System and method for seeking a wireless network for a wireless device

• US 8,649,294 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Oerton, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US13/117,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20110228704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 370/218, 370/254, 370/352, 370/401, 370/445, 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 379/40, 380/270, 455/41.2, 455/416, 455/426.1, 455/456.1, 455/555, 455/562.1, 600/300, 726/22
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a system and method for initiating a command relating to one network that an electronic communication device may be in communication with, depending on triggering conditions relating to another network that the device may be in communication with. The communication device comprises: a network connection to initiate a command relating to the network after satisfaction of a predetermined condition relating to another network relating to the communication device; and a communication system to process communications between the device and the network and between the device and another network.

Claims

1. A communication device for communicating with a network, comprising:

a network connection module to initiate a network scan command to the network when at least a network condition of another network is detected by the communication device; and

a communication system to process communications between the communication device and the network and between the communication device and the another network.

2. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network condition is:

a signal strength of communications from the another network.

3. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the network is a 802.11a network;

the another network is a non-802.11a network;

the network condition comprises detection of a connection to the non-802.11a network; and

the network scan command is to initiate monitoring for a connection to the 802.11a network.

4. The communication device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the network scan command is to initiate monitoring for receipt of a beacon signal from the network.

5. The communication device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the non-802.11a network is selected from at least one of the following networks:

a 802.11b network;

a 802.11g network, a 802.11b/g network and a 802.11n network.

6. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein after a connection to the network is established for the communication device, the communication device terminates the connection after detection of a second condition.

7. The communication device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second condition comprises at least one of:

passage of an elapsed time of searching for the network;

or a present location of the communication device.

8. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the network is a non-802.11 network;

the another network is a 802.11 network;

the network condition comprises detection of a connection to the 802.11 network; and

the network scan command is to initiate a status request signal to the network.

9. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the network is one type of 802.11 network;

the another network is another type of 802.11 network different from the one type of 802.11 network;

the network condition comprises detection of a connection to the another type of 802.11 network; and

the network scan command is to initiate monitoring for a connection to the one type of 802.11 network.

10. The communication device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a profile management module to manage setting for the network condition, the profile management module generating a graphical user interface (GUI) on the communication device to manage and display the network condition.

11. The communication device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the network connection module initiates the network scan command when both the network condition of the another network is detected and there is match of at least one of:

the time tracked by the communication device; and

the present location of the communication device,

against a related condition.

12. A communication device for communicating with a 802.11a network, comprising:

a network connection module to initiate a network scan command to the 802.11a network when at least a network condition of another network is detected by the communication device; and

a communication system to process communications between the communication device and the network and between the communication device and another network.

13. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the network condition comprises:

a signal strength detected by the communication device for the another network.

14. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the another network is a non-802.11a network;

the network condition comprises detection of a connection to the non-802.11a network;

the network scan command is to initiate monitoring for a connection to the 802.11a network; and

the signal strength has a minimum predetermined strength.

15. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the network scan command is to initiate monitoring for receipt of a beacon signal from the 802.11a network.

16. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the another network is selected from at least one:

a 802.11b network;

a 802.11g network, a 802.11b/g network and a 802.11n network.

17. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, wherein after a connection to the 802.11a network is established, the communication device terminates the connection after detection of a second condition.

18. The communication device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second condition comprises at least one of:

passage of an elapsed time of searching for the 802.11a network;

a present location of the communication device; and

communications from the another network dropping below a threshold.

19. The communication device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a profile management module to manage setting for the network condition, the profile management module generating a graphical user interface (GUI) on the communication device to manage and display the network condition.