Apparatus and method of providing connection source recommendations using a database of historic data on connectivity

• US 9,635,691 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life360 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Life360 Incorporated
• Inventors: Haro, Alexander, Hulls, Christopher, Borsuk, Michael, Hood, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US14/747,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20150319790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of providing connection source recommendations using a database of historic data on connectivity starts with a processor receiving location and connection information from each mobile device. Location information may identify a location of each mobile device, respectively. Connection information may identify one of the connection sources as a preferred connection source used to identify the location of each mobile device, respectively. The connection source may be Global Position Satellite (GPS), cell tower, or WiFi access point. Processor may then store, in database, location and connection information. Database may include a plurality of location information and a history of connection information for each location information. Other embodiments are described.

Claims

1. A method of providing connection source recommendations using a database of historic data on connectivity comprising:

receiving, by a processor, location information and connection information from each of a plurality of mobile devices, the plurality of mobile devices including a first mobile device,

the location information from each of the mobile devices identifying a location of each of the mobile devices, respectively,

the connection information from each of the mobile devices identifying one of a plurality of connection sources as a preferred connection source used to identify the location of each of the mobile devices, respectively, wherein the one of a plurality of connection sources is Global Position Satellite (GPS), a cell tower, or a WiFi access point;

storing by the processor, in the database, the location information and the connection information, wherein the database includes a plurality of location information and a history of connection information for each location information; and

transmitting by the processor, at least one signal to at least one of the mobile devices based on the plurality of location information and the history of connection information included in the database,

wherein the at least one signal to the at least one of the mobile devices causes the at least one of the mobile devices to establish a connection with at least one of the connection sources,

wherein the connection information from each of the mobile devices identifies the connection source having a strongest signal for identifying the location associated with each of the mobile devices, respectively.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating by the processor, based on the location information and the connection information, a plurality of regions,

wherein each of the regions includes a subgroup of the location information stored in the database that is associated with one of the connection sources as the preferred connection source for that region,

wherein the plurality of regions includes a first region associated with a first connection source and a second region associated with a second connection source; and

storing by the processor in the database the regions with the associated connection sources.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining, by the processor, that the first mobile device has changed location based on a comparison of subsequent location information received from the first mobile device, wherein the processor determines that the first mobile device changed location from the first region to the second region;

reading from the database, by the processor, the connection information associated with the second region, wherein the processor reads that the second connection source is the preferred connection source associated with the second region; and

transmitting by the processor to the first mobile device the at least one signal that is a recommendation signal including the second connection source.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

upon receiving the recommendation signal, verifying by the first mobile device if the second connection source is the preferred connection source,

if the second connection source is the preferred connection source, establishing a connection by the first mobile device with the second connection source, and

if the second connection source is not the preferred connection source, determining by the first mobile device the preferred connection source and establishing a connection by the first mobile device to the preferred connection source.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the preferred connection source is the connection source having a strongest signal for identifying the location associated with each of the mobile devices, respectively.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

periodically receiving, by the processor, the location information and the connection information from each of the mobile devices; and

updating by the processor the database with the location information and the connection information received.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

analyzing by the processor the database to identify the preferred connection source for each of the mobile devices, respectively, based on the received location information;

transmitting by the processor a plurality of conservation command signals to each of the mobile devices, respectively,

wherein each of the conservation command signals is a command to each of the mobile devices, respectively, to reduce operation of internal sensors and radios to connection sources other than the preferred connection source for each of the mobile devices, respectively.

8. An apparatus for providing connection source recommendations using a database of historic data on connectivity comprising:

a processor;

a database including a plurality of location information and a history of connection information for each location information;

a communication interface to;

receive location information and connection information from each of a plurality of mobile devices, the plurality of mobile devices including a first mobile device,

the location information from each of the mobile devices identifying a location of each of the mobile devices, respectively,

the connection information from each of the mobile devices identifying one of a plurality of connection sources as a preferred connection source used to identify the location of each of the mobile devices, respectively, wherein the one of a plurality of connection sources is Global Position Satellite (GPS), a cell tower, or a WiFi access point, wherein the connection information from each of the mobile devices identify the connection source having a strongest signal for identifying the location associated with each of the mobile devices, respectively; and

a memory storage storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

receive the location information and the connection information from the communication interface,

store, in the database, the location information and the connection information;

transmit at least one signal to at least one of the mobile devices based on the plurality of location information and the history of connection information included in the database,

wherein the at least one signal to the at least one of the mobile devices causes the at least one of the mobile devices to establish a connection with at least one of the connection sources.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory storage stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

generate, based on the location information and the connection information, a plurality of regions,

wherein each of the regions includes a subgroup of the location information stored in the database that is associated with one of the connection sources as the preferred connection source for that region,

wherein the plurality of regions includes a first region associated with a first connection source and a second region associated with a second connection source; and

storing by the processor in the database the regions with the associated connection sources.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the memory storage stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

determine that the first mobile device has changed location based on a comparison of subsequent location information received from the first mobile device, wherein the processor determines that the first mobile device changed location from the first region to the second region;

read from the database the connection information associated with the second region, wherein the processor reads that the second connection source is the preferred connection source associated with the second region; and

transmit to the first mobile device the at least one signal that is a recommendation signal including the second connection source.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the recommendation signal causes the first mobile device to verify if the second connection source is the preferred connection source, wherein

if the second connection source is the preferred connection source, the first mobile device establishes a connection with the second connection source, and

if the second connection source is not the preferred connection source, the first mobile device determines the preferred connection source and establishes a connection to the preferred connection source.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the preferred connection source is the connection source having a strongest signal for identifying the location associated with each of the mobile devices, respectively.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the communication interface periodically receives the location information and the connection information from each of the mobile devices.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the memory storage stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

update the database with the location information and the connection information received periodically.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the memory storage stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

analyze the database to identify the preferred connection source for each of the mobile devices, respectively, based on the received location information; and

transmit a plurality of conservation command signals to each of the mobile devices, respectively,

wherein each of the conservation command signals is a command to each of the mobile devices, respectively, to reduce operation of internal sensors and radios to connection sources other than the preferred connection source for each of the mobile devices, respectively.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method of providing connection source recommendations using a database of historic data on connectivity comprising:

receiving location information and connection information from each of a plurality of mobile devices, the plurality of mobile devices including a first mobile device,

the location information from each of the mobile devices identifying a location of each of the mobile devices, respectively,

the connection information from each of the mobile devices identifying one of a plurality of connection sources as a preferred connection source used to identify the location of each of the mobile devices, respectively, wherein the one of a plurality of connection sources is Global Position Satellite (GPS), a cell tower, or a WiFi access point, wherein the connection information from each of the mobile devices identify the connection source having a strongest signal for identifying the location associated with each of the mobile devices, respectively;

storing in the database, the location information and the connection information, wherein the database includes a plurality of location information and a history of connection information for each location information; and

transmitting at least one signal to at least one of the mobile devices based on the plurality of location information and the history of connection information included in the database,

wherein the at least one signal to the at least one of the mobile devices causes the at least one of the mobile devices to establish a connection with at least one of the connection sources.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

generating based on the location information and the connection information, a plurality of regions,

wherein each of the regions includes a subgroup of the location information stored in the database that is associated with one of the connection sources as the preferred connection source for that region,

wherein the plurality of regions includes a first region associated with a first connection source and a second region associated with a second connection source; and

storing in the database the regions with the associated connection sources.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising:

determining that the first mobile device has changed location based on a comparison of subsequent location information received from the first mobile device, wherein the processor determines that the first mobile device changed location from the first region to the second region;

reading from the database the connection information associated with the second region, wherein the processor reads that the second connection source is the preferred connection source associated with the second region; and

transmitting to the first mobile device the at least one signal that is a recommendation signal including the second connection source.