System and Method for Adaptive/Predictive Location-Based Roaming Optimization

• US 20090088152A1
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Orlassino, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,478,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0061 of neighbour cell information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00835 Determination of neighbour cell lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/008375 based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00

Abstract

Described is a method including collecting roaming data for a network. The method further includes creating a scan list based on the roaming data, wherein the scan list including a prioritization of a plurality of access points for roaming. The method further includes transmitting the scan list to a mobile unit. Further described in a system including a collection module collecting roaming data for a network. The system further includes a creation module creating a scan list based on the roaming data, the scan list including a prioritization of a plurality of access points for roaming. The system further includes a transmitter transmitting the scan list to a mobile unit.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

collecting roaming data for a communications network;

creating a scan list based on the roaming data, the scan list including a prioritization of a plurality of access points for roaming; and

transmitting the scan list to a mobile unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the roaming data includes apriori data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the creating step includes the subset of generating the scan list using an apriori algorithm as a function the roaming data

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the roaming data is a handoff history, the handoff history recording occurrences of associations.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting supplemental roaming data; and

recreating the scan list based on at least one of the roaming data and the supplemental roaming data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the supplemental data is one of network topology data, location data, signal strength, overall coverage area data, sectored coverage area data, and network traffic data.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the handoff history is recorded according to one of an overall duration, a time of year duration, and a time of day duration.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the handoff history is based on one of the mobile unit, a plurality of mobile units of the network, and a specified group of mobile units of the network.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the handoff history is based on one of the plurality of access points.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the roaming data at one of a database, a server, and a network management arrangement.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating the mobile unit using authentication data with a first access point of the plurality of access points.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the authentication data is transmitted by the first access point to other access points of the plurality of access points.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmission of the authentication data is based on the roaming data.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the roaming data upon the mobile unit roaming.

15. A system, comprising:

a collection module collecting roaming data for a network;

a creation module creating a scan list based on the roaming data, the scan list including a prioritization of a plurality of access points for roaming; and

a transmitter transmitting the scan list to a mobile unit.

16. The system of claim 15, a wherein the roaming data includes apriori data and wherein the creation module generates the scan list using an apriori algorithm as a function the roaming data

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

the collection module collecting supplemental roaming data; and

the creation module recreating the scan list based on at least one of the roaming data and the supplemental roaming data.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the supplemental data is one of network topology data, location data, signal strength, overall coverage area data, sectored coverage area data, and network traffic data.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a memory storing the roaming data.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an authentication module authenticating the mobile unit using authentication data with a first access point of the plurality of access points.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

an access point transmitter transmitting the authentication data other access points of the plurality of access points.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein transmission of the authentication data is based on the roaming data.

23. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an updating module updating the roaming data upon the mobile unit roaming.

24. A system, comprising:

a collection means for collecting roaming data for a network;

a creation means for creating a scan list based on the roaming data, the scan list including a prioritization of a plurality of access points for roaming; and

a transmittal means transmitting the scan list to a mobile unit.

25. A system, comprising:

a plurality of mobile units; and

a plurality of access points, each access point collecting roaming data as the plurality of mobile units roam from each access point to others of the access points, each access point creating a prioritized scan list based on the roaming data, and each access point sending the prioritized scan list to each mobile unit located within a coverage area of the access point.