METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INTELLIGENT INITIATION OF CONNECTIONS WITHIN A NETWORK

• US 20130090115A1
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Deivasigamani, Giri Prassad, Nukala, Gaurav
• Granted Patent: US 8,744,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point

Abstract

Methods and apparatus enabling connection and/or re-connection to an access point of a network based on both reception characteristics and also the access point'"'"'s likelihood to successfully connect (or re-connect). In one such embodiment, an exemplary Long Term Evolution (LTE) user equipment (UE) stores a “blacklist” of LTE enhanced NodeBs (eNBs) that have previously unexpectedly disconnected the UE. The UE will avoid the blacklisted eNBs and will attempt to connect to other eNBs. By avoiding eNBs which have previously been unable to service the UE and instead focusing on other eNBs that may have lower reception quality but likely better suited to service the UE, the UE can avoid prolonged out-of-service (OOS) periods.

Claims

1. A client device for connection to an access point of a network, comprising:

a wireless interface;

a processor; and

a storage device in data communication with the processor, the storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that are configured to, when executed by the processor;

maintain a list of access points, the list comprising one or more parameters useful for identifying an access point having a likelihood of servicing a connection request successfully;

identify a first access point, based on the one or more parameters; and

establish a connection to the first access point.

2. The client device of claim 1, wherein the client device comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE) user equipment (UE), the list of access points comprises a blacklist of enhanced NodeB'"'"'s (eNBs) that have unexpectedly disconnected the UE, and the identification of the first access point is based at least in part on the first access point both (i) not being on the blacklist, and (ii) having a desirable received signal strength.

3. The client device of claim 1, wherein the list of access points comprises a blacklist of access points that are unavailable for connection.

4. The client device of claim 1, wherein the list of access points comprises a whitelist of access points that are preferred for connection.

5. The client device of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters comprise historical data.

6. The client device of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters expire according to a timer.

7. The client device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the parameters comprises an access point capability or configuration parameter.

8. A method for connecting to an access point of a network, comprising:

maintaining a list of access points, the list comprising one or more access points which are identified as being unsuitable for connection;

searching for available access points;

determining a first access point from the searched available access points, where the first access point is not on the list of access points; and

establishing a connection to the determined first access point.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the client device comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE) user equipment (UE), and the access point comprises an enhanced NodeB (eNB).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein each entry of the list of access points is associated with a corresponding timer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein responsive to the expiration timer expiring, the entry is removed from the list.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein responsive to the expiration timer expiring, the entry is updated.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining comprises is based at least in part on the received signal strength of the searched available access points.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining is based at least in part on capabilities of the searched available access points.

15. A method for connecting a client device to an access point of a network, comprising:

identifying a plurality of available access points;

accessing a list of access points, the list comprising information relating to one or more parameters for each of the listed access points, the information useful for determining an access point having a suitable likelihood of servicing a connection request successfully;

determining a first access point from the list based at least in part on the one or more parameters and the identified plurality of available access points;

requesting connection to the determined first access point; and

responsive to a granted request, establishing connection to the determined first access point.

16. The method of claim 16, wherein the client device comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE) user equipment (UE), and the first access point comprises an enhanced NodeB (eNB).

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the deem Ming of the first access point further comprises evaluating an indication of the received signal strength of the first access point to ensure its suitability.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the connection comprises a radio resource connection (RRC) for data transfer.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the connection comprises a handover request.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the connection comprises a cell selection or re-selection request.

21. A method of maintaining suitable connection latency within a wireless network, comprising:

identifying a need to form a connection between a mobile device and an access point of the network;

evaluating at least one metric relating to historical connection interruption by a first access point of the network; and

based at least in part on the evaluation, selecting a second access point over the first access point for forming the connection, the second access point having a less desirable air interface quality than the first access point, yet a better historical interruption metric than the first access point.

22. In a Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network, a method of maintaining suitable connection performance, the method comprising:

selectively avoiding for at least a period of time connection with one or more base stations of the network which have a history of poor call connection service; and

selectively utilizing one or more base stations with no history of poor call connection service, irrespective of the signal quality associated with the one or more base stations having the poor history;

wherein the selectively avoiding and selectively utilizing cooperate to avoid undesirable effects on connection performance.

23. A client device for connection to an accesspoint of a network, comprising:

a wireless interface;

a processor; and

a storage device in data communication with the processor, the storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that are configured to, when executed by the processor;

at least periodically obtain a list of access points within the network maintained by a network entity using the wireless interface, the list comprising one or more parameters useful for identifying an access point having a likelihood of servicing a connection request successfully;

when the wireless interface experiences a loss of connection, identify a first access point from the last obtained list, based on the one or more parameters; and

establish a new connection to the first access point.