randomly and secretly assign character slots to UEs;

[0088] 4. securely transmit a character slot to the WAP and the UE;

[0089] 5. When a UE detects multiple SSIDs having (the same or different) instruction codes arranged at a character slot assigned to the UE, preventing the UE from executing the instruction code; and / or

[0090] 6. The UE authenticates the WAP, and only the authenticated WAP executes instructions obtained from the broadcasted SSID.

[0091] It should be understood that the character slots may additionally or alternatively have: at least one character position, but one less than the character limit of the SSID; different lengths for different UEs; non-adjacent character positions; separated by at least one buffer character position.

[0092] Each feature disclosed herein and (where appropriate) part of the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

[0093] Any reference signs appearing in the claims are by way of illustration only and shall not limit the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for operating a wireless telecommunication network, the network comprising a plurality of user equipments UE, wireless access points WAP and a wireless local area network WLAN provided by the WAP, the method comprising the following steps: Associating, for each UE in the plurality of UEs, an information item with a unique character slot for the information item; compiling each information item into a character string, wherein the information items are arranged according to each associated character slot; broadcasting, by the WAP, a network identifier of the WLAN, the network identifier comprising the compiled string; identifying, by each of the UEs, the broadcasted network identifier; Retrieving, by each UE, a character slot for an associated UE; and The retrieved character slots are used by each UE to extract the associated information item from the identified network identifier.

2. A method of operating a wireless access point WAP for a wireless telecommunication network, the network comprising a plurality of user equipments UE and a wireless local area network WLAN provided by the WAP, the method comprising the following steps: receiving, for each UE of the plurality of UEs, an association between an information item and a unique character slot for the information item; compiling each information item into a character string, wherein the information items are arranged according to each associated character slot; A network identifier of the WLAN is broadcasted by the WAP, the network identifier comprising the compiled character string, so that each UE having retrieved and used the character slot for associated UEs extracts the associated information item from the broadcasted network identifier.

3. A method of operating a user equipment UE for a wireless telecommunication network, the network comprising a plurality of user equipments, a wireless access point WAP and a wireless local area network WLAN provided by the WAP, and the wireless telecommunication network is configured to: Associating, for the UE and each UE, an information item with a unique character slot for the information item; Compile each information item into a string, where The information items are arranged according to respective associated character slots; and broadcasting a network identifier of the WLAN, the network identifier comprising the compiled string; The method comprises the following steps of the UE: a network identifier identifying the broadcast; retrieving the character slot associated with the UE; and The retrieved character slots are used to extract the associated information item from the identified network identifier.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The or each UE extracts only the information items associated therewith by using only the associated unique character slots.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: Retrieving the character slot includes receiving a communication specifying the character slot from the WAP and / or via the WLAN or another WLAN.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: Respective information items associated with respective ones of the UEs are different.

7. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The network identifier comprises a given information item in an encoded form suitable for decoding by an associated UE.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: encrypting at least one of the information items into an encrypted form, wherein the broadcasted network identifier includes the encrypted form; and The encrypted form is decrypted by the associated UE to extract the associated information item.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein: Decryption is performed using a decryption key common to all UEs of the plurality of UEs.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein: Decryption is performed using a decryption key that is unique to the or each UE.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The or each UE stores predefined information including the information item associated with the UE, and wherein the step of retrieving a character slot for the associated UE comprises identifying the character slot of the network identifier, the character slot being decrypted to generate the information item stored in the predefined information.

12. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The information item comprises instructions for the UE.

13. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The method is performed without the or each UE being connected or connected to the WLAN or any WLAN.

14. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The network identifier is a service set identifier.

15. A computer readable carrier medium containing a computer program which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps according to any one of the preceding claims.

16. A wireless telecommunications network, comprising: Multiple user equipments UE; a processor configured to associate, for each UE of the plurality of UEs, an information item with a unique character slot for the information item; A wireless access point WAP, wherein the WAP is configured as follows: compiling each information item into a character string, wherein the information items are arranged according to each associated character slot; and broadcasting a network identifier, the network identifier comprising a compiled string; a wireless local area network WLAN, said WLAN being provided by said WAP and having said network identifier associated therewith; and Wherein, each UE among the multiple UEs is further configured as: a network identifier identifying the broadcast; retrieving the character slot for the associated UE; and The retrieved character slots are used to extract the associated information item from the identified network identifier.

17. A wireless access point WAP for a wireless telecommunication network, the network comprising a plurality of user equipments UE and a wireless local area network WLAN provided by the WAP, the WAP comprising: A processor, the processor being configured to: For each UE in the plurality of UEs, receiving an association between an information item and a unique character slot for the information item; and compiling each information item into a character string, wherein the information items are arranged according to each associated character slot; and A controller, the controller being configured to: A network identifier of the WLAN is broadcasted by the WAP, the network identifier comprising the compiled character string, so that each UE having retrieved and used the character slot for associated UEs extracts the associated information item from the broadcasted network identifier.

18. A user equipment UE for operating in a wireless telecommunication network, the network comprising a plurality of UEs, a wireless access point WAP and a wireless local area network WLAN provided by the WAP, and the wireless telecommunication network is configured to: Associating, for the UE and each UE, an information item with a unique character slot for the information item; Compile each information item into a string, where The information items are arranged according to respective associated character slots; as well as broadcasting a network identifier of the WLAN, the network identifier comprising the compiled string; and The UE includes: A processor, the processor being configured to: a network identifier identifying the broadcast; retrieving the character slot associated with the UE; and The retrieved character slots are used to extract the associated information item from the identified network identifier.

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