Position-based control of access to alternative communication networks
First Claim
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1. A method for at least one module in a native communication network, comprising:
- providing authorization to a mobile communication device to access the native communication network, wherein the native communication network is operated by a first service provider and within a billing system of the first service provider;
receiving a request by the mobile communication device to access a non-native communication network, wherein the non-native communication network is operated by and under control of a second service provider and within a billing system of the second service provider;
determining by the at least one module in the native communication network to authorize the mobile communication device to switch from the native communication network to the non-native communication network by;
determining a position of the mobile communication device and current bandwidth utilization of the native communication network at the determined position of the mobile communication device; and
when the current bandwidth utilization of the native communication network at the determined position compares unfavorably to a bandwidth utilization threshold, determining to authorize the mobile communication device to access the non-native communication network.
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Abstract
A system and method for determining, based at least in part on communication device position, whether access to an alternative communication network is authorized. Various aspects of the present invention may, for example and without limitation, comprise determining a position of a mobile communication device serviced by a communication network; determining, based at least in part on the determined position of the mobile communication device, whether the mobile communication device is authorized to access an alternative communication network; and communicating information regarding said determined authorization.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for at least one module in a native communication network, comprising:
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providing authorization to a mobile communication device to access the native communication network, wherein the native communication network is operated by a first service provider and within a billing system of the first service provider; receiving a request by the mobile communication device to access a non-native communication network, wherein the non-native communication network is operated by and under control of a second service provider and within a billing system of the second service provider; determining by the at least one module in the native communication network to authorize the mobile communication device to switch from the native communication network to the non-native communication network by; determining a position of the mobile communication device and current bandwidth utilization of the native communication network at the determined position of the mobile communication device; and when the current bandwidth utilization of the native communication network at the determined position compares unfavorably to a bandwidth utilization threshold, determining to authorize the mobile communication device to access the non-native communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A network element in a first cellular communication network comprising:
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at least one processor operable to; provide authorization to a mobile communication device to access the first cellular communication network; receive a request by the mobile communication device to access a wide area network using a second wireless local area (WLAN) network; determine a position of the mobile communication device; in response to the determined position of the mobile communication device, determine authorization of the mobile communication device to access the wide area network using the second WLAN network by; determining a current bandwidth utilization of the cellular communication network at the determined position of the mobile communication device; and when the current bandwidth utilization of the cellular communication network at the determined position compares unfavorably to a bandwidth utilization threshold, determining to authorize the mobile communication device to access the wide area network using the second WLAN network; and communicate authorization information to the mobile communication device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for at least one module in a native communication network, comprising:
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providing authorization to a mobile communication device to access the native communication network, wherein the native communication network is operated by a first service provider; receiving a request by the mobile communication device to access a non-native communication network, wherein the non-native communication network is operated by a second service provider; determining by the at least one module in the native communication network to authorize the mobile communication device to switch from the native communication network to the non-native communication network by; determining a position of the mobile communication device; predicting a future bandwidth utilization of the native communication network at the determined position of the mobile communication device; determining the predicted future bandwidth utilization of the native communication network at the determined position compares unfavorably to a bandwidth utilization threshold; and authorizing the mobile communication device to access the non-native communication network.
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Specification