System and method for facilitating accelerated network selection using a weighted network list

• US 8,744,443 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Buckley, Adrian, Crowley, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DINH
• Application Number:
  US13/208,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20110294531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370331-334, 370/338, 455/41.2, 455/405, 455/432.1, 455/434, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/436, 455/437, 455/438, 455/439, 455/442, 455/515
• US Class Current: 455/435.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A scheme for facilitating accelerated network selection by a wireless user equipment (UE) device. In one exemplary embodiment, prior to performing a full band scan, the wireless UE device is operable to interrogate a list of networks with which the wireless UE device has registered at least once in a given period of time, wherein a network availability likelihood score may be associated with each of the list of networks. A particular network is selected from the list of networks based on its network availability likelihood score.

Claims

1. A method operable on a wireless user equipment (UE) device for facilitating accelerated network selection, comprising:

for each network in a list of networks, collecting a respective plurality of data values that are each associated with a connection between the UE device and the respective network;

assigning a numeric value to a respective weighting factor associated with each data value of the plurality of data values;

for each network in the list of networks, applying a mathematical process to the plurality of data values associated with the network and the respective weighting factors to determine a score representing the availability of the network;

prior to performing a full band scan, selecting a network from the list of networks based on the respective score;

iteratively attempting a connection to each network of the list of networks in accordance with the respective score representing the availability of the network until a connection attempt is successful; and

responsive to selection of a particular network, adjusting the assigned numeric value of at least one respective weighting factor such that the particular network has a greater probability of being selected upon a subsequent connection attempt and updating the connections count corresponding to the selected network.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein collecting the plurality of data values comprises collecting at least one of duration of most recent call, total duration of all calls, percentage of connection attempts that have been successful, and time since a most recent successful connection.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising limiting the list of networks to include only those networks with which the UE device has connected within a given period of time.

4. A wireless user equipment (UE) device, comprising:

a storage module operably connected to a processor; and

a logic module for collecting, for each network in a list of networks, a respective plurality of data values that are each associated with a connection between the UE device and the respective network;

a logic module for assigning a numeric value to a respective weighting factor associated with each data value of the plurality of data values;

a logic module for applying, for each network in the list of networks, a mathematical process to the plurality of data values associated with the network and the respective weighting factors to determine a score representing the availability of the network;

a logic module for selecting, prior to performing a full band scan, a network from the list of networks based on the respective score;

a logic module for iteratively attempting a connection to each network of the list of networks in accordance with the respective score representing the availability of the network until a connection attempt is successful; and

a logic module, responsive to selection of a particular network, for adjusting the assigned numeric value of at least one respective weighting factor such that the particular network has a greater probability of being selected upon a subsequent connection attempt and for updating the connections count corresponding to the selected network, wherein the logic modules are one of software stored in the storage module, hardware and firmware.

5. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 4, further comprising a logic module for manipulating a scanning order sequence based on respective scores associated with each network of the list of networks.

6. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 4, wherein the storage module comprises a removable module.

7. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 4, wherein the storage module comprises a memory circuit integrated within the wireless UE device.

8. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 4, wherein the list of networks includes a network that is operable with at least one of IEEE 802.11 standard, HiperLan standard, HiperLan II standard, Wi-Max standard, OpenAir standard, and Bluetooth standard.

9. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 4, wherein the list of networks includes at least one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) network, a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-compliant network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, a 3GPP2network, and a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network.

10. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 4, wherein the list of networks is provided as part of a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card, Removable User Identity Module (RUIM) card, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, a compact Flash card, a Secure Digital (SD) card, or a memory circuit integrated within the wireless UE device.

11. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 4, further comprising a logic module, performed when multiple networks are determined to have identical scores, for choosing a particular network for service based on a priority parameter.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor on a wireless user equipment (UE) device, perform a method for facilitating accelerated network selection by the wireless UE device, the instructions comprising:

instructions for collecting, for each network in a list of networks, a respective plurality of data values that are each associated with a connection between the UE device and the respective network;

instructions for assigning a numeric value to a respective weighting factor associated with each data value of the plurality of data values;

instructions for applying, for each network in the list of networks, a mathematical process to the plurality of data values associated with the network and the respective weighting factors to determine a score representing the availability of the network;

instructions for selecting, prior to performing a full band scan, a network from the list of networks based on the respective score;

instructions for iteratively attempting a connection to each network of the list of networks in accordance with the respective score representing the availability of the network until a connection attempt is successful; and

instructions, responsive to selection of a particular network, for adjusting the assigned numeric value of at least one respective weighting factor such that the particular network has a greater probability of being selected upon a subsequent connection attempt and for updating the connections count corresponding to the selected network.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of data values are related to the availability of the respective network.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12, further comprising instructions for scanning in a frequency band associated with the network selected from the list of networks.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium as recited in claim 12, further comprising instructions for rearranging the networks in the list of networks in an order based on the score.