Location based pattern for scanning for wireless local area networks

• US 8,195,249 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2007
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Abdel-Kader, Sherif
• Primary Examiner(s): Cordero, Marivelisse Santiago
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hong, Dung
• Application Number:
  US11/677,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,931 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/236.2, 370/328, 370/395.1, 370/396, 455/432.1, 4553431-3436, 455/574, 455/127.5, 455/456.1, 455/414.2, 455/425, 455/441, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/434
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

A mobile device having a wireless local area network interface and one or more other wireless interfaces identifies a location of the mobile device via one or more of the other wireless interfaces, estimates a likelihood of finding a wireless local area network at the location, and scans for wireless local area networks while at the location during scan sessions that are separated by intervals, where the intervals are determined by the estimated likelihood.

Claims

1. A method in a mobile device having a wireless local area network interface and one or more other wireless interfaces, the method comprising:

identifying a location of said mobile device via one or more of said other wireless interfaces;

calculating a value that depends, at least in part, on a number numSelections that represents how many times said mobile device entered said location and on a number numAssociations that represents how many times said mobile device associated with any wireless local area network or a particular wireless local area network while at said location;

determining intervals from said value, wherein as the ratio of numAssociations to numSelections increases said intervals are shorter subject to a lower limit for said intervals and wherein as the ratio decreases said intervals are longer subject to an upper limit for said intervals; and

scanning for wireless local area networks while at said location during scan sessions that are separated by said intervals,

wherein said number numSelections is at least 1.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said one or more other wireless interfaces is a cellular interface, and said location is a cellular location.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said one or more other wireless interfaces is a Global Positioning System receiver, and said location is a geographical location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said value further depends, at least in part, on how many times said mobile device detected any wireless local area network while at said location.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

collecting information about wireless local area network activity of said mobile device while at said location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said value further depends, at least in part, on how many times said mobile device detected said particular wireless local area network while at said location.

7. A mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a wireless local area network interface coupled to said processor, through which said mobile device is able to scan for wireless local area networks;

one or more other wireless communication interfaces coupled to said processor, through which said mobile device is able to identify a location of said mobile device; and

a memory to store code which, when executed by said processor, is arranged to calculate a value that depends, at least in part, on a number numSelections that represents how many times said mobile device entered said location and on a number numAssociations that represents how many times said mobile device associated with any wireless local area network or a particular wireless local area network while at said location, to determine intervals from said value, wherein as the ratio of numAssociations to numSelections increases said intervals are shorter subject to a lower limit for said intervals and wherein as the ratio decreases said intervals are longer subject to an upper limit for said intervals, and to control said wireless local area network interface to scan for wireless local area networks or said particular wireless local area network while at said location during scan sessions that are separated by said intervals, wherein said number numSelections is at least 1.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein said code, when executed by said processor, is further arranged to collect information about wireless local area network activity of said mobile device while at said location.

9. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein one of said one or more other wireless interfaces is a cellular interface, and said location is a cellular location.

10. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein one of said one or more other wireless interfaces is a Global Positioning System receiver, and said location is a geographical location.

11. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein said value further depends, at least in part, on how many times said mobile device detected any wireless local area network while at said location.

12. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein said value further depends, at least in part, on how many times said mobile device detected said particular wireless local area network while at said location.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions which when executed by a mobile device having a wireless local area network interface and one or more other wireless communication interfaces, result in said mobile device:

identifying a location of said mobile device via one or more of said other wireless interfaces;

calculating a value that depends, at least in part, on a number numSelections that represents how many times said mobile device entered said location and on a number numAssociations that represents how many times said mobile device associated with any wireless local area network or a particular wireless local area network while at said location;

determining intervals from said value, wherein as the ratio of numAssociations to numSelections increases said intervals are shorter subject to a lower limit for said intervals and wherein as the ratio decreases said intervals are longer subject to an upper limit for said intervals; and

scanning for wireless local area networks or said particular wireless local area network while at said location during scan sessions that are separated by said intervals, wherein said number numSelections is at least 1.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein said value also depends, at least in part, on how many times said mobile device detected any wireless local area network while at said location.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein said value also depends, at least in part, on how many times said mobile device detected said particular wireless local area network while at said location.