Task-related communication via wireless communication hotspots

• US 20040198426A1
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Edward McDonnell, James Thomas, Squibbs, Robert Francis
• Granted Patent: US 7,020,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/555
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A mobile device is used to effect task-related communication with a remote entity via the communications infrastructure of a wireless hotspot through which the mobile device is moving. The device includes a first estimation arrangement for estimating the time remaining before the mobile device leaves the coverage zone of the hotspot having regard to the predicted movement of the device. The device further includes a second estimation arrangement for estimating the time needed to complete the task-related communication. These two time estimates are compared with each other by a monitor unit of the device to determine whether there is sufficient time to complete the task-related communication.

Claims

1. A method of determining the completability by a mobile entity of task-related communication with a remote entity via a wireless-based localized communication hotspot;

the method comprising the steps of;

(a) predicting progress of the mobile entity;

(b) during traversal of a hotspot by the mobile entity, determining the time available before the mobile entity leaves the hotspot based on its predicted progress and hotspot coverage information;

(c) determining the time required until completion of said task-related communication;

(d) comparing said time available and said time required, to determine whether the task-related communication is likely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least steps (b), (c) and (d) are carried out after commencement by the mobile entity of the task to which said task-related communication relates.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein steps (a) to (d) are carried out prior to commencement by the mobile entity of the task to which said task-related communication relates.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said hotspot coverage information is received from communications infrastructure of the hotspot being traversed by the mobile entity.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least steps (a) and (b) are carried out by a service system with which the mobile entity is in communication.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein steps (a) to (d) are carried out by the mobile entity.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein upon step (d) determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited, a user alert is generated.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein upon step (d) determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited, a determination is made whether increasing the communication connection speed to an available higher rate is likely to result in completion of the task-related communication before the hotspot is exited and, if so, the connection speed is increased.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein upon step (d) determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited, route instructions are generated for increasing the time remaining before the mobile entity leaves the hotspot.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein upon step (d) determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited, the communications infrastructure of the hotspot is managed to increase the coverage of the hotspot, at least along the predicted route of the mobile entity.

11. A method according to claim 2, wherein upon step (d) determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited and said time available is below a threshold value, communication between the mobile entity and the remote entity is transferred to a data-capable bearer service provided by a cellular radio infrastructure.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein in step (a) progress is predicted on the basis of continually provided location data and, where available, pre-specified or previously-taken route data.

13. A service system for determining the completability by a mobile entity of task-related communication with a remote entity via a wireless-based localized communication hotspot;

the system comprising;

a communications subsystem for communicating with the mobile entity;

a progress-prediction arrangement operative to predict progress of the mobile entity;

a first time-estimation arrangement operative during traversal of a hotspot by the mobile entity, to determine the time available before the mobile entity leaves the hotspot based on its predicted progress and hotspot coverage information;

a second time-estimation arrangement operative to determine the time required until completion of said task-related communication; and

a comparison arrangement operative to compare said time available and said time required, to determine whether the task-related communication is likely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited.

14. A service system according to claim 13, wherein at least the first time-estimation arrangement, the second time-estimation arrangement and the comparison arrangement are arranged to carry out their operations after commencement by the mobile entity of the task to which said task-related communication relates.

15. A service system according to claim 13, wherein the progress-prediction arrangement, the first time-estimation arrangement, the second time-estimation arrangement and the comparison arrangement are arranged to carry out their operations prior to commencement by the mobile entity of the task to which said task-related communication relates.

16. A service system according to claim 13, wherein the first time-estimation arrangement is arranged to receive said hotspot coverage information, via the communications subsystem, from communications infrastructure of said hotspot.

17. A service system according to claim 13, further comprising an alert arrangement arranged to respond to the comparison arrangement determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited, by sending a user alert to the mobile entity via the communications subsystem.

18. A service system according to claim 13, further comprising a connection-speed control arrangement arranged to respond to the comparison arrangement determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited, by determining whether increasing the communication connection speed to an available higher rate is likely to result in completion of the task-related communication before the hotspot is exited and, if so, increasing the connection speed accordingly.

19. A service system according to claim 13, further comprising a route-instruction generating arrangement arranged to respond to the comparison arrangement determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited, by generate route instructions for increasing the time remaining before the mobile entity leaves the hotspot, and sending these route instructions to the mobile entity via the communications subsystem.

20. A service system according to claim 13, further comprising a hotspot management arrangement arranged to respond to the comparison arrangement determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited, by requesting the communications infrastructure of the hotspot to increase the coverage of the hotspot, at least along the predicted route of the mobile entity.

21. A service system according to claim 14, further comprising a transfer arrangement arranged to respond to the comparison arrangement determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited and that said time available is below a threshold value, to transfer communication between the mobile entity and the remote entity to a data-capable bearer service provided by a cellular radio infrastructure.

22. A service system according to claim 13, wherein the progress-prediction arrangement is arranged to predict progress of the mobile entity on the basis of continually provided location data and, where available, pre-specified or previously-taken route data.

23. A mobile entity comprising:

a task-execution subsystem for carrying out a task that requires communication with a remote entity;

a communications subsystem for communicating with said remote entity via wireless-based localized communication hotspots; and

a monitoring subsystem for determining the completability of the task-related communication by the mobile entity whilst in a current hotspot, the monitoring subsystem comprising;

a progress-prediction arrangement operative to predict progress of the mobile entity;

a first time-estimation arrangement operative during traversal of a hotspot by the mobile entity, to determine the time available before the mobile entity leaves the hotspot based on its predicted progress and hotspot coverage information;

a second time-estimation arrangement operative to determine the time required until completion of said task-related communication; and

a comparison arrangement operative to compare said time available and said time required, to determine whether the task-related communication is likely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited.

24. A mobile entity according to claim 23, at least the first time-estimation arrangement, the second time-estimation arrangement and the comparison arrangement are arranged to carry out their operations after commencement by the mobile entity of the task to which said task-related communication relates.

25. A mobile entity according to claim 23, wherein the progress-prediction arrangement, the first time-estimation arrangement, the second time-estimation arrangement and the comparison arrangement are arranged to carry out their operations prior to commencement by the mobile entity of the task to which said task-related communication relates.

26. A mobile entity according to claim 23, wherein the mobile entity is arranged to receive said hotspot coverage information from communications infrastructure of the hotspot.

27. A mobile entity according to claim 23, further comprising an alert arrangement arranged to generate a user alert in response to the comparison arrangement determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited.

28. A mobile entity according to claim 23, further comprising a connection-speed control arrangement arranged to respond to the comparison arrangement determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited, by determining whether increasing the communication connection speed to an available higher rate is likely to result in completion of the task-related communication before the hotspot is exited and, if so, increasing the connection speed accordingly.

29. A mobile entity according to claim 23, further comprising a route-instruction generating arrangement arranged to respond to the comparison arrangement determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited, by generating route instructions for increasing the time remaining before the mobile entity leaves the hotspot.

30. A mobile entity according to claim 23, further comprising a hotspot management arrangement arranged to respond to the comparison arrangement determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited, by requesting the communications infrastructure of the hotspot to increase the coverage of the hotspot, at least along the predicted route of the mobile entity.

31. A mobile entity according to claim 24, further comprising a transfer arrangement arranged to respond to the comparison arrangement determining that the task-related communication is unlikely to be completed before the current hotspot is exited and that said time available is below a threshold value, to transfer communication between the mobile entity and the remote entity to a data-capable bearer service provided by a cellular radio infrastructure.

32. A mobile entity according to claim 23, wherein the progress-prediction arrangement is arranged to predict progress of the mobile entity on the basis of continually provided location data and, where available, pre-specified or previously-taken route data.