Selecting a wireless networking technology on a device capable of carrying out wireless network communications via multiple wireless technologies

• US 20050239497A1
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bahl, Paramvir, Bahl, Pradeep, Hassan, Amer
• Granted Patent: US 7,610,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Criteria-driven methods and a framework are disclosed that facilitate configuration/selection of one or more wireless network interfaces/networks for carrying out wireless communications on a computing device. The wireless network interface selection and coexistence driver architecture described herein facilitates automated selection of a particular mode of network access based upon status information provided by a set of network interface drivers associated with particular network interfaces and wireless technologies. Furthermore, a criteria-driven interface/network selection framework is described that is potentially invoked in a variety of situations including, but not limited to, when an application is invoked or to select another interface/network to avoid detected interference.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a wireless technology among multiple available wireless technologies on a computing device for establishing a network connection comprising the steps of:

maintaining a wireless technology selection framework comprising a set of factors, wherein one or more of the factors are incorporated into wireless technology selection criteria;

acquiring a set of information regarding the status and/or capabilities associated with each available wireless technology;

rendering factor values for ones of the set of factors based upon the set of information acquired for each available wireless technology; and

rendering a wireless technology selection based at least in part upon applying the factor values to wireless technology selection criteria.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the rendering a selection step further comprises applying global information to wireless technology selection criteria.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the global information includes priorities of data sets.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless technologies comprise at least 802.11a and 802.11b wireless technologies.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the wireless technologies comprise at least 802.11a and UWB wireless technologies.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless technology selection framework further supports designating a set of weights applied to ones of the set of factors specified by wireless technology selection criteria.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the weighted factor values are combined to render an overall selection score for each wireless technology.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless technology selection framework supports designating an overriding factor.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising issuing a prompt for user intervention when no wireless technology meets a minimal requirement designated by a selection criterion defined according to the wireless technology selection framework.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a configuration interface supporting designating factors and/or weightings for a wireless technology selection criteria.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the rendering a selection step is performed in response to an event.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the event comprises expiration of a period.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the rendering a selection step is performed in response to an event associated with reassigning a weight to a factor referenced within a wireless technology selection criterion.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the reassigning a weight is carried out in response to a detected event.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the detected event corresponds to a change to a status of an application currently executing upon the computing device.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the detected event concerns a power source for the computing device.

17. A computer readable media including computer-executable instructions that facilitate selecting a wireless technology among multiple available wireless technologies on a computing device for establishing a network connection, the computer-executable instructions facilitating performing the steps of:

maintaining a wireless technology selection framework comprising a set of factors, wherein one or more of the factors are incorporated into wireless technology selection criteria;

acquiring a set of information regarding the status and/or capabilities associated with each available wireless technology;

rendering factor values for ones of the set of factors based upon the set of information acquired for each available wireless technology; and

rendering a wireless technology selection based at least in part upon applying the factor values to wireless technology selection criteria.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the rendering a selection step further comprises applying global information to wireless technology selection criteria.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the global information includes priorities of data sets.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the wireless technologies comprise at least 802.11a and 802.11b wireless technologies.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the wireless technologies comprise at least 802.11a and UWB wireless technologies.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the wireless technology selection framework further supports designating a set of weights applied to ones of the set of factors specified by wireless technology selection criteria.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the weighted factor values are combined to render an overall selection score for each wireless technology.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the wireless technology selection framework supports designating an overriding factor.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising computer-executable instructions that facilitate issuing a prompt for user intervention when no wireless technology meets a minimal requirement designated by a selection criterion defined according to the wireless technology selection framework.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising computer-executable instructions that facilitate providing a configuration interface supporting designating factors and/or weightings for a wireless technology selection criteria.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the rendering a selection step is performed in response to an event.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27 wherein the event comprises expiration of a period.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 27 wherein the rendering a selection step is performed in response to an event associated with reassigning a weight to a factor referenced within a wireless technology selection criterion.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29 wherein the reassigning a weight is carried out in response to a detected event.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 wherein the detected event corresponds to a change to a status of an application currently executing upon the computing device.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 30 wherein the detected event concerns a power source for the computing device.

33. A computing device including an infrastructure supporting selecting a network and interface, from a plurality of potential networks and interfaces, and wherein the interfaces potentially incorporate a variety of available wireless technologies, on a computing device for establishing a network connection, the computing device comprising:

a wireless technology factor designation framework supporting specifying a set of factors;

wireless technology selection criteria incorporating one or more of the factors of the set of factors;

an information gathering interface for acquiring a set of information regarding the status and/or capabilities associated with each available wireless technology;

a factor value rendering function for establishing factor values for ones of the set of factors based upon the set of information acquired for each available wireless technology; and

a wireless technology selection rendering engine for rendering a wireless interface selection based at least in part upon applying the factor values to wireless technology selection criteria.

34. The computing device of claim 33 wherein the wireless technology selection rendering engine further applies global information to wireless technology selection criteria when rendering selections.

35. The computing device of claim 34 wherein the global information includes priorities of data sets.

36. The computing device of claim 33 wherein the wireless technologies comprise at least 802.11a and 802.11b wireless technologies.

37. The computing device of claim 33 wherein the wireless technologies comprise at least 802.11a and UWB wireless technologies.

38. The computing device of claim 33 wherein the wireless technology selection criteria further comprise a set of weights applied to ones of the set of factors specified by wireless technology selection criteria.

39. The computing device of claim 38 wherein the weighted factor values are combined to render an overall selection score for each wireless technology.

40. The computing device of claim 33 wherein the wireless technology factor designation framework supports designating an overriding factor.

41. The computing device of claim 33 further comprising a user interface for issuing a prompt for user intervention when no wireless technology meets a minimal requirement designated by a selection criterion.

42. The computing device of claim 33 further comprising a configuration interface supporting designating factors and/or weightings for a wireless technology selection criteria.

43. The computing device of claim 33 wherein the wireless interface selection is performed in response to an event.

44. The computing device of claim 43 wherein the event comprises expiration of a period.

45. The computing device of claim 43 wherein the wireless interface selection is performed in response to an event associated with reassigning a weight to a factor referenced within a wireless technology selection criterion.

46. The computing device of claim 45 wherein the reassigning a weight is carried out in response to a detected event.

47. The computing device of claim 46 wherein the detected event corresponds to a change to a status of an application currently executing upon the computing device.

48. The computing device of claim 46 wherein the detected event concerns a power source for the computing device.

49. The computing device of claim 46 wherein the detected event concerns a change in a set of available networks.

50. The computing device of claim 46 wherein the detected event concerns a change in congestion/interference parameter values.

51. The computing device of claim 46 wherein the detected event concerns a change in connectivity of a network.