System and method for selecting a network based on the velocity of a wireless device

• US 20070004407A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Biggs, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/171,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20070004407A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A system and method for selecting a network based upon the velocity of a wireless device is disclosed. At the wireless device wherein the wireless device has access to a velocity sensitive network, the wireless device verifies whether the velocity sensitive network is available to the wireless device. Then, the wireless device determines a velocity of the wireless device and determines that the velocity sensitive network may be appropriate for wireless communication when the velocity of the wireless device is less than a threshold for a specified duration.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a network based upon the velocity of a wireless device, comprising:

at the wireless device wherein the wireless device has access to a velocity sensitive network;

verifying whether the velocity sensitive network is available to the wireless device;

determining a velocity of the wireless device; and

determining that the velocity sensitive network may be appropriate for wireless communication when the velocity of the wireless device is less than a threshold for a specified duration.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the threshold is based upon the characteristics of the velocity sensitive network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the specified duration is based upon a history of the movement of the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting the velocity sensitive network for wireless access.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising indicating that the velocity sensitive network may be appropriate for wireless communication to a network selection algorithm of the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the network selection algorithm is at least one of middleware, operating system, and application separate from a velocity determination application.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the velocity sensitive network provides wireless access to the wireless device when the wireless device is at least one of a) stationary and b) moving at low velocities.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising using a network optimized for wireless devices that are mobile.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless device comprises a first modem that provides an interface to a network that is optimized for wireless devices that are mobile and a second modem that provides an interface to the velocity sensitive network.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first modem and the second modem provide access to the same physical hardware for wireless access to a desired communication network.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the velocity is performed by at least one of Global Positioning System, Galileo, direct coupling to vehicle sensors, and on board diagnostics.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the specified duration is determined by a timer.

13. A system for selecting a network based upon the velocity of a wireless device, comprising:

a first modem for interfacing with a first network optimized for wireless devices that are mobile;

a second modem for interfacing with a second network that is optimized for wireless devices that are stationary;

a verifier for determining that the second network is available to the system;

a velocity determiner for assessing the velocity of the system;

a processor for determining that the second network may be appropriate for wireless communication when the velocity of the system is less than a threshold for a specified duration; and

a selector that utilizes the second modem for wireless communication when the processor has determined that the second network is appropriate for wireless communication.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the processor further comprises a hysteresis timer for determining the specified duration.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the first network and the second network provide wired access to a desired communication network.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising an interface to a network selection algorithm.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the processor provides the network selection algorithm with an indication that the second network is appropriate for wireless communication.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the velocity determiner provides a Global Positioning System interface.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein the first network and the second network differ in protocol.

20. A system for selecting a network based upon the velocity of a wireless device, comprising:

in the wireless device wherein the wireless device has access to a velocity sensitive network;

means for verifying whether the velocity sensitive network is available to the wireless device;

means for determining a velocity of the wireless device; and

means for determining that the velocity sensitive network may be appropriate for wireless communication when the velocity of the wireless device is less than a threshold for a specified duration.