System and method for using geographical location to determine when to exit an existing wireless communications coverage network

• US 7,085,571 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2003
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Technology Development Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Chang, Henry, Kalhan, Amit
• Primary Examiner(s): Feliciano, Eliseo Ramos
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phuong, Dai
• Application Number:
  US10/649,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20050048976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/435.1, 455/436, 455/440, 455/450, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/457, 370/328, 370/329, 370/330, 370/331, 370/333
• US Class Current: 455/440
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/008375 based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release

Abstract

A system and method are presented for determining when to exit an existing wireless communications coverage network. The method samples the device geographical position, determines a threshold boundary line, measures the position of each sample point with respect to the threshold boundary line, and, beginning at a predetermined initial value, maintains a running sum in response to measuring position. The method uses the threshold boundary line to partition a coverage area for the existing coverage network into first and second zones. Then, the method decrements the running sum for sample point positions in the first zone and increments the running sum sample point positions in the second zone. The method exits the existing coverage network when the running sum is greater than or equal to a predetermined terminal value and then resets the running sum to the predetermined initial value.

Claims

1. A method for determining when to exit an existing coverage network in a wireless communications device, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a threshold boundary line;

partitioning an area into a first zone and a second zone, the area including at least a portion of a first coverage area for the existing coverage network and at least a portion of a second coverage area for a second coverage network proximate the existing coverage network, the first zone proximate a first side of the threshold boundary line oriented toward a geographical center for the existing coverage network and the second zone proximate a second side of the threshold boundary line;

compiling a history of geographical location data of the wireless communications device, comprising the steps of;

supplying the wireless communications device a plurality of sample points comprising geographical positions of the wireless communications device;

measuring a position of each sample point of the plurality of sample points with respect to the threshold boundary line; and

,

maintaining a running sum of the measured position of the each sample point, wherein maintaining the running sum comprises the steps of;

decrementing the running sum for the measured position of the each sample point in the first zone; and

,

incrementing the running sum for the measured position of the each sample point in the second zone; and

comparing the running sum to a terminal value; and

exiting the existing coverage network based upon the compiled history of geographical location data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein exiting the existing coverage network includes exiting when the running sum is greater than the terminal value.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of measuring the position of the each sample point with respect to the threshold boundary line includes assigning an accumulation amount to the each sample point;

and, wherein maintaining the running sum includes using the accumulation amount for the each sample point to decrement or increment the running sum.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring the position of the each sample point with respect to the threshold boundary line includes:

measuring a first sample point position in the first zone at a first perpendicular distance from a point on the boundary line; and

,

measuring a second sample point position in the second zone at a second perpendicular distance from the threshold boundary line;

assigning a first accumulation amount to the first sample point position and a second accumulation amount to the second sample point position;

wherein decrementing the running sum includes using the first accumulation amount to decrement the running sum; and

,

wherein incrementing the running sum includes using the second accumulation amount to increment the running sum.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of measuring the position of the each sample point with respect to the threshold boundary line includes:

measuring, in the first zone, a first plurality of sample point positions with an initial sample point position a first perpendicular distance from the threshold boundary line and with each successive position a greater perpendicular distance from the threshold boundary line than a preceding position; and

,

measuring, in the second zone, a second plurality of sample point positions with a second initial sample point position a second perpendicular distance from the threshold boundary line and with each successive position a greater perpendicular distance from the threshold boundary line than a preceding position;

wherein assigning an accumulation amount to the each sample point position includes;

assigning a first plurality of successively larger accumulation amounts to respective positions in the first plurality of sample point positions, beginning with the initial sample point position; and

,

assigning a second plurality of successively larger accumulation amounts to respective positions in the second plurality of sample point positions, beginning with the second initial sample point position;

wherein decrementing the running sum includes using respective accumulation amounts in the first plurality of accumulation amounts to decrement the running sum; and

,

wherein incrementing the running sum includes using respective accumulation amounts in the second plurality of accumulation amounts to decrement the running sum.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communications device assists in determining device geographical position.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the geographical positions are received from a source external to the wireless communications device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the threshold boundary line includes forming a threshold boundary line using a plurality of vectors referenced to a geographical center of the existing coverage network.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the threshold boundary line includes adapting the threshold boundary line to dynamic conditions in a coverage network cell.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein adapting the threshold boundary line to dynamic conditions in a coverage network cell includes adapting to dynamic conditions in a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cell.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

compiling information regarding coverage areas for a plurality of wireless communications coverage networks within, overlapping, and proximate the existing wireless communications coverage network; and

,

wherein the step of determining the threshold boundary line includes using the compiled information to determine threshold boundary lines between the existing coverage network and the plurality of coverage networks.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of exiting the existing coverage network further comprises entering a second coverage network and re-configuring the wireless device from an existing coverage network operating system processor to a second coverage network operating system processor.

13. In a wireless communications device, a system for determining when to exit an existing wireless communications coverage network, the system comprising:

a locator having a locator output for outputting device geographical sample positions; and

,

a calculator connected to the locator output, the calculator utilizing a history of the device geographical sample positions for supplying an exit control signal, the calculator comprising;

a comparison circuit connected to the locator output, the comparison circuit selecting a first threshold boundary line and measuring the difference between each device geographical sample position and the first threshold boundary line, the comparison circuit outputting a decrement control signal or an increment control signals in response to the measurement;

a counting circuit for receiving the decrement control signal or the increment control signal and for performing a mathematical function responsive to accepting the decrement and increment control signals and comparing a mathematical function result to a predetermined terminal value the counting circuit supplying the exit control signal in response to the comparison.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the comparison circuit partitions, into first and second zones separated by the first threshold boundary line, an area including at least a portion of a coverage area for the existing coverage network and at least a portion of a coverage area for a second coverage network proximate the existing coverage network, the first zone proximate a first side of the first threshold boundary line oriented toward the geographical center for the existing coverage network and the second zone proximate a second side of the first threshold boundary line;

and,

wherein the comparison circuit supplies a first decrement control signal in response to accepting a device geographical sample position in the first zone and the comparison circuit supplies a first increment control signal in response to accepting a device geographical sample position in the second zone.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the counting circuit maintains a running total responsive to accepting the decrement and increment control signals and compares the running total to the predetermined terminal value.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the counting circuit includes:

a subtracting circuit connected to the comparison circuit, the subtracting circuit outputting a decrement accumulation value in response to accepting the first decrement control signal;

an adding circuit connected to the comparison circuit, the adding circuit outputting an increment accumulation value in response to accepting the first increment control signal; and

,

a totalizer connected to the subtracting circuit and the adding circuit, the totalizer for supplying the exit control signal.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the totalizer maintains the running total starting at a predetermined initial value, decrements the running total for each decrement accumulation value, increments the running total for each increment accumulation value, and compares the running total to the terminal value.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the totalizer outputs the exit control signal when the running total is greater than, or equal to the terminal value, and resets the running total to the initial value after supplying the exit control signal.

19. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a transceiver connected to the comparison circuit, wherein the first threshold boundary line information is received through an antenna port of the transceiver.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein the locator generates information regarding device geographical sample positions.

21. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a transceiver having an antenna port, wherein the transceiver antenna port receives device geographical sample positions determined by a source external to the wireless communications device and supplies the device geographical sample positions to the calculator.

22. The system of claim 13 wherein the comparison circuit forms threshold boundary lines using a plurality of vectors referenced to a geographical center of the existing wireless communications coverage network.

23. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a transceiver for receiving information regarding coverage areas for other wireless communications coverage networks within, overlapping, and proximate to the existing wireless communications coverage network, the transceiver for supplying the received coverage area information to the comparison circuit; and

,

wherein the comparison circuit determines alternate threshold boundary lines between the existing coverage network and the other coverage networks in response to accepting the coverage area information.

24. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a transceiver;

a digital integrated circuit (IC) operatively connected to the transceiver; and

,

a reconfiguration sub-system connected to the calculator, the reconfiguration sub-system receiving the exit control signal from the calculator and supplying reconfiguration information in response to the exit control signal to the digital IC.