Intelligent network selection system

• US 9,414,305 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: MetroPCS Wireless Incorporated (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Pankajakshan, Bejoy, Unger, Ronald, Guven, Mesut, Chao, Edward, Kosar, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Mehmood B
• Application Number:
  US13/758,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20140220967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 4554351-4353
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A roaming partner selection system associated with a mobile device includes a preferred roaming list providing a plurality roaming partner networks that may provide a network connection to the mobile device when a home network may not be selected. At least one rule set controls the selection of one of a roaming partner network from the preferred provider list or a home network for establishing a connection with mobile device. Control logic controls a selection of at least one of the roaming partner network from the home network responsive to the at least one rule set and at least one predetermined input parameter. The at least one rule set establishes which of the at least one of the plurality of roaming partner networks or the home network should be selected by the control logic responsive to the at least one predetermined parameter.

Claims

1. A roaming partner selection system associated with a mobile device, comprising:

a database storing a preferred roaming list providing a plurality roaming partner networks that may provide a network connection to the mobile device;

a second database storing at least one rule set associated with the mobile device for controlling a selection of a roaming partner network from the preferred roaming list for establishing a connection with mobile device;

a controller for controlling the selection of the roaming partner network from the preferred roaming list responsive to the at least one rule set and a plurality of predetermined input parameters rather than a preferred roaming list order when the mobile device is located outside of a home network;

wherein the at least one rule set establishes which of the plurality of roaming partner networks should be selected from the preferred roaming list by the controller responsive to the plurality of predetermined input parameters; and

wherein the plurality of predetermined input parameters comprise a time of day, a type of application requiring access, and an effect on quality of experience of a subscriber of the mobile device, and further wherein the at least one rule set establishes that a first roaming partner network has priority of selection when the plurality of predetermined input parameters have a first set of values, and a second roaming partner network when the plurality of predetermined input parameters have a second set of values.

2. The roaming partner selection system of claim 1, further including a rules engine server for periodically updating the at least one rule set.

3. The roaming partner selection system of claim 1, wherein the controller is implemented as an application program within the mobile device.

4. The roaming partner selection system of claim 1, wherein the controller and the at least one rule set are implemented within the home network of the mobile device.

5. The roaming partner selection system of claim 1, wherein the controller is implemented within the firmware of the mobile device.

6. The roaming partner selection system of claim 1, wherein the at least one rule set further controls the selection of a roaming partner network from the preferred roaming list or the home network for establishing the connection with the mobile device responsive to the at least one predetermined parameter.

7. The roaming partner selection system of claim 6, wherein the controller further controls selection of the roaming partner network or the home network responsive to the at least one rule set and the at least one predetermined parameter.

8. A method for selecting a roaming network for providing wireless services to a mobile device, comprising:

monitoring a plurality of predetermined parameters, wherein the plurality of predetermined parameters comprises a time of day, an application requiring access and a quality of experience of a mobile subscriber;

accessing a rule set containing rules for selecting the roaming network for providing wireless services to the mobile device responsive to the plurality of predetermined parameters when the mobile device is located outside of a home network;

determining which roaming network to select from a plurality of roaming networks based upon the rule set and the plurality of predetermined parameters when the mobile device is located outside of the home network; and

establishing the wireless connection between the mobile device and the determined roaming network when the mobile device is located outside of the home network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of accessing further comprises accessing a rule set containing rules for selecting a roaming partner network from the plurality of networks for providing wireless services to the mobile device responsive to the plurality of predetermined parameters.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining further comprises selecting the roaming partner network from the plurality of networks responsive to the rule set and the plurality of predetermined parameters.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of accessing further comprises accessing a rule set containing rules for selecting one of a roaming partner network or the home network from the plurality of networks for providing wireless services to the mobile device responsive to the plurality of predetermined parameters.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of determining further comprises selecting the roaming partner network or the home network from the plurality of networks responsive to the rule set and the plurality of predetermined parameters.

13. The method of claim 8 further including the step of periodically updating the rules of the rules set for selecting a network from the plurality of networks.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining occurs within the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of determining occurs within the home network of the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of establishing further comprises:

establishing a first network has priority of selection if the time of day is within a first predetermined time of day; and

establishing a second network has priority of selection if the time of day is within a second predetermined time of day.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of establishing further comprises:

establishing a first network has priority of selection if the application is of a first type; and

establishing a second network has priority of selection if the application is of a second type.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of establishing further comprises:

establishing a first network has priority of selection if the quality of experience is of a first level; and

establishing a second network has priority of selection if the quality of experience is of a second level.

19. A roaming partner selection system associated with a mobile device, comprising:

a database storing a preferred roaming list providing a plurality roaming partner networks that may provide a network connection to the mobile device when the mobile device cannot connect to a home network;

a second database storing at least one rule set associated with the mobile device for controlling a selection of one of a roaming partner network from the preferred roaming list or a home network for establishing a connection with mobile device;

a controller for controlling the selection of at least one of the roaming partner network from the preferred roaming list or the home network responsive to the at least one rule set and a plurality of predetermined input parameters rather than a preferred roaming list order when the mobile device is located outside of the home network;

wherein the at least one rule set establishes which of the at least one of the plurality of roaming partner networks from the preferred roaming list or the home network should be selected by the controller responsive to the plurality of predetermined input parameters; and

wherein the plurality of predetermined input parameters comprise the time of day, a type of application requiring access, and an effect on quality of experience of a subscriber of the mobile device, and further wherein the at least one rule set establishes that a first roaming partner network has priority of selection when the plurality of predetermined input parameters have a first set of values, and a second roaming partner network when the plurality of predetermined input parameters have a second set of values.

20. The roaming partner selection system of claim 19, further including a rules engine server for periodically updating the at least one rule set.

21. The roaming partner selection system of claim 19, wherein the controller and the at least one rule set are implemented within the home network of the mobile device.