GPS-BASED WIRELESS NETWORK CONNECTION SELECTION AND NETWORK TOPOLOGY OVERLAY ON SATELLITE GEOGRAPHIC MAP

• US 20110029236A1
• Filed: 07/28/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Zhou, Yi
• Application Number:
  US12/510,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029236A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A method enables users to automatically switch available network connections for the current position as indicated by GPS while maintaining Internet connection. The selection of the network connection depends on a network connection profile which may be built up gradually and the score of each connection. Moreover the local network topology for the GPS location may be overlaid on a geographic map as might be generated by satellite imagery to give the user a better understanding of the topology.

Claims

1. A mobile computing device comprising:

a processor;

a geographic position satellite (GPS) receiver communicating with the processor;

a display presented demanded images under control of the processor;

at least a first wireless wide area network interface communicating with the processor for establishing wireless connectivity between the processor and the Internet;

wherein

the processor presents on the display a geographic map of a current geographic location of the device as indicated by the GPS receiver, the processor overlaying on the geographic map a network topology map indicating network connectivity information for the current geographic location of the device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the network connectivity information includes images of network paths and nodes.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the network connectivity information further includes alphabetic messages indicating whether coverage is available for an associated geographic area.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second wireless wide area network interface communicating with the processor for establishing wireless connectivity between the processor and the Internet, the processor automatically selecting which interface to use to communicate with the Internet based at least in part on signals from the GPS receiver.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first interface is a WiFi interface and the second interface is a wireless telephony interface, and the WiFi interface is selected by the processor when the GPS receiver outputs signals indicating the device is located in a home location, the wireless telephony interface being selected when the GPS receiver outputs signals indicating the device is moving.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the processor prompts a user to enter the home location.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the processor infers the home location based on comparing a signal from the GPS receiver with the geographic map.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the geographic map is obtained from satellite imagery.

9. A mobile computing device comprising:

a processor;

a geographic position satellite (GPS) receiver communicating with the processor;

a display presented demanded images under control of the processor;

at least a first wireless wide area network interface communicating with the processor for establishing wireless connectivity between the processor and the Internet; and

at least a second wireless wide area network interface communicating with the processor for establishing wireless connectivity between the processor and the Internet, the processor automatically selecting which interface to use to communicate with the Internet based at least in part on signals from the GPS receiver.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first interface is a WiFi interface and the second interface is a wireless telephony interface, and the WiFi interface is selected by the processor when the GPS receiver outputs signals indicating the device is located in a home location, the wireless telephony interface being selected when the GPS receiver outputs signals indicating the device is moving.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor prompts a user to enter the home location.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the processor infers the home location based on comparing a signal from the GPS receiver with the geographic map.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the processor presents on the display a geographic map of a current geographic location of the device as indicated by the GPS receiver, the processor overlaying on the geographic map a network topology map indicating network connectivity information for the current geographic location of the device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the network connectivity information includes images of network paths and nodes.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the network connectivity information further includes alphabetic messages indicating whether coverage is available for an associated geographic area.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the geographic map is obtained from satellite imagery.

17. A method comprising:

receiving, at a mobile communication device, GPS location information;

using the GPS location information to establish which one of plural wireless communication interfaces for the device to use to communicate with the Internet; and

using the GPS location information to cause the device to present a geographic map on a display and to overlay on the map network topology information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the network topology information includes images of network paths and nodes.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the network topology information further includes alphabetic messages indicating whether coverage is available for an associated geographic area.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein a first interface is a WiFi interface and a second interface is a wireless telephony interface, and the WiFi interface is selected when the GPS location information indicates the device is located in a home location, the wireless telephony interface being selected when the GPS location information indicates the device is moving.