Adaptive out of service scanning

• US 9,380,557 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cili, Gencer, Varoglu, Devrim, He, Qi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shiao, Rei-Tsang
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, QUOC THAI NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/919,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20130344902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 455/154.1, 455/154.2, 455/160.1, 455/161.1, 455/421, 455/434
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method for selecting an out of service (OOS) scan mode for a wireless communication device is provided. The method can include the wireless communication device detecting occurrence of an OOS condition; setting a displacement threshold in response to the OOS condition; determining a displacement magnitude indicative of a distance traveled by the wireless communication device during the OOS condition; determining whether the displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold; using a first scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which it is determined that the displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold; and using a second scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which it is determined that the displacement magnitude does not exceed the displacement threshold. The first scan mode can have a greater scan frequency than the second scan mode.

Claims

1. A method for selecting an out of service (OOS) scan mode for a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

by the wireless communication device;

detecting occurrence of an OOS condition;

setting a displacement threshold in response to the OOS condition;

determining a first displacement magnitude indicative of a distance traveled by the wireless communication device at a first time during the OOS condition;

determining whether the first displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold;

using a first scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which it is determined that the first displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the first displacement magnitude does not exceed the displacement threshold;

using a second scan mode to scan for network coverage;

determining a second displacement magnitude indicative of the distance traveled by the wireless communication device at a second time during the OOS condition, the second time being a defined time subsequent to the first time;

determining whether the second displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold;

switching to the first scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which the second displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold; and

continuing to use the second scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which the second displacement magnitude does not exceed the displacement threshold,

wherein the first scan mode has a greater scan frequency than the second scan mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the wireless communication device:

determining a rate of degradation of a received signal quality prior to the OOS condition; and

wherein setting the displacement threshold comprises setting the displacement threshold based at least in part on the rate of degradation of the received signal quality prior to the OOS condition.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the wireless communication device:

determining whether the rate of degradation of the received signal quality prior to the OOS condition exceeds a threshold rate; and

wherein setting the displacement threshold comprises;

setting a first displacement threshold in an instance in which the rate of degradation of the received signal quality prior to the OOS condition exceeds the threshold rate; and

setting a second displacement threshold in an instance in which the rate of degradation of the received signal quality prior to the OOS condition does not exceed the threshold rate, wherein first displacement threshold has a smaller magnitude than the second displacement threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the wireless communication device:

receiving, prior to the OOS condition, location-coverage mapping information indicative of an extent of network coverage within an area in which the wireless communication device is located; and

wherein setting the displacement threshold comprises setting the displacement threshold based at least in part on the location-coverage mapping information.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the wireless communication device:

determining a first displacement direction associated with the first displacement magnitude; and

defining a first displacement vector based at least in part on the first displacement magnitude and the first displacement direction; and

wherein;

setting the displacement threshold comprises setting a threshold displacement vector based at least in part on the location-coverage mapping information and the first displacement direction; and

determining whether the first displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold comprises determining whether the first displacement vector exceeds the threshold displacement vector.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the wireless communication device:

determining, in response to the OOS condition, whether the wireless communication device has access to location-coverage mapping information for an area in which the wireless communication device is located;

in an instance in which it is determined that the wireless communication device has access to location-coverage mapping information for the area in which the wireless communication device is located, setting the displacement threshold comprises setting the displacement threshold based at least in part on the location-coverage mapping information; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the wireless communication device does not have access to location-coverage mapping information for the area in which the wireless communication device is located, setting the displacement threshold comprises setting the displacement threshold based at least in part on a rate of degradation of a received signal quality prior to the OOS condition.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the wireless communication device:

detecting an input via a user interface of the wireless communication device after occurrence of the OOS condition; and

using the first scan mode in response to the input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first displacement magnitude comprises determining the first displacement magnitude based at least in part on position information determined via a satellite navigation system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first displacement magnitude comprises determining the first displacement magnitude based at least in part on an accelerometer measurement.

10. A wireless communication device comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit data to and receive data from a network; and

processing circuitry coupled to the transceiver, the processing circuitry configured to control the wireless communication device to at least;

detect occurrence of an out of service (OOS) condition;

set a displacement threshold in response to the OOS condition;

determine a first displacement magnitude indicative of a distance traveled by the wireless communication device at a first time during the OOS condition;

determine whether the first displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold;

use a first scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which it is determined that the first displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the first displacement magnitude does not exceed the displacement threshold;

use a second scan mode to scan for network coverage;

determine a second displacement magnitude indicative of the distance traveled by the wireless communication device at a second time during the OOS condition, the second time being a defined time subsequent to the first time;

determine whether the second displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold;

switch to the first scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which the second displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold; and

continue to use the second scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which the second displacement magnitude does not exceed the displacement threshold,

wherein, the first scan mode has a greater scan frequency than the second scan mode.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control the wireless communication device to:

determine a rate of degradation of a received signal quality prior to the OOS condition;

set the displacement threshold based at least in part on the rate of degradation of the received signal quality prior to the OOS condition.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control the wireless communication device to:

determine whether the rate of degradation of the received signal quality prior to the OOS condition exceeds a threshold rate; and

set the displacement threshold at least in part by;

setting a first displacement threshold in an instance in which the rate of degradation of the received signal quality prior to the OOS condition exceeds the threshold rate; and

setting a second displacement threshold in an instance in which the rate of degradation of the received signal quality prior to the OOS condition does not exceed the threshold rate, wherein first displacement threshold has a smaller magnitude than the second displacement threshold.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control the wireless communication device to:

receive, prior to the OOS condition, location-coverage mapping information indicative of an extent of network coverage within an area in which the wireless communication device is located; and

set the displacement threshold based at least in part on the location-coverage mapping information.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control the wireless communication device to:

determine a first displacement direction associated with the first displacement magnitude;

define a first displacement vector based at least in part on the first displacement magnitude and the first displacement direction;

set the displacement threshold at least in part by setting a threshold displacement vector based at least in part on the location-coverage mapping information and the first displacement direction; and

determine whether the first displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold at least in part by determining whether the first displacement vector exceeds the threshold displacement vector.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control the wireless communication device to:

determine, in response to the OOS condition, whether the wireless communication device has access to location-coverage mapping information for an area in which the wireless communication device is located;

in an instance in which it is determined that the wireless communication device has access to location-coverage mapping information for the area in which the wireless communication device is located, set the displacement threshold based at least in part on the location-coverage mapping information; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the wireless communication device does not have access to location-coverage mapping information for the area in which the wireless communication device is located, set the displacement threshold based at least in part on a rate of degradation of a received signal quality prior to the OOS condition.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control the wireless communication device to:

detect an input via a user interface of the wireless communication device after occurrence of the OOS condition; and

use the first scan mode in response to the input.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to:

detect occurrence of an out of service (OOS) condition;

set a displacement threshold in response to the OOS condition;

determine a first displacement magnitude indicative of a distance traveled by the wireless communication device at a first time during the OOS condition;

determine whether the first displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold;

use a first scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which it is determined that the first displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold; and

in an instance in which it is determined that the first displacement magnitude does not exceed the displacement threshold;

use a second scan mode to scan for network coverage;

determine a second displacement magnitude indicative of the distance traveled by the wireless communication device at a second time during the OOS condition, the second time being a defined time subsequent to the first time;

determine whether the second displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold;

switch to the first scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which the second displacement magnitude exceeds the displacement threshold; and

continue to use the second scan mode to scan for network coverage in an instance in which the second displacement magnitude does not exceed the displacement threshold,

wherein the first scan mode has a greater scan frequency than the second scan mode.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless communication device to:

determine a rate of degradation of a received signal quality prior to the OOS condition,

wherein the wireless communication device sets the displacement threshold based at least in part on the rate of degradation of the received signal quality prior to the OOS condition.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless communication device to:

receive, prior to the OOS condition, location-coverage mapping information indicative of an extent of network coverage within an area in which the wireless communication device is located,

wherein the wireless communication device sets the displacement threshold based at least in part on the location-coverage mapping information.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless communication device to:

detect an input via a user interface of the wireless communication device after occurrence of the OOS condition; and

use the first scan mode in response to the input.