Location-based network selection method for a mobile device

• US 8,903,380 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: MetroPCS Wireless Incorporated (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Unger, Ronald, Guven, Mesut, Chao, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, JUSTIN YE
• Application Number:
  US13/311,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20120077488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/422.1, 455/432.1, 455/435.2, 455436-444, 455/456.1, 455/456.5
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method for connecting a mobile device with one of a plurality of wireless networks, involves initiating a registration of the mobile device with one of the plurality of wireless networks. A geographic position of the mobile device is determined with respect to at least one of the plurality of wireless networks. A connection is established to one of the plurality of wireless networks responsive to the determined geographic position of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a mobile device with one of a plurality of wireless networks, comprising the steps of:

initiating a network connection process for the mobile device with a first network of the plurality of overlapping wireless networks when the mobile device is located within an overlapping area of the first network and a second network of the plurality of overlapping wireless networks;

detecting a failed initial connection attempt to establish a voice or data call link to the first network by the mobile device;

determining a geographic position of the mobile device with respect to the boundaries of the first network;

attempting, responsive to a rule set that biases a connection of the wireless device to establish a voice or data call link to the first network when the initial connection attempt to the first network fails and a determination that the geographic position of the mobile device is within the boundaries of the first network, to connect with the first network of the plurality of overlapping wireless networks a predetermined plurality of times before trying to connect with another network of the plurality of networks in accordance with the rule set to establish a voice or data call link; and

connecting with the second network of the plurality of overlapping wireless networks to establish a voice or data call link after the attempted connection with the first network fails for the predetermined plurality of times in accordance with the rule set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the step of:

accessing a boundary map defining a geographic boundary of the first network of the plurality of wireless networks;

determining a geographic position of the mobile device; and

determining if the geographic position of the mobile device lies within the geographic boundary of the first network of the plurality of wireless networks.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the step of GPS positioning the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the steps of:

identifying the geographic position of a cell communicating with the mobile device; and

establishing the geographic location of the mobile device as the geographic location of the cell communicating with the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 2, further including the step of periodically updating the boundary map defining the geographic boundary of the first network of the plurality of wireless networks.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of periodically updating further comprises the step of wirelessly transmitting an updated boundary map to the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:

determining a subsequent geographic position of the wireless device connected to the second network of the plurality of wireless networks with respect to the first network of the plurality of wireless networks; and

disconnecting the wireless device from the second network when the determination is made that the geographic location of the wireless device is within the first network of the plurality of wireless networks.

8. A method for connecting a mobile device with a home network or at least one roaming network, comprising the steps of:

initiating a registration of the mobile device with the home network when the mobile device is located within an overlapping area of the home network and the at least one roaming network;

detecting a failed initial connection attempt to the home network;

accessing a boundary map defining a geographic boundary of the home network;

determining a geographic position of the mobile device;

determining if the geographic position of the mobile device lies within the geographic boundary of the home network;

attempting to connect with home network for a predetermined duration of time before trying to connect with the at least one roaming network in accordance with a rule set that biases the connection of the wireless device to the home network responsive to the failure of the initial network connection attempt to the home network and the determination that the mobile device is located within the boundaries of the home network; and

connecting with at least one roaming network if connection with the home network fails after attempting to connect with the home network in accordance with the rule set.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the step of GPS positioning the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the steps of:

identifying the geographic position of a cell communicating with the mobile device; and

establishing the geographic location of the mobile device as the geographic location of the cell communicating with the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 8, further including the step of periodically updating the boundary map defining the geographic boundary of the home network.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of attempting further includes the step of providing customized application behavior for the mobile device responsive to the determined geographic position of the mobile device with respect to the home network and a type of an application attempting to access the home network.

13. A system for connecting a mobile device with one of a plurality of wireless networks, comprising:

at least one boundary map stored within the system defining a geographic boundary of a selected network;

geographic positioning circuitry for determining a geographic position of the mobile device;

at least one rule set associated with the mobile device for controlling connection of the mobile device with the one of the plurality of wireless networks when the mobile device is located within an overlapping area of a first network and a second network of the plurality of wireless networks;

wherein the at least one rule set biases connection of the mobile device with the first network of the plurality of wireless networks when the mobile device is located within the overlapping area of the first network and the second network responsive to a failure of a first connection attempt to the first network and a determination that the geographic position of the mobile device is within the at least one boundary map of the first network;

wherein the at least one rule set configures the mobile device to attempt to connect with the first network for a predetermined period of time before trying to connect with the second network; and

further wherein the at least one rule set configures the mobile device to connect with the second network if connection with the first network fails for the predetermined period of time after the first connection attempt.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one rule set is located within the mobile device.

15. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the at least one rule set is located within the home network of the mobile device.

16. A method for controlling a mobile device within one of a plurality of wireless networks comprising the steps of:

determining if the mobile device is within a coverage hole located within boundaries of a home network of the plurality of wireless networks;

determining a hole rule set of a plurality of hole rule sets within the home network specifically associated with the coverage hole located within the boundaries of the home network that the mobile device is located within;

establishing the connection to one of the plurality of wireless networks in accordance with the determined hole rule set associated with the coverage hole located within the boundaries of the home network responsive to a determination that the mobile device is within the coverage hole of the home network; and

establishing the connection to one of the plurality of wireless networks according to a non-hole rule set if the mobile device is determined to not be located within the coverage hole located within the boundaries of the home network.