Mobile client for multi-service provider network environment
First Claim
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1. A communication device comprising:
- means for interrogating a plurality of wireless network access service providers to gather information related to service offerings thereof;
means for obtaining a provider selection criterion associated with a user of said communication device; and
means for selecting a service provider from said plurality of wireless network access service providers to provide wireless access to a network for said communication device based on said provider selection criterion and said information.
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Abstract
In an area being serviced by multiple wireless network access service providers, a service provider is selected for use by a communication device based upon information received from each of the available service providers and a provider selection criterion.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A communication device comprising:
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means for interrogating a plurality of wireless network access service providers to gather information related to service offerings thereof;
means for obtaining a provider selection criterion associated with a user of said communication device; and
means for selecting a service provider from said plurality of wireless network access service providers to provide wireless access to a network for said communication device based on said provider selection criterion and said information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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13. A method for procuring wireless access to a network for a communication device, comprising:
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identifying a plurality of network access service providers that are currently servicing a present location of the communication device;
interrogating said plurality of network access service providers for information using a wireless interrogation signal; and
selecting a service provider from said plurality of network access service providers based on said information and a selection criterion.
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22. A computer readable medium having program instructions stored thereon for performing, when executed within a digital processing device, a method for procuring wireless access to a network, said method comprising:
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interrogating a plurality of network access service providers for information relating to service offerings; and
selecting a service provider from said plurality of network access service providers based on said information and a selection criterion. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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26. A communication device comprising:
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a wireless transceiver to transmit communication signals into and receive communications signals from a wireless communication channel via at least one antenna; and
a mobile client to procure wireless access to a network for the communication device, said mobile client including;
an interrogation function to interrogate a plurality of network access service providers that are active in a vicinity of said communication device using interrogation signals transmitted by said wireless transceiver, said interrogation function receiving information from said plurality of network access service providers in response to said interrogation signals; and
a selection function to select a service provider from said plurality of network access service providers based on said information received by said interrogation function and a provider selection criterion.
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Specification