Apparatus, method and computer program for a mobile device

• US 10,285,134 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2018
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Jurthe, Sascha
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US15/894,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20180255516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 4553436, 4555521-5531, 455572-574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/02 Power saving arrangements in wired systems H04L12/12; signaling of mobile application services, e.g. low battery notifications H04W4/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/028 switching on or off only a part of the equipment circuit blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An apparatus, a method and a computer program for a mobile device. The apparatus has a transceiver module for communication in a first mobile communication system and in a second mobile communication system and a control module to determine whether a time period until an estimated next time for replenishing an energy supply of the mobile device lies above a time threshold value. The control module uses the first mobile communication system for a data transmission if the time period lies above the time threshold value and uses the second mobile communication system for the data transmission if a connection to the second mobile communication system is available at or before the next time for replenishing the energy reserve of the mobile device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver module for communication in a first mobile communication system and in a second mobile communication system; and

a control module to;

determine whether a time period until an estimated next time for replenishing an energy reserve of the mobile device lies above a time threshold value, and

use the first mobile communication system for a data transmission in response to determining that the time period lies above the time threshold value, and use the second mobile communication system for the data transmission in response to determining that a connection to the second mobile communication system is available at or before the next time for replenishing the energy reserve of the mobile device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module determines whether a probability that the mobile device will be located in a coverage area of the second mobile communication system at the estimated next time for replenishing the energy reserve is less than a probability threshold value, and wherein the control module uses the first mobile communication system for the data transmission in response to the probability being less than the probability threshold value.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module determines a position of the mobile device, wherein the control module determines, based on the position of the mobile device, whether the time period until an estimated next time for replenishing the energy reserve of the mobile device lies above the time threshold value, and/or

wherein the control module determines, based on a further time period since a last time for replenishing the energy reserve of the mobile device, whether the time period until an estimated next time for replenishing the energy reserve of the mobile device lies above the time threshold value, and/or

wherein the control module determines, based on an energy consumption of the mobile device, whether the time period until an estimated next time for replenishing the energy reserve of the mobile device lies above the time threshold value.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the replenishment of the energy reserve of the mobile device corresponds to a replenishment of the energy reserve with electrical energy, with a liquid fuel, with gasoline, with diesel, with natural gas, with liquefied petroleum gas or with hydrogen.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mobile device corresponds to a vehicle, or wherein the mobile device corresponds to a mobile telephone, a programmable mobile telephone, a programmable clock or a tablet computer.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the control module determines whether a further time period until an estimated next vehicle service on the vehicle lies above the time threshold value, and wherein the control module uses the first mobile communication system for the data transmission in response to the time period and the further time period lying above the time threshold value.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mobile communication system corresponds to a cellular mobile telecommunication system and wherein the second mobile communication system corresponds to a wireless local network, and/or

wherein the first mobile communication system corresponds to a mobile communication system with a first higher range, and wherein the second mobile communication system corresponds to a mobile communication system with a second lower range.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data transmission corresponds to a transmission of data with a data volume of more than 50 megabytes, and/or

wherein the data transmission corresponds to a transmission of map data, of program updates of computer programs of the mobile device, of updates of an operating system of the mobile device, of swarm data and/or of media data.

9. A method for a mobile device, the method comprising:

determining whether a time period until an estimated next time for replenishing an energy reserve of the mobile device lies below a time threshold value;

using a first mobile communication system for the data transmission in response to determining that the time period lies above the time threshold value; and

using a second mobile communication system for the data transmission in response to a connection to the second mobile communication system being available at or before the next time for replenishing the energy reserve of the mobile device.

10. A program with a program code to carry out a method when the program code is executed on a computer, a processor or a programmable hardware component, wherein the method comprises:

determining whether a time period until an estimated next time for replenishing an energy reserve of the mobile device lies below a time threshold value;

using a first mobile communication system for the data transmission in response to determining that the time period lies above the time threshold value; and

using a second mobile communication system for the data transmission in response to a connection to the second mobile communication system being available at or before the next time for replenishing the energy reserve of the mobile device.