Method and mobile transceiver having advanced network selection

• US 10,477,462 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2016
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Korneluk, Jose Eduardo, Berriz, Sergio Javier
• Primary Examiner(s): Mastrodonato, Margaret G
• Application Number:
  US15/230,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20180041944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,191 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and mobile transceiver having advanced network selection are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method of operating a mobile transceiver, comprising: waking up a processor and a satellite receiver from a low power mode in response to a wakeup event; determining a location of the mobile transceiver using the satellite receiver; determining whether the determined location corresponds to a waypoint in a travel itinerary, wherein the travel itinerary defines a number of waypoints including an origin endpoint and a destination endpoint; when the determined location corresponds to a waypoint in the travel itinerary, activating a predetermined wireless transceiver from a plurality of wireless transceivers, searching for wireless service using the predetermined wireless transceiver, and sending an asset tracking log to an asset tracking service when wireless service is available.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile transceiver, comprising:

waking up a processor and a satellite receiver from a low power mode in response to a time-based wakeup event or sensor-based wakeup event;

determining a location of the mobile transceiver using the satellite receiver;

determining whether the determined location corresponds to a waypoint in a pre-programmed travel itinerary, the travel itinerary being stored in a memory of the mobile transceiver and defining a number of waypoints along a planned route, each of the waypoints defining a location, the waypoints including an origin endpoint, a destination endpoint and intermediate locations between the origin endpoint and destination endpoint;

in response to a determination that the determined location corresponds to a waypoint in the travel itinerary;

identifying a predetermined wireless transceiver from a plurality of wireless transceivers in accordance with the wake-up event;

activating the predetermined wireless transceiver;

searching for wireless service using the predetermined wireless transceiver; and

sending an asset tracking log to an asset tracking service in response to wireless service being available.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the determined location and a time associated with the determined location in the asset tracking log.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

acquiring sensor data using one or more sensors and storing the acquired sensor data in the asset tracking log.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a low power mode for the mobile transceiver when the determined location does not correspond to a waypoint in the travel itinerary.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a wireless transceiver when the determined location does not correspond to a waypoint in the travel itinerary;

activating the selected wireless transceiver; and

sending an asset tracking log to an asset tracking service.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the determined location corresponds to a waypoint in the travel itinerary, determining whether a wireless transceiver in the plurality of wireless transceivers has been predetermined for the waypoint.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

initiating a low power mode for the mobile transceiver when a wireless transceiver has not been predetermined for the waypoint.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

selecting a wireless transceiver in the plurality of wireless transceivers when a wireless transceiver has not been predetermined for the waypoint;

activating the selected wireless transceiver; and

sending an asset tracking log to an asset tracking service.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a low power mode for the mobile transceiver subsequent to sending the asset tracking log to the asset tracking service.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating an alternate wireless transceiver when wireless service is not available;

searching for wireless service using the alternate wireless transceiver; and

sending an asset tracking log to an asset tracking service when wireless service is available.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein activating the alternate wireless transceiver when wireless service is not available comprises switching from a first SIM card in a plurality of SIM cards to a different SIM card in the plurality of SIM cards.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless transceivers comprise a plurality of cellular transceivers.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of wireless transceivers further comprise one or more of a Wi-Fi transceiver or Bluetooth transceiver.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel itinerary specifies a range of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) coordinates for each waypoint in the travel itinerary, wherein determining whether the determined location corresponds to a waypoint in a travel itinerary comprises determining whether the determined location matches one of the ranges of GNSS coordinates specified in the travel itinerary.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the travel itinerary specifies an expected time of arrival for each waypoint in the travel itinerary, wherein determining whether a current time and a time zone for the determined location matches one of the ETAs specified in the travel itinerary.

16. A mobile transceiver, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a satellite receiver coupled to the processor; and

a plurality of wireless transceivers coupled to the processor;

wherein the memory has tangibly stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the mobile transceiver to;

wake up a processor and a satellite receiver from a low power mode in response to a time-based wakeup event or sensor-based wakeup event;

determine a location of the mobile transceiver using the satellite receiver;

determine whether the determined location corresponds to a waypoint in a pre-programmed travel itinerary, the travel itinerary being stored in a memory of the mobile transceiver and defining a number of waypoints along a planned route, each of the waypoints defining a location, the waypoints including an origin endpoint, a destination endpoint and intermediate locations between the origin endpoint and destination endpoint;

in response to a determination that the determined location corresponds to a waypoint in the travel itinerary;

identify a predetermined wireless transceiver from a plurality of wireless transceivers in accordance with the wake-up event;

activate the predetermined wireless transceiver;

search for wireless service using the predetermined wireless transceiver; and

send an asset tracking log to an asset tracking service in response to wireless service being available.

17. The mobile transceiver of claim 16, wherein the travel itinerary specifies a range of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) coordinates for each waypoint in the travel itinerary, wherein determining whether the determined location corresponds to a waypoint in a travel itinerary comprises determining whether the determined location matches one of the ranges of GNSS coordinates specified in the travel itinerary.

18. The mobile transceiver of claim 16, wherein the travel itinerary specifies an expected time of arrival (ETA) for each waypoint in the travel itinerary, wherein determining whether a current time and a time zone for the determined location matches one of the ETAs specified in the travel itinerary.

19. The mobile transceiver of claim 16, wherein the mobile transceiver is a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) tracking device.

20. A non-transitory machine readable medium having tangibly stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a mobile transceiver, the mobile transceiver comprising a processor, a memory, a satellite receiver, and a plurality of wireless transceivers coupled to the processor, cause the mobile transceiver to:

wake up a processor and a satellite receiver from a low power mode in response to a time based wakeup event or a sensor based wakeup event;

determine a location of the mobile transceiver using the satellite receiver;

determine whether the determined location corresponds to a waypoint in a pre-programmed travel itinerary, the travel itinerary being stored in a memory of the mobile transceiver and defining a number of waypoints along a planned route, each of the waypoints defining a location, the waypoints including an origin endpoint, a destination endpoint and intermediate locations between the origin endpoint and destination endpoint;

in response to a determination that the determined location corresponds to a waypoint in the travel itinerary;

identify a predetermined wireless transceiver from a plurality of wireless transceivers in accordance with the wake-up event;

activate the predetermined wireless transceiver;

search for wireless service using the predetermined wireless transceiver; and

send an asset tracking log to an asset tracking service in response to wireless service being available.