# US 10,873,848 B1 · Systems and methods providing a station with a suggestion to transition from Wi-Fi to LTE > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,848 B1 - Document ID: US10873848B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/542,948 - Filed: 2019-08-16 - Published: 2020-12-10 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-07 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Jerome Henry; Malcolm Muir Smith; Vishal Satyendra Desai; Robert Edgar Barton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873848B1 ## CPC - H04W 8/12: between location registers or mobility servers - H04W 24/10: Scheduling measurement reports {; Arrangements for measurement reports} - H04W 36/08: Reselecting an access point - H04W 48/18: Selecting a network or a communication service - H04W 76/11: Allocation or use of connection identifiers - H04W 76/19: Connection re-establishment - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method performed by a system which manages station transition from a Wi-Fi access point includes sending, based on the station roaming to an edge-of-domain access point, a request to neighboring access points to the edge-of-domain access point for neighbor reports. The method includes receiving a cellular signal value from the station, comparing a first signal grade associated with the edge-of-domain access point to a second signal grade associated with the cellular signal value to yield a comparison and generating a link usability rating associated with a link between the station and the edge-of-domain access point. Based at least in part on the comparison and the link usability rating, the method includes transmitting a message to the station suggesting that the station roam from the edge-of-domain access point to a cellular network. An edge of the domain can also be dynamic and vary based on station characteristics. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: sending, based on a station roaming to an edge-of-domain access point, a request to neighboring access points to the edge-of-domain access point for neighbor reports; receiving a cellular signal value from the station; comparing a first signal grade associated with the edge-of-domain access point to a second signal grade associated with the cellular signal value to yield a comparison; generating a link usability rating associated with a link between the station and the edge-of-domain access point; and based at least in part on the comparison and the link usability rating, transmitting a message to the station suggesting that the station roam from the edge-of-domain access point to a cellular network. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sending occurs at one or more of a regular interval, an interval inversely proportional to a strength of a station signal, an interval based on a history of station form factors and recorded uplink and downlink reported signal strength differences, and an interval based on a station retry rate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the cellular signal value comprises one or more of a cellular type, a cellular level, a form factor and a cell identification. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating the link usability rating further comprises comparing an upstream signal to a downstream signal to generate an asymmetry coefficient matching, wherein the asymmetry coefficient matching impacts the link usability rating. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein generating the link usability rating further comprises one or more of evaluating a retry rate to generate a retry coefficient and measuring a difference between an uplink retry count and a downlink retry count to generate a retry asymmetric coefficient. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the link usability rating varies based on one or more of a degradation of signal strength, a level of asymmetry between an uplink signal strength and a downlink signal strength, a number of retry counts associated with an uplink, a number of retry counts associated with a downlink, and a retry asymmetry. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises an 802.11 transition message configured to suggest a transition to a cellular network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein when the station does not transition to the cellular network based on the message, the method further comprises: reducing service to the station offered from the edge-of-domain access point to encourage the station to transition to the cellular network. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein in response to the message, the station transitions a portion of its traffic from the edge-of-domain access point to the cellular network. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein in response to the message, the station stopped sending data traffic to the edge-of-domain access point until the station transitions to the cellular network. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the edge-of-domain access point is near an edge of a domain of coverage area by the edge-of-domain access point. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the edge of the domain of coverage area is adaptive based on a characteristic of a respective station. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the characteristic comprises one or more of an operating system version, a physical characteristic of the respective station, a cellular service provider for the respective station, and a speed at which the respective station is moving. ### Claim 14 A system comprising: at least one processor; and a computer readable storage device storing instructions which, when excused by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: sending, based on a station roaming to an edge-of-domain access point, a request to neighboring access points to the edge-of-domain access point for neighbor reports; receiving a cellular signal value from the station; comparing a first signal grade associated with the edge-of-domain access point to a second signal grade associated with the cellular signal value to yield a comparison; generating a link usability rating associated with a link between the station and the edge-of-domain access point; and based at least in part on the comparison and the link usability rating, transmitting a message to the station suggesting that the station roam from the edge-of-domain access point to a cellular network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the sending occurs at one or more of a regular interval, an interval inversely proportional to a strength of a station signal, an interval based on a history of station form factors and recorded uplink and downlink reported signal strength differences, and an interval based on a station retry rate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the cellular signal value comprises one or more of a cellular type, a cellular level, a form factor and a cell identification. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein generating the link usability rating further comprises comparing an upstream signal to a downstream signal to generate an asymmetry coefficient matching, wherein the asymmetry coefficient matching impacts the link usability rating. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein generating the link usability rating further comprises one or more of evaluating a retry rate to generate a retry coefficient and measuring a difference between an uplink retry count and a downlink retry count to generate a retry asymmetric coefficient. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein an edge of a domain of coverage area associated with the edge-of-domain access point is adaptive based on a characteristic of a respective station. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein a characteristic comprises one or more of an operating system version, a physical characteristic of the respective station, a cellular service provider for the respective station, and a speed at which the respective station is moving.