SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SEEKING A WIRELESS NETWORK FOR A WIRELESS DEVICE

• US 20110228704A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: OERTON, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 8,649,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a system and method for initiating a command relating to one network that an electronic communication device may be in communication with, depending on triggering conditions relating to another network that the device may be in communication with. The communication device comprises: a network connection to initiate a command relating to the network after satisfaction of a predetermined condition relating to another network relating to the communication device; and a communication system to process communications between the device and the network and between the device and another network.

Claims

1. A communication device for communicating with a network, comprising:

a network connection to initiate a command relating to said network after satisfaction of a predetermined condition relating to another network relating to said communication device; and

a communication system to process communications between said device and said network and between said device and another network.

2. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined condition comprises at least one of the following conditions:

a time tracked by said device;

a present location of said device; and

a signal strength detected by said device for said another network.

3. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said network is a 802.11a network;

said another network is a non-802.11a network;

said predetermined condition comprises detection of a connection to said non-802.11a network;

said command is to initiate monitoring for a connection to said 802.11a network; and

said signal strength has a minimum predetermined strength.

4. The communication device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said initiating said command to said network comprises monitoring for receipt of a beacon signal from said network.

5. The communication device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said non-802.11a network is selected from at least one of the following networks:

a 802.11b network;

a 802.11g network, a 802.11b/g network and a 802.11n network.

6. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein after said connection is established, said device terminates said connection after satisfaction of a second predetermined condition.

7. The communication device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises at least one of the following conditions:

an elapsed time of searching for said network;

a present location of said device; and

the signal strength of communications from said another network dropping below a predetermined threshold.

8. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said network is a non-802.11 network;

said another network is a 802.11 network;

said predetermined condition comprises detection of a connection to said 802.11 network; and

said command is to initiate a status request signal to said network.

9. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said network is one type of 802.11 network;

said another network is another type of 802.11 network different from said one type of 802.11 network;

said predetermined condition comprises detection of a connection to said another type of 802.11 network; and

said command is to initiate monitoring for a connection to said one type of 802.11 network.

10. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a profile management module to manage setting for said predetermined condition, said profile management module generating a graphical user interface (GUI) on said device to manage and display said predetermined condition.

11. The communication device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said predetermined condition comprises at least two of:

said time tracked by said device;

said present location of said device; and

said signal strength detected by said device for said another network.

12. A communication device for communicating with a 802.11a network, comprising:

a network connection to initiate a command relating to said 802.11a network after satisfaction of a predetermined condition relating to another network relating to said communication device; and

a communication system to process communications between said device and said network and between said device and another network.

13. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said predetermined condition comprises at least one of the following conditions:

a time tracked by said device;

a present location of said device; and

a signal strength detected by said device for said another network.

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

said another network is a non-802.11a network;

said predetermined condition comprises detection of a connection to said non-802.11a network;

said command is to initiate monitoring for a connection to said 802.11a network; and

said signal strength has a minimum predetermined strength.

15. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said initiating said command to said 802.11a network comprises monitoring for receipt of a beacon signal from said 802.11a network.

16. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said another network is selected from at least one of the following networks:

a 802.11b network;

a 802.11g network, a 802.11b/g network and a 802.11n network.

17. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein after said connection is established, said device terminates said connection after satisfaction of a second predetermined condition.

18. The communication device at claimed in claim 17, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises at least one of the following conditions:

an elapsed time of searching for said network;

a present location of said device; and

the signal strength of communications from said another network dropping below a predetermined threshold.

19. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a profile management module to manage setting for said predetermined condition, said profile management module generating a graphical user interface (GUI) on said device to manage and display said predetermined condition.