METHOD FOR SCANNING SERVICES WITH A MULTIMODE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20120238307A1
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Grannan, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,326,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/515
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving on a control channel signaling software for scanning portions of a television spectrum, where the control channel operates in a portion of the television spectrum. The method further includes scanning for services operating in the television spectrum according to the received signaling software, detecting one or more services operating in the television spectrum, and selecting a service of the detected one or more services operating in the television spectrum. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving on a control channel, by a device including at least one processor, signaling software for scanning portions of a television spectrum, wherein the control channel operates in a portion of the television spectrum;

scanning, by the device, for services operating in the television spectrum according to the received signaling software;

detecting, by the device, one or more services operating in the television spectrum; and

selecting, by the device, a service of the detected one or more services in the television spectrum.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting, by the device, comprises selecting the service according to a data rate to cost of service ratio determined for each of the detected one or more services in the television spectrum.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising scanning, by the device, for services in at least one of a cellular spectrum, an ultra wideband spectrum, a wireless fidelity spectrum, or a worldwide interoperability for microwave access spectrum.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the scanning, by the device, comprises scanning, by the device, for services according to at least one of a cost of service, a quality of service, a radio frequency signal strength of a base station, a communication range of the base station, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, or combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving, by the device, control channel information indicating available services in the television spectrum, wherein the scanning, by the device, comprises scanning for services in the television spectrum according to the control channel information.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

establishing, by the device, a communication identifier list of other communication devices;

detecting, by the device, a presence of one of the other communication devices operating in the television spectrum; and

facilitating, by the device, establishment of communications with the detected communication device according to an entry in the communication identifier list.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising preventing, by the device, other communication devices operating in the television spectrum from detecting a presence of the device.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the device is a portable communication device.

9. A communication device, comprising:

a memory storing computer instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to execution of the computer instructions, the processor performs operations comprising;

receiving on a channel signaling software for scanning portions of a television spectrum, wherein the channel operates in a portion of the television spectrum;

scanning for services in the television spectrum according to the received signaling software;

detecting one or more services operating in the television spectrum; and

selecting one of the detected one or more services according to a service preference.

10. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the service preference is based on a comparison between a quality of service offering and cost of service offering of a communication network operating in the television spectrum.

11. The communication device of claim 9, wherein responsive to executing the computer instructions the processor performs operations comprising receiving control channel information indicating available services operating in the television spectrum, and wherein the scanning comprises scanning for services operating in the television spectrum according to the control channel information.

12. The communication device of claim 9, wherein responsive to executing the computer instructions the processor performs operations comprising:

monitoring a use behavior of services by an end user; and

identifying the service preference from the monitored use behavior, wherein the scanning comprises scanning for services operating in the television spectrum according to the service preference.

13. The communication device of claim 9, wherein responsive to executing the computer instructions the processor performs operations comprising:

establishing a contact list of other communication devices;

detecting from the selected service a presence of one of the other communication devices utilizing the selected service; and

facilitating establishment of communications with the detected communication device according to an identifier in the contact list.

14. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the selected service is one of a full-duplex voice service, a half-duplex voice service, a location service, a video service, a text messaging service, or an instant messaging service.

15. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the communication device is a portable communication device.

16. The communication device of claim 9, wherein the scanning comprises scanning for services according to at least one of a cost of service, a quality of service, a radio frequency signal strength of a base station, a communication range of the base station, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, or combinations thereof.

17. A computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructions which, responsive to being executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request from a communication device to scan a television spectrum for services; and

transmitting to the communication device over a channel of the television spectrum a software defined radio software application to enable the communication device to scan the television spectrum, wherein the channel operates in a portion of the television spectrum.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the communication device selects a service operating in the television spectrum.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the communication device selects the service operating in the television spectrum according to a comparison between a quality of service offering and a cost of service offering of each of the services.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein execution of the computer instructions causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving from the communication device a selection of a service in operating the television spectrum; and

facilitating enablement of the selected service.