SYSTEM FOR ECO-FRIENDLY MANAGEMENT OF CONNECTED DEVICES

• US 20110044177A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Heistad, Christopher A., Nair, Biju, Lovato, Darryl
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/241
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/26 by agreed or negotiated communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for a connected wireless device to hand off from one network to another based on empirical data gathered from real live networks regarding the grade of service available on the network. The invention uses this information in combination with the user'"'"'s choice of a preferred type of network connection to intelligently manage and conserve device battery life.

Claims

1. A wireless network hand off method for use in network enabled wireless connected devices, comprising the step of using Grade of Service information at a location during switching of networks to warn users when they are about to lose coverage.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of automatically switching connection types at the appropriate time using the Grade of Service information.

3. A method of managing wireless network connections and device radios in an active transmission device, and for managing and conserving battery life in the active transmission device, wherein the device includes a GPS radio, multiple radio transceivers, a user interface, and software for managing radio control and radio connectivity, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) manually interacting with the device through a user interface to place the active transmission device in manual mode and to make a selection of a specific access method to establish an Internet connection, after which selection all method steps are performed automatically by system software and hardware;

(b) determining the type of connection desired by the user;

(c) turning on the device radio associated with the access method selected by the user;

establishing the Internet connection using the radio; and

(d) turning off other mobile broadband radios associated with access methods not selected by the user.

4. A method of managing wireless network connections and device radios in an active transmission device, and for managing and conserving battery life in the active transmission device, wherein the device includes, multiple radio transceivers, a user interface, and software for managing radio control and radio connectivity, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) searching a technology preference and priority list;

turning on the radio associated with the device next appearing in the technology preference and priority list;

(b) searching to locate a network with which to connect and connecting to a found network using the associated radio; and

(c) turning off radios not involved in the network connection.

5. The method of claim 4, further including the step of creating an unbiased grade of service map based on actual reports from connected phones that include data regarding signal strength, provider, location, and phone type, and sending these data points to a central server through the wireless network.

6. The method of claim 4, further including the step of creating a grade of service map based on RSSI of the broadcast signal, carrier-to-interferer ratios or equivalents thereof, effective data rates, throughput, network capacity, dropped connection, type of device upon which the measurement was made, the carrier used when creating the measurement, and the date of measurement.

7. The method of claim 6, further including the step of classifying given locations on the grade of service map as good, fair, or poor connection locations and representing each type by a color code on the map.

8. The method of claim 6, further including the step of customizing the grade of service map for the performance of a particular user device.

9. The method of claim 5, further including the step of customizing the grade of service map for the performance of a particular user device.

10. The method of claim 4, further including the step of providing wherein said active transmission device includes a GPS radio and is GPS-enabled.

11. The method of claim 10, further including the step of:

(d) automatically detecting and disabling the active transmission device while traveling on an airplane.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein step (d) involves detecting when a network enabled device is on an airplane that in the process of taking off, at a low altitude in the early stages of flight, or network signal strength is otherwise sufficient to reach the airplane.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the wireless connected device is GPS-enabled, and step (d) involves using the GPS function to sample and determine one or more of (i) whether the wireless device is either moving faster than some predefined value, (ii) at or above a predetermined altitude, and/or (iii) changing altitude at or above a predefined rate.

14. The method of claim 11, further including the steps of:

(e) detecting when the device has arrived at a destination airport ;

and

(f) automatically returning the wireless connected device to its previous state.

15. The method of claim 4, further including the steps of:

(g-1) determining whether the wireless connected device is powered on and its radios turned on;

(g-2) searching for a Cell ID or BSID;

(g-3) turning off the device radios if no Cell ID or BSIDs are detected;

(g-4) recording the Cell ID or BSID of any detected Cell ID or BSID as well as the time of detection;

(g-5) searching for other Cell IDs or BSIDs for a predetermined period of time;

(g-6) recording the ID and time of detection of any second Cell ID or BSID detected;

(g-7) calculating the speed of motion of the connected device;

(g-8) continuing normal device operation if the computed speed is not greater than terrestrial speeds; and

(g-9) turning off the device radios if the calculated speed is greater than terrestrial speeds.

21. The method of claim 15, further including the step of:

the step of providing a graphical coverage prediction map.

22. The method of claim 15, whereby GPS location and velocity is used to predict imminent network failure and provide alternatives.

23. The method of claim 21, further including the step of directing the device user to improved network coverage using the predicted network boundaries and GPS data.

16. A method of managing network connections in an active transmission device, comprising the step of:

(a) customizing aggregated network performance history to a specific network connected device using data gathered from other devices.

17. The method of claim 16, further including the step of:

(b) predicting network boundaries for a specific network connected device.

18. The method of claim 16, further including the step of:

(c) providing network grading for a specific network connected device.

19. The method of claim 18, further including the step of:

(d) combining the results of step (c) with a trigger to predict imminent network failure and provide alternatives.

20. The method of claim 19, further including the step of:

(e) automatically refining the trigger.