Method for switching from a first cellular network to a second cellular network

• US 8,781,475 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Utility Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Utility Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Davis, Ted M., McKeeman, Robert S., Araya, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): SIVJI, NIZAR N
• Application Number:
  US13/832,517
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 455436-439, 455/443, 455/456.1, 370/331, 370/332
• US Class Current: 455/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/144 over a different radio air interface technology
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/324 by mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

This invention provides a system and a method to automatically switch cellular data communications from 3G to 4G mode wherever reliable 4G cellular connectivity is available, and to collect and report reliable 4G cellular coverage geo-fence polygon information. The invention also provides a system and method to automatically switch cellular data communications between 4G cellular networks provided by different carriers, and 3G cellular networks provided by different carriers.

Claims

1. An automated cellular network switching system comprising:

a) a plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein each of the plurality of wireless communication devices comprises;

i) a cellular modem configured to communicate on at least two 3G cellular networks or at least two 4G cellular networks;

ii) data storage comprising a database configured to store geo-fence polygon entries, wherein each geo-fence polygon entry is associated with a geo-fence polygon that includes information related to each 3G cellular network and 4G cellular network known to operate within boarders of the geo-fence polygon;

iii) a network switching application associated with a processor configured to;

(A) automatically control the connection of the cellular modem to one of the at least two 3G cellular networks or the at least two 4G cellular networks available within the geo-fence polygon in which the wireless communication device is located based upon the information within the corresponding geo-fence polygon entry; and

(B) generate records of connection events of the cellular modem;

b) a central server comprising;

i) a database configured to store geo-fence polygon entries; and

ii) a network geo-fencing management application, wherein the network geo-fencing management application is configured to;

(A) receive the records of connection events from the plurality of wireless communication devices;

(B) manage and update the database of the geo-fence polygon entries; and

(C) send updated geo-fence polygon entries to the plurality of wireless communication devices.

2. The automated cellular network switching system of claim 1, wherein the geo-fence polygon entry comprises:

a) a geo-fence polygon identifier;

b) coordinates of the geo-fence polygon identifier;

c) carrier identifiers for each cellular network operating within the coordinates of the geo-fence polygon;

d) for each cellular network known operating within the geo-fence polygon, a 3G cellular network identifier and, if present, a 4G cellular network identifier;

e) reliability data for each cellular network identified within the geo-fence polygon; and

f) a reliability indicator assigned to the 3G cellular network or the 4G cellular network located within the geo-fence polygon for each carrier, whichever one is deemed to be the most reliable.

3. An automated cellular network switching system comprising:

a) a plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein each of the plurality of wireless communication devices comprises;

i) a cellular modem configured to communicate on at least one 3G cellular network and at least one 4G cellular network;

ii) data storage comprising a database configured to store geo-fence polygon entries, wherein each geo-fence polygon entry is associated with a geo-fence polygon that includes information related to each 4G cellular network and 3G cellular network known to operate within boarders of the geo-fence polygon;

iii) a network switching application associated with a processor configured to;

(A) automatically control the connection of the cellular modem to the 4G cellular network or the 3G cellular network available within the geo-fence polygon in which the wireless communication device is located based upon the information within the corresponding geo-fence polygon entry; and

(B) generate records of connection events of the cellular modem;

b) a central server comprising;

i) a database configured to store geo-fence polygon entries; and

ii) a network geo-fencing management application, wherein the network geo-fencing management application is configured to;

(A) receive the records of connection events from the plurality of wireless communication devices;

(B) manage and update the database of the geo-fence polygon entries; and

(C) send updated geo-fence polygon entries to the plurality of wireless communication devices.

4. The automated cellular network switching system of claim 3, wherein the geo-fence polygon entry comprises:

a) a geo-fence polygon identifier;

b) coordinates of the geo-fence polygon identifier;

c) carrier identifiers for each cellular network operating within the coordinates of the geo-fence polygon;

d) for each cellular network known operating within the geo-fence polygon, a 3G cellular network identifier and, if present, a 4G cellular network identifier;

e) reliability data for each cellular network identified within the geo-fence polygon; and

f) a reliability indicator assigned to the 3G cellular network or the 4G cellular network located within the geo-fence polygon for each carrier, whichever one is deemed to be the most reliable.

5. The automated cellular network switching system of claim 4, wherein the network switching application generates the records of connection events from signal information and location information obtained by at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

6. The automated cellular network switching system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices further comprises a GPS module, the GPS module configured to supply the network switching application with the location information.

7. The automated cellular network switching system of claim 5, wherein the cellular modem of at least one of the plurality of wireless communication devices is further configured to supply the network switching application with the signal information, wherein the signal information comprises signal strength, signal quality, and signal availability.

8. The automated cellular network switching system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the records of connection events comprises:

a) an event type;

b) location information;

c) signal information; and

d) the geo-fence polygon entry, if any, that corresponds to the location information.

9. The automated cellular network switching system of claim 5, wherein the network geo-fencing management application is configure to manage and update the database of geo-fence polygon entries by matching the records of connection events to corresponding geo-fence polygon entries, updating a geo-fence polygon and reliability data of the corresponding geo-fence polygon entry based upon the signal information and location information of the corresponding record of connection event, and creating a new geo-fence polygon entry if no corresponding geo-polygon entry is found or provided from at least one record, wherein the new geo-fence polygon entry is formed from the at least one record.