System and method for seeking a wireless network for a wireless device

• US 7,969,909 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Oerton, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/624,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20080175166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/254, 370/331, 370/338, 370/340, 379/80, 455/456.1, 455/3.06, 455/434, 607/60, 701/33, 709/217, 709/220
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method for initiating a command relating to one network that an electronic communication device may be in communication with, depending on triggering conditions relating to another network that the device may be in communication with. In the method, the device initiates a command relating to a network for a communication device only after satisfaction of a predetermined condition relating to another network. The network may be a 802.11a network; the another network may be a non-802.11a network; the predetermined condition may be detection of a connection to the non-802.11a network; and the command may be to initiate monitoring for a connection to the 802.11a network.

Claims

1. A method for initiating a command relating to a network for a communication device, comprising:

initiating a command relating to said network after satisfaction of a predetermined condition relating to another network relating to said communication device,

wherein said predetermined condition comprises at least one of the following conditions;

a time tracked by said device;

a present location of said device; and

a signal strength detected by said device for said another network having a minimum predetermined strength.

2. The method for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said network is a 802.11a network;

said another network is a non-802.11a network;

said predetermined condition comprises detection of a connection to said non-802.11a network; and

said command is to initiate monitoring for a connection to said 802.11a network.

3. The method for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 2, wherein said initiating said command to said network comprises monitoring for receipt of a beacon signal from said network.

4. The method for initiating a search for a connection to a network as claimed in claim 3, wherein said non-802.11a network is selected from at least one of the following networks:

a 802.11b network;

a 802.11g network, a 802.11b/g network and a 802.11n network.

5. The method for initiating a search for a connection to a network as claimed in claim 1, wherein after said connection is established, said method further comprises terminating said connection after satisfaction of a second predetermined condition.

6. The method for initiating a search for a connection to a network as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises at least one of the following conditions:

an elapsed time of searching for said network;

a present location of said device; and

the signal strength of communications from said another network dropping below a predetermined threshold.

7. The method for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said network is a non-802.11 network;

said another network is a 802.11 network;

said predetermined condition comprises detection of a connection to said 802.11 network; and

said command is to initiate a status request signal to said network.

8. The method for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said network is one type of 802.11 network;

said another network is another type of 802.11 network different from said one type of 802.11 network;

said predetermined condition comprises detection of a connection to said another type of 802.11 network; and

said command is to initiate monitoring for a connection to said one type of 802.11 network.

9. A system for initiating a command relating to a network for a communication device, comprising:

a monitoring process for monitoring for connection signals from a plurality of networks for said device;

an evaluation process to evaluate said connection signals and determine whether a trigger condition for a command relating to a network of said plurality of networks has been satisfied; and

a command process to initiate said command for said network,

wherein said evaluation process causes said command process to initiate said command for said network upon detecting satisfaction of said predetermined condition from connection signals from said monitoring process, said predetermined condition comprising at least one of the following conditions;

a time tracked by said device;

a present location of said device; and

a signal strength detected by said device for a connection to another network of said plurality of networks having a minimum predetermined strength.

10. The system for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 9, wherein each network of said plurality of networks are of the same type.

11. The system for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 9, wherein said plurality of networks comprises a first network of a first type and a second network of a second type.

12. The system for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said network is a 802.11a network;

said command is a request to monitor for a connection to said 802.11a network; and

said predetermined condition comprises detection of a connection to a non-802.11a network by said monitoring process.

13. The system for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 12, wherein said monitoring process monitors for receipt of beacon signals from said plurality of networks.

14. The system for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a GUI process providing an interface on said device to change said predetermined condition.

15. The system for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 9, wherein after said connection is established, said system monitors for a second predetermined condition and upon satisfaction of said second predetermined condition, initiates a command to terminated said connection.

16. The system for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 15, wherein said second predetermined condition comprises at least one of the following conditions:

an elapsed time of searching for said network;

a present location of said device; and

the signal strength of communications from said another network dropping below a predetermined threshold.

17. The system for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said network is one type of 802.11 network;

said another network is another type of 802.11 network different from said one type of 802.11 network;

said predetermined condition comprises detection of a connection to said another type of 802.11 network; and

said command is to initiate monitoring for a connection to said one type of 802.11 network.

18. The system for initiating a command relating to a network as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said network is a non-802.11 network;

said another network is a 802.11 network;

said predetermined condition comprises detection of a connection to said 802.11 network; and

said command is to initiate a status request signal to said network.