# US 11,910,308 B2 · Communications devices and methods for selecting a wireless access interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,910,308 B2 - Document ID: US11910308B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/956,852 - Filed: 2022-09-30 - Published: 2023-02-09 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-07 - Assignees: Sony Group Corporation - Applicants: Sony Group Corporation - Inventors: Brian Alexander Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11910308B2 ## CPC - H04W 48/18: Selecting a network or a communication service - H04B 17/328: {Reference signal received power [RSRP]; Reference signal received quality [RSRQ]} - H04L 43/16: Threshold monitoring - H04W 28/0268: {using specific QoS parameters for wireless networks, e.g. QoS class identifier [QCI] or guaranteed bit rate [GBR] (negotiating SLA or negotiating QoS H04W28/24)} - H04W 48/20: Selecting an access point - H04W 72/56: based on priority criteria - H04W 36/0061: {of neighbour cell information} - H04W 48/12: using downlink control channel - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract A communications device transmits data to a mobile communications network or receives data from a mobile communications network. The mobile communications network includes plural infrastructure equipment each providing a wireless access interface for the communications device. The wireless access interfaces may have a different frequency but operate in accordance with the same standard or may use different radio access technologies. The communications device selects one of the wireless access interface by generating a signal reception metric for each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment and each if the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment, and selects or reselects one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment or one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment in accordance with predetermined criteria based on the generated signal reception metrics. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuitry for a communications device for transmitting data to or receiving data from a mobile communications network, the mobile communications network including infrastructure equipment, the infrastructure equipment providing a plurality of wireless access interfaces for transmitting signals to or receiving signals from the communications device, the circuitry comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit signals representing the data via a serving wireless access interface provided by a selected infrastructure equipment to the mobile communications network, a receiver configured to receive signals representing the data via the serving wireless access interface provided by the selected infrastructure equipment, a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver to select one of the wireless access interfaces of the infrastructure equipment as the serving wireless access interface, wherein one or more of the selected infrastructure equipment or one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment to the selected infrastructure equipment that are in the mobile communication network provide an enhanced wireless access interface providing a facility for transmitting or receiving signals with enhanced coverage relative to a wireless access interface which is not enhanced from the same selected infrastructure equipment, and the controller is configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to generate a signal reception metric for each of wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment and for each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment, and to select or reselect one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment or one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment in accordance with predetermined criteria based on the generated signal reception metrics, wherein the circuitry is configured to measure a signal quality of the selected infrastructure equipment and the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment, or measure a signal quality provided from each of the one or more wireless access interfaces provided from the selected infrastructure equipment and the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment, and determine for each of the wireless access interfaces, the signal reception metric based on a difference between the measured signal quality and a predetermined minimum signal quality level associated with each of the wireless access interfaces, wherein the signal reception metric for the enhanced wireless access interface provided by the selected infrastructure equipment or the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment is derived using a predetermined minimum signal quality level, wherein the predetermined minimum signal quality level for the enhanced wireless access interface is lower than the predetermined minimum quality level for the wireless access interface which is not enhanced provided by the selected infrastructure equipment or the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment by an amount which is commensurate with an amount by which the enhanced wireless access interface provided by the selected infrastructure equipment or the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment provides a facility for transmitting or receiving the signals with enhanced coverage relative to the wireless access interface provided by the selected infrastructure equipment or the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment which is not enhanced. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment and each of the one or more wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment has a relative priority, and the controller is configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to compare the relative priorities of each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment and the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment, to compare the generated signal reception metrics for each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment and the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment, and to select one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment or selected infrastructure equipment with at least one of the highest priority and the highest signal reception metric. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the enhanced wireless access interface is assigned the lowest relative priority level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller is configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to select the one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment or the serving infrastructure, if one of the neighbouring infrastructure equipment provides a wireless access interface with a higher relative priority than the wireless access interface of the serving infrastructure equipment, and the signal reception metric of the higher priority wireless access interface exceeds a first predetermined threshold associated with selecting a higher priority wireless access interface, then selecting, by the communications device the higher relative priority wireless access interface, or if the signal reception metric of the serving wireless access interface is below a second predetermined threshold associated with selecting a lower priority wireless access interface, and one of the neighbouring infrastructure equipment provides a wireless access interface or an enhanced wireless access interface with a lower relative priority than the serving wireless access interface of the selected infrastructure equipment, then to select the lower relative priority wireless access interface or enhanced wireless access interface if the signal reception metric of the lower priority wireless access interface exceeds a third predetermined threshold associated with selecting a lower priority wireless access interface or enhanced wireless access interface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment and each of the one or more wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment has a relative priority, and the controller is configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to compare the relative priorities of each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment and the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 1, the enhanced wireless access interface provides a facility for transmitting or receiving signals over an extended coverage area relative to a wireless access interface which is not enhanced. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined minimum signal quality level is lower than the predetermined minimum signal quality level for the wireless access interface provided by the selected infrastructure equipment or the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment which is not enhanced. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the predetermined minimum signal quality level for the enhanced wireless access interface is lower than the predetermined minimum quality level for the wireless access interface which is not enhanced provided by the selected infrastructure equipment or the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enhanced coverage is a result of an enhanced coverage mode that uses an enhanced threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communications device uses two priority levels and two thresholds that are evaluated in parallel to select one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment or one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment. ### Claim 11 A circuitry for a communications device for transmitting data to or receiving data from a mobile communications network, the mobile communications network including a plurality of infrastructure equipment, each infrastructure equipment providing one or more wireless access interfaces for the communications device, the circuitry comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit signals representing the data, a receiver configured to receive signals representing the data, a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver to select one of the wireless access interfaces of the infrastructure equipment as a serving wireless access interface, wherein the serving wireless access interface is provided by a selected infrastructure equipment, and wherein one or more of the selected infrastructure equipment or one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment provide an enhanced wireless access interface providing a facility for transmitting or receiving signals with enhanced coverage relative to a wireless access interface which is not enhanced from the same selected infrastructure equipment, and the controller is configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to generate a signal reception metric for each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment and for each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment, and to select or reselect one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment or one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment in accordance with predetermined criteria based on the generated signal reception metrics, wherein the circuitry is configured to measure a signal quality of the selected infrastructure equipment and the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment, or measure a signal quality provided from each of the one or more wireless access interfaces provided from the selected infrastructure equipment and the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment, and determine for each of the wireless access interfaces, the signal reception metric based on a difference between the measured signal quality and a predetermined minimum signal quality level associated with each of the wireless access interfaces, wherein the signal reception metric for the enhanced wireless access interface provided by the selected infrastructure equipment or the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment is derived using a predetermined minimum signal quality level, wherein the predetermined minimum signal quality level for the enhanced wireless access interface is lower than the predetermined minimum quality level for the wireless access interface which is not enhanced provided by the selected infrastructure equipment or the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment by an amount which is commensurate with an amount by which the enhanced wireless access interface provided by the selected infrastructure equipment or the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment provides a facility for transmitting or receiving the signals with enhanced coverage relative to the wireless access interface provided by the selected infrastructure equipment or the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment which is not enhanced. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment and each of the one or more wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment has a relative priority, and the controller is configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to compare the relative priorities of each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment and the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment, to compare the generated signal reception metrics for each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment and the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment, and to select one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment or selected infrastructure equipment with at least one of the highest priority and the highest signal reception metric. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the enhanced wireless access interface is assigned the lowest relative priority level. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller is configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to select the one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment or the serving infrastructure, if one of the neighbouring infrastructure equipment provides a wireless access interface with a higher relative priority than the wireless access interface of the serving infrastructure equipment, and the signal reception metric of the higher priority wireless access interface exceeds a first predetermined threshold associated with selecting a higher priority wireless access interface, then selecting, by the communications device the higher relative priority wireless access interface, or if the signal reception metric of the serving wireless access interface is below a second predetermined threshold associated with selecting a lower priority wireless access interface, and one of the neighbouring infrastructure equipment provides a wireless access interface or an enhanced wireless access interface with a lower relative priority than the serving wireless access interface of the selected infrastructure equipment, then to select the lower relative priority wireless access interface or enhanced wireless access interface if the signal reception metric of the lower priority wireless access interface exceeds a third predetermined threshold associated with selecting a lower priority wireless access interface or enhanced wireless access interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment and each of the one or more wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment has a relative priority, and the controller is configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to compare the relative priorities of each of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment and the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 11, the enhanced wireless access interface provides a facility for transmitting or receiving signals over an extended coverage area relative to a wireless access interface which is not enhanced. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the predetermined minimum signal quality level is lower than the predetermined minimum signal quality level for the wireless access interface provided by the selected infrastructure equipment or the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment which is not enhanced. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The circuitry for the communications device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the communications device uses two priority levels and two thresholds that are evaluated in parallel to select one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the one or more neighbouring infrastructure equipment or one of the wireless access interfaces provided by the selected infrastructure equipment.