Intelligent network selection based on quality of service and applications over different wireless networks

• US 8,849,276 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Guilford, Ann C., Verstegen, Mike, Zhao, Hong
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US12/197,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20100048205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,227 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/435.2, 455/406, 709/217, 370/331
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8038 Roaming or handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/34 Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0247 based on conditions of the access network or the infrastructure network central resource management H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A system and method for selecting a wireless network is disclosed. The method relates to selecting a wireless network from a plurality of wireless networks. A variation of the invention includes selecting a new platform from a plurality of platforms offered by the current service provider according to a service request from the wireless device. The method comprises determining a requested service associated with the wireless device, determining whether one of the plurality of wireless networks can provide the requested service, and, if one of the plurality of wireless networks can provide the requested service, choosing the one wireless network of the plurality of wireless networks. The method further involves using a variety of parameters in determining which wireless network to choose for servicing the requested service from the wireless device. These parameters include quality of services, application supported, or other business factors such as roaming agreements, traffic load and cost of services. The system comprises at least one wireless network node, a wireless device, and a plurality of wireless networks communicating with each other. Either the wireless device or network node may operate to decide based on the services the wireless device user requires on which network the user will receive service from. The network assignment is accomplished to maximize the speed, cost and efficiency of transmission.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a wireless platform from a plurality of wireless platforms offered by a service provider for a wireless device, comprising:

receiving, by the wireless device, a request for a service associated with the wireless device;

determining, by the wireless device, the plurality of wireless platforms that is capable of providing the service by using a table that includes the plurality of wireless platforms and whether each wireless platform of the plurality of platforms is capable of providing the service, wherein the plurality of wireless platforms is offered by the same service provider; and

choosing, by the wireless device, one wireless platform of the plurality of wireless platforms to service the request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

downloading, by the wireless device, the table.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless device is operating in a home service area and the plurality of platforms is offered by the service provider that is a home service provider.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the wireless device is operating outside a home service area and the plurality of platforms is offered by the service provider that is a roaming service provider.

5. A method of selecting a wireless platform from a plurality of wireless platforms offered by a service provider currently serving a wireless device, comprising:

initiating, by the wireless device, a service request associated with the wireless device;

determining, by the wireless device, whether a current wireless platform serving the wireless device is capable of supporting the service request according to a predetermined parameter, wherein the predetermined parameter is associated with a latency period of delivering a service associated with the service request; and

when the current wireless platform is not capable of supporting the service request within the predetermined parameter, choosing, by the wireless device, the wireless platform from the plurality of wireless platforms, where the wireless platform that is chosen is capable of supporting the service request within the predetermined parameter, wherein the plurality of wireless platforms is offered by the same service provider.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the service provider is a roaming service provider.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the service provider is a home service provider.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined parameter is further associated with a quality of service.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined parameter is further associated with a platform traffic load.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined parameter is further associated with a cost of processing a service associated with the service request.

11. A method of selecting between a wireless platform and wireless network for servicing a wireless device, comprising:

initiating, by the wireless device, a service request associated with the wireless device;

determining, by the wireless device, whether a current wireless platform serving the wireless device is capable of supporting the service request according to a predetermined parameter, wherein the predetermined parameter is associated with a latency period of deliverinq a service associated with the service request;

when the current wireless platform is not capable of supporting the service request within the predetermined parameter, searching, by the wireless device, for a new wireless platform from a plurality of wireless platforms offered by a current service provider, wherein the plurality of wireless platforms is offered by the same current service provider;

if the new wireless platform is available from the plurality of wireless platforms offered by the current service provider that is capable of supporting the service request within the predetermined parameter, switching by the wireless device to the new wireless platform;

if no new wireless platform from the plurality of wireless platforms offered by the current service provider is capable of supporting the service request within the predetermined parameter, searching, by the wireless device, for a new wireless network; and

if the new wireless network is capable of supporting the service request within the predetermined parameter, registering, by the wireless device, with the new wireless network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the current service provider is a roaming service provider.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the current service provider is a home service provider.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined parameter is further associated with a quality of service.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined parameter is further associated with a platform traffic load.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined parameter is further associated with a cost of processing a service associated with the service request.

17. A method of selecting a wireless network from a plurality of available wireless networks when a wireless device is roaming, comprising:

selecting, by the wireless device, the wireless network from the plurality of available wireless networks based on a roaming agreement and services offered by the wireless network, wherein the plurality of available wireless networks is offered by a same service provider; and

registering, by the wireless device, with the wireless network that is selected.