Systems and methods for directing mobile device connectivity

• US 10,595,253 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2019
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mimosa Networks, Inc. (Airspan Networks Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mimosa Networks, Inc. (Airspan Networks Inc.)
• Inventors: Hinman, Brian L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mapa, Michael Y
• Application Number:
  US16/262,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20190215745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 4552381, 4554351-444, 4554561-457, 370331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/1446 wherein at least one of the networks is unlicensed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided herein for selecting networks for a mobile communications device. Methods for selecting a network connection for a mobile communications device may include receiving signals that comprise location information of the mobile communications device and selecting a first network type or a second network type for the mobile communications device based upon a magnitude of movement of the mobile communications device determined from the location information, the first network type comprising a network that is capable of handing off active sessions for the mobile communications device, the second network type comprising a network that having a reduced capacity or no capacity to hand off active sessions for the mobile communications device.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a network connection for a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

receiving signals that comprise location information of the mobile communications device integrated into a vehicle, the signals being route update messages for the vehicle;

selecting a first network type or a second network type for the mobile communications device based upon a magnitude of a movement of the vehicle determined from the location information, the first network type comprising a network that is capable of handing off active sessions for the mobile communications device, the second network type comprising a network having a reduced capacity or no capacity to hand off active sessions for the mobile communications device; and

when the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle cannot be measured, comparing a last location of the vehicle to a map to infer the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising estimating the magnitude of movement of the vehicle by:

comparing the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle to a velocity threshold;

when the magnitude of the movement meets or exceeds the velocity threshold the method includes outputting a signal that specifies that the vehicle is to use the first network type; and

when the magnitude of the movement does not meet or exceed the velocity threshold the method includes outputting a signal that specifies that the vehicle is to use the second network type.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second network type includes at least one of an ad-hoc network, a microcell, a femtocell, and a WiFi network.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second network type comprises a microcell network established by a second communications device, the mobile communications device being coupled with the second communications device as a proxy to use the microcell network.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a signal strength for each network available to the mobile communications, and wherein selecting further comprises selecting the first or second network type based upon both the signal strength of available networks and the magnitude of the movement of the mobile communications device.

6. A method for selecting a network connection for a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

receiving signals that comprise location information of the mobile communications device integrated into a vehicle, the signals being route update messages for the vehicle;

estimating movement of the mobile communications device from the location information;

dividing voice sessions and data sessions for the mobile communications device between a first network type and a second network type-based upon a magnitude of a movement of the vehicle, the first network type comprising a network that is capable of handing off active sessions for the mobile communications device, the second network type comprising a network having a reduced capacity or no capacity to hand off active sessions for the mobile communications device, the vehicle storing a service set identifier and a password for accessing the first network type; and

when the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle cannot be measured, comparing a last location of the vehicle to a map to infer the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the voice sessions are placed onto the second network type the data sessions are placed onto the first network type.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein estimating comprises comparing the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle to a velocity threshold.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising merging the voice sessions onto the first network type when the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle increases above the velocity threshold.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising re-dividing the voice and data sessions between the first and second network types when the movement of the vehicle falls below the velocity threshold.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising merging the voice sessions onto the first network type when a signal strength of the second network type falls below a signal threshold.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second network type includes at least one of an ad-hoc network, a microcell, a femtocell, and a WiFi network.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving a first signal from a first network transmitter, the first signal including an indication of a first strength of the first signal pf a first network type;

receiving a second signal from a second network transmitter, the second signal including an indication of a second strength of the second signal of a second network type;

determining signals that comprise location information of a mobile communications device integrated into a vehicle, the signals being route update messages for the vehicle;

selecting one of the first network type and the second network type for one of data and voice transmissions based on at least one of a magnitude of a movement of the vehicle, the first strength, and the second strength, the vehicle storing a service set identifier and a password for accessing the first network type; and

when the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle cannot be measured, comparing a last location of the vehicle to a map to infer the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

comparing the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle to a velocity threshold;

when the magnitude of the movement meets or exceeds the velocity threshold the method includes outputting a signal that specifies that the mobile communications device is to use the first network type; and

when the magnitude of the movement does not meet or exceed the velocity threshold the method includes outputting a signal that specifies that the mobile communications device is to use the second network type.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first network type includes a macro cell network and the second network type includes at least one of an ad-hoc network, a microcell, a femtocell, and a WiFi network.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein based upon the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle, the method comprises dividing voice sessions and data sessions for the mobile communications device1 between the first network type and the second network type.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein when the voice sessions are placed onto the second network type the data sessions are placed onto the first network type.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the second network type comprises a microcell network established by a second communications device, the mobile communications device being coupled with the second communications device as a proxy to use the microcell network.

19. A mobile communications device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing executable instructions, the instructions being executed by the processor to;

receive signals that comprise location information of the mobile communications device integrated into a vehicle, the signals being route update messages for the vehicle;

select a first network type or a second network type for the mobile communications device based upon a magnitude of a movement of the vehicle determined from the location information, the first network type comprising a network that is capable of handing off active sessions for the mobile communications device, the second network type comprising a network having a reduced capacity or no capacity to hand off active sessions for the mobile communications device; and

when the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle cannot be measured, compare a last location of the vehicle to a map to infer the magnitude of the movement of the vehicle.