Method for scanning services with a multimode communication device

• US 9,681,495 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2016
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grannan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): VIANA DI PRISCO, GERMAN
• Application Number:
  US15/074,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20160205619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• 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

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a group of preferences of service attributes is established based on a determination of a user behavior. A group is generated of user preferences of the group of preferences of service attributes according to a user profile. First and second service attributes from the group of preferences of service attributes are adjusted for each service according to the group of user preferences to achieve a desired balance of service offerings. Available services are identified operating in the television spectrum, and one of the services operating is selected responsive to the adjusting of the first and second service attributes according to the group of user preferences. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

evaluating, by a device comprising a processor, a behavior of a user;

detecting, by the device, a plurality of services operating in a television spectrum;

identifying, by the device, for each service of the plurality of services a respective plurality of service attributes;

establishing, by the device, a plurality of preferences of service attributes based on the evaluating of the behavior of the user, wherein the plurality of preferences of service attributes are selected from a group of service attributes comprising one of cost of service, quality of service, radio frequency signal strength of a base station, communication range of the base station relative to a location of the device, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, or any combination thereof;

generating, by the device, a group of user preferences of the plurality of preferences of service attributes according to a user profile;

adjusting, by the device, first and second service attributes from the plurality of preferences of service attributes for each service of the plurality of services according to the group of user preferences to achieve a desired balance of service offerings;

identifying, by the device, available services operating in the television spectrum; and

selecting, by the device, a service of the plurality of services in the television spectrum responsive to the adjusting of the first and second service attributes according to the group of user preferences.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting of the service further comprises selecting the service responsive to the adjusting according to a data rate to cost of service ratio determined for each service of the plurality of services in the television spectrum.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scanning, by the device, for services in a spectrum selected from a group of spectra comprising one of a cellular spectrum, an ultra-wideband spectrum, a wireless fidelity spectrum, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access spectrum, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying of the available services comprises scanning, by the device, the television spectrum for services according to a preference selected from a group of preferences comprising one of a cost of service, a quality of service, a radio frequency signal strength of a base station, a communication range of the base station, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, or any combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the device, control channel information indicating available services in the television spectrum, wherein the identifying of the available services comprises scanning the television spectrum for services in the television spectrum according to the control channel information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing, by the device, a communication identifier list of other communication devices;

detecting, by the device, a presence of one of the other communication devices operating in the television spectrum; and

facilitating, by the device, establishment of communications with the one of the other communication devices according to an entry in the communication identifier list.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising preventing, by the device, other communication devices operating in the television spectrum from detecting a presence of the device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a portable communication device.

9. A device, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to execution of the instructions, the processor facilitates performance of operations comprising;

evaluating a behavior of a user;

detecting a plurality of services operating in a television spectrum;

identifying for each service of the plurality of services a respective plurality of service attributes;

establishing a plurality of preferences of service attributes based on the evaluating of the behavior of the user, wherein the plurality of preferences of service attributes are selected from a group of service attributes comprising one of cost of service, quality of service, radio frequency signal strength of a base station, communication range of the base station relative to a location of the device, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, or any combination thereof;

generating a group of user preferences of the plurality of preferences of service attributes according to a user profile;

adjusting first and second service attributes from the plurality of preferences of service attributes for each service of the plurality of services according to the group of user preferences to achieve a desired balance of service offerings;

identifying, by the device, available services operating in the television spectrum; and

selecting one of the plurality of services according to a service preference responsive to the adjusting of the first and second service attributes according to the group of user preferences.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the service preference is based on a comparison between a quality of service offering and cost of service offering of a communication network operating in the television spectrum.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving control channel information indicating available services operating in the television spectrum, and wherein the identifying of the available services comprises scanning for services operating in the television spectrum according to the control channel information.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

monitoring a use behavior of services by an end user; and

identifying the service preference from the monitored use behavior, wherein the identifying of the available services comprises scanning for services operating in the television spectrum according to the service preference.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:

establishing a contact list of other devices;

detecting from the one of the plurality of services a presence of one of the other devices utilizing the one of the plurality of services; and

facilitating establishment of communications with the one of the other devices according to an identifier in the contact list.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the one of the plurality of services is one of a group of services comprising one of full-duplex voice service, a half-duplex voice service, a location service, a video service, a text messaging service, an instant messaging service, or any combination thereof.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the device comprises a portable communication device.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the identifying of the available services comprises scanning for services according to preferences selected from a group of service attributes comprising one of a cost of service, a quality of service, a radio frequency signal strength of a base station, a communication range of the base station, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, or any combination thereof.

17. A machine-readable storage device, comprising machine-readable instructions that, responsive to being executed by a processor, cause the processor to facilitate performance of operations comprising:

determining a behavior of a user;

identifying for each service of a plurality of services that operate in a television spectrum, a respective plurality of service attributes;

establishing a plurality of preferences of service attributes based on the determining of the behavior of the user, wherein the plurality of preferences of service attributes are selected from a group of service attributes comprising one of cost of service, quality of service, radio frequency signal strength of a base station, communication range of the base station relative to a location of a communication device, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, or any combination thereof;

generating a group of user preferences of the plurality of preferences of service attributes according to a user profile;

adjusting first and second service attributes from the plurality of preferences of service attributes for each service of the plurality of services according to the group of user preferences to achieve a desired balance of service offerings;

identifying, by the device, a plurality of available services operating in the television spectrum; and

selecting one of the plurality of available services operating in the television spectrum as a selected service responsive to the adjusting of the first and second service attributes according to the group of user preferences.

18. The machine-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein a communication device receives a selection of a service of the available services operating in the television spectrum.

19. The machine-readable storage device of claim 18, wherein the communication device selects the service operating in the television spectrum according to a comparison between a quality of service offering and a cost of service offering of each service of the plurality of services.

20. The machine-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving from a user interface, a selection of a service in operating the television spectrum; and

facilitating enablement of the selected service.