Method and apparatus to provide guidance to support wireless connectivity

• US 7,120,444 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2001
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Silvester, Kelan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US10/039,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20030125043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.6, 455/456.1, 455/457, 455/423, 455/67.11, 455/421, 455/566, 455/134, 455/133, 455/456.2, 342/357.13, 701/209, 701/211, 701/205
• US Class Current: 455/452.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

For one embodiment of the present invention, a cell phone may provide a wireless connection. The cell phone may additionally include a locator to indicate an approximate location of the cell phone. The cell phone may additionally include an output device to provide the user with a directional indicator to guide the user along a route that reduces the probability of losing the wireless connection.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a cell phone to provide a wireless connection;

a locator to indicate an approximate location of the cell phone; and

a directional indicator coupled to the cell phone to guide a user along a route that reduces a probability of losing the wireless connection,

wherein the route includes an alternative route based on a predicted route, the predicted route generated in response to a direction of travel by the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the locator includes a global positioning system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes an audio or video output device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes a map of the route.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an antenna to receive guidance information used to guide the user along the route.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the guidance information includes an approximate location of a cell tower.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a processor to compare the approximate location of the cell tower to the approximate location of the cell phone to determine the route.

8. A method comprising:

providing a cell phone with a locator to indicate an approximate location of the cell phone; and

enabling the cell phone to provide directions to guide a user along a route that improves wireless signal strength,

wherein the route includes an alternative route based on a predicted route, the predicted route generated in response to a direction of travel by the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein enabling the cell phone to provide directions includes providing the cell phone with a display to indicate the route.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein enabling the cell phone to provide directions includes providing the cell phone with an audio or video output device to indicate a location of a nearest cell tower.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein providing the cell phone with the locator includes providing the cell phone with a global positioning system.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising enabling the cell phone to receive guidance information via an antenna and to use the guidance information to guide the user along the route.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the guidance information includes an approximate location of a cell tower.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising enabling the cell phone to predict an initial route of the user and to redirect the user from the initial route to the route that improves wireless signal strength.

15. A system comprising:

a processor;

an antenna to provide a wireless connection; and

a memory region coupled to a cell phone including instructions that, if executed by the processor, cause the system to guide a user along a route that reduces a probability of losing the wireless connection,

wherein the route includes an alternative route based on a predicted route, the predicted route generated in response to a direction of travel by the user.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising an audio or video output device and instructions that, if executed by the processor, cause the system to guide the user along the route by providing directional indications to the user via the output device.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, if executed by the processor, cause the system to compare an approximate location of a cell tower to an approximate location of the system to determine the route.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising instructions that, if executed by the processor, cause the system to predict an initial route of the user and to redirect the user from the initial route to the route that reduces the probability of losing the wireless connection.