Wireless network selection

• US 8,200,214 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Chutorash, Richard J., Servis, Brian K., Laux, Peter C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane
• Application Number:
  US12/422,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20100041397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/67.11, 455/406, 455/411, 455/433, 455/432.1, 455/450, 455/456.1, 455/469.2, 455/569.2, 370/311, 370/312, 370/329, 370/331, 370/338, 370/254, 701/33, 701/36, 701/117, 701/200, 726/4, 709/223, 340/425.5
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A method is provided for connecting an in-vehicle communication system to a plurality of wireless communication networks, including a mobile telephony network and an internet protocol network. The in-vehicle communication system is configured to roam between the plurality of wireless communication networks, wherein the method includes the step of receiving a first wireless communication signal from one of the plurality of wireless communication networks. The method also includes the step of detecting a second wireless communication signal from a second of the plurality of wireless communication networks. The method further includes the step of determining an intensity level of the first and second wireless communication signals. The method further includes the step of switching the in-vehicle communication system to one of the plurality of wireless communication networks based on the intensity level of the first and second wireless communication signals.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle communication system configured to roam between a plurality of wireless communication networks, including a mobile telephony network and an internet protocol network, the system comprising:

a wireless transceiver module configured to receive a wireless communication signal transmitted from the plurality of wireless communication networks;

a control circuit configured to measure an intensity of the wireless communication signal; and

a switching module configured to facilitate roaming between the plurality of wireless communication networks based on the intensity of the wireless communication signal measured by the control circuit.

2. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the roaming between the plurality of wireless communication networks is performed in response to the control logic circuit measuring a change in the intensity of the wireless communication signal.

3. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the roaming between the plurality of wireless communication networks is performed in response to the wireless transceiver module detecting a second wireless communication signal, the signal being originated from a second wireless communication network.

4. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the mobile telephony network comprises a communication network for transmitting a cellular telephony and/or data signal.

5. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for receiving an input command from a user.

6. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the roaming between the plurality of wireless communication networks is performed in response to input by a user.

7. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 6, wherein the input by the user is a spoken command.

8. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle communication system is coupled to a location determining system configured to provide vehicle location information.

9. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 8, wherein the location determining system is a global positioning system.

10. The in-vehicle communication system of claim 8, wherein the location determining system is configured to facilitate locating at least one of the plurality of wireless communication networks.

11. A method of connecting an in-vehicle communication system to a plurality of wireless communication networks, including a mobile telephony network and an internet protocol network, the in-vehicle communication system being configured to roam between the plurality of wireless communication networks, the steps of the method comprising:

receiving, at a transceiver of an in-vehicle communications system, a first wireless communication signal from one of the plurality of wireless communication networks;

receiving, at the transceiver of the in-vehicle communications system, a second wireless communication signal from a second of the plurality of wireless communication networks;

using a control logic circuit coupled to the transceiver to determine an intensity level of the first and second wireless communication signals; and

using the control logic circuit to cause a switching of the in-vehicle communication system to one of the plurality of wireless communication networks in response to the determined intensity level of the first and second wireless communication signals.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

comparing the determined intensity level of the first and second wireless communication signals, such that the control logic circuit causes the switching to one of the plurality of wireless communication networks based on the comparison.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the switching is performed in response to comparing the determined intensity level of the first and second wireless communication signals.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the determined intensity level of the wireless communication signal includes a rate of data transmission over the plurality of wireless communication networks.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the determined intensity level of the wireless communication signal includes a number of cellular transmission antennas in a region.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the determined intensity level of the wireless communication signal includes a number of wireless access points in a region.

17. An in-vehicle communication system configured to roam between a cellular telephony network and a wireless internet protocol network, the system comprising:

a wireless transceiver module configured to transmit to and receive a wireless communication signal transmitted from the plurality of wireless communication networks;

a control logic circuit configured to measure an intensity of the wireless communication signal;

a switching module configured to facilitate roaming between a cellular telephony network and a wireless internet protocol network based on the intensity of the wireless communication signal measured by the control logic circuit; and

a location determining system configured to provide vehicle location information, and is further configured to facilitate locating at least one of the cellular telephony network or the wireless internet protocol network.