System and method for wireless network offloading
First Claim
1. A wireless end-user device comprising:
- a radio configured to identify available wireless networks, the available wireless networks being different than a current wireless network to which the end user device is currently connected; and
a prioritized network selection engine configured toselect one of the available wireless networks based on a prioritized network list,cause the wireless end-user device to connect through the selected available wireless network to a network element in a second network reachable through the selected available wireless network,initiate an upload and/or download sequence between the wireless end-user device and the network element,characterize performance of the selected available wireless network based on the conducted upload and/or download sequence, anddetermine, based at least in part on the characterized performance, to communicate network data for the wireless end-user device through the selected available wireless network instead of the current wireless network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Wireless offloading provides tools to a service provider to encourage or direct a subscriber to offload from a first network, e.g., a cellular network, to a second network, e.g., a Wi-Fi network. The cellular service provider can use network data to determine wireless offloading priorities for cellular subscribers on an individual or group basis. The cellular service provider may use wireless network data it has and/or wireless network data it learns about networks from the wireless devices (which may obtain Wi-Fi network data from beacon frames of Wi-Fi networks or active scanning and which may report to the cellular service provider). Each wireless device can be given scanning assignments to ensure that the reporting task is shared among subscribers or adjusted to fill in gaps in data. With the network data, the cellular service provider is capable of generating useful prioritized network lists for wireless devices, either individually or as a group. Preferences can be encouraged in the form of incentive offers to subscribers to, e.g., offload from the cellular network to a Wi-Fi network. Incentive offers can include offers to lower service costs or provide additional or improved services.
1565 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A wireless end-user device comprising:
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a radio configured to identify available wireless networks, the available wireless networks being different than a current wireless network to which the end user device is currently connected; and a prioritized network selection engine configured to select one of the available wireless networks based on a prioritized network list, cause the wireless end-user device to connect through the selected available wireless network to a network element in a second network reachable through the selected available wireless network, initiate an upload and/or download sequence between the wireless end-user device and the network element, characterize performance of the selected available wireless network based on the conducted upload and/or download sequence, and determine, based at least in part on the characterized performance, to communicate network data for the wireless end-user device through the selected available wireless network instead of the current wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification