Mobile communication device providing communication pathway determination assistance
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- in a mobile communication device operable for communication over a plurality of different networks,accessing availability information for determining available networks among the plurality of different networks for communication by the mobile communication device;
determining the available networks using the availability information;
accessing user preference information for respective networks of the available networks, including retrieving from memory a user profile of criteria reflecting user preferences for network communication, including,retrieving data defining a plurality of weighting factors defined by a user of the mobile communication device, includingretrieving data defining a user-defined weighting factor for monetary information associated with the available networks;
retrieving data defining a user-defined weighting factor for communication quality associated with the available networks; and
retrieving data defining a user-defined weighting factor for communication reliability associated with the available networks;
using the user preference information, providing user assistance for determining a selected network among the available networks; and
communicating over the selected network.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method in a mobile communication device for providing assistance to a user in determining a communication pathway. A system may comprise processor-executable instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause a mobile communication device that supports a communication type over multiple networks to access availability information stored in a remote database for determining available networks among the multiple networks for performing the communication type, determine the available networks using the availability information, provide user assistance for determining a selected network among the available networks for the communication type, and perform the communication type using the selected network.
16 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
in a mobile communication device operable for communication over a plurality of different networks, accessing availability information for determining available networks among the plurality of different networks for communication by the mobile communication device; determining the available networks using the availability information; accessing user preference information for respective networks of the available networks, including retrieving from memory a user profile of criteria reflecting user preferences for network communication, including, retrieving data defining a plurality of weighting factors defined by a user of the mobile communication device, including retrieving data defining a user-defined weighting factor for monetary information associated with the available networks; retrieving data defining a user-defined weighting factor for communication quality associated with the available networks; and retrieving data defining a user-defined weighting factor for communication reliability associated with the available networks; using the user preference information, providing user assistance for determining a selected network among the available networks; and communicating over the selected network.
-
-
2. A method comprising:
in a mobile communication device, operable for communication over a plurality of different networks, accessing availability information for determining available networks among the plurality of different networks for communication by the mobile communication device; determining the available networks using the availability information; accessing user preference information for respective networks of the available networks; using the user preference information, providing user assistance for determining a selected network among the available networks, including determining a recommended network among the available networks based, at least in part, on the user preference information for respective networks, including determining characteristics associated with the respective networks; determining an aggregate metric based on the determined characteristics and the user preference information; and determining the recommended network based on the aggregate metric; and presenting an indication of the recommended network through a user interface; and communicating over the selected network. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
-
7. A method comprising:
in a mobile communication device operable for communication over a plurality of different networks, accessing availability information for determining available networks among the plurality of different networks for communication by the mobile communication device; determining the available networks using the availability information; through a user interface of the mobile communication device, providing user assistance to a user of the mobile communication device for determining by the user a selected network of the available networks, including presenting respective visual indications describing characteristics associated with communicating over respective networks of the available networks to the user on the user interface of the mobile communication device including presenting respective visual indications in respective colors on a display device of the user interface; receiving a user indication of the selected network; and communicating over the selected network. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
12. A mobile communication device comprising:
-
a user interface module; two or more communication interface modules, each respective communication interface module configured for communication with a respective network of a plurality of networks; and a communication pathway selection assistance module in data communication with the user interface module and the two or more communication interface modules, the communication pathway selection assistance module programmed to determine available networks among the plurality of networks and provide to the user interface module audible or visual user assistance information for determining by the user a selected network of the available networks, including presenting respective visual indications describing characteristics associated with communicating over respective networks of the available networks to the user on the user interface of the mobile communication device including presenting respective visual indications in respective colors on a display device of the user interface, and to receive a user indication of the selected network, the communication pathway selection assistance module further programmed to establish a communication pathway with the selected network over an appropriate communication interface module of the two or more communication interface modules. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
Specification