Methods and apparatus for selecting a wireless network based on quality of service (QoS) criteria associated with an application

• US 8,214,536 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Zhao, Wen
• Primary Examiner(s): Serrao, Ranodhi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hussain, Farrukh
• Application Number:
  US11/940,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20080062934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,693 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/212, 709/216, 709/220, 709/223, 709/224, 709/238, 709/240, 709/241, 370/395.21, 370/332
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

In one illustrative example, a mobile communication device has a plurality of software applications including an Internet browser application, an electronic mail (e-mail) communication application, and an audio or video player application. The mobile device is adapted to receive, from wireless communication networks or through use thereof, available quality of service data for the wireless networks and store the corresponding data in association with each network identification. The available quality of service data includes at least a bandwidth criterion and a delay criterion associated with each wireless network. For each one of the software applications, the mobile device is adapted to execute the software application; identify, based on the stored quality of service data, one or more wireless networks having a bandwidth criterion and a delay criterion that best match a bandwidth requirement and a delay requirement, respectively, of the executed software application; and select, based on the identifying, an available wireless network for communication using the executed software application.

Claims

1. A method in a mobile communication device for use in selecting a wireless communication network for communications, the method comprising:

maintaining access to a plurality of software applications stored in memory of the mobile communication device, the plurality of software applications including an Internet browser application, an electronic mail (e-mail) communication application, and an audio or video player application, each software application having a bandwidth requirement, a delay requirement, and a delay loss requirement associated therewith;

scanning to identify a plurality of wireless communication networks available in a coverage area of the mobile communication device;

for each one of the plurality of wireless communication networks;

receiving, through the wireless communication network or through use thereof, available quality of service data for the wireless communication network, wherein the available quality of service data includes at least a bandwidth criterion, a delay criterion, and a data loss criterion made available by the wireless communication network;

storing, in memory of the mobile communication device, the available quality of service data in association with a system identification of the wireless communication network;

for each one of the software applications including the Internet browser application, the e-mail communication application, and the audio or the video player application;

causing the software application to be executed;

comparing, at the mobile communication device, the bandwidth, the delay, and the data loss requirements associated with the executed software application with the bandwidth, the delay, and the data loss criterions stored in the memory in association with the system identifications of the wireless communication networks;

selecting, at the mobile communication device based on the comparing, one of the wireless communication networks that is associated with the bandwidth, the delay, and the data loss criterions that best match the bandwidth, the delay, and the data loss requirements associated with the executed software application; and

prioritizing an attempt from the mobile communication device for system acquisition of the selected wireless communication network over the other wireless communication networks for communication using the executed software application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication networks are cellular telecommunication networks.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein each software application further has a delay variation requirement associated therewith;

wherein the available quality of service data further comprise a delay variation criterion;

wherein the comparing further comprises comparing, at the mobile communication device, the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss, and the delay variation requirements associated with the executed software application with the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss, and the delay variation criterions stored in the memory in association with the system identifications of the wireless communication networks; and

wherein the selecting further comprises selecting, at the mobile communication device based on the comparing, one of the wireless communication networks that is associated with the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss, and the delay variation criterions that best match the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss, and the delay variation requirements associated with the executed software application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of software applications include a voice communication application, the method further comprising:

maintaining in the memory a network selection table for the voice communication application, the network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table;

when the voice communication application is executed;

performing system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks for communication, by attempting to access service for the voice communication application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining in the memory a network selection table for the Internet browser application, the network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table, each system identification having the stored available quality of service data associated therewith;

when the Internet browser application is executed;

performing system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks for communication, by attempting to access service for the Internet browser application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining in the memory a network selection table for the e-mail communication application, the network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table, each system identification having the stored available quality of service data associated therewith;

when the e-mail communication application is executed;

performing system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks for communication, by attempting to access service for the e-mail communication application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining in the memory a first network selection table for the Internet browser application, the first network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table, each system identification having the stored available quality of service data associated therewith;

when the Internet browser application is executed;

performing system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks for communication, by attempting to access service for the Internet browser application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them;

maintaining in the memory a second network selection table for the e-mail communication application, the second network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table, each system identification having the stored available quality of service data associated therewith;

when the e-mail communication application is executed;

performing system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks for communication, by attempting to access service for the e-mail communication application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them.

8. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver;

memory for storing a plurality of software applications, the plurality of software applications including an Internet browser application, an electronic mail (e-mail) communication application, and an audio or video player application each software application having a bandwidth requirement, a delay requirement, and a delay loss requirement associated therewith;

the one or more processors being operative to perform a scanning operation, with use of the wireless transceiver, for identifying a plurality of wireless communication networks available in a coverage area of the mobile communication device;

the one or more processors being further operative to, for each one of the plurality of wireless communication networks;

receive, via the wireless transceiver, from the wireless communication network or through use thereof, available quality of service data for the wireless communication network, wherein the available quality of service data includes at least a bandwidth criterion, a delay criterion, and a data loss criterion made available by the wireless communication network;

store, in the memory, the available quality of service data in association with a system identification of the wireless communication network;

the one or more processors being further operative to, for each one of the software applications including the Internet browser application, the e-mail communication application, and the audio or the video player application;

execute the software application;

compare, by the one or more processors, the bandwidth, the delay, and the data loss requirements associated with the executed software application with the bandwidth, the delay, and the data loss criterions stored in the memory in association with the system identifications of the wireless communication networks;

select, by the one or more processors based on the comparing, one of the wireless communication networks that is associated with the bandwidth, the delay, and the data loss criterions that best match the bandwidth, the delay, and the data loss requirements associated with the executed software application; and

prioritize an attempt from the mobile communication device for system acquisition of the selected wireless communication network over the other wireless communication networks for communication using the executed software application.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 8,

wherein the wireless communication networks are cellular telecommunication networks.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 8, further comprising:

wherein each software application further has a delay variation requirement associated therewith;

wherein the available quality of service data further comprise a delay variation criterion;

wherein the one or more processors are further operative to compare by comparing, at the mobile communication device, the bandwidth, the delay, the data loss and the delay variation requirements associated with the executed software application with the bandwidth, the delay, the data loss and the delay variation criterions stored in the memory in association with the system identifications of the wireless communication networks; and

wherein the one or more processors are further operative to select by selecting, in the one or more processors based on the comparing, one of the wireless communication networks that is associated with the bandwidth, the delay, the data loss and the delay variation criterions that best match the bandwidth, the delay, the data loss and the delay variation requirements associated with the executed software application.

11. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of software applications include a voice communication application, and the one or more processors are further operative to:

maintain in the memory a network selection table for the voice communication application, the network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table; and

when the one or more processors execute the voice communication application;

perform system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks for communication, by attempting to access service for the voice communication application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them.

12. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

maintain in the memory a network selection table for the Internet browser application, the network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table, each system identification having the stored available quality of service data associated therewith; and

when the Internet browser application is executed;

perform system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks having the best match for communication, by attempting to access service for the Internet browser application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

maintain in the memory a network selection table for the e-mail communication application, the network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table, each system identification having the stored available quality of service data associated therewith; and

when the e-mail communication application is executed;

perform system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks having the best match for communication, by attempting to access service for the e-mail communication application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

maintain in the memory a first network selection table for the Internet browser application, the first network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table, each system identification having the stored available quality of service data associated therewith;

when the Internet browser application is executed;

perform system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks having the best match for communication, by attempting to access service for the Internet browser application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them;

maintain in the memory a second network selection table for the e-mail communication application, the second network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table; and

when the e-mail communication application is executed;

perform system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks having the best match for communication, by attempting to access service for the e-mail communication application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them.

15. A method in a mobile communication device for use in selecting a wireless communication network for communications, the method comprising the acts of:

maintaining access to a plurality of software applications stored in memory of the mobile communication device, the plurality of software applications including a voice communication application, an Internet browser application, and an electronic mail (e-mail) communication application, each software application having a bandwidth requirement, a delay requirement, and a delay loss requirement associated therewith;

scanning to identify a plurality of wireless communication networks in a coverage area of the mobile communication device;

for each one of the plurality of wireless communication networks;

receiving, through the wireless communication network or through use thereof, available quality of service data for the wireless communication network, wherein the available quality of service data includes at least a bandwidth criterion, a delay criterion, and a delay loss criterion made available by the wireless communication network;

storing, in the memory, the available quality of service data in association with a system identification of the wireless communication network;

maintaining in the memory a network selection table for the voice communication application, the network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table;

for the voice communication application;

causing the voice communication application to be executed;

performing system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks for voice communication, by attempting to access service for voice communication through one or more wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the voice service is granted from one of them;

for each one of the Internet browser application and the e-mail communication application;

causing the software application to be executed;

comparing, at the mobile communication device, the bandwidth, the delay, and the delay loss requirements associated with the executed software application with the bandwidth, the delay, and the delay loss criterions stored in the memory in association with the system identifications of the wireless communication networks;

selecting, at the mobile communication device based on the comparing, one of the wireless communication networks that is associated with the bandwidth, the delay, and the delay loss criterions that best match the bandwidth, the delay, and the delay loss requirements associated with the executed software application; and

prioritizing an attempt from the mobile communication device for system acquisition of the selected wireless communication network over the other wireless communication for communication using the executed software application.

16. The method of claim 15,

wherein the wireless communication networks are cellular telecommunication networks.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

wherein each software application further has a delay variation requirement associated therewith;

wherein the available quality of service data further comprise a delay variation criterion;

wherein the comparing further comprises comparing, at the mobile communication device, the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss, and the delay variation requirements associated with the executed software application with the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss, and the delay variation criterions stored in the memory in association with the system identifications of the wireless communication networks; and

wherein the selecting further comprises selecting, at the mobile communication device based on the comparing, one of the wireless communication networks that is associated with the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss, and the delay variation criterions that best match the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss, and the delay variation requirements associated with the executed software application.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

maintaining in the memory a network selection table for the Internet browser application, the network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table, each system identification having the stored available quality of service data associated therewith;

when the Internet browser application is executed;

performing system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks having the best match for communication, by attempting to access service for the Internet browser application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

maintaining in the memory a network selection table for the e-mail communication application, the network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table, each system identification having the stored available quality of service data associated therewith;

when the e-mail communication application is executed;

performing system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks having the best match for communication, by attempting to access service for the e-mail communication application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of software applications further include an audio or video player application, the method comprising the further acts of:

for the audio or the video player application;

causing the software application to be executed;

identifying, at the mobile communication device based on the stored available quality of service data in the memory, one of the wireless communication networks having the bandwidth criterion, the delay criterion, and the delay loss criterion that best match a bandwidth requirement, a delay requirement, and a delay loss requirement, respectively, associated with the executed software application; and

prioritizing an attempt for system acquisition of the wireless communication network having the best match for communication using the executed software application over the other wireless communication networks based on the act of identifying.

21. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver;

memory for storing a plurality of software applications, the plurality of software applications including a voice communication application, an Internet browser application, and an electronic mail (e-mail) communication application, each software application having a bandwidth requirement, a delay requirement, and a delay loss requirement associated therewith;

the one or more processors being operative to perform a scanning operation, with use of the wireless transceiver, for identifying a plurality of wireless communication networks available in a coverage area of the mobile communication device;

the one or more processors being further operative to, for each one of a plurality of wireless communication networks;

receive, via the wireless transceiver, from the wireless communication network or through use thereof, available quality of service data for the wireless communication network, wherein the available quality of service data includes at least a bandwidth criterion, a delay criterion, and a delay loss criterion associated with the wireless communication network;

store in the memory the available quality of service data in association with a system identification of the wireless communication network;

the one or more processors being further operative to maintain access to a network selection table stored in the memory for the voice communication application, the network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table;

the one or more processors being further operative to, for the voice communication application;

execute the voice communication application;

perform system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks for voice communication, by attempting to access service for voice communication through one or more wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the voice service is granted from one of them;

the one or more processors being further operative to, for each application of the Internet browser application and the e-mail communication application;

execute the software application;

compare, by the one or more processors, the bandwidth, the delay, and the delay loss requirements associated with the executed software application with the bandwidth, the delay, and the delay loss criterions stored in the memory in association with the system identifications of the wireless communication networks;

select, by the one or more processors based on the comparing, one of the wireless communication networks that is associated with the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss criterions that best match the bandwidth, the delay, and the delay loss requirements associated with the executed software application; and

prioritize an attempt from the mobile communication device for system acquisition of the selected wireless communication network over the other wireless communication networks for communication using the executed software application.

22. The mobile communication device of claim 21,

wherein the wireless communication networks comprise cellular telecommunication networks.

23. The mobile communication device of claim 21, further comprising:

wherein each software application further has a delay variation requirement associated therewith;

wherein the available quality of service data further comprise a delay variation criterion;

wherein the one or more processors are further operative to compare by comparing, at the mobile communication device, the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss, and the delay variation requirements associated with the executed software application with the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss, and the delay variation criterions stored in the memory in association with the system identifications of the wireless communication networks; and

wherein the one or more processors are further operative to select by selecting, in the one or more processors based on the comparing, one of the wireless communication networks that is associated with the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss, and the delay variation criterions that best match the bandwidth, the delay, the delay loss, and the delay variation requirements associated with the executed software application.

24. The mobile communication device of claim 21, further comprising:

the one or more processors are further operative to maintain a network selection table stored in the memory for the e-mail communication application, the network selection table having a plurality of system identifications, each system identification identifying a wireless communication network and having a priority in the network selection table; and

the one or more processors being further operative to, when the e-mail communication application is executed;

performing system selection and acquisition using the network selection table for selecting one of the wireless communication networks having the best match for communication, by attempting to access service for the e-mail communication application through wireless communication networks that are identified in the network selection table in accordance with the priorities associated therewith, until the service is granted from one of them.

25. The mobile communication device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of software applications further include an audio or video player application, the mobile communication device further comprising:

the one or more processors being further operative to, for the audio or the video player application;

cause the software application to be executed;

identify, in the one or more processors based on the stored available quality of service data in the memory, one of the wireless communication networks having the bandwidth criterion, the delay criterion, and the delay loss criterion that best match a bandwidth requirement, a delay requirement, and the delay loss requirement, respectively, associated with the executed software application; and

prioritize an attempt for system acquisition of the wireless communication network having the best match for communication using the executed software application over the other wireless communication networks based on the act of identifying.