Dynamic Carrier Selection

• US 20080085707A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 04/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Fadell, Tony
• Granted Patent: US 7,885,654 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/065 involving selection of the user mobility server

Abstract

Systems, methods, computer software for providing access to wireless communication services are provided. The invention, in one embodiment, can involve storing a network address on a mobile device and sending a request for network operator data from the mobile device to a mobile virtual network operator server associated with the network address. In response, network operator data is received, and, based on the received network operator data, a network operator is selected. Communications are thereafter conducted using the selected network operator. In some situations, bids are received from multiple network operators for rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained. Preferences among the network operators are identified using the received bids, and the preferences are used to select the network operator for the mobile device to use in conducting communications.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to a wireless cellular communication network, the method comprising:

storing a network address on a mobile device, wherein the network address identifies a mobile virtual network operator server storing mobile network operator data for use by the mobile device;

receiving network operator data from the mobile virtual network operator server;

selecting a network operator for the mobile device to use for communications based on the received network operator data; and

conducting communications with the selected network operator.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending a request for network operator data from the mobile device to the mobile virtual network operator server, wherein network operator data is received in response to the request.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the mobile device is not associated with a particular home network operator.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving bids from a plurality of network operators for rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained; and

identifying preferences among the network operators using the received bids, wherein the preferences are used to select the network operator for the mobile device to use.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the preferences are further based on at least one factor selected from the group consisting of location of the mobile device, quality of service offered by the network operator, and type of communication.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving bids from a plurality of network operators for rate information relating to rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained; and

sending the rate information to the mobile device, wherein the network operator is selected using the rate information.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving bids from a plurality of network operators for rate information relating to rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained;

sending the rate information to the mobile device;

displaying the rate information on a user interface of the mobile device; and

receiving a user selection of the network operator.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

registering the mobile device with a network operator for a limited purpose of sending the request and receiving the network operator data in response to the request; and

registering the mobile device with the selected network operator for conducting communications after receiving the network operator data.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising negotiating with at least one network operator to provide access for the limited purpose of sending the request and receiving the network operator data in response to the request.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprising dynamically updating the network operator data in the mobile virtual network operator server based on parameters associated with a plurality of network operators.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein the mobile device is preprogrammed with a carrier identifier associated with the mobile virtual network operator server.

12. A device comprising a machine-readable medium storing instructions for causing data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving a message from a mobile device identifying a current location of the mobile device;

sending network operator preference data to the mobile device, wherein the network operator preference data identifies a first set of preferences among a plurality of network operators for use by the mobile device in selecting one or more network operators;

updating the network operator preference data to identify a second set of preferences among the plurality of network operators; and

sending the updated network operator preference data to the mobile device.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein updating the network operator preference data is performed dynamically based on parameters associated with the plurality of network operators.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the parameters comprise bids relating to rates at which communication services are available from each network operator.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the parameters comprise data relating to the network operators in an area corresponding to the current location of the mobile device.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the parameters comprise rate information for different communication services available from each network operator.

17. The device of claim 12 wherein the machine-readable medium further stores instructions for causing data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving bid information for each of a plurality of network operators, wherein the bid information relates to at least one rate at which communication services are available from each network operator; and

updating the network operator preference data using the bid information.

18. The device of claim 12 wherein the updated network operator preference data enables a user of the mobile device to select among a plurality of network operators.

19. The device of claim 12 wherein the updated network operator preference data enables the mobile device to automatically select among a plurality of network operators.

20. A system comprising:

a mobile virtual network operator server operable to receive location data from mobile devices and, in response to the received location data, send network operator preference data to each mobile device, wherein the network operator preference data comprises at least one of data indicating preferences among a plurality of network operators or data for use in determining preferences among a plurality of network operators; and

an interface with each of a plurality of network operators for receiving location data from each of the mobile devices and for sending network operator preference data to each of the mobile devices.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the mobile virtual network operator server comprises a home location register.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the mobile virtual network operator server is further operable to generate the network operator preference data based on parameters relating to the plurality of network operators.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the parameters comprise pricing information for each of the plurality of network operators.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the mobile virtual network operator server is further operable to dynamically update the network operator preference data using the pricing information.

25. A system comprising:

means for receiving a message from a mobile device identifying a current location of the mobile device;

means for sending network operator preference data to the mobile device, wherein the network operator preference data identifies a first set of preferences among a plurality of network operators for use by the mobile device in selecting one or more network operators;

means for updating the network operator preference data to identify a second set of preferences among the plurality of network operators; and

means for sending the updated network operator preference data to the mobile device.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising means for dynamically updating the network operator preference data based on bids relating to rates at which communication services are available from each network operator.