Apparatus and method for switching communication interface in wireless communication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12389286-B2
Application number	US-202217861357-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2022
Priority date	Aug 4, 2020
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an operating method of an electronic device in a wireless communication system includes: establishing a wireless communication connection for transmitting and receiving data to and from an access point in a first communication method; receiving a state detection message from the access point; identifying an internal state of the electronic device in response to the state detection message being received; and determining whether to switch a communication interface, based on the identified internal state, and the internal state includes a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of the wireless communication connection, information regarding whether a network switching mode of the electronic device is enabled, information regarding whether an application related to the data is enabled, and/or information regarding use of the data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method performed by an electronic device in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
establishing a wireless communication connection with a first access point supporting a first communication scheme;
receiving, from the first access point, a request message for switching a communication scheme or an access point for transmitting and receiving signals;
identifying whether an application processor of the electronic device is in a sleep mode based on the request message;
performing a discovery procedure for a second access point supporting the first communication scheme, in case that the application processor is not in the sleep mode and a first received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of first signals from the first access point is lower than a threshold;
in case that the second access point is discovered via the discovery procedure, switching the access point from the first access point to the second access point;
in case that the second access point is not discovered via the discovery procedure:
identifying that a value of a first parameter associated with a performance of the first communication scheme is lower than a value of a second parameter associated with a performance of a second communication scheme; and
switching the communication scheme from the first communication scheme to the second communication scheme.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying the first RSSI value of the first signals received from the first access point via the wireless communication connection; and
comparing the first RSSI value and the threshold.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
transmitting, to the first access point, a response message including information on whether the application processor is in the sleep mode and information on a result of comparison between the first RSSI value and the threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein second signals received from the second access point have a second RSSI value greater than the first RSSI value of the first signals and greater than the threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
acquiring position information of the electronic device; and
determining whether to disconnect the wireless communication connection, based on the position information.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discovery procedure is performed, in case that the application processor is not in the sleep mode, a network switching mode of the electronic device is enabled, and the first RSSI value is lower than the threshold.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
in case that the second access point is not discovered, disconnecting the wireless communication connection associated with the first communication scheme; and
establishing a wireless communication connection associated with the second communication scheme with the first access point.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the value of the first parameter is determined based on at least one of a communication performance of the first access point, or a location of the first access point, and
wherein the value of the second parameter is determined based on at least one of a communication performance of the second access point, or a location of the second access point.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in case that the application processor is in the sleep mode, the communication scheme corresponding to the first communication scheme is maintained.

10. An electronic device in a wireless communication system, the electronic device comprising: a transceiver; at least one processor electrically coupled with the transceiver and including an application processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor collectively or individually, cause the electronic device to: establish a wireless communication connection with a first access point supporting a first communication scheme, receive, from the first access point, a request message for switching a communication scheme or an access point for transmitting and receiving signals, identify whether the application processor is in a sleep mode based on the request message, perform a discovery procedure for a second access point supporting the first communication scheme, in case that the application processor is not in the sleep mode and a first received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of first signals from the first access point is lower than a threshold, in case that the second access point scheme is discovered via the discovery procedure, switch the access point from the first access point to the second access point, in case that the second access point is not discovered via the discovery procedure: identify that a value of a first parameter associated with a performance of the first communication scheme is lower than a value of a second parameter associated with a performance of a second communication scheme, and switch the communication scheme from the first communication scheme to the second communication scheme.

11. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor collectively or individually, cause the electronic device to: identify the first RSSI value of the first signals received from the first access point via the wireless communication connection, and compare the first RSSI value and the threshold.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor collectively or individually, cause the electronic device to:
transmit, to the first access point, a response message including information on whether the application processor is in the sleep mode and information on a result of comparison between the first RSSI value and the threshold.

13. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein second signals received from the second access point have a second RSSI value greater than the first RSSI value of the first signals and greater than the threshold.

14. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor collectively or individually, cause the electronic device to:
acquire position information of the electronic device, and
determine whether to disconnect the wireless communication connection, based on the position information.

15. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the discovery procedure is performed, in case that the application processor is not in the sleep mode, a network switching mode of the electronic device is enabled, and the first RSSI value is lower than the threshold.

16. The electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor collectively or individually, cause the electronic device to:
in case that the second access point is not discovered, disconnect the wireless communication connection associated with the first communication scheme, and
establish a wireless communication connection associated with the second communication scheme with the first access point.

17. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the value of the first parameter is determined based on at least one of a communication performance of the first access point, or a location of the first access point, and
wherein the value of the second parameter is determined based on at least one of a communication performance of the second access point, or a location of the second access point.

18. The electronic device of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kang Minho
• Nam Chounjong
• Lim Junhak

Classifications

• H04W36/302

  due to low signal strength · CPC title

• H04W36/362

  Conditional handover · CPC title

• H04W76/10

  Connection setup · CPC title

• H04W88/06

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

• H04W48/20

  Selecting an access point · CPC title