Dynamic carrier selection

• US 7,885,654 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Pérez-Gutiérrez; Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Batista; Marcos
• Application Number:
  US11/548,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20080085707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 455/423, 455/419, 455/406, 455/436
• US Class Current: 455/435.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/065 involving selection of the user mobility server

Abstract

Systems, methods, computer software for providing access to wireless communication services are provided. The invention, in one embodiment, can involve storing a network address on a mobile device and sending a request for network operator data from the mobile device to a mobile virtual network operator server associated with the network address. In response, network operator data is received, and, based on the received network operator data, a network operator is selected. Communications are thereafter conducted using the selected network operator. In some situations, bids are received from multiple network operators for rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained. Preferences among the network operators are identified using the received bids, and the preferences are used to select the network operator for the mobile device to use in conducting communications.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to a wireless cellular communication network, the method comprising:

storing a network Internet Protocol (IP) address on a mobile device, the IP address identifies a server associated with a mobile virtual network operator in an IP network, the mobile virtual network operator serves as a home location register (HLR) for the mobile device and receives bids for communication services from each of a plurality of different network operators, the plurality of different network operators own infrastructures that service communication services, the mobile virtual network operator being different from owners of the infrastructure;

transmitting, to the mobile virtual network operator through a cellular network and the IP network, a request for network operator data of the plurality of different network operators using the IP address, the request identifying a location of the mobile device;

receiving, on the mobile device, network operator data from the mobile virtual network operator server in response to the request, the network operator data based on identifying rates for communication services from the plurality of different network operators and the location of the mobile device;

presenting the rates for the plurality of different network operators using the mobile device;

receiving a user selection of a network operator from the plurality of different network operators for communication services;

conducting communications with the selected network operator;

receiving network operator data for additional network operators in response to receiving subsequent bids after initiation of the communications;

presenting rates associated with the subsequent bids from the additional network operators; and

receiving a user selection to update the network operator with a network operator in the additional network operators; and

conducting communications with the updated network operator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is not associated with a particular home network operator.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising

receiving bid data from the plurality of different network operators for rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained;

and

identifying preferences among the different network operators using the received bid data, wherein the preferences are used to select the network operator for the mobile device to use.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the preferences are further based on at least one factor selected from the group consisting of the location of the mobile device, quality of service offered by the network operator, and type of communication.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving rate information relating to rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained; and

sending the rate information to the mobile device, wherein the network operator is selected using the rate information.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving rate information relating to rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained;

sending the rate information to the mobile device;

displaying the rate information on a user interface of the mobile device; and

receiving a user selection of the network operator.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

registering the mobile device with a network operator for a limited purpose of sending the request and receiving the network operator data in response to the request; and

registering the mobile device with the selected network operator for conducting communications after receiving the network operator data.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising negotiating with at least one network operator to provide access for the limited purpose of sending the request and receiving the network operator data in response to the request.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising dynamically updating the network operator data in the mobile virtual network operator server based on parameters associated with a plurality of network operators.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile device is preprogrammed with a carrier identifier associated with the mobile virtual network operator server.

11. A tangible apparatus comprising a non-transitory machine-readable storage device storing instructions for causing data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a mobile device at a mobile virtual network operator in an IP network, bids for communications services from each of a plurality of different network operators, the mobile virtual network operator servers as an HLR for the mobile device, the plurality of different network operators own infrastructures that service communication services, the mobile virtual network operator being different from owners of the infrastructure;

receiving a request for network operator preference data from an activated mobile device identifying a current location of the mobile device;

determining network operator preference data based, at least in part, on the received bids and the mobile-device location, the network preference data identifies a set of preferences from the plurality of different network operators;

sending the network operator preference data to the mobile device including rates for each of the plurality of different network operators;

receiving, from the mobile device, a user selection of a network operator from the plurality of different network operators for communication services;

updating the network operator preference data based, at least in part, on at least one of updated bid data or an updated location of the mobile device to identify a second set of preferences from the plurality of different network operators;

sending the updated network operator preference data to the mobile device;

receiving subsequent bids from additional network operators after initiation of the communications;

transmitting, to the mobile device, rates associated with the subsequent bids from the additional network operators; and

receiving a user selection to update the network operator with a network operator in the additional network operators; and

updating the network operator preference data in response to at least the updated user selection.

12. The tangible apparatus of claim 11 wherein updating the network operator preference data is performed dynamically based on parameters associated with the plurality of network operators.

13. The tangible apparatus of claim 12 wherein the parameters comprise data relating to the network operators in an area corresponding to the current location of the mobile device.

14. The tangible apparatus of claim 12 wherein the parameters comprise rate information for different communication services available from each network operator.

15. The tangible apparatus of claim 11 wherein the updated network operator preference data enables a user of the mobile device to select among a plurality of network operators.

16. The tangible apparatus of claim 11 wherein the updated network operator preference data enables the mobile device to automatically select among a plurality of network operators.

17. A system comprising:

a mobile virtual network operator server in an IP network operable to serve as an HLR for mobile devices and receive location data from the mobile devices, in response to the received location data, send network operator preference data to each mobile device including rates for each of a plurality of network operators, receive a user selection of a network operator from the plurality of network operators for communication services, and update the selected network operator in response to a user selection of a different operator associated with subsequent bids from additional network operators, wherein the network operator preference data comprises at least one of data indicating preferences among the plurality of network operators or data for use in determining preferences among a plurality of network operators, the plurality of different network operators own infrastructures that service communication services, the mobile virtual network operator being different from owners of the infrastructure; and

an interface with each of a plurality of network operators for receiving location data from each of the mobile devices and for sending network operator preference data to each of the mobile devices.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the mobile virtual network operator server comprises a home location register.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the mobile virtual network operator server is further operable to generate the network operator preference data based on parameters relating to the plurality of network operators.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the parameters comprise pricing information for each of the plurality of network operators.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the mobile virtual network operator server is further operable to dynamically update the network operator preference data using the pricing information.