Location-based network selection method for a mobile device

• US 8,073,441 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: MetroPCS Wireless Incorporated (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Unger, Ronald, Guven, Mesut, Chao, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Thier, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/862,444
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/422.1, 455/435.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.5
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method for connecting a mobile device with one of a plurality of wireless networks, involves initiating a registration of the mobile device with one of the plurality of wireless networks. A geographic position of the mobile device is determined with respect to at least one of the plurality of wireless networks. A connection is established to one of the plurality of wireless networks responsive to the determined geographic position of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a mobile device with one of a plurality of wireless networks, comprising the steps of:

initiating a network selection process for the mobile device with one of the plurality of overlapping wireless networks when the mobile device is located within an overlapping area of at least a home network and a roaming network of the plurality of overlapping wireless networks;

determining a geographic position of the mobile device with respect to at least one of the plurality of overlapping wireless networks;

determining if the mobile device is within a hole of the at least one of the plurality of overlapping wireless networks;

establishing a connection to one of the plurality of overlapping wireless networks in accordance with a hole rule set associated with the hole responsive to a determination that the mobile device is within the hole of the at least one of the plurality of overlapping wireless networks;

attempting, responsive to the determined geographic position of the mobile device, to connect with the home network of the plurality of overlapping wireless networks a predetermined plurality of times before trying to connect with the roaming network of the plurality of networks in accordance with a rule set that biases the connection of the wireless device to the home network when the mobile device is located within the overlapping area of the home network and the roaming network; and

connecting with the roaming network of the plurality of overlapping wireless networks if connection with the home network fails after attempting to connect with the home network in accordance with the rule set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the step of:

accessing a boundary map defining a geographic boundary of the at least one of the plurality of wireless networks;

determining a geographic position of the mobile device; and

determining if the geographic position of the mobile device lies within the geographic boundary of the at least one of the plurality of wireless networks.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the step of GPS positioning the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the steps of:

identifying the geographic position of a cell communicating with the mobile device; and

establishing the geographic location of the mobile device as the geographic location of the cell communicating with the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 2, further including the step of periodically updating the boundary map defining the geographic boundary of the at least one of the plurality of wireless networks.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of periodically updating further comprises the step of wirelessly transmitting an updated boundary map to the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

determining a subsequent geographic position of the wireless device connected to the roaming network of the plurality of wireless networks with respect to the home network of the plurality of wireless networks; and

disconnecting the wireless device from the roaming network when the determination is made that the geographic location of the wireless device is within the home network of the plurality of wireless networks.

8. A method for connecting a mobile device with a home network or at least one roaming network, comprising the steps of:

initiating a registration of the mobile device with either the home network or the at least one roaming network when the mobile device is located within an overlapping area of the home network and the at least one roaming network;

accessing a boundary map defining a geographic boundary of the home network;

determining a geographic position of the mobile device;

determining if the geographic position of the mobile device lies within the geographic boundary of the home network;

determining if the mobile device lies within a hole of the home network;

establishing a connection to the home network in accordance with a hole rule set associated with the hole responsive to a determination that the mobile device is within the hole of the home network;

attempting to connect with the home network for a predetermined duration of time before trying to connect with the at least one roaming network in accordance with a rule set that biases the connection of the wireless device to the home network when the mobile device is located within the overlapping area of the home network and the roaming network responsive to a determination that the geographic position of the mobile device lies within the boundaries of the home network; and

connecting with at least one roaming network if connection with the home network fails after attempting to connect with the home network in accordance with the rule set.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the step of GPS positioning the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the steps of:

identifying the geographic position of a cell communicating with the mobile device; and

establishing the geographic location of the mobile device as the geographic location of the cell communicating with the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 8, further including the step of periodically updating the boundary map defining the geographic boundary of the home network.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of attempting further includes the step of providing customized application behavior for the mobile device responsive to the determined geographic position of the mobile device with respect to the home network and a type of an application attempting to access the home network.

13. A system for connecting a mobile device with one of a plurality of wireless networks, comprising:

at least one boundary map stored within the system defining a geographic boundary of a home network and a plurality of holes in the home network;

geographic positioning circuitry for determining a geographic position of the mobile device;

at least one first rule set associated with the mobile device for controlling connection of the mobile device with the one of the plurality of wireless networks when the mobile device is located within an overlapping area of the home network and a roaming network of the plurality of wireless networks;

a second rule set associated with the mobile device for controlling connection of the mobile device with the home network when the mobile device is located within a hole within the home network;

wherein the second rule set controls connection of the mobile device with the home network of the plurality of wireless networks when the mobile device is located within the hole of the home network;

wherein the at least one first rule set biases connection of the mobile device with the home network of the plurality of wireless networks when the mobile device is located within the overlapping area of the home network and the roaming network responsive to the determination that the geographic position of the mobile device is within the at least one boundary map of the home network;

wherein the at least one first rule set configures the mobile device to attempt to connect with the home network for a predetermined period of time before trying to connect with the roaming network; and

further wherein the at least one first rule set configures the mobile device to connect with the roaming network if connection with the home network fails according to the at least one first rule set.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one first rule set and the second rule set are located within the mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the at least one first rule set and the second rule set are located within the home network of the mobile device.