Communication environment switchover

• US 7,646,777 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 01/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Worsham, James A. Jr., Hicks, John Alson III
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, MAN U
• Application Number:
  US11/513,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20070026862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 370230-328, 370331-352, 455426-435, 455466-522, 455418-422, 455436-550, 709203-225
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data
• 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

Communication environment switchover may be provided. A received signal strength level may be determined corresponding to a signal sent from a first device and received at a second device. The received signal strength level may be measured at the second device. In addition, the first device may be re-provisioned. For example, the first device may be re-provisioned to communicate in a second environment if the first device is provisioned to communicate in a first environment and if the received signal strength level is greater than a first threshold value. Furthermore, the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the first environment if the first device is provisioned to communicate in the second environment and if the received signal strength level is less than a second threshold value. The second threshold value may be less than the first threshold value.

Claims

1. A method for providing communication environment switchover, the method comprising:

determining a received signal strength level corresponding to a signal sent from a first device and received at a second device, the received signal strength level being measured at the second device, the first device comprising a dual mode handset (DMH) and the second device comprising a wireless access point; and

causing the first device to be re-provisioned, wherein causing the first device to be re- provisioned comprises,

causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in a second environment;

if the first device is provisioned to communicate in a first environment, and

if the received signal strength level is greater than a first threshold value;

causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the first environment,

if the first device is provisioned to communicate in the second environment, and

if the received signal strength level is less than a second threshold value;

or

causing the first device to be re-provisioned when the second threshold value is less than the first threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the first environment comprises causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the first environment comprising a cellular telephone environment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the second environment comprises causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the second environment comprising a packetized data network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the second environment comprises causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the second environment comprising a packetized data network comprising a WiFi/VolP network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless access point comprises a wireless fidelity (WiFi) access point.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the first device to be re-provisioned comprises causing the first device to be re-provisioned when the first threshold value is greater than or equal to −

50 dBm.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the first device to be re-provisioned comprises causing the first device to be re-provisioned when the second threshold value is less than or equal to −

70 dBm.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the first device to be re-provisioned farther comprises causing the first device to be re-provisioned during an active call on the first device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the received signal strength level and causing the first device to be re-provisioned are performed by one of the following:

the first device comprising a dual mode handset (DMH) and the second device comprising a wireless access point.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the second environment comprises causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the second environment comprising an unregulated wireless environment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the second environment comprises causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the second environment comprising an unregulated wireless environment configured to provide wireless service over at least one frequency not assigned to a service provider.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the first environment further comprises causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the first environment over regulated wireless communications frequencies.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the first environment further comprises causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the first environment over regulated wireless communications frequencies comprising frequencies assigned to a service provider.

14. A system for providing communication environment switchover, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit performs the following;

determines a received signal strength level corresponding to a signal sent from a first device and received at a second device, the received signal strength level being measured at the second device; and

causes the first device to be re-provisioned, wherein to cause the first device to be re-provisioned comprises,

the processing unit causes the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in a second environment,

if the first device is provisioned to communicate in a first environment, and

if the received signal strength level is greater than a first threshold value, and

the processing unit causes the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in the first environment,

if the first device is provisioned to communicate in the second environment, and

if the received signal strength level is less than a second threshold value wherein the second threshold value is less than the first threshold value.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processing unit provides an indication when the received signal strength level is approaching the second threshold value.

16. A computer-readable storage medium which stores a set of instructions that when executed by a processor performs a method providing communication environment switchover, the method executed by the processor comprising the following acts:

determining a received signal strength level corresponding to a signal sent from a first device and received at a second device, the received signal strength level being measured at the second device; and

causing the first device to be re-provisioned comprising,

causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in a second environment when the received signal strength level is greater than a first threshold value, and

causing the first device to be re-provisioned to communicate in a first environment when the received signal strength level is less than a second threshold value.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein causing the first device to be re-provisioned comprises causing the first device to be re-provisioned wherein the second threshold value is less than the first threshold value.