SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING EFFICIENT VERTICAL HANDOFFS IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20150282038A1
• Filed: 03/03/2015
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Novatel Wireless, Inc. (Inseego Corp.)
• Inventors: Souissi, Slim, Wu, John, Kim, Brad
• Granted Patent: US 9,615,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for performing efficient vertical handoffs in a wireless user device are provided. The user device can comprise a mobile phone, computer table, handheld computer, or other computer system capable of connecting to more than one mobile wireless network that use different wireless communication protocols. Various efficient scanning methods are disclosed that are efficient in terms of battery usage, thermal performance, processing power, throughput performance, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method for managing network connectivity of a wireless device, the method comprising:

scanning for a signal of a first wireless network while the wireless device is connected to a second wireless network, the first wireless network and the second wireless network being configured to operate using different wireless communication protocols;

executing a vertical handoff from the second wireless network to the first wireless network if the signal of the first wireless network is detected;

operating the wireless device in a scanning mode if the signal of the first wireless network is not detected, wherein operating the wireless device in the scanning mode further comprises

collecting information about the location of the wireless device,

estimating mobility of the wireless device based on the location information,

determining whether the wireless device is mobile,

scanning for the signal of the first wireless network at a rate proportional to a rate of mobility associated with the wireless device if the wireless device is mobile, and

scanning for the signal of the first wireless network at a reduced rate if the wireless device is not mobile.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein collecting information about the location of the wireless device includes receiving data from a motion sensor associated with the wireless device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein collecting information about the location of the wireless device includes receiving location information from a GPS unit associated with the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein collecting information about the location of the wireless device includes determining a serving cell identifier associated with a base station providing wireless service to the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein estimating mobility of the wireless device based on the location information further comprises comparing a previous serving cell identifier to a current serving cell identifier to determine whether the wireless device is moving.

6. A method for managing network connectivity of a wireless device from a remote server, the wireless device being connected to a first wireless network and configured to scan for a signal of a second wireless network, the first wireless network and the second wireless network being configured to operate using different wireless communication protocols, the server being configured to perform the method comprising:

determining the location of a the wireless device,

accessing coverage map information that indicates where coverage for the second wireless network is available,

comparing the location information to coverage map information that indicates where coverage for a second wireless network is available, and

sending a network search command to the user device to scan for a signal of the second wireless network and to initiate a vertical handoff from the first network to the second network if the signal from the second wireless network is detected.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the location of the wireless device further comprises determining a serving cell identifier associated with a base station providing wireless service to the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the location of the wireless device further comprises:

sending a location information request to the wireless device requesting that the wireless device provide location information; and

receiving a location information response from the wireless device that includes location information for the wireless device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the location information response includes a serving cell identifier associated with a base station providing wireless service to the wireless device.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the location information response includes geographical coordinates associated with the location of the user device.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the location information response includes at least one of rate of motion and direction of motion of the user device.

12. A method for managing network connectivity of a wireless device from a remote server, the wireless device being connected to a first wireless network and configured to scan for a signal of a second wireless network, the first wireless network and the second wireless network being configured to operate using different wireless communication protocols, the wireless device being configured to perform the method comprising:

receiving a network search command from a remote server instructing the wireless device to scan for a signal of the second wireless network and to initiate a vertical handoff from the first network to the second network if the signal from the second wireless network is detected;

scanning for a signal of a second wireless network if the wireless device is located in a coverage area of the second wireless network;

executing a vertical handoff from the second wireless network to the first wireless network if the signal of the first wireless network is detected;

operating the wireless device in a scanning mode if the signal of the first wireless network is not detected.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a location information request from the remote server requesting that the wireless device provide location information; and

sending a location information response to the remote server from the wireless device that includes location information for the wireless device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the location information response includes a serving cell identifier associated with a base station providing wireless service to the wireless device.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the location information response includes geographical coordinates associated with the location of the user device.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the location information response includes at least one of rate of motion and direction of motion of the user device.