GENERATING ALERTS BASED ON PREDICTED WIRELESS CONNECTION LOSSES

• US 20100151840A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Drouet, Francois-Xavier, Marmigere, Gerard, Bauchot, Frederic, Dispensa, Jean-Claude
• Granted Patent: US 8,948,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like

Abstract

A method and system for generating alerts based on predicted wireless connection losses. A message is received that includes a first position of a mobile device, an indication of a service being provided to the mobile device via a wireless connection provided by a first bearer, and an mobile device identifier. A direction and speed of the mobile device is received. An amount of time elapsing before the mobile device moves to a second position at which the mobile device experiences a loss of the wireless connection via the first bearer is predicted. An alert that indicates that the loss is occurring in the amount of time is generated. The alert is sent to the mobile device as a response to the message.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of generating an alert based on a predicted wireless connection loss, said method comprising:

a computer system receiving a message that includes a first position of a mobile device, an indication of a service being provided to said mobile device via a wireless connection provided by a first bearer, and an identifier of said mobile device;

said computer system receiving a direction of said mobile device and a speed of said mobile device;

said computer system storing said first position, said indication of said service, said identifier of said mobile device, said direction and said speed in a computer data storage unit;

said computer system predicting an amount of time elapsing before said mobile device moves to a second position at which said mobile device experiences a loss of said wireless connection via said first bearer;

said computer system generating an alert that indicates that said loss is occurring in said amount of time; and

said computer system sending said alert to said mobile device as a response to said message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising said computer system determining one or more other bearers that provide said service at said second position.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said predicting said amount of time includes retrieving an identification of said one or more other bearers from a data store that includes information about signal coverage for said service by said one or more bearers at a plurality of geographic positions, wherein said plurality of geographic positions includes said second position.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said generating said alert includes generating a recommendation to switch said wireless connection to a second bearer of said one or more other bearers, wherein said recommendation is included in said alert.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

extracting said recommendation from a response to said message;

directing, in response to said extracting said recommendation, said mobile device to present said recommendation to a user of said mobile device or an application of said mobile device; and

changing said wireless connection to said second bearer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a result of said sending said alert is a presentation of said alert to a user of said mobile device.

7. A computer system comprising a processor and a computer-readable memory unit coupled to said processor, said memory unit containing instructions that when executed by said processor implement a method of generating an alert based on a predicted wireless connection loss, said method comprising:

receiving a message that includes a first position of a mobile device, an indication of a service being provided to said mobile device via a wireless connection provided by a first bearer, and an identifier of said mobile device;

receiving a direction of said mobile device and a speed of said mobile device;

storing said first position, said indication of said service, said identifier of said mobile device, said direction and said speed in a computer data storage unit;

predicting an amount of time elapsing before said mobile device moves to a second position at which said mobile device experiences a loss of said wireless connection via said first bearer;

generating an alert that indicates that said loss is occurring in said amount of time; and

sending said alert to said mobile device as a response to said message.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said method further comprises determining one or more other bearers that provide said service at said second position.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein said predicting said amount of time includes retrieving an identification of said one or more other bearers from a data store that includes information about signal coverage for said service by said one or more bearers at a plurality of geographic positions, wherein said plurality of geographic positions includes said second position.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein said generating said alert includes generating a recommendation to switch said wireless connection to a second bearer of said one or more other bearers, wherein said recommendation is included in said alert.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said method further comprises:

extracting said recommendation from a response to said message;

directing, in response to said extracting said recommendation, said mobile device to present said recommendation to a user of said mobile device or an application of said mobile device; and

changing said wireless connection to said second bearer.

12. A computer program product, comprising a computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program code stored therein, said computer-readable program code containing instructions configured to be executed by a processor of a computer system to implement a method of generating an alert based on a predicted wireless connection loss, said method comprising:

receiving a message that includes a first position of a mobile device, an indication of a service being provided to said mobile device via a wireless connection provided by a first bearer, and an identifier of said mobile device;

receiving a direction of said mobile device and a speed of said mobile device;

storing said first position, said indication of said service, said identifier of said mobile device, said direction and said speed in a computer data storage unit;

predicting an amount of time elapsing before said mobile device moves to a second position at which said mobile device experiences a loss of said wireless connection via said first bearer;

generating an alert that indicates that said loss is occurring in said amount of time; and

sending said alert to said mobile device as a response to said message.

13. The program product of claim 12, wherein said method further comprises determining one or more other bearers that provide said service at said second position.

14. The program product of claim 13, wherein said predicting said amount of time includes retrieving an identification of said one or more other bearers from a data store that includes information about signal coverage for said service by said one or more bearers at a plurality of geographic positions, wherein said plurality of geographic positions includes said second position.

15. The program product of claim 13, wherein said generating said alert includes generating a recommendation to switch said wireless connection to a second bearer of said one or more other bearers, wherein said recommendation is included in said alert.

16. The program product of claim 15, wherein said method further comprises:

extracting said recommendation from a response to said message;

directing, in response to said extracting said recommendation, said mobile device to present said recommendation to a user of said mobile device or an application of said mobile device; and

changing said wireless connection to said second bearer.

17. A process for supporting computing infrastructure, said process comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in a computer system, wherein the code in combination with the computer system is capable of performing a method of generating an alert based on a predicted wireless connection loss, said method comprising:

receiving a message that includes a first position of a mobile device, an indication of a service being provided to said mobile device via a wireless connection provided by a first bearer, and an identifier of said mobile device;

receiving a direction of said mobile device and a speed of said mobile device;

storing said first position, said indication of said service, said identifier of said mobile device, said direction and said speed in a computer data storage unit;

predicting an amount of time elapsing before said mobile device moves to a second position at which said mobile device experiences a loss of said wireless connection via said first bearer;

generating an alert that indicates that said loss is occurring in said amount of time; and

sending said alert to said mobile device as a response to said message.

18. The process of claim 17, wherein said method further comprises determining one or more other bearers that provide said service at said second position.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein said predicting said amount of time includes retrieving an identification of said one or more other bearers from a data store that includes information about signal coverage for said service by said one or more bearers at a plurality of geographic positions, wherein said plurality of geographic positions includes said second position.

20. The process of claim 18, wherein said generating said alert includes generating a recommendation to switch said wireless connection to a second bearer of said one or more other bearers, wherein said recommendation is included in said alert.