Method and Apparatus for Cost-Based Network Selection
First Claim
1. A method of supporting cost-based communication network selection for a roaming wireless communication device comprising:
- maintaining a service usage profile at the wireless communication device;
maintaining service cost profiles at the wireless communication device for a plurality of communication networks; and
predicting usage costs for one or more currently available communication networks based on the service usage profile and the service cost profiles.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus taught herein supports cost-based network selection for wireless communication devices while roaming, such as for cellular phones or other mobile stations. In at least one embodiment, processing circuit(s) in the wireless communication device are configured to maintain a service usage profile and one or more service cost profiles. The service usage profile reflects tracked usage patterns, and may reflect user-indicated service usage preferences, while the service cost profiles reflect service cost information for a number of communication networks offering roaming services to the wireless communication device. In a roaming circumstance, the circuit(s) predicts service usage costs for one or more currently available communication networks based on the service usage profile and the corresponding service cost profiles. The circuit(s) may be configured to automatically select the cheapest network, or display a ranked listing and allow the user to select a network.
292 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method of supporting cost-based communication network selection for a roaming wireless communication device comprising:
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maintaining a service usage profile at the wireless communication device; maintaining service cost profiles at the wireless communication device for a plurality of communication networks; and predicting usage costs for one or more currently available communication networks based on the service usage profile and the service cost profiles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A wireless communication device comprising one or more processing circuits configured to support cost-based communication network selection during roaming by the wireless communication device based on:
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maintaining a service usage profile at the wireless communication device; maintaining service cost profiles at the wireless communication device for a plurality of communication networks; and predicting usage costs for one or more currently available communication networks based on the service usage profile and the service cost profiles. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method of supporting cost-based communication network selection for a roaming wireless communication device comprising:
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maintaining a service usage profile at the wireless communication device reflecting service usage patterns for the wireless communication device; maintaining service cost profiles at the wireless communication device reflecting service costs for one or more communication networks; and predicting usage costs for currently available communication networks based on the service usage profile and the service cost profiles corresponding to the currently available communication networks. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification