Method and apparatus for selecting scanning rates in a multi-mode communication device

• US 8,055,256 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 11/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Rudowicz, Michael J., Rainbolt, Bradley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US12/130,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20090296652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/509, 455/456.1, 370/328, 370/252
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method and system for selecting scanning rates in a multi-mode communication device is disclosed herein. The method can include the step of—at a multi-mode communication device—measuring at least one parameter associated with an interaction between a first network and the multi-mode communication device. The method can further include the step of—in response to measuring the parameter—selecting a scanning rate of the multi-mode communication device for a second, different network that interacts with the multi-mode communication device. In the method, the first network and the second network can have independent synchronization procedures.

Claims

1. A method for selecting scanning rates in a multi-mode communication device, comprising:

at the multi-mode communication device, measuring at least one parameter associated with an interaction between a first network and the multi-mode communication device, wherein the parameter includes a coverage status of the first network at the multi-mode communication device, a signal strength at the multi-mode communication device, a Quality of Service support level of the first network at the multi-mode communication device, or a velocity of the multi-mode communication device; and

in response to measuring the parameter, selecting a scanning rate of the multi-mode communication device for a second, different network that interacts with the multi-mode communication device, wherein selecting the scanning rate of the second, different network comprises decreasing the scanning rate when the velocity is lower than a predetermined threshold, or increasing the scanning rate of the second, different network when the signal strength is lower than a second predetermined threshold;

wherein the first network and the second, different network have independent synchronization procedures.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network is a Local Area Network and the second network is a Wide Area Network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising ranking each member of a set of networks based on measuring at least one parameter associated with an interaction between each network and the multi-mode communication device, wherein the set of networks includes the first network and the second, different network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the parameters on which the ranking of each member is based include the Quality of Service support level of the network at the multi-mode communication device or the signal strength at the multi-mode communication device.

5. A method for selecting scanning rates in a multi-mode communication device, comprising:

at the multi-mode communication device, measuring at least one parameter associated with an interaction between a first network and the multi-mode communication device;

at the multi-mode communication device, measuring at least one parameter associated with an interaction between a second, different network and the multi-mode communication device,

wherein the at least one parameter associated with the interaction between the first network and the multi-mode communication device or the at least one parameter associated with the interaction between the second, different network and the multi-mode communication device includes a coverage status of the first network or the second, different network at the multi-mode communication device, a signal strength at the multi-mode communication device, a Quality of Service support level of the first network or the second, different network at the multi-mode communication device, or a velocity of the multi-mode communication device; and

in response to measuring the parameters, selecting a scanning rate of the multi-mode communication device for the second network,

wherein selecting the scanning rate for the second network comprises decreasing the scanning rate when the velocity is lower than a predetermined threshold, or increasing the scanning rate when the signal strength at the multi-mode communication device is lower than a second predetermined threshold; and

wherein the first network and the second, different network have independent synchronization procedures.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first network is a Local Area Network and the second, different network is a Wide Area Network.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising ranking each member of a set of networks based on measuring at least one parameter associated with an interaction between each network and the multi-mode communication device, wherein the set of networks includes the first network and the second, different network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the parameters on which the ranking of each member is based include the Quality of Service support level of the network at the multi-mode communication device or the signal strength at the multi-mode communication device.

9. A multi-mode communication device, comprising:

a first transceiver that interacts with a first network having a first synchronization procedure;

a second transceiver that interacts with a second, different network having a second synchronization procedure that is independent of the synchronization procedure of the first network; and

a processor that is coupled to the first transceiver and coupled to the second transceiver and operable to;

scan for the first network;

scan for the second, different network;

measure at least one parameter associated with the first network, wherein the parameter includes a coverage status of the first network at the multi-mode communication device, a signal strength at the multi-mode communication device, a Quality of Service support level of the first network at the multi-mode communication device, or a velocity of the multi-mode communication device; and

in response to the measuring the parameter, select a scanning rate of the second, different network, wherein selecting the scanning rate of the second, different network comprises decreasing the scanning rate when the velocity is lower than a predetermined threshold, or increasing the scanning rate when the signal strength is lower than a second predetermined threshold.

10. The multi-mode communication device of claim 9, wherein the first network is a Local Area Network and the second network is a Wide Area Network.

11. The multi-mode communication device of claim 9, wherein the processor is further operable to rank each member of a set of networks based on measuring at least one parameter associated with an interaction between each network and the multi-mode communication device, wherein the set of networks includes the first network and the second, different network.

12. The multi-mode communication device of claim 11, wherein the parameters on which the ranking of each member is based include the Quality of Service support level of the network at the multi-mode communication device or the signal strength at the multi-mode communication device.