Application assisted band scanning method to reduce network acquisition time

• US 10,356,708 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2018
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hageltorn, Goran, Cormier, Jean-Philippe Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghulamali, Qutbuddin
• Application Number:
  US16/141,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20190028964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 4554566, 4555501, 455456
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0083 Multi-mode cell search, i.e. where several modes or systems can be used, e.g. backwards compatible, dual mode or flexible systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method of selecting a cellular network entails determining a current location of a mobile device by obtaining location data from an application on the mobile device, prioritizing cellular network frequency bands based on the current location to define a band priority, and selecting the cellular network based on the band priority. This method expedites selection of the cellular network when a mobile device is powered on, when its cellular radiofrequency transceiver is activated or when returning from an out-of-coverage area.

Claims

1. A method by a mobile device of selecting a cellular network, the method comprising:

scanning frequency bands according to a default order;

determining a current location of the mobile device by obtaining location data from one or more applications on the mobile device;

prioritizing cellular network frequency bands based on the current location to define a band priority;

responsive to the prioritizing being complete, interrupting the scanning; and

resuming the scanning of the frequency bands according to the band priority.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the current location is based on data from a calendar application.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the current location is based on data from a social media application.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the current location is based on data from a travel-related application.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the current location is based on data from a web browser application.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the current location comprises mining messages for travel-related location data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the current location is performed in response to activating a cellular radiofrequency transceiver.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into a memory and executed by a processor of a mobile device cause the mobile device to:

scan frequency bands according to a default order;

determine a current location of the mobile device by obtaining location data from one or more applications on the mobile device;

prioritize cellular network frequency bands based on the current location to define a band priority;

responsive to the prioritizing being complete, interrupt the scanning; and

resume the scanning of the frequency bands according to the band priority.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the current location is based on data from a calendar application.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the current location is based on data from a social media application.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the current location is based on data from a travel-booking application.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the current location is based on data from a web browser application.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the current location is based on message comprising travel-related location data.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 8 wherein the determining of the current location is performed in response to activating a cellular radiofrequency transceiver.

15. A mobile device comprising:

a cellular radiofrequency transceiver;

a memory that stores an application and data for the application; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

scan frequency bands according to a default order;

determine a current location of the mobile device by obtaining location data from the application;

prioritize cellular network frequency bands to define a band priority;

responsive to the prioritizing being complete, interrupt the scanning;

resume the scanning of the frequency bands according to the band priority.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the application is a calendar application.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the application is a social media application.

18. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the application is a travel-booking application.

19. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the application is a messaging application and the determining comprises mining message for travel-related location data.

20. The mobile device of claim 15 wherein the processor determines the current location in response to activating the cellular radiofrequency transceiver.