System for providing intelligent network access selection for a mobile wireless device

• US 9,288,831 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BandwidthX Inc.
• Original Assignee: BandwidthX Inc.
• Inventors: Visuri, Pertti, Salo, Randy, van Hamersveld, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Brenda H
• Application Number:
  US13/684,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20130322329A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310.2, 370/328, 370/338, 370/331, 370/332, 370/349
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/36 by user or terminal equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/30 Connection release
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

Systems and methods enable alternative network access implemented by a mobile wireless communication device. The method includes receiving information associated with a mobile device, the information comprises location information associated with the mobile device. Based on the information associated with the mobile device, identifying an access point available for providing connectivity services to the mobile device, the access point is not the computing device. Information is provided to the mobile device which is associated with the access point. The information can comprise at least one of usage terms, usage conditions, usage costs, access point characteristics, connection characteristics, access point capacity, and access point security access information.

Claims

1. A method for enabling alternative network access for a mobile wireless communication device, the method comprising:

receiving information associated with a mobile device, wherein the information comprises identifying information associated with the mobile device;

identifying, based on the information associated with the mobile device, a plurality of access points available to provide connectivity services to the mobile device;

providing information associated with each of the plurality of access points to a selection engine for selecting one of the plurality of access points to provide the connectivity services to the mobile device based, at least in part, on signal strengths for the plurality of access points, wherein the information associated with each of the plurality of access points comprises a usage price for the access point, and wherein selecting the one access point comprises,

when signal strengths of all of the plurality of access points are below a threshold, selecting the one access point based on a highest signal strength for the plurality of access points, and,

when signal strengths of two or more of the plurality of access points are above the threshold, selecting the one access point based on a lowest usage price in the information associated with each of the two or more access points; and

receiving usage information regarding use of the connectivity services by the mobile device from at least one of the mobile device and the selected one access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of access points are identified based on the identifying information associated with the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a billing charge based on the usage information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a payment value to a provider of the selected one access point based on the usage information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by at least one processor on the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by at least one processor on a server that receives the information associated with the mobile device from the mobile device via at least one network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection engine is executed by at least one processor on the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection engine is executed by at least one processor on a server that provides an identification of the selected one access point to the mobile device via at least one network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with each of the plurality of access points further comprises at least one of usage terms, usage conditions, access point characteristics, connection characteristics, access point capacity, and access point security access information.

10. A system comprising a memory storage device and at least one processor configured to perform:

receiving information associated with a mobile device, wherein the information comprises identifying information associated with the mobile device;

identifying, based on the information associated with the mobile device, a plurality of access points available to provide connectivity services to the mobile device;

providing information associated with each of the plurality of access points to a selection engine for selecting one of the plurality of access points to provide the connectivity services to the mobile device based, at least in part, on signal strengths for the plurality of access points, wherein the information associated with each of the plurality of access points comprises a usage price for the access point, and wherein selecting the one access point comprises,

when signal strengths of all of the plurality of access points are below a threshold, selecting the one access point based on a highest signal strength for the plurality of access points, and,

when signal strengths of two or more of the plurality of access points are above the threshold, selecting the one access point based on a lowest usage price in the information associated with each of the two or more access points; and

receiving usage information from at least one of the mobile device and the selected one access point.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of access points are identified based on the identifying information associated with the mobile device.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising determining a billing charge based on the usage information.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising determining a payment value to a provider of the selected one access point based on the usage information.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the information associated with each of the plurality of access points further comprises at least one of usage terms, usage conditions, access point characteristics, connection characteristics, access point capacity, and access point security access information.