Method and apparatus for triggering handover between access points based on gathered history data of series of access points

• US 9,565,609 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2012
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Aho, Eero, Kiukkonen, Niko, Kuusilinna, Kimmo Kalervo
• Primary Examiner(s): Faroul, Farah
• Application Number:
  US14/395,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20150103806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 370/331
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02529 not involving signal parameters, i.e. only involving identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0295 Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/008375 based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/24 Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method of handover prediction for a mobile device comprises receiving wireless communication service from a first access point; detecting a change in fingerprint data relating to available access points; correlating recent history data of a series of fingerprint data with history data comprised by a history database; determining, in response to the correlation and by using the fingerprint data and the history data, a second access point; and triggering a handover from the first access point to the second access point. The method may further comprise determining fingerprint data relating to available access points; comparing the fingerprint data to known fingerprint data of a fingerprint database; updating the fingerprint database in response to the comparison revealing new fingerprint data; and storing history data of series of fingerprint data reflecting earlier movement of a user to a history database. Identifying unavailable access points and notifying a disconnection to the mobile user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by an apparatus, wireless communication service from a first access point;

detecting, by the apparatus, a change in fingerprint data relating to available access points;

correlating, by the apparatus, recent history data of a series of fingerprint data with history data comprised by a history database;

estimating, by the apparatus, a route of a user by correlating at least two most recent fingerprint data of the history data with the series of fingerprint data reflecting earlier movement of a user;

determining, by the apparatus, in response to the correlation and by using the fingerprint data, the history data and the estimated route, a second access point; and

triggering a handover from the first access point to the second access point.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by the apparatus, using the fingerprint data and the history data, the second access point being unavailable; and

notifying, by the apparatus, a user of an apparatus before disconnection of the wireless communication service from the first access point.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive wireless communication service from a first access point;

a sensor configured to detect fingerprint

data;

a processor;

a memory including computer program code;

the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus

to;

detect a change in fingerprint data relating to available access points;

correlate recent history data of a series of fingerprint data with history data comprised by a history database;

estimate a route of a user by correlating at least two most recent fingerprint data of the history data with the series of fingerprint data reflecting earlier movement of the apparatus;

determine, in response to the correlation and by using the fingerprint data, the history data, and the estimated route, a second access point; and

trigger a handover from the first access point to the second access point.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine, using the fingerprint data and the history data, the second access point being unavailable; and

notify a user of the apparatus before disconnection of the wireless communication service from the first access point.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein any of the access points comprises at least one of the following:

a wireless local area network (WLAN) access

point;

a Bluetooth access point;

an ultra-wideband access point;

and a cellular network base

station.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to:

maintain the fingerprint data in a fingerprint database; and

maintain the history data in the history database.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the fingerprint database may be located in at least one of the following:

a user apparatus; and

a server apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the history database may be located in at least one of the following:

a user apparatus; and

a server apparatus.