SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING A MESSAGE TRANSPORT FOR A MULTI-MODE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20090109898A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Adams, Neil Patrick, Robertson, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 8,433,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for selecting a network for use by a communication device to process a data transmission is provided. In the method, the following actions are conducted: tracking transmission characteristics of networks used by the device; maintaining a set of options for the device relating to the networks, including at least one option based on the transmission characteristics; utilizing a selected option identify a selected network to process the data transmission by the communication device; and processing the data transmission using the selected network.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a network from a plurality of networks for use by a communication device to process a data transmission, the method comprising:

tracking a plurality of transmission characteristics for said plurality of networks;

accessing a set of options to identify a set of said plurality of transmission characteristics;

evaluating said set of plurality of transmission characteristics for each of said plurality of networks to identify a selected network from said plurality of networks for each option of said set of options; and

when a selected option of said set of options is selected, processing said data transmission using its selected network.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

prior to processing said data transmission, displaying said set of options in a list on said device; and

utilizing a selected choice from said list to be said selected option.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said data transmission comprises an outbound transmission;

said plurality of networks includes at least a cellular network and a Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network; and

one characteristic of said selected transmission characteristics comprises a cost to transmit said outbound transmission.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said outbound transmission comprises an email.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said set of options includes at least one of the following options:

a first option to use an immediately previously used network for said selected network;

a second option to use a first network that has a transmission characteristic stronger than a transmission characteristic of a second network, the first and second networks within the plurality of networks;

or

a third option to use a network of said plurality of networks that has a predetermined level of security.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said set of options comprises an attachment option to use a network of said plurality of networks that has been identified to transmit data transmissions having attachments.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said set of options comprises an option to use a network of said plurality of networks that has been identified to transmit said data transmission when said data transmission is a predetermined size.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein during processing of said data transmission, each data packet associated with said data transmission is marked as being transmitted via said selected network.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein processing of said data transmission through said network is deferred if said network is currently unavailable to said device until said network is available to said device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of networks includes at least two networks of the same transmission technology; and

said set of options further comprises an option to use a network of said plurality of networks that has accessed said at least two networks.

11. A communication device having communication capabilities with a plurality of networks, the communication device comprising:

a microprocessor;

a display;

memory;

a communication subsystem providing transmission and reception of a data transmission with said plurality of networks;

a first module to track a plurality of transmission characteristics of said plurality of networks and to store results in said memory;

a second module to monitor a set of options relating to said plurality of networks based on said plurality of transmission characteristics and to determine a selected network of said plurality of networks after evaluating said set of options to carry said data transmission;

a third module to selectively display a list relating to said set of options on said display and to allow a selection to be made to from said list to become said selected network; and

a fourth module to process said data transmission at said device utilizing said selected network.

12. The communication device as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said data transmission comprises an outbound transmission;

said plurality of networks includes at least a cellular network and a Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network;

said plurality of transmission characteristics includes a cost of usage to transmit said outbound transmission; and

said set of options includes a cost-based option reflecting said cost of usage.

13. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said outbound transmission comprises an email; and

said fourth module comprises an application operating through said microprocessor to generate and review emails directed to said device.

14. The communication device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said set of options includes a default option to select an immediately previously used network for said selected network.

15. The communication device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said set of options includes an option to select a first network of said plurality of networks that has a transmission characteristic stronger than a transmission characteristic of a second network of said plurality of networks.

16. The communication device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a fifth module to encode said data transmission in a manner determined from a selected encoding option,

wherein said set of options includes an encoding option for said data transmission prior to said fourth module processing said data transmission using said selected network.

17. The communication device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said fourth module marks each data packet associated with said data transmission as being transmitted by said selected network.

18. The communication device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said fourth module defers transmission of said data transmission through said selected network if said selected network is currently unavailable to said device until said selected network is available to said device.

19. A method for selecting a network from a plurality of networks for use by a communication device to process an outbound data transmission from the device, the method comprising:

tracking a plurality of transmission characteristics of said plurality of networks;

accessing a set of options to identify a set of said plurality of transmission characteristics;

evaluating said set of plurality of transmission characteristics for each of said plurality of networks to identify a selected network from said plurality of networks for each option of said set of options;

displaying said set of options in a list on a display on said device in a graphical user interface (GUI); and

when a selected option of said set of options is selected through said GUI, processing said outbound data transmission using the selected network associated with the selected option,

wherein

said plurality of networks includes at least a cellular network and a Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) network; and

one characteristic of said selected transmission characteristics comprises a cost to transmit said outbound transmission.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said set of options further includes at least one of the following options:

a first option to use an immediately previously used network for said selected network;

a second option to use a first network that has a transmission characteristic stronger than a transmission characteristic of a second network, the first and second networks within the plurality of networks;

or

a third option to use a network of said plurality of networks that has a predetermined level of security.