Selective scanning for WLAN coverage by a multi-mode device
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- a multi-mode device determining whether it is charging and whether it is authenticated via a wireless network that operates according to a first air-interface protocol;
if the multi-mode device determines that it is both charging and so authenticated, the multi-mode device storing reference data in a profile corresponding with the wireless network, hereinafter referred to as the first wireless network, that operates according to the first protocol and via which the multi-mode device is authenticated, wherein the reference data (i) comprises multiple data fields and (ii) reflects a current environment of a second wireless network at a first point in time at which the multi-mode device is both charging and authenticated via the first wireless network, and wherein the second wireless network operates according to a second air-interface protocol that is different from the first; and
after storing the reference data in the profile corresponding with the first wireless network, the multi-mode device detecting at a second point in time that a current environment of the second wireless network matches, with respect to at least a certain number of the multiple data fields, the reference data stored in the profile corresponding with the first wireless network, and responsively scanning for coverage according to the first air-interface protocol, wherein the second point in time occurs later in time than the first.
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for selective scanning for WLAN coverage by a multi-mode device. In at least one embodiment, the multi-mode device determines whether it is both charging and authenticated via a wireless network that operates according to a first protocol, and if it is both, responsively storing reference data—in a profile corresponding with that wireless network—that reflects a current environment of a second wireless network that operates according to a second air-interface protocol that is different from the first. At a later point in time, the multi-mode device detects that a current environment of the second wireless network sufficiently matches the stored reference data, and responsively scanning for coverage according to the first air-interface protocol.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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a multi-mode device determining whether it is charging and whether it is authenticated via a wireless network that operates according to a first air-interface protocol; if the multi-mode device determines that it is both charging and so authenticated, the multi-mode device storing reference data in a profile corresponding with the wireless network, hereinafter referred to as the first wireless network, that operates according to the first protocol and via which the multi-mode device is authenticated, wherein the reference data (i) comprises multiple data fields and (ii) reflects a current environment of a second wireless network at a first point in time at which the multi-mode device is both charging and authenticated via the first wireless network, and wherein the second wireless network operates according to a second air-interface protocol that is different from the first; and after storing the reference data in the profile corresponding with the first wireless network, the multi-mode device detecting at a second point in time that a current environment of the second wireless network matches, with respect to at least a certain number of the multiple data fields, the reference data stored in the profile corresponding with the first wireless network, and responsively scanning for coverage according to the first air-interface protocol, wherein the second point in time occurs later in time than the first. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A multi-mode device comprising:
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a first wireless-communication interface for communicating according to a first air-interface protocol; a second wireless-communication interface for communicating according to a second air-interface protocol different from the first; a processor; and data storage having program instructions executable by the processor for carrying out a set of functions, the set including; the multi-mode device determining whether it is charging and whether it is authenticated via a wireless network that operates according to a first air-interface protocol; if the multi-mode device determines that it is both charging and so authenticated, the multi-mode device storing reference data in a profile corresponding with the wireless network, hereinafter referred to as the first wireless network, that operates according to the first protocol and via which the multi-mode device is authenticated, wherein the reference data (i) comprises multiple data fields and (ii) reflects a current environment of a second wireless network at a first point in time at which the multi-mode device is both charging and authenticated via the first wireless network, and wherein the second wireless network operates according to a second air-interface protocol that is different from the first; and after storing the reference data in the profile corresponding with the first wireless network, the multi-mode device detecting at a second point in time that a current environment of the second wireless network matches, with respect to at least a certain number of the multiple data fields, the reference data stored in the profile corresponding with the first wireless network, and responsively scanning for coverage according to the first air-interface protocol, wherein the second point in time occurs later in time than the first.
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Specification