Location based network selection method for a mobile device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10178497-B2
Application number	US-201615352314-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A method for connecting a mobile device with one of a plurality of wireless networks begins by initiating a network selection process of the mobile device with the plurality of wireless networks. A remote server determines a geographic position of the mobile device with respect to at least one of the plurality of wireless networks. The remote server selects one of a first network and a second network of the plurality of wireless networks responsive to the determined geographic position of the mobile device and an associated rule set stored at the remote server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for connecting a mobile device with one of a plurality of wireless networks, comprising the steps of:
initiating a network selection process of the mobile device with one of the plurality of wireless networks;
determining a geographic position of the mobile device with respect to at least one of the plurality of wireless networks;
selecting one of the plurality of wireless networks responsive to the determined geographic position of the mobile device; and
connecting to the selected one of the plurality of wireless networks.

2. A method for connecting a mobile device with one of a plurality of wireless networks, comprising the steps of:
initiating a network selection process of the mobile device with the plurality of wireless networks;
determining, at a remote server, a geographic position of the mobile device with respect to at least one of the plurality of wireless networks;
selecting, at the remote server, one of a first network and a second network of the plurality of wireless networks responsive to the determined geographic position of the mobile device and an associated rule set stored at the remote server; and
providing a notification of the selected one of the first network and the second network of the plurality of wireless networks.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the step of:
accessing, at the remote server, a boundary map defining a geographic boundary of the at least one of the plurality of wireless networks;
determining, at the remote server, a geographic position of the mobile device; and
determining, at the remote server, if the geographic position of the mobile device lies within the geographic boundary of the at least one of the plurality of wireless networks.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the step of GPS positioning the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the steps of:
identifying, at the remote server, the geographic position of a cell communicating with the mobile device; and
establishing, at the remote server, the geographic location of the mobile device as the geographic position of the cell communicating with the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 3 , further including the step of periodically updating, at the remote server, the boundary map defining the geographic boundary of the at least one of the plurality of wireless networks.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of periodically updating further comprises the step of transmitting an updated boundary map to the remote server.

8. The method of claim 2 further including the steps of:
determining, at the remote server, a subsequent geographic position of the mobile device connected to the second network of the plurality of wireless networks with respect to the at least one of the plurality of wireless networks; and
disconnecting the mobile device from the second network when the determination is made that the geographic location of the wireless device is within the at least one of the plurality of wireless networks.

9. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of connecting to the selected one of the first network and the second network of the plurality of wireless networks.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of connecting further comprises the steps of:
attempting to connect with the first network of the plurality of wireless networks in accordance with a rule set that biases the connection of the wireless device to the first network; and
connecting with the second network of the plurality of wireless networks if connection with the first network fails.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of attempting further includes the step of attempting to connect with the first network of the plurality of wireless networks a predetermined number of times before trying to connect with another network of the plurality of networks.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of attempting further includes the step of attempting to connect with the first network of the plurality of wireless network for a predetermined duration of time before trying to connect with another network of the plurality of networks.

13. A method for connecting a mobile device with one of a plurality of networks, comprising:
initiating a registration of the mobile device with a first network of the plurality of networks;
accessing, at a remote server not associated with a network service provider, a boundary map defining a geographic boundary of the first network;
determining, at the remote server, a geographic position of the mobile device;
determining, at the remote server, if the geographic position of the mobile device lies within the geographic boundary of the first network;
attempting to connect with the first network in accordance with a rule set located at the remote server that biases the connection of the wireless device to the first network responsive to the determine geographic position of the mobile device with respect to the first network.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the step of GPS positioning the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of determining the geographic position further comprises the steps of:
identifying, at the remote server, the geographic position of a cell communicating with the mobile device; and
establishing, at the remote server, the geographic location of the mobile device as the geographic position of the cell communicating with the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 13 , further including the step of periodically updating the boundary map defining the geographic boundary of the first network, at the remote server.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of attempting further includes the step of providing customized application behavior for the mobile device responsive to the determined geographic position of the mobile device with respect to the home network and a type of an application attempting to access the home network.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of attempting further includes the step of attempting to connect with the home network for a predetermined duration of time before trying to connect with the at least one roaming network.

19. A system for connecting a remotely located mobile device with one of a plurality of wireless networks, comprising:
a server for receiving a request to connect to one of the plurality of networks from the remotely located mobile device;
at least one rule set associated with the remotely located mobile device and stored at the server for controlling connection of the mobile device with the one of the plurality of wireless networks;
wherein the server determines a geographic position of the remotely located mobile device with respect to at least one of the plurality of wireless networks and then
selects one of a first network and a second network of the plurality of wireless networks responsive to the determined geographic position of the mobile device and the associated rule set stored at the server.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one rule set configures the remotely located mobile device to attempt to connect with the first network of the plurality of wireless networks a predetermined number of times before trying to connect with the second net

Assignees

• T Mobile Usa Inc

Inventors

• Unger Ronald
• Guven Mesut
• Chao Edward
• Lorang Malcolm M
• Linquist Roger D

Classifications

• H04W60/04

  using triggered events · CPC title

• H04W4/021 Primary

  Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences · CPC title

• H04W64/00

  Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management · CPC title

• H04W48/18

  Selecting a network or a communication service · CPC title

• H04W76/18

  Management of setup rejection or failure · CPC title