ANTICIPATION OF COMMUNICATIONS CONNECTIVITY CHANGES FOR MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20040203998A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Knauerhase, Robert C., Deshpande, Nikhil M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,263,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the invention, the location of a mobile device and a direction in which the mobile device is moving are determined. Communications service changes for the mobile device are anticipated based at least in part on the location of the mobile device and direction in which the mobile device is moving.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a communications link with one or more wireless networks; and

a memory, the data stored in the memory including data regarding a location and a direction of travel of the mobile device, the mobile device anticipating communications service changes for the mobile device based at least in part on the location and direction of travel of the mobile device.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device accesses a service coverage map to determine the anticipated communications service changes for the mobile device.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the service coverage map is stored on the mobile device.

4. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the service coverage map is stored outside the mobile device and the service coverage map is referenced as needed to anticipate communications service changes.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device determines a speed of travel of the mobile device and wherein the anticipation of communications service changes for the mobile device is also based at least in part on the speed of travel of the mobile device.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device provides a warning regarding anticipated communications service changes.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device initiates one or more actions to accommodate anticipated communications service changes.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the actions include performing one or more of the following actions prior to an anticipated communications service change;

saving application data;

pre-fetching application data;

or

switching a mode of operation.

9. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the actions include prompting a user to install hardware needed for a communications service change.

10. A method comprising:

determining the location of a mobile device;

determining a direction in which the mobile device is moving; and

anticipating communications service changes for the mobile device based at least in part on the location of the mobile device and direction in which the mobile device is moving.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the anticipation of communications service changes is made using a map of communications service coverage for the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a speed at which the mobile device is moving and basing the anticipated communications service changes at least in part on the speed of movement of the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing a warning regarding anticipated communications service changes.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising performing one or more of the following actions prior to anticipated communications service changes:

caching application data;

pre-fetching application data;

or

switching a mode of operation.

15. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

determining the location of a mobile device;

determining a direction in which the mobile device is moving; and

anticipating communications service changes for the mobile device based at least in part on the location of the mobile device and direction in which the mobile device is moving.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the anticipation of communications service changes is made using a map of communications service coverage for the mobile device.

17. The medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising determining a speed at which the mobile device is moving and basing the anticipated communications service changes at least in part on the speed of movement of the mobile device.

18. The medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising providing a warning regarding anticipated communications service changes.

19. The medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising performing one or more of the following actions prior to anticipated communications service changes:

caching application data;

pre-fetching application data;

or

switching a mode of operation.

20. A mobile device comprising:

a means for determining the location and direction of travel of the mobile device;

a means for accessing a service coverage map, the service coverage map including data regarding communications service availability at a plurality of locations; and

a means for anticipating changes in communications service for the mobile device, the anticipation being based at least in part on the location and direction of travel of the mobile device.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, further comprising a means for determining a speed of travel of the mobile device.

22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the anticipation of changes in communications service for the mobile device is based at least in part on the speed of travel of the mobile device.

23. The mobile device of claim 20, further comprising a means of providing a notice regarding anticipated communications service changes.

24. The mobile device of claim 20, further comprising a means for performing one or more of the following actions in anticipation of communications service changes:

caching application data;

pre-fetching application data;

or

switching a mode of operation.

25. A communications system comprising:

a mobile device, the mobile device communicating using a wireless communications link;

a plurality of communications services; and

a map of communications services for the mobile device, the map of communications services containing data regarding the communications services available to the mobile device at certain locations, the map being used to anticipate changes in communications connectivity for the mobile device based at least in part on a location and a direction of travel of the mobile device.

26. The communications system of claim 25, wherein changes in communications connectivity are also based at least in part on a speed of travel of the mobile device.

27. The communications system of claim 25, wherein a warning is provided regarding anticipated communications connectivity changes.

28. The communications system of claim 27, wherein the warning is provided to a user of the mobile device.

29. The communications system of claim 27, wherein the warning is provided to an application running on the mobile device.

30. The communications system of claim 25, wherein one or more of the following actions are taken in anticipation of communications connectivity changes:

caching data;

pre-fetching data;

or

switching a mode of operation.