Signal strength management
First Claim
1. A method for signal strength management, the method comprising:
- receiving information from a first electronic communication device, wherein the received information includes one or more settings that identify at least one action to be performed after a forecast that signal strength received by the first electronic communication device will likely be reduced in the future;
receiving a measure of signal strength from the first electronic communication device, wherein the measure of signal strength includes a current measured signal strength measured by the first electronic communication device;
sharing the measure of signal strength with a plurality of other devices allowed to receive signal strength information from the first electronic communication device, wherein the first electronic device receives one or more measures of signal strength from the other devices;
identifying a current location of the first electronic communication device;
identifying a velocity of the first electronic communication device, wherein the identified velocity is greater than zero;
identifying a path of travel along which the first electronic communication device is traveling;
accessing a database, wherein the database associates a signal strength with a plurality of different locations, and wherein the database is updated with signal strength data from a plurality of electronic communication devices located in the different locations;
forecasting that the signal strength received by the first electronic communication device will likely be reduced in the future, wherein the reduced signal strength is forecasted based on the current location, the velocity, the path of travel, and the database associating signal strength with locations; and
performing the at least one action after the forecast that the signal strength of the first electronic communication device will likely be reduced in the future according to the one or more settings received from the first electronic communication device, wherein the at least one action includes sending an alert to the third party indicating that the signal strength received by the first electronic device will likely reduce in the future, the alert specifying one or more recommendations for responding to the forecast of likely reduction in signal strength.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for signal strength management are provided. A first (mobile) communication device may provide a server with information relating to the signal strength, and such information may be used to determine future signal strength (e.g., at a different location). The first user may see the signal strength of a second communication device with which it may be communicating. The communication device may also communicate with a system that maintains a real-time database of signal strengths throughout an area, such as a state. A user'"'"'s handheld device may receive a indications, warnings, and recommended courses of action that the user may take to maintain communications when a signal strength of a wireless communication network is predicted to change. Users of the present invention may take actions to insure that the quality of their call is maintained.
76 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for signal strength management, the method comprising:
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receiving information from a first electronic communication device, wherein the received information includes one or more settings that identify at least one action to be performed after a forecast that signal strength received by the first electronic communication device will likely be reduced in the future; receiving a measure of signal strength from the first electronic communication device, wherein the measure of signal strength includes a current measured signal strength measured by the first electronic communication device; sharing the measure of signal strength with a plurality of other devices allowed to receive signal strength information from the first electronic communication device, wherein the first electronic device receives one or more measures of signal strength from the other devices; identifying a current location of the first electronic communication device; identifying a velocity of the first electronic communication device, wherein the identified velocity is greater than zero; identifying a path of travel along which the first electronic communication device is traveling; accessing a database, wherein the database associates a signal strength with a plurality of different locations, and wherein the database is updated with signal strength data from a plurality of electronic communication devices located in the different locations; forecasting that the signal strength received by the first electronic communication device will likely be reduced in the future, wherein the reduced signal strength is forecasted based on the current location, the velocity, the path of travel, and the database associating signal strength with locations; and performing the at least one action after the forecast that the signal strength of the first electronic communication device will likely be reduced in the future according to the one or more settings received from the first electronic communication device, wherein the at least one action includes sending an alert to the third party indicating that the signal strength received by the first electronic device will likely reduce in the future, the alert specifying one or more recommendations for responding to the forecast of likely reduction in signal strength. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for signal strength management, the apparatus comprising:
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one or more communication interfaces that; receive information from a first electronic communication device, wherein the received information received includes one or more settings that identify at least one action to be performed after a forecast that signal strength received by the first electronic communication device will likely be reduced in the future; receive a measure of signal strength over a communication network from a first electronic communication device, wherein the measure of signal strength includes a current measured signal strength received by the first electronic communication device; and share the measure of signal strength with a plurality of other devices allowed to receive signal strength information from the first electronic communication device, wherein the first electronic device receives one or more measures of signal strength from the other devices; a memory that stores a database, wherein the database associates a signal strength with a plurality of different locations, and the database is updated with signal strength data from a plurality of electronic communication devices located in the different locations; and a processor that executes stored instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor; identifies a current location of the first electronic communication device; identifies a velocity of the first electronic communication device, wherein the identified velocity is greater than zero; identifies a path of travel along which the first electronic communication device is traveling; forecasts that the signal strength received by the first electronic communication device will likely be reduced in the future, the reduced signal strength is forecasted based on the current location, the velocity, the path of travel, and the database associating signal strength with locations; and performs the at least one action after the forecast that the signal strength of the first electronic communication device will likely be reduced in the future according to the one or more settings set at the first electronic communication device, wherein the at least one action includes sending an alert to the third party indicating that the signal strength received by the first electronic device will likely reduce in the future, the alert specifying one or more recommendations for responding to the forecast of likely reduction in signal strength.
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20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for signal strength management, the method comprising:
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receiving information from a first electronic communication device, wherein the received information includes one or more settings that identify at least one action to be performed after a forecast that signal strength received by the first electronic communication device will likely be reduced in the future; receiving a measure of signal strength from the first electronic communication device, wherein the measure of signal strength includes a current measured signal strength received by the first electronic communication device; sharing the measure of signal strength with a plurality of other devices allowed to receive signal strength information from the first electronic communication device, wherein the first electronic device receives one or more measures of signal strength from the other devices; identifying a current location of the first electronic communication device; identifying a velocity of the first electronic communication device, wherein the identified velocity is greater than zero; identifying a path of travel along which the first electronic communication device is traveling; accessing a database, wherein the database associates a signal strength with a plurality of different locations, and wherein the database is updated with signal strength data from a plurality of electronic communication devices located in the different locations; forecasting that the signal strength received by the first electronic communication device will likely be reduced in the future, wherein the reduced signal strength is forecasted based on the current location, the velocity, the path of travel, and the database associating signal strength with locations; and performing the at least one action after the forecast that the signal strength of the first electronic communication device will likely reduce in the future according to the one or more settings set at the first electronic communication device, wherein the at least one action includes sending an alert to the third party indicating that the signal strength received by the first electronic device will likely reduce in the future, the alert specifying one or more recommendations for responding to the forecast of likely reduction in signal strength.
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Specification