NETWORK SELECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

• US 20180077592A1
• Filed: 09/11/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Ji Hwan, LEEM, Han Sung, KIM, Hye Jeong, AHN, Jung Hoon, YOON, Jun Keun, JANG, Ju Hee
• Granted Patent: US 10,667,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to content streaming. An electronic device includes a processor configured to execute an application that communicates with a server using a pre-defined secure protocol. The electronic device also includes both a communication circuit configured to receive content associated with the application through a first network from a server, and a buffer configured to store the received content. The communication circuit determines a state of the buffer, and terminates a session established between the electronic device and the server based on the state of the buffer and signal state of a second network. The communication circuit also establishes a new session between the electronic device and the server through the second network. The communication circuit also measures a data throughput of the second network for the server during a measuring time, and, if the measured data throughput meets a condition, receives the content through the second network.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor configured to execute an application that communicates with a server using a pre-defined secure protocol;

a communication circuit configured to receive contents associated with the application through a first network from the server; and

a buffer configured to store the received content,

wherein the communication circuit is configured to;

determine a state of the buffer;

terminate a session established between the electronic device and the server through the first network based on the state of the buffer and a signal state of a second network,

establish a new session between the electronic device and the server through the second network, and

measure a data throughput of the second network for the server during a pre-defined measuring time; and

if the measured data throughput meets a pre-defined condition, receive the contents through the second network.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first network corresponds to a cellular network, and

wherein the second network corresponds to a wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) network.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first network corresponds to a paid network, and

wherein the second network corresponds to a free network.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined secure protocol corresponds to a hypertext transfer protocol over secure socket layer (HTTPS).

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the communication circuit is further configured to:

if the signal state of the second network is greater than a threshold value determined according to the state of the buffer, measure the data throughput of the second network.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the communication circuit is further configured to:

if a pre-defined pattern is detected in traffic of data received through the first network from the server, determine the state of the buffer as a full buffer.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the pattern comprises a repetition of an idle time of the traffic and a download time, and

wherein the communication circuit is configured to determine the pre-defined measuring time based on duration of the idle time.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the communication circuit is further configured to:

if the state of the buffer is a first state, measure the data throughput of the second network for the server during a first time in case that the signal state of the second network is greater than a first threshold value; and

if the state of the buffer is a second state that is lower than the first state, measure the data throughput of the second network for the server during a second time in case that the signal state of the second network is greater than a second threshold value, the first time being longer than the second time.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the communication circuit sets the first threshold value to be higher than the second threshold value.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the communication circuit is configured to receive the contents associated with the application through a plurality of sessions established in the first network from the server, and

wherein the communication circuit is further configured to:

establish a session for receiving streaming data of the contents among the plurality of sessions in the second network; and

measure the data throughput of the second network for the server through the session established in the second network.

11. A content streaming method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving data using a pre-defined secure protocol through a first network from a server;

determining a state of a buffer that stores the data;

terminating a session established between the electronic device and the server through the first network based on the state of the buffer and signal state of a second network,

establishing a new session between the electronic device and the server through the second network, and

measuring a data throughput of the second network for the server during a pre-defined measuring time; and

when the measured data throughput meets a pre-defined condition, receiving the content through the second network.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

when the signal state of the second network is greater than a threshold value determined according to the state of the buffer, measuring the data throughput of the second network.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the measuring of the data throughput of the second network comprises:

when the state of the buffer is a first state, measuring the data throughput of the second network for the server during a first time in case that the signal state of the second network is greater than a first threshold value; and

when the state of the buffer is a second state that is lower than the first state, measuring the data throughput of the second network for the server during a second time set to be longer than the first time in case that the signal state of the second network is greater than a second threshold value.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining of the state of the buffer comprises:

when a pre-defined pattern is detected in traffic of data received through the first network from the server, determining the state of the buffer as a full buffer.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining the pre-defined measuring time based on the state of the buffer.

16. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor configured to execute an application that communicates with a server using a pre-defined secure protocol;

a memory configured to store the application;

a communication circuit configured to receive data through a first session established between the electronic device and the server in a first network; and

a buffer configured to store the received data,

wherein the processor is configured to allow the communication circuit to;

determine a state of the buffer;

measure a data throughput through a second session established between the electronic device and the server during a measuring time determined according to the state of the buffer, based on the state of the buffer and signal state of a second network;

if the measured data throughput meets a pre-defined condition, receive the data through the second session.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the communication circuit includes the buffer.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the buffer is configured to correspond to a partial area of the memory.

19. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the data corresponds to audio or video contents being used in the application.

20. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the secure protocol corresponds to an HTTPS.