PROTOCOLS FOR FACILITATING BROADER ACCESS IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20140273924A1
• Filed: 07/30/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Levien, Royce A., Lord, Richard T., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Reudink, Douglas O., Tegreene, Clarence T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,807,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8033 location-dependent, e.g. business or home
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/24 Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update

Abstract

Structures and protocols are presented for signaling a status or decision concerning a wireless service or device within a region to a communication device (smartphone or wearable device, e.g.) or other wireless communication participant (motor vehicle having a wireless communication capability, e.g.).

Claims

1. A communication management system comprising:

one or more articles of manufacture including

a first transistor-based circuit configured to obtain a first preference indication either of a first option or of a second option from a user of a first currently-subscribed mobile device, an account being associated with a first currently-subscribed mobile device, being associated with a cellular service subscription still in effect, the first transistor-based circuit including an electrical node set upon which a voltage configuration manifests the first preference indication either of the first option or of the second option from the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device, the first transistor-based circuit configured to obtain the preference indication via the first currently-subscribed mobile device;

a second transistor-based circuit configured to signal a decision whether or not to cause a unidirectional communication as a conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and one or more communication devices that include a first formerly-subscribed mobile device, having been associated with a cellular service subscription that has ended;

a third transistor-based circuit configured to signal a decision whether or not to assign a communication cost component to the account associated with the first currently-subscribed mobile device as a first conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option; and

a fourth transistor-based circuit configured to signal a decision whether or not to establish a bidirectional communication as a second conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

2. The communication management system of claim 1 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit including an electrical node set upon which a voltage configuration manifests the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

5. The communication management system of claim 1 further comprising:

the first currently-subscribed mobile device, including a processor;

the first transistor-based circuit comprising a first medium containing a first instruction set that when executed by the processor obtains the first preference indication either of the first option or of the second option from the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device;

the second transistor-based circuit comprising a second medium containing a second instruction set that when executed by the processor signals the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device;

the third transistor-based circuit comprising a third medium containing a third instruction set that when executed by the processor signals the decision whether or not to assign the communication cost component to the account associated with the first currently-subscribed mobile device as a first conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option; and

the fourth transistor-based circuit comprising a fourth medium containing a fourth instruction set that when executed by the processor signals the decision whether or not to establish the bidirectional communication as the second conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

13. The communication management system of claim 1 further comprising:

the first currently-subscribed mobile device configured to use a first nominal downlink frequency of at least about 59 GHz and of at most about 64 GHz; and

the first currently-subscribed mobile device configured to use a second nominal downlink frequency of at least about 2.4 GHz and of at most about 5 GHz.

14. The communication management system of claim 1 further comprising:

a wearable assembly comprising a never-subscribed mobile device, the wearable assembly configured to indicate some of a wireless connectivity map after a decision whether or not to update the wireless connectivity map automatically and conditionally partly based on a first location estimate describing a first location of the first formerly-subscribed mobile device and partly based on first provenance data indicating a protocol by which the first formerly-subscribed mobile device apparently obtained the first location estimate.

21. The communication management system of claim 1, further comprising:

a fifth transistor-based circuit configured to cause at least some of a wireless connectivity map to be displayed, the wireless connectivity map indicating a service boundary relating to a prospective interpersonal communication at least between the first formerly-subscribed mobile device and the first currently-subscribed mobile device, the prospective interpersonal communication being the bidirectional communication between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

22. The communication management system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second formerly-subscribed mobile device being a wearable assembly configured to present an audible notification of a WLAN service boundary, the WLAN service boundary being a component of a wireless connectivity map after a decision whether or not to update the wireless connectivity map automatically and conditionally partly based on a first location estimate describing a first location of another mobile device and partly based on first provenance data indicating a protocol by which the other mobile device apparently obtained the first location estimate.

26. The communication management system of claim 1 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

transistor-based circuitry configured to display via the first formerly-subscribed mobile device at least some of a wireless connectivity map depicting a cost-indicative service boundary relating to a prospective intercommunication, the prospective intercommunication being the bidirectional communication between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

33. The communication management system of claim 1 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

transistor-based circuitry configured to cause the first formerly-subscribed mobile device to indicate some of a wireless connectivity map that includes automatically curated map data.

112. The communication management system of claim 1 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

transistor-based circuitry configured to display via the first formerly-subscribed mobile device at least some of a wireless connectivity map depicting a cost-indicative service boundary relating to a prospective intercommunication, the prospective intercommunication being the bidirectional communication between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device, the wireless connectivity map including automatically curated map data and comprising a specific positional model that represents both an isotropic radiator and an anisotropic radiator.

3-4. -4. (canceled)

6-12. -12. (canceled)

15-20. -20. (canceled)

23-25. -25. (canceled)

27-32. -32. (canceled)

34. A communication management system comprising:

one or more articles of manufacture including

a first transistor-based circuit configured to obtain a first preference indication either of a first option or of a second option from a user of a first currently-subscribed mobile device, an account being associated with a first currently-subscribed mobile device, being associated with a cellular service subscription still in effect;

a second transistor-based circuit configured to signal a decision whether or not to cause a unidirectional communication as a conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and one or more communication devices that include a first formerly-subscribed mobile device, having been associated with a cellular service subscription that has ended;

a third transistor-based circuit configured to signal a decision whether or not to assign a communication cost component to the account associated with the first currently-subscribed mobile device as a first conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option; and

a fourth transistor-based circuit configured to signal a decision whether or not to establish a bidirectional communication as a second conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

37. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit including an electrical node set upon which a voltage configuration manifests the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

41. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

the first currently-subscribed mobile device, including a processor;

the first transistor-based circuit comprising a first medium containing a first instruction set that when executed by the processor obtains the first preference indication either of the first option or of the second option from the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device;

the second transistor-based circuit comprising a second medium containing a second instruction set that when executed by the processor signals the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device;

the third transistor-based circuit comprising a third medium containing a third instruction set that when executed by the processor signals the decision whether or not to assign the communication cost component to the account associated with the first currently-subscribed mobile device as a first conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option; and

the fourth transistor-based circuit comprising a fourth medium containing a fourth instruction set that when executed by the processor signals the decision whether or not to establish the bidirectional communication as the second conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

52. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

an integrated circuit (IC) chip, the IC chip having a first portion and a second portion and a third portion and a fourth portion, the first portion of the IC chip being the first transistor-based circuit configured to obtain the first preference indication either of the first option or of the second option from the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device, the second portion of the IC chip being the second transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device, the third portion of the IC chip being the third transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to assign the communication cost component to the account associated with the first currently-subscribed mobile device as a first conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option, the fourth portion of the IC chip being the fourth transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to establish the bidirectional communication as the second conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

53. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

a wearable assembly comprising a never-subscribed mobile device, the wearable assembly configured to indicate some of a wireless connectivity map after a decision whether or not to update the wireless connectivity map automatically and conditionally partly based on a first location estimate describing a first location of the first formerly-subscribed mobile device and partly based on first provenance data indicating a protocol by which the first formerly-subscribed mobile device apparently obtained the first location estimate.

54. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

a fifth transistor-based circuit causing a wireless connectivity map to indicate WLAN service apparently provided within a region or not as a conditional response to an indication from the first formerly-subscribed mobile device of the WLAN service being operative or not within the region.

55. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

the first currently-subscribed mobile device, configured to generate an audible indication of whether or not the first formerly-subscribed mobile device is available to participate in the bidirectional interpersonal communication conditionally, partly based on an indication whether or not the first formerly-subscribed mobile device exceeded a wireless service boundary crossing rate threshold within a recent time interval and partly based on an indication of the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having WLAN service.

56. The communication management system of claim 34, further comprising:

a fifth transistor-based circuit, configured to obtain a first location estimate describing a first location of the first formerly-subscribed mobile device by receiving the first location estimate from the first formerly-subscribed mobile device; and

a sixth transistor-based circuit, configured to obtain first provenance data indicating a protocol by which the first formerly-subscribed mobile device apparently obtained the first location estimate by receiving the first provenance data from the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

57. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

a fifth transistor-based circuit configured to authorize the communication cost component to be posted to the account associated with the first currently-subscribed mobile device conditionally, responsive to the first formerly-subscribed mobile device losing access to WLAN service during either the unidirectional communication or the bidirectional communication between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

58. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

a fifth transistor-based circuit configured to handoff a wireless communication from a WLAN access point to a cellular base station conditionally, responsive to the first formerly-subscribed mobile device losing access to WLAN service during the wireless communication, the wireless communication comprising either the unidirectional communication or the bidirectional communication between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

60. The communication management system of claim 34, further comprising:

a fifth transistor-based circuit configured to cause at least some of a wireless connectivity map to be displayed via the first formerly-subscribed mobile device after a decision whether or not to update the wireless connectivity map automatically and conditionally partly based on a first location estimate describing a first location of a second formerly-subscribed mobile device and partly based on first provenance data indicating a protocol by which the second formerly-subscribed mobile device apparently obtained the first location estimate.

61. The communication management system of claim 34, further comprising:

a fifth transistor-based circuit configured to cause at least some of a wireless connectivity map to be displayed, the wireless connectivity map indicating a service boundary relating to a prospective interpersonal communication at least between the first formerly-subscribed mobile device and the first currently-subscribed mobile device, the prospective interpersonal communication being the bidirectional communication between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

62. The communication management system of claim 34, further comprising:

a second formerly-subscribed mobile device being a wearable assembly configured to present an audible notification of a WLAN service boundary, the WLAN service boundary being a component of a wireless connectivity map after a decision whether or not to update the wireless connectivity map automatically and conditionally partly based on a first location estimate describing a first location of another mobile device and partly based on first provenance data indicating a protocol by which the other mobile device apparently obtained the first location estimate.

66. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

transistor-based circuitry configured to display via a second formerly-subscribed mobile device at least some of a wireless connectivity map depicting a cost-indicative service boundary relating to a prospective intercommunication, the prospective intercommunication being the bidirectional communication between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

71. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

transistor-based circuitry configured to cause first content of a wireless signal to pass either through a first memory of the first currently-subscribed mobile device or through a second memory of the first currently-subscribed mobile device selected as an automatic and conditional response to whether or not second content of the wireless signal satisfies a first criterion.

74. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

transistor-based circuitry configured to cause a configurable core in a first core operating mode to draw from a first data queue of the first currently-subscribed mobile device; and

transistor-based circuitry configured to signal a decision whether or not to cause the configurable core to draw from the first data queue of the first currently-subscribed mobile device in a second core operating mode as an automatic and conditional response to a charging state of a battery in the first currently-subscribed mobile device.

75. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

transistor-based circuitry configured to authorize the communication cost component to be posted to a user account conditionally, at least partly based on a portion of a wireless communication using WLAN access, the user account being the account associated with the first currently-subscribed mobile device.

76. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

transistor-based circuitry configured to hand off an interpersonal communication from a WLAN access point to a cellular base station, a usage of the cellular base station resulting in the communication cost component to the account associated with the first currently-subscribed mobile device, the interpersonal communication comprising either the unidirectional communication or the bidirectional communication between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

77. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

transistor-based circuitry configured to cause the first formerly-subscribed mobile device to indicate some of a wireless connectivity map that includes automatically curated map data.

113. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

transistor-based circuitry configured to display via the first formerly-subscribed mobile device at least some of a wireless connectivity map depicting a cost-indicative service boundary relating to a prospective intercommunication, the prospective intercommunication being the bidirectional communication between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device, the wireless connectivity map including automatically curated map data and comprising a specific positional model that represents both an isotropic radiator and an anisotropic radiator.

114. The communication management system of claim 34 further comprising:

the second transistor-based circuit configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

transistor-based circuitry configured to cause a data component of a wireless signal to be processed by a special-purpose module in a handheld device as an automatic and conditional response to a charging state of a battery in the first currently-subscribed mobile device and to a thermal state of a temperature sensor in the handheld device, the handheld device being the first currently-subscribed mobile device;

transistor-based circuitry configured to cause a configurable core in a first core operating mode to draw from a first data queue of the first currently-subscribed mobile device; and

transistor-based circuitry configured to signal a decision whether or not to cause the configurable core to draw from the first data queue of the first currently-subscribed mobile device in a second core operating mode as an automatic and conditional response to an indication of a data volume of the first data queue crossing a volume threshold.

35-36. -36. (canceled)

38-40. -40. (canceled)

42-51. -51. (canceled)

59. (canceled)

63-65. -65. (canceled)

67-70. -70. (canceled)

72-73. -73. (canceled)

78. A communication management system comprising:

one or more articles of manufacture including

means for obtaining a first preference indication either of a first option or of a second option from a user of a first currently-subscribed mobile device, an account being associated with a first currently-subscribed mobile device;

means for signaling a decision whether or not to cause a unidirectional communication as a conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and one or more communication devices that include a first formerly-subscribed mobile device;

means for signaling a decision whether or not to assign a communication cost component to the account associated with the first currently-subscribed mobile device as a first conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option; and

means for signaling a decision whether or not to establish a bidirectional communication as a second conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

82. The communication management system of claim 78 further comprising:

the means for signaling the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

means for causing a display via a second formerly-subscribed mobile device of at least some of a wireless connectivity map depicting a cost-indicative service boundary relating to a prospective intercommunication, the prospective intercommunication being the bidirectional communication between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

79-81. -81. (canceled)

83-93. -93. (canceled)

94. A communication management method comprising:

obtaining a first preference indication either of a first option or of a second option from a user of a first currently-subscribed mobile device, an account being associated with a first currently-subscribed mobile device;

invoking transistor-based circuitry configured to signal a decision whether or not to cause a unidirectional communication as a conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and one or more communication devices that include a first formerly-subscribed mobile device;

signaling a decision whether or not to assign a communication cost component to the account associated with the first currently-subscribed mobile device as a first conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option; and

signaling a decision whether or not to establish a bidirectional communication as a second conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the second option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device.

104. The communication management method of claim 94 further comprising:

the invoking transistor-based circuitry configured to signal the decision whether or not to cause the unidirectional communication as the conditional response to whether or not the user of the first currently-subscribed mobile device apparently preferred the first option between the first currently-subscribed mobile device and the one or more communication devices that include the first formerly-subscribed mobile device having been associated with the cellular service subscription that has ended including

causing a configurable core in a first core operating mode to draw from a first data queue of the first currently-subscribed mobile device; and

signaling a decision whether or not to cause the configurable core to draw from the first data queue of the first currently-subscribed mobile device in a second core operating mode as an automatic and conditional response to an indication of a data volume of the first data queue crossing a volume threshold.

95-103. -103. (canceled)

105-111. -111. (canceled)