System and method for managing wireless connections and radio resources

• US 8,804,680 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2011
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Bridge, Inc.
• Inventors: Shukla, Manish, Gossain, Hrishikesh, Camchong, Mario A., Schmidt, Jeffrey C., Joslyn, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang B
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOO, JUVENA W
• Application Number:
  US13/022,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20120201143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 370310-350
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methods of efficiently providing network access for a portable electronic device while moderating power consumption are described. The electronic device may have a cellular radio and a network radio for communicating with an alternative network. In a default state, the electronic device may carry out communications using the cellular radio, and the network radio may be in an off state. Periodically, the electronic device may determine if the electronic device has moved. If so, a location of the electronic device may be determined and a check may be carried out to determine if the electronic device is in range of an available alternative network. If the electronic device is in range of an available alternative network, the network radio may be turned on and an attempt to connect to the alternative network may be made.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a managed radio transceiver for establishing wireless communications;

a motion sensor, the motion sensor outputting signals responsive to motion of the electronic device;

a control circuit operatively connected to the managed radio transceiver and the motion sensor, and controls operation of the managed radio transceiver, including;

monitor the output signals of the motion sensor to determine if the electronic device has experienced motion that cumulatively and over time indicates potential for the electronic device to have changed geographic location since a most recent determination of actual location and, if so;

ascertain a current geographical location of the electronic device with an element of the portable electronic device separate from the motion sensor; and

determine if the current location matches a coverage area of a known network device compatible with the managed radio transceiver and, if so, activate the managed radio transceiver and engage in wireless communications via the managed radio transceiver; and

further comprising another radio transceiver for establishing wireless communications with a primary network, the another radio transceiver having a default operational state of active and the managed radio transceiver having a default operational state of inactive; and

wherein the control circuit is further configured to send a network access request to a network access management system, receive an identification of a network having a coverage area in which the electronic device is located from the network access management system, and activate the managed radio transceiver for establishing the wireless communications with the identified network; and

wherein the identified network is not previously known to the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein information to determine if the current location matches a coverage area of the known network device is stored by the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the element that ascertains current geographical location is a GPS receiver of the electronic device or another radio transceiver for establishing wireless communications with a primary network that uses network assistance for location determination, and the motion sensor is an accelerometer.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the primary network is a cellular network.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the managed radio transceiver is a WiFi transceiver.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to receive access credentials from the network access management system for use in establishing the wireless communications with the identified network.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to store information for the identified network for use in determining if a future location matches a coverage area of the identified network.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein in a default state when the managed radio transceiver is not used for wireless communications, the managed radio receiver is placed in an inactive state or a sleep state, and the another radio transceiver is placed in an active state.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is further configured to actively scan for network access with the managed radio transceiver and send a network access request to a network access management system in response to user input to initiate the scan.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the control circuit is further configured to display a combined list of networks identified by the scan and networks identified by the network access management system in response to the network access request, and to attempt connection to a user selected one of the displayed networks.

11. A method of managing radio communications in a portable electronic device, the electronic device having a managed radio transceiver for establishing wireless communications and a motion sensor, the motion sensor outputting signals responsive to motion of the electronic device, the method comprising:

monitoring the output signals of the motion sensor to determine if the electronic device has experienced motion that cumulatively and over time indicates potential for the electronic device to have changed geographic location since a most recent determination of actual location and, if so;

ascertaining a current geographical location of the electronic device with an element of the portable electronic device separate from the motion sensor; and

determining if the current location matches a coverage area of a known network device compatible with the managed radio transceiver and, if so, activating the managed radio transceiver and engaging in wireless communications via the managed radio transceiver; and

wherein the electronic device further includes another radio transceiver for establishing wireless communications with a primary network, the another radio transceiver having a default operational state of active and the managed radio transceiver having a default operational state of inactive; and

the method further comprising;

sending a network access request to a network access management system;

receiving an identification of a network having a coverage area in which the electronic device is located from the network access management system; and

activating the managed radio transceiver for establishing the wireless communications with the identified network; and

wherein the identified network is not previously known to the electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein information to determine if the current location matches a coverage area of the known network device is stored by the electronic device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the element that ascertains current geographical location is a GPS receiver of the electronic device or the another radio transceiver for establishing wireless communications with a primary network that uses network assistance for location determination, and the motion sensor is an accelerometer.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the primary network is a cellular network.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the managed radio transceiver is a WiFi transceiver.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving access credentials from the network access management system for use in establishing the wireless communications with the identified network.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing information for the identified network for use in determining if a future location matches a coverage area of the identified network.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein in a default state when the managed radio transceiver is not used for wireless communications, the managed radio receiver is placed in an inactive state or a sleep state, and the another radio transceiver is placed in an active state.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising actively scanning for network access with the managed radio transceiver and sending a network access request to a network access management system in response to user input to initiate the scan.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

displaying a combined list of networks identified by the scan and networks identified by the network access management system in response to the network access request; and

attempting to connect to a user selected one of the displayed networks.