Selecting a network for a wireless device

• US 9,398,525 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Frantz, William T., Ganesh, Shriram, Kerssen, Timothy K., Mohan, Siddharth
• Primary Examiner(s): CRUTCHFIELD, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US13/830,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20140269495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/34 Reselection control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/36 by user or terminal equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/365 by manual user interaction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method for a wireless device to select a network. The wireless device receives a request from a user to access a network site. The wireless device then selects a network based upon a predefined weighted criteria setting that was previously selected by the user.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a network by a wireless device, the method comprising:

selecting a combination of settings in the wireless device for network selection, the combination of settings including a weighted security setting, a weighted access setting related to content filtering, and a weighted speed setting, wherein a weighted setting of at least one setting in the combination of settings is based on a user entered weighted setting;

receiving a request for accessing a website; and

selecting the network for accessing the website based on the selected combination of settings, the weighting level of each setting, and the type of the website being accessed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the network selected includes at least one of a wireless local area network (WLAN), a cellular network, or a wired network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the WLAN includes a public WLAN or a secure WLAN.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, if the weighted security setting exceeds a predetermined security setting, then the network selected includes the secure WLAN or the cellular network.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein, if the weighted access setting exceeds a predetermined access setting, then the network selected includes the cellular network.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein, if the weighted speed setting exceeds a predetermined speed setting, then the network selected includes the public WLAN.

7. A wireless device for selecting a network, the wireless device comprising:

a network interface; and

a processor configured to execute operations including;

selecting a combination of settings in the wireless device for network selection, the combination of settings including a weighted security setting, a weighted access setting related to content filtering, and a weighted speed setting, wherein a weighted setting of at least one setting in the combination of settings is based on a user entered weighted setting;

receiving a request for accessing a website; and

selecting the network for accessing the website through the network interface based on the selected combination of settings, the weighting level of each setting, and the type of the website being accessed.

8. The wireless device of claim 7, wherein the network selected includes at least one of a wireless local area network (WLAN), a cellular network, or a wired network.

9. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the WLAN includes a public WLAN or a secure WLAN.

10. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein, if the weighted security setting exceeds a predetermined security setting, then the network selected includes the secure WLAN or the cellular network.

11. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein, if the weighted access setting exceeds a predetermined access setting, then the network selected includes the cellular network.

12. The wireless device of claim 9, wherein, if the weighted speed setting exceeds a predetermined speed setting, then the network selected includes the public WLAN.

13. A wireless device for selecting a network, the wireless device comprising:

means for selecting a combination of settings in the wireless device for network selection, the combination of settings including a weighted security setting, a weighted access setting related to content filtering, and a weighted speed setting, wherein a weighted setting of at least one setting in the combination of settings is based on a user entered weighted setting;

means for receiving a request for accessing a website; and

means for selecting the network for accessing the website based on the selected combination of settings, the weighting level of each setting, and the type of the website being accessed.

14. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the network selected includes at least one of a wireless local area network (WLAN), a cellular network, or a wired network.

15. The wireless device of claim 14, wherein the WLAN includes a public WLAN or a secure WLAN.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein, if the weighted security setting exceeds a predetermined security setting, then the network selected includes the secure WLAN or the cellular network.

17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein, if the weighted access setting exceeds a predetermined access setting, then the network selected includes the cellular network.

18. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein, if the weighted speed setting exceeds a predetermined speed setting, then the network selected includes the public WLAN.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for selecting a network for a wireless device, the computer-readable medium comprising code for:

selecting a combination of settings in the wireless device for network selection, the combination of settings including a weighted security setting, a weighted access setting related to content filtering, and a weighted speed setting, wherein a weighted setting of at least one setting in the combination of settings is based on a user entered weighted setting;

receiving a request for accessing a website; and

selecting the network for accessing the website based on the selected combination of settings, the weighting level of each setting, and the type of the website being accessed.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the network selected includes at least one of a wireless local area network (WLAN), a cellular network, or a wired network.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the WLAN includes a public WLAN or a secure WLAN.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein, if the weighted security setting exceeds a predetermined security setting, then the network selected includes the secure WLAN or the cellular network.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein, if the weighted access setting exceeds a predetermined access setting, then the network selected includes the cellular network.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein, if the weighted speed setting exceeds a predetermined speed setting, then the network selected includes the public WLAN.