Multi-MVNO wireless service

• US 8,165,584 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2011
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stevens, Gilman, Gibson, Michael, Anderson, Jim, Cerami, Rich, White, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/156,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20110237271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 4554321-4353, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455450-4521, 455405-407
• US Class Current: 455/435.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining an optimal range of frequencies of electromagnetic waves are described. In some embodiments, mobile voice communications devices measure average power received from certain ranges of such frequencies, each range associated with a communications service provider. A cost may be associated with each range. An optimal range of frequencies may be determined based on these factors. Each device may also receive a set of data identifying the location of the device. Each device may transmit one or more communications signals to a CIP with such measurements and location information, and some of this information may be stored in a database.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a range of frequencies for communication between a wireless device and a base station, the method comprising:

identifying, with a computer system, a plurality of ranges of frequencies available for communication between the wireless device and the base station, the plurality of ranges of frequencies comprising a first range of frequencies corresponding to 3G cellular communication and a second range of frequencies corresponding to WiMAX communication;

evaluating, at the computer system, each of the ranges of frequencies according to one or more predetermined criteria;

selecting, at the computer system, a selected range of frequencies for communication between the wireless device and the base station; and

transmitting a communication signal indicating the selected range of frequencies.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a wireless phone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises the computer system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device communicates over

WiFi.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprises a plurality of criteria.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the plurality of criteria are assigned different weights for evaluating each of the ranges of frequencies.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprises an average power value for each of the ranges of frequencies.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprises cost value for each of the ranges of frequencies.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprises an identification of a service provider for each of the ranges of frequencies.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more predetermined criteria comprises a geographic criterion.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, at the computer system, location based data indicating a location of the wireless device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication comprises a Voice over Internet Protocol (“

VoIP”

) communication.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication comprises a voice communication.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication comprises a data communication.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ranges of frequencies comprises an allocated range of frequencies that is allocated to a service provider.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of ranges of frequencies comprises a shared range of frequencies that is a shared range of frequencies not allocated to any service provider.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ranges of frequencies comprises a shared range of frequencies not allocated to any service provider.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ranges of frequencies comprises a third range of frequencies corresponding to communication other than 3G cellular communication and WiMAX communication.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ranges of frequencies comprises a third range of frequencies corresponding to WiFi communication.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein evaluating each of the ranges of frequencies comprises:

querying a database comprising values of at least one of the one or more predetermined criteria for each of the plurality of ranges of frequencies.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon program code executable by one or more computers to perform one or more operations, the program code comprising;

code for identifying, with a computer system, a plurality of ranges of frequencies available for communication between the wireless device and the base station, the plurality of ranges of frequencies comprising a first range of frequencies corresponding to 3G cellular communications and a second range of frequencies corresponding to WiMAX communication;

code for evaluating, at the computer system, each of the ranges of frequencies according to one or more predetermined criteria;

code for selecting, at the computer system, a selected range of frequencies for communication between the wireless device and the base station; and

code for transmitting a communication signal indicating the selected range of frequencies.

22. A computer system, comprising:

one or more processors; and

a computer readable medium in communication with the one or more processors, the computer readable medium having encoded thereon program code executable by one or more computers to perform one or more operations, the program code comprising;

code for identifying, with a computer system, a plurality of ranges of frequencies available for communication between the wireless device and the base station, the plurality of ranges of frequencies comprising a first range of frequencies corresponding to 3G cellular communications and a second range of frequencies corresponding to WiMAX communication;

code for evaluating, at the computer system, each of the ranges of frequencies according to one or more predetermined criteria;

code for selecting, at the computer system, a selected range of frequencies for communication between the wireless device and the base station; and

code for transmitting a communication signal indicating the selected range of frequencies.