Dynamic Carrier Selection
First Claim
1. A method for providing access to a wireless cellular communication network, the method comprising:
- identifying, by a mobile device, a network address for a mobile virtual network operator server, the mobile virtual network operator server as a home location register (HLR) for the mobile device and receives bids for communication services from each of a plurality of different network operators, the mobile virtual network operator server stores mobile network operator data for use by the mobile device;
receiving network operator data from the mobile virtual network operator server;
selecting a network operator for the mobile device to use for communications based, at least in part, on the received network operator data; and
transmitting a request for services to the selected network operator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, computer software for providing access to wireless communication services are provided. The invention, in one embodiment, can involve storing a network address on a mobile device and sending a request for network operator data from the mobile device to a mobile virtual network operator server associated with the network address. In response, network operator data is received, and, based on the received network operator data, a network operator is selected. Communications are thereafter conducted using the selected network operator. In some situations, bids are received from multiple network operators for rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained. Preferences among the network operators are identified using the received bids, and the preferences are used to select the network operator for the mobile device to use in conducting communications.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for providing access to a wireless cellular communication network, the method comprising:
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identifying, by a mobile device, a network address for a mobile virtual network operator server, the mobile virtual network operator server as a home location register (HLR) for the mobile device and receives bids for communication services from each of a plurality of different network operators, the mobile virtual network operator server stores mobile network operator data for use by the mobile device; receiving network operator data from the mobile virtual network operator server; selecting a network operator for the mobile device to use for communications based, at least in part, on the received network operator data; and transmitting a request for services to the selected network operator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device comprising a machine-readable, non-transitory medium storing instructions for causing data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
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receiving, from a mobile device, information identifying a current location of a mobile device, wherein the device operates as a home location register (HLR) for the mobile device; transmitting network operator preference data to the mobile device, wherein the network operator preference data identifies a first set of preferences among a plurality of network operators for use by the mobile device in selecting one or more network operators; updating the network operator preference data to identify a second set of preferences among the plurality of network operators; and transmitting the updated network operator preference data to the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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a mobile virtual network operator server operable to receive location data from mobile devices and, in response to the received location data, transmit network operator preference data to each mobile device, wherein the network operator preference data comprises at least one of data indicating preferences among a plurality of network operators or data for use in determining preferences among a plurality of network operators, the device operates as a home location register (HLR) for the mobile devices independent of an associated network operator; and an interface with each of a plurality of network operators for receiving location data from each of the mobile devices and for sending network operator preference data to each of the mobile devices. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system comprising:
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a means for receiving, from a mobile device, information identifying a current location of a mobile device, wherein the device operates as a home location register (HLR) for the mobile device; a means for transmitting network operator preference data to the mobile device, wherein the network operator preference data identifies a first set of preferences among a plurality of network operators for use by the mobile device in selecting one or more network operators; a means for updating the network operator preference data to identify a second set of preferences among the plurality of network operators; and a means for transmitting the updated network operator preference data to the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification