Use-triggered signal scanning for network detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10873885-B2
Application number	US-201916378148-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2019
Priority date	Aug 27, 2018
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

A wireless communication system may support two types of networks, such as a 4th-Generation (4G) network and a 5th-Generation (5G) network. The 4G network is accessed through Long-Term Evolution (LTE) base stations. The 5G network is accessed through New Radio (NR) base stations. During idle mode, a communication device may scan 5G RF frequencies to determine whether a 5G signal is available and whether to display a 5G network symbol in the status bar of the device. The communication device is configured to detect conditions indicating whether a user of the device is likely viewing the device and/or the display of the device. If it is unlikely that the user is viewing the device or its screen, RF frequency scanning is paused to reduce power consumption and the currently displayed network symbol is maintained until RF frequency scanning is resumed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method performed by a cellular communication device, comprising:
receiving, from a first base station, an indication that the first base station is associated with a second base station to support dual connectivity, wherein the first base station operates using a first radio access technology and the second base station operates using a second radio access technology;
in response to receiving the indication, repeatedly searching multiple frequencies to detect a radio frequency (RF) signal used by the second base station for communications with communication devices;
in response to detecting the RF signal, displaying a symbol on the cellular communication device, wherein the symbol indicates that the second radio access technology is currently available to the cellular communication device;
at a first time, detecting a first condition of the cellular communication device, wherein the first condition indicates that a probability that the cellular communication device is being viewed is less than a threshold probability level;
in response to detecting the first condition, pausing the searching;
at a second time, detecting a second condition of the cellular communication device, wherein the second condition indicates that the probability that the cellular communication device is being viewed is greater than a threshold probability level; and
in response to detecting the second condition of the cellular communication device, resuming the searching.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cellular communication device has a graphical user interface and detecting the first condition comprises determining that the cellular communication device is not displaying the graphical user interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the searching is repeated at time intervals, each time interval having a length; and
the method further comprises increasing the length after each repetition of the searching until the length reaches a limit.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the first condition comprises one or more of:
determining that the cellular communication device is displaying a screen saver;
determining that the cellular communication device has been locked for security;
determining that the cellular communication device is in a low-power mode;
determining that the cellular communication device is in a sleep mode;
determining that the display of the cellular communication device is facing downward;
determining that the cellular communication device is in a confined space;
determining whether a camera of the cellular communication device is obscured;
determining that the display of the cellular communication device is against a surface;
determining that ambient sounds have been blocked;
determining that a human face is not detected; or
determining that the cellular communication device is stationary.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication comprises receiving a System Information Block (SIB) from the first base station.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first radio access technology is a 4 th -Generation (4G) radio access technology; and
the second radio access technology is a 5 th -Generation (5G) radio access technology.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the RF signal comprises determining that the RF signal has at least a threshold signal strength or at least a threshold signal quality.

8. A cellular communication device, comprising:
a graphical display panel for display of a graphical user interface (GUI);
one or more processors; and
one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform actions comprising:
communicating with a master base station of a network cell, wherein the master base station operates using 4 th -Generation (4G) radio access technology;
receiving, from the master base station, an indication that the master base station is associated with a secondary base station to support a Non-Standalone Architecture (NSA), wherein the secondary base station operates using 5 th -Generation radio access technology;
at a first time, detecting a first condition of the cellular communication device, wherein the first condition indicates that a probability that the GUI is being viewed is greater than a threshold probability level;
in response to detecting the first condition, repeatedly searching multiple frequencies to detect an RF signal used by the secondary base station; and
in response to detecting the RF signal, displaying a symbol on the cellular communication device indicating that 5G services are currently available to the cellular communication device.

9. The cellular communication device of claim 8 , wherein detecting the first condition comprises determining that the cellular communication device is displaying the GUI.

10. The cellular communication device of claim 8 , wherein:
the searching is repeated at time intervals, each time interval having a length; and
the actions further comprise increasing the length after each repetition of the searching until the length reaches a limit.

11. The cellular communication device of claim 8 , the actions further comprising:
at a second time, detecting a second condition of the cellular communication device, wherein the second condition indicates a probability that the GUI is being viewed is less than a threshold probability level; and
in response to detecting the second condition, pausing the searching.

12. The cellular communication device of claim 8 , wherein detecting the first condition comprises one or more of:
determining that the cellular communication device is not displaying a screen saver;
determining that the cellular communication device is not locked for security;
determining that the cellular communication device is not in a low-power mode;
determining that the cellular communication device is not in a sleep mode;
determining that the display of the cellular communication device is not facing downward;
determining that the cellular communication device is not in a confined space;
determining that a camera of the cellular communication device is not obscured;
determining that the display of the cellular communication device is not against a surface;
determining that ambient sounds have not been blocked;
detecting a face; or
determining that the cellular communication device is moving.

13. The cellular communication device of claim 8 , wherein detecting the RF signal comprises determining that the RF signal has at least a threshold signal strength or a threshold signal quality.

14. A method performed by a cellular communication device, the method comprising:
communicating with a master base station, wherein the master base station operates using 4 th -Generation (4G) radio access technology and is associated with a secondary base station to support a Non-Standalone Architecture (NSA), wherein the secondary base station operates using 5 th -Generation (5G) radio access technology;
repeatedly searching multiple frequencies to detect a radio frequency (RF) signal used by the secondary base station;
in response to detecting the RF signal, displaying a symbol on the cellular communication device indicating that the 5G radio access technology is currently available to the cellular communication device;
at a first time, detecting a first condition of the cellular communication device, wherein the first condition indicates that a probability that the GUI is being viewed is less than a threshold probability level; a

Assignees

• T Mobile Usa Inc

Inventors

• Au Chad
• Lu Kun
• Kwok Ming Shan
• Liu Jun
• Gronstad Egil
• Macdonald Alan Denis
• Humbert John J

Classifications

• H04L41/0668 Primary

  by dynamic selection of recovery network elements, e.g. replacement by the most appropriate element after failure · CPC title

• H04W88/06

  adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals · CPC title

• H04L43/16

  Threshold monitoring · CPC title

• H04L41/22

  comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title

• H04L5/0082

  at predetermined intervals · CPC title