Determining user experience metrics for different communication networks

• US 9,277,472 B1
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Price, Andrew D., Rodoper, Mete, Edara, Kiran K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Marcus R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clark, Rose
• Application Number:
  US13/603,156
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 370/252, 370/328, 370/339, 370/342, 370/230.1, 370/338, 370/254, 709201-253, 709/200, 455/414.1, 455/550.1, 455/436, 455/422.1, 455/456.3, 455/423, 455/67.11, 455/457, 715/717, 715/727, 715/771, 715/779, 715/864
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/304 due to measured or perceived resources with higher communication quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/365 by manual user interaction
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/563 of the wireless resources

Abstract

One or more user experience metrics are obtained for one or more types of wireless communication networks. One or more user experience indicators may be displayed on a screen in conjunction with a signal strength indicator. Different sets of user experience metrics may also be obtained, each set being associate with an application on a user device. Each set of user experience metrics may be displayed in conjunction with a list of applications. A user may provide user input selecting a wireless communication network and the user device may be configured to use the selected wireless communication network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, by at least one processor, a signal strength for a wireless signal associated with a first wireless communication network;

identifying, by the at least one processor, a plurality of factors that contribute to an user experience;

identifying, by the at least one processor, a weight stored in a memory;

identifying, by the at least one processor, a corresponding first factor of the plurality of factors;

determining, by the at least one processor, a first set of measurements corresponding to the first factor, wherein the first set of measurements pertains to the user experience in connection with the first wireless communication network;

determining, by the at least one processor, a first user experience indicator for the first wireless communication network based at least in part on the first set of measurements weighted according to the weight;

determining, by the at least one processor, a second set of measurements corresponding to the first factor, wherein the second set of measurements pertains to the user experience in connection with a second wireless communication network;

determining, by the at least one processor, a second user experience indicator for the second wireless communication network based at least in part on the second set of measurements weighted according to the weight;

displaying, by a display device, the first user experience indicator to indicate the user experience with the first wireless communication network;

displaying, by the display device, the second user experience indicator to indicate the second user experience in connection with the second wireless communication network;

displaying a signal strength indicator to indicate the signal strength for the wireless signal, wherein;

the signal strength indicator is based on the signal strength and a type of the first wireless communications network,

the signal strength indicator is displayed in a same banner area as the first user experience indicator and the second user experience indicator, and

the plurality of factors are different than the signal strength and the type of the first wireless communications network;

displaying, by the display device, a prompt for a selection of the first wireless communication network or the second wireless communication network; and

selecting, based at least in part on an input associated with the prompt, the first wireless communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first user experience indicator and the second user experience indicator are combined into a single indicator, and

the single indicator comprises at least one of a bar displayed on a screen of a user device, a numerical value, a light emitted from an LED, an audible indicator, a haptic indicator, or text.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of factors comprise two or more of:

a time of day;

a power level of a user device;

a location of the user device;

a temperature of the user device;

a proximity of the user device to the user;

a cost associated with the first wireless communication network or the second wireless communication network;

a communication state of the user device;

a security preference;

one or more preferences of an application on the user device;

a queue length of the user device;

or

an error rate of data transmitted or received by the user device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of factors are identified based on one or more preferences of an application that is using the first wireless communication network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user experience indicator or the second user experience indicator are displayed adjacent an icon associated with an application.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the first user experience indicator for a first application when the first application is utilizing the first wireless communication network;

determining the second user experience indicator for the first application when the first application is utilizing the second wireless communication network; and

displaying the first user experience indicator for the first application and the second user experience indicator for the first application.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining the first user experience indicator associated with a second application when the second application is utilizing the first wireless communication network;

determining the second user experience indicator associated with the second application when the second applications is utilizing the second wireless communication network; and

displaying the first user experience indicator associated with the second application and the second user experience indicator associated with the second application.

5. A system comprising:

an antenna configured to receive a wireless signal from wireless communication networks; and

a processing device configured to;

determine, by at least one processor, a signal strength for a wireless signal associated with a first wireless communication network;

identify, by the at least one processor, a plurality of factors that contribute to a user experience;

identify, by the at least one processor, a weight stored in a memory;

identify, by the at least one processor, a corresponding first factor of the plurality of factors;

determine, by the at least one processor, a first set of measurements corresponding to the first factor, wherein the first set of measurements pertains to the user experience in connection with a first wireless communication network;

determine, by the at least one processor, a first user experience indicator for the first wireless communication network based at least in part on the first set of measurements weighted according to the weight;

determine, by the at least one processor, a second set of measurements corresponding to the first factor, wherein the second set of measurements pertains to the user experience in connection with a second wireless communication network;

determine, by the at least one processor, a second user experience indicator for the second wireless communication network based at least in part on the second set of measurements weighted according to the weight;

display, by a display device, the first user experience indicator to indicate the user experience in connection with the first wireless communication network;

display, by the display device, the second user experience indicator to indicate the second user experience in connection with the second wireless communication network; and

display, by the display device, a signal strength indicator to indicate the signal strength for the wireless signal, wherein;

the signal strength indicator is based at least in part on the signal strength and a type of the first wireless communications network,

the signal strength indicator is displayed in a same banner area as the first user experience indicator and the second user experience indicator, and

the plurality of factors are different than the signal strength and the type of the first wireless communications network;

display, by the display device, a prompt for a selection of the first wireless communication network or the second wireless communication network; and

select, based at least in part on an input associated with the prompt, the first wireless communication network.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first user experience indicator and the second user experience indicator comprises at least one of a bar displayed on a screen of a user device, a numerical value, a light emitted from an LED, an audible indicator, a haptic indicator, or text.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of factors comprise two or more of:

a time of day;

a power level of a user device;

a location of the user device;

a temperature of the user device;

a proximity of the user device to the user;

a cost associated with the first wireless communication network or the second wireless communication network;

a communication state of the user device;

a security preference;

one or more preferences of an application on the user device;

a queue length of the user device;

or

an error rate of data transmitted or received by the user device.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of factors are identified based on one or more preferences of an application that is using the first wireless communication network.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause a processing device to perform operations comprising:

determine a signal strength for a wireless signal received from a first wireless communication network;

identify a plurality of factors that contribute to a user experience;

identify a weight stored in a memory;

identify a corresponding first factor of the plurality of factors;

determine a first set of measurements corresponding to the first factor, wherein the first set of measurements pertains to the user experience in connection with the first wireless communication network;

determine a first user experience indicator for the first wireless communication network based at least in part on the first set of measurements weighted according to the weight;

determine a second set of measurements corresponding to the first factor, wherein the second set of measurements pertains to the user experience in connection with a second wireless communication network;

determine a second user experience indicator for the second wireless communication network based at least in part on the second set of measurements weighted according to the weight;

display the first user experience indicator to indicate the user experience with the first wireless communication network;

display the second user experience indicator to indicate the second user experience in connection with the second wireless communication network;

display a signal strength indicator to indicate the signal strength for the wireless signal, wherein;

the signal strength indicator is based on the signal strength of the first wireless communications network and a type,

the signal strength indicator is displayed in a same banner area as the first user experience indicator and the second user experience indicator, and

the plurality of factors are different than the signal strength and the first type of the wireless communications network;

display, by the display device, a prompt for a selection of the first wireless communication network or the second wireless communication network; and

select, based at least in part on an input associated with the prompt, the first wireless communication network.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the first user experience indicator and the second user experience indicator comprises one or more of a bar displayed on a screen of a user device, a numerical value, a light emitted from an LED, an audible indicator, a haptic indicator, or text.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the plurality of factors comprise two or more of:

a time of day;

a power level of a user device;

a location of the user device;

a temperature of the user device;

a proximity of the user device to the user;

a cost associated with the first wireless communication network or the second wireless communication network;

a communication state of the user device;

a security preference;

one or more preferences of an application on the user device;

a queue length of the user device;

or

an error rate of data transmitted or received by the user device.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the plurality of factors are identified based on one or more preferences of an application that is using the first wireless communication network.