Network status

• US 8,571,487 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Rothkopf, Fletcher
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN HOANG
• Application Number:
  US12/965,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20120149308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.7, 455/552.1, 709/224, 709/228
• US Class Current: 455/67.7
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

There are provided systems and methods for providing a network status to facilitate communications. In particular, in some embodiments, a method of operating an electronic communication device is provided that includes retrieving a network status of another communication device. The network status comprises a signal strength. An available communication mode is determined based on the network status and a recommended communication mode is provided to a user based at least in part upon the retrieved network status.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic communication device comprising:

retrieving a network status of another communication device, the network status comprising a signal strength;

determining, using a processor, an available communication mode based at least in part upon the retrieved network status;

providing a recommended communication mode based at least in part upon the retrieved network status.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a network status to the other communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network status further comprises a type of network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein providing a recommended communication mode comprises:

determining if the signal strength of the other device and the type of network of the other device will support a particular mode of communication;

determining if the electronic communication device supports the particular mode of communication; and

if both the electronic communication device and the other device supports the particular mode of communication, providing the particular mode of communication as the recommended mode of communication.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a user input to configure a contact;

providing the user with contact configuration options;

receiving input selecting status information to be provided to the contact; and

providing the selected status information to the contact.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the recommended mode of communication comprises displaying the recommended mode of communication in at least one of:

in a larger font size, above other listed communication modes, with a distinguishing color, or exclusive of other communication modes.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining and providing a location awareness indicator for the other device, wherein the location awareness indicator comprises a metric of the ability of the other device to identify its location.

8. A communication device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing one or more sets of communication contacts, wherein the communication device is configured to procure a signal strength and type of network available for the one or more sets of communication contacts; and

a display coupled to the processor and configured to display the signal strength and type of network available for the one or more sets of communication contacts on the display.

9. The communication device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to provide a recommended communication mode to a user upon selection of a particular contact of the one or more sets of communication contacts.

10. The communication device of claim 9 further comprising one or more antennas for wireless communications, wherein the recommended communication mode is via a wireless communication standard.

11. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the one or more antennas comprises at least one antenna for cellular communications.

12. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the one or more antennas comprises an antenna for WiFi communications.

13. The communication device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to determine a location awareness resolution for the one or more sets of communication contacts and the display is configured to display the location awareness resolution.

14. A communications network comprising:

a plurality of antennas configured to transmit and receive wireless communications from communication devices;

a communications network linking the plurality of antennas communicatively;

a network server coupled into the communications network configured to obtain network status information for communication devices utilizing the communications network, wherein the network status information comprises a signal strength indication and a type of network indication.

15. The communications network of claim 14, wherein the network server is configured to provide network status information of the communication devices.

16. The communications network of claim 14, wherein the network server is configured to provide a recommended communication mode to a communication device attempting to initiate communications with another communication device utilizing the communications network, wherein the recommended communication mode is provided based upon the network status of at least one of the communication device and the other communication device.

17. The communications network of claim 14 wherein the network server is configured to provide a false network status of a communication device based upon a user'"'"'s configuration.

18. A method of operating a communications device comprising:

receiving network status information indicating at least a network signal strength of a plurality of communication contacts stored on the communications device;

filtering the plurality of communication contacts based at least in part upon the communication contact ability to communicate in a particular mode, wherein the network status information is indicative of ability to communicate in the particular mode of communication; and

displaying a listing of the filtered communication contacts.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a recommended mode of communication for each communication contact.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a network status of the communications device to another communications device.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein providing the network status of the communications device comprises providing a set network status, rather than an actual network status.