Device and method for intelligent wireless communication selection

• US 6,801,777 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Rusch, Leslie A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/995,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20030100308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/440, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452.1, 455/452.2, 455/456.1, 455/464, 455/509, 455/524, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 709/249, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/452.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• 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 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• 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 wireless communication device includes one or more radio interfaces to communicate using various wireless protocols with different communication networks. The wireless device may, for example, be a notebook or laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile data terminal, wireless telephone, video camera or another multimedia device. A multi-channel radio controller within the wireless device characterizes available communication networks to determine network characteristics including current network information. Available communication networks and services may be characterized by monitoring traffic, using location information, interrogating or from current connectivity. A wireless connectivity assistant may select a communication network and service based on the network characteristics and at least one of user preferences, application requirements and system information.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a wireless local area network (WLAN) for communicating comprising:

interrogating a first network with a first radio interface to determine a first network protocol associated with the first network and services hosted by the first network, the first network protocol having a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services hosted by the first network;

interrogating a second network with a second radio interface to determine a second network protocol associated with the second network and services hosted by the second network, the second network protocol having a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services hosted by the second network;

selecting either the first or second network based on application preferences for at least one application operating on a wireless communication device; and

communicating with the selected network in accordance with the associated network protocol,

wherein the radio interfaces provide a common application layer protocol to the radio controller,

wherein the selecting comprises selecting either the first or second network based on the associated data rate and packet error rate approximating the preferred data rate and packet error rate for the at least one application, and

wherein the applications comprise a voice communication application, a data communication application, and a video communication application, wherein the application preferences comprise a preferred data rate and packet error rate for the at least one application operating on the wireless communication device, and

wherein communicating comprises interfacing, between the at least one application and one of the radio interfaces configured to communicate in accordance with the network protocol of the selected network, the interfacing being performed by a software agent.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein interrogating comprises monitoring traffic on first and second networks to determine current network information, the current network information including the network protocol and services associated with the first and second networks.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a first access point is associated with the first network and a second access point is associated with the second network, and wherein interrogating further comprises determining a geographic location of the first and second access points, determining a distance from the wireless communication station to each access point based on the location, and

wherein selecting comprises selecting either the first of the second network based on the distance to the associated access point.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein determining the geographic location of the access points includes a triangulation of signals from the first and second networks.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein interrogating comprises sending a query to the first and second networks.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting comprises selecting based on current network information includes at least one of bit-error-rate, bit-rate, packet size, network congestion, delay, security and cost for at least one of the networks.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

communicating with the selected network over a wireless link;

monitoring a quality of the wireless link during communicating;

selecting another wireless link with the selected network when the quality decreases; and

switching to communicating with the another network.

2. The method of claim l wherein the first network protocol is a first wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol and the second network protocol is a second WLAN protocol, and wherein:

when the at least one application includes a video communication application, selecting comprises selecting either the first or the second network that is providing a video communication service and having an associated data rate and packet error rate more closely matching a preferred bandwidth and packet error rate for video communications,

when the at least one application includes a data communication application, selecting comprises selecting either the first or the second network that is providing a data communication service and having an associated data rate and packet error rate more closely matching a preferred bandwidth and packet error rate for data communications, and

when the at least one application includes a voice communication application, selecting comprises selecting either the first or the second network that is providing a voice communication service and having an associated data rate and packet error rate more closely matching a preferred bandwidth and packet error rate for voice communications,

wherein when the application comprises a video communication application, the application preferences include a packet error rate preference based on a display capability of the wireless communication device.

9. A computer readable medium having program instructions stored thereon for performing a method of selecting a communication network when executed within a digital processing device, the method comprising:

interrogating a first network with a first radio interface to determine a first network protocol associated with the first network and services hosted by the first network, the first network protocol having a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services hosted by the first network;

interrogating a second network with a second radio interface to determine a second network protocol associated with the second network and services hosted by the second network, the second network protocol having a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services hosted by the second network;

selecting either the first or second network based on application preferences for at least one application operating on a wireless communication device; and

communicating with the selected network in accordance with the associated network protocol,

wherein the radio interfaces provide a common application layer protocol to the radio controller,

wherein the selecting comprises selecting either the first or second network based on the associated data rate and packet error rate approximating the preferred data rate and packet error rate for the at least one application, and

wherein the applications comprise a voice communication application, a data communication application, and a video communication application, wherein the application preferences comprise a preferred data rate and packet error rate for the at least one application operating on the wireless communication device, and

wherein communicating comprises interfacing, between the at least one application and a radio interface configured to communicate in accordance with the network protocol of the selected network, the interfacing being performed by a software agent.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the first network protocol is a first wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol and the second network protocol is a second WLAN protocol, and wherein:

when the at least one application includes a video communication application, selecting comprises selecting either the first or the second network that is providing a video communication service and having an associated data rate and packet error rate more closely matching a preferred bandwidth and packet error rate for video communications,

when the at least one application includes a data communication application, selecting comprises selecting either the first or the second network that is providing a data communication service and having an associated data rate and packet error rate more closely matching a preferred bandwidth and packet error rate for data communications, and

when the at least one application includes a voice communication application, selecting comprises selecting either the first or the second network that is providing a voice communication service and having an associated data rate and packet error rate more closely matching a preferred bandwidth and packet error rate for voice communications,

wherein when the application comprises a video communication application, the application preferences include a packet error rate preference based on a display capability of the wireless communication device.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein a first access point is associated with the first network and a second access point is associated with the second network, and wherein interrogating further comprises determining a geographic location of the first and second access points, determining a distance from the wireless communication station to each access point based on the location, and

wherein selecting comprises selecting either the first of the second network based on the distance to the associated access point.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein interrogating comprises sending a query to-the first and second networks.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein interrogating comprises maintaining a communication link with at least one of the networks.

14. A wireless communication device comprising:

a multi-protocol radio controller;

a plurality of separate radio interfaces to communicate with networks and to provide a common application layer protocol to the radio controller; and

a wireless connectivity assistant,

wherein the multi-protocol radio controller is to interrogate a first network with a first of the radio interfaces to determine a first network protocol associated with the first network and services hosted by the first network, the first network protocol having a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services hosted by the first network,

wherein the multi-protocol radio controller is to interrogate a second network with a second of the radio interfaces to determine a second network protocol associated with the second network and services hosted by the second network, the second network protocol having a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services hosted by the second network,

wherein the wireless connectivity assistant is to select either the first or second network based on application preferences for at least one application operating on a wireless communication device, and

wherein one of the radio interfaces is to communicate with the selected network in accordance with the associated network protocol,

wherein the radio interfaces comprise a plurality of wireless local area network radio interfaces and a short-range digital wireless interface, the radio interfaces to perform protocol specific operations and provide non-protocol specific signals to the radio controller,

wherein the controller causes the radio interfaces to interrogate available networks to determine current network information, and

wherein the wireless connectivity assistant is to select either the first or second network based on the associated data rate and packet error rate approximating the preferred data rate and packet error rate for the at least one application,

wherein the applications comprise a voice communication application, a data communication application, and a video communication application, wherein the application preferences comprise a preferred data rate and packet error rate for the at least one application operating on the wireless communication device, and

wherein the controller is to interface using a software agent between the at least one application and one of the radio interfaces configured to communicate in accordance with the network protocol of the selected network.

15. The communication device of claim 14 wherein the first network protocol is a first wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol and the second network protocol is a second WLAN protocol, and wherein:

when the at least one application includes a video communication application, the wireless connectivity assistant is to select either the first or the second network that is providing a video communication service and having an associated data rate and packet error rate more closely matching a preferred bandwidth and packet error rate for video communications,

when the at least one application includes a data communication application, the wireless connectivity assistant is to select either the first or the second network that is providing a data communication service and having an associated data rate and packet error rate more closely matching a preferred bandwidth and packet error rate for data communications, and

when the at least one application includes a voice communication application, the wireless connectivity assistant is to select either the first or the second network that is providing a voice communication service and having an associated data rate and packet error rate more closely matching a preferred bandwidth and packet error rate for voice communications, and

wherein when the application comprises a video communication application, the application preferences include a packet error rate preference based on a display capability of the communication device.

16. The communication device of claim 14 wherein a first access point is associated with the first network and a second access point is associated with the second network, and wherein the controller is to determine a geographic location of the first and second access points, and is to determine a distance from the wireless communication station to each access point based on the location, and

wherein the wireless connectivity assistant is to select either the first of the second network based on the distance to the associated access point.

17. The communication device of claim 14 wherein interrogating comprises sending a query to the first and second networks.

18. A wireless communication device comprising:

a multi-protocol radio controller;

a plurality of separate radio interfaces to communicate with networks and to provide a common application layer protocol to the radio controller; and

a wireless connectivity assistant,

wherein the multi-protocol radio controller is to interrogate a first network with a first of the radio interfaces to determine a first network protocol associated with the first network and services hosted by the first network, the first network protocol having a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services hosted by the first network,

wherein the multi-protocol radio controller is to interrogate a second network with a second of the radio interfaces to determine a second network protocol associated with the second network and services hosted by the second network, the second network protocol having a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services hosted by the second network,

wherein the wireless connectivity assistant is to select either the first or second network based on application preferences for at least one application operating on a wireless communication device, and

wherein one of the radio interfaces is to communicate with the selected network in accordance with the associated network protocol,

wherein the wireless connectivity assistant is to further select one of the networks based on current network information, wherein the current network information includes as least one of a bit-error-rate, packet size, network congestion, security, and cost for an available network,

wherein the wireless connectivity assistant is to further select one of the networks based on user preferences, wherein the user preferences include at least one of a preferred network carrier, a tolerance to quality of service, a security level and power constraint, and wherein the application preferences include at least one of a bit-rate requirement, a quality of service requirement, a connection continuity requirement, and a security requirement,

wherein the wireless connectivity assistant is to further select one of the networks based on system information, wherein the system information includes at least one of a power constraint, security requirement, processor speed, display resolution, processing capability, camera resolution, and audio capabilities.

19. The communication device of claim 18 wherein the controller causes at least one of the radio interfaces to maintain a communication link with an available network while interrogating.

20. A method performed by a wireless communication device for communicating in a wireless local area network comprising:

identifying, with more than one separate radio interface, services provided by one or more wireless local area networks hosted by one or more wireless access points, the services including at least one of a voice service, an internet access, and a data service; and

selecting one of the networks and an associated service by matching application preferences with characteristics associated with the provided services,

wherein the radio interfaces provide a common application layer protocol for each network,

wherein identifying the services includes interrogating by sending a query to the one or more networks to determine the characteristics of the services including a network protocol, a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services,

wherein the application preferences are associated with at least one application operating on the device of a plurality of applications, the applications comprising at least a voice communication application, a data communication application, and a video communication application, and

wherein the application preferences comprise a preferred data rate and packet error rate for the applications,

wherein when services are identified as provided by more than one wireless local area network, the method further comprises;

determining when at least two of the networks utilize either a same or an overlapping frequency band;

determining link degradation based on the utilization of the same or overlapping frequency bands; and

selecting another of the networks when the link degradation results in either an unacceptably high bit-error-rate or an unacceptably low signal-to-noise ratio based on the application preferences.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising refraining from selecting another of the networks when one of the networks utilizing either the same or overlapping frequency band is in a sleep mode.

22. A method performed by a wireless communication device for communicating in a wireless local area network comprising:

identifying, with more than one separate radio interface, services provided by one or more wireless local area networks hosted by one or more wireless access points, the services including at least one of a voice service, an internet access, and a data service; and

selecting one of the networks and an associated service by matching application preferences with characteristics associated with the provided services,

wherein the radio interfaces provide a common application layer protocol for each network,

wherein identifying the services includes interrogating by sending a query to the one or more networks to determine the characteristics of the services including a network protocol, a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services,

wherein the application preferences are associated with at least one application operating on the device of a plurality of applications, the applications comprising at least a voice communication application, a data communication application, and a video communication application, and

wherein the application preferences comprise a preferred data rate and packet error rate for the applications,

wherein when services are identified as provided by more than one wireless local area network, the method further comprises determining a distance from at least some of the network'"'"'s transceivers, and

based on the application preferences, selecting another one of the networks when either an unacceptably high bit-error-rate or an unacceptably low signal-to-noise ratio results because of the distance.

23. A method performed by a wireless communication device for communicating in a wireless local area network comprising:

identifying, with more than one separate radio interface, services provided by one or more wireless local area networks hosted by one or more wireless access points, the services including at least one of a voice service, an internet access, and a data service; and

selecting one of the networks and an associated service by matching application preferences with characteristics associated with the provided services,

wherein the radio interfaces provide a common application layer protocol for each network,

wherein identifying the services includes interrogating by sending a query to the one or more networks to determine the characteristics of the services including a network protocol, a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services,

wherein the application preferences are associated with at least one application operating on the device of a plurality of applications, the applications comprising at least a voice communication application, a data communication application, and a video communication application, and

wherein the application preferences comprise a preferred data rate and packet error rate for the applications,

wherein identifying services further includes determining a geographic location of the wireless communication device, and looking up services available at the determined geographic location in memory of the device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein determining the location of the device includes receiving global positioning satellite signals.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein determining the location of the device includes performing triangulation techniques on signals from communication networks.

26. A method performed by a wireless communication device for communicating in a wireless local area network comprising:

identifying, with more than one separate radio interface, services provided by one or more wireless local area networks hosted by one or more wireless access points, the services including at least one of a voice service, an internet access, and a data service; and

selecting one of the networks and an associated service by matching application preferences with characteristics associated with the provided services,

wherein the radio interfaces provide a common application layer protocol for each network,

wherein identifying the services includes interrogating by sending a query to the one or more networks to determine the characteristics of the services including a network protocol, a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services,

wherein the application preferences are associated with at least one application operating on the device of a plurality of applications, the applications comprising at least a voice communication application, a data communication application, and a video communication application, and

wherein the application preferences comprise a preferred data rate and packet error rate for the applications,

wherein when the at least one application includes a video communication application, selecting comprises selecting a service and associated network that is providing a video communication service and having an associated data rate and packet error rate more closely matching a preferred bandwidth and packet error rate for video communications,

wherein when the at least one application includes a data communication application, selecting comprises selecting a service and associated network that is providing a data communication service and having an associated data rate and packet error rate more closely matching a preferred bandwidth and packet error rate for data communications, and

wherein when the at least one application includes a voice communication application, selecting comprises selecting a service and associated network that is providing a voice communication service and having an associated data rate and packet error rate more closely matching a preferred bandwidth and packet error rate for voice communications.

27. A wireless communication device for communicating in wireless local area networks comprising:

a radio controller;

a plurality of separate radio interfaces to identify services provided by one or more wireless local area networks hosted by one or more wireless access points, the services including at least one of a voice service, an internet access, and a data service, the radio interfaces to provide a common application layer protocol to the radio controller; and

a wireless connectivity assistant to select one of the networks and an associated service by matching application preferences with characteristics associated with the provided services,

wherein the interfaces are to interrogate the one or more networks by sending a query to determine the characteristics of the services including a network protocol, a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services,

wherein the application preferences are associated with at least one application operating on the device of a plurality of applications, the applications comprising at least a voice communication application, a data communication application, and a video communication application,

wherein the application preferences comprise a preferred data rate and packet error rate for the applications,

wherein when services are identified as provided by more than one wireless local area network, wherein the wireless connectivity assistant is to determine when at least two of the networks utilize either a same or an overlapping frequency band,

wherein the wireless connectivity assistant is to further determine link degradation based on the utilization of the same or overlapping frequency bands, and

wherein the wireless connectivity assistant is to select another of the networks when the link degradation results in either an unacceptably high bit-error-rate or an unacceptably low signal-to-noise ratio based on the application preferences.

28. The wireless communication device of claim 27 wherein the wireless connectivity assistant is to refraining from selecting another of the networks when one of the networks utilizing either the same or overlapping frequency band is in a sleep mode.

29. A wireless communication device for communicating in wireless local area networks comprising:

a radio controller;

a plurality of separate radio interfaces to identify services provided by one or more wireless local area networks hosted by one or more wireless access points, the services including at least one of a voice service, an internet access, and a data service, the radio interfaces to provide a common application layer protocol to the radio controller; and

a wireless connectivity assistant to select one of the networks and an associated service by matching application preferences with characteristics associated with the provided services,

wherein the interfaces are to interrogate the one or more networks by sending a query to determine the characteristics of the services including a network protocol, a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services,

wherein the application preferences are associated with at least one application operating on the device of a plurality of applications, the applications comprising at least a voice communication application, a data communication application, and a video communication application,

wherein the application preferences comprise a preferred data rate and packet error rate for the applications,

wherein when services are identified as provided by more than one wireless local area network, the wireless connectivity assistant is to determine a distance from at least some of the network'"'"'s transceivers, and

based on the application preferences, the wireless connectivity assistant is to select another one of the networks when either an unacceptably high bit-error-rate or an unacceptably low signal-to-noise ratio results because of the distance.

30. A wireless communication device for communicating in wireless local area networks comprising:

a radio controller;

a plurality of separate radio interfaces to identify services provided by one or more wireless local area networks hosted by one or more wireless access points, the services including at least one of a voice service, an internet access, and a data service, the radio interfaces to provide a common application layer protocol to the radio controller; and

a wireless connectivity assistant to select one of the networks and an associated service by matching application preferences with characteristics associated with the provided services,

wherein the interfaces are to interrogate the one or more networks by sending a query to determine the characteristics of the services including a network protocol, a data rate and packet error rate associated with the services,

wherein the application preferences are associated with at least one application operating on the device of a plurality of applications, the applications comprising at least a voice communication application, a data communication application, and a video communication application,

wherein the application preferences comprise a preferred data rate and packet error rate for the applications,

wherein the wireless connectivity assistant is to determine a geographic location of the wireless communication device, and look up services available at the determined geographic location in memory of the device.