# US 12,114,271 B2 · Power optimization for frequent service loss > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,114,271 B2 - Document ID: US12114271B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/596,597 - Filed: 2019-06-28 - Published: 2022-10-27 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-28 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Google LLC - Inventors: Shivank Nayak; Srinivas Vangaru; Siddharth Ray; Qin Zhang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12114271B2 ## CPC - H04W 52/245: {taking into account received signal strength} - H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information - H04W 52/0229: {where the received signal is a wanted signal} - H04W 52/0238: {where the received signal is an unwanted signal, e.g. interference or idle signal} - H04W 52/0267: {by controlling user interface components} - H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition - H04W 48/20: Selecting an access point - 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) - 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 Apparatus and methods related to acquiring service on mobile computing devices (MCDs) are provided. A method includes determining a decreasing sequence of scan ratios, each scan ratio indicating a proportion of time over which a MCD scans one or more frequencies to attempt connection with a wireless network during a disconnected time window. The method further includes determining a connected time window′ when the MCD is connected to the wireless network. The method additionally includes determining a ping-pong rate for the MCD based at least on a duration of the connected time window. The method also includes selecting a scan ratio from the decreasing sequence of scan ratios based on the ping-pong rate. The method further includes scanning the one or more frequencies in accordance with the decreasing sequence of scan ratios and starting from the selected scan ratio to cause the MCD to attempt connection with the wireless network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method, comprising: determining a decreasing sequence of scan ratios, each scan ratio indicating a proportion of time over which a mobile computing device scans one or more frequencies to attempt connection with a wireless network during a disconnected time window when the mobile computing device is disconnected from the wireless network; determining a connected time window when the mobile computing device is connected to the wireless network, the connected time window occurring after the disconnected time window; determining a ping-pong rate for the mobile computing device based at least on a duration of the connected time window; selecting a scan ratio from the decreasing sequence of scan ratios based on the ping-pong rate; and scanning the one or more frequencies in accordance with the decreasing sequence of scan ratios and starting from the selected scan ratio to cause the mobile computing device to attempt connection with the wireless network. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein when the duration is less than a first threshold, the ping-pong rate is determined to be a high ping-pong rate and the selected scan ratio is a most recently used scan ratio from the decreasing sequence of scan ratios. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein when the duration is greater than the first threshold and less than a second threshold, the ping-pong rate is determined to be a medium ping-pong rate and the selected scan ratio is a midpoint scan ratio between the most recently used scan ratio and an initial scan ratio from the decreasing sequence of scan ratios. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein when the duration is greater than the second threshold, the ping-pong rate is determined to be a low ping-pong rate and the selected scan ratio is the initial scan ratio from the decreasing sequence of scan ratios. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each scan ratio is associated with a sleep duration, and wherein scanning the one or more frequencies starting from the selected scan ratio comprises waiting the associated sleep duration in between consecutive scanning periods. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more frequencies comprise a plurality of frequencies, wherein scanning the one or more frequencies comprises scanning each frequency of the plurality of frequencies in sequence. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the decreasing sequence of scan ratios corresponds to a sequence of stages, wherein scanning the one or more frequencies in accordance with the decreasing sequence of scan ratios and starting from the selected scan ratio comprises resetting a stage timer that progresses through the sequence of stages. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the decreasing sequence of scan ratios is based on a scanning context. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein selecting the scan ratio is further based on the scanning context. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the scanning context comprises at least one of a mobility attribute, a location attribute, a thermal attribute, or a screen attribute. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the ping-pong rate is further based on at least one duration of at least one previous connected time window. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, where the ping-pong rate is based on a weighted average of the duration of the connected time window and the at least one duration of the at least one previous connected time window, wherein weights for the weighted average are greater for more recent time windows. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the decreasing sequence of scan ratios is a first sequence, the method further comprising: determining a second decreasing sequence of scan ratios, each scan ratio indicating a proportion of time over which the mobile computing device scans one or more different frequencies to attempt connection with the wireless network during the disconnected time window; selecting a second scan ratio from the second sequence of scan ratios based on the ping-pong rate; and scanning one or more different frequencies in accordance with the second sequence of scan ratios and starting from the second selected scan ratio to cause the mobile computing device to attempt connection with the wireless network. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more frequencies are selected from a set containing recently acquired frequencies, wherein the one or more different frequencies are selected from a set containing a full band of frequencies. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising determining a mobility attribute of the mobile computing device, wherein the decreasing sequence of scan ratios and the second decreasing sequence of scan ratios are based on the mobility attribute. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein when the mobility attribute indicates high mobility and the ping-pong rate is determined to be a medium ping-pong rate, the selected scan ratio is a first midpoint scan ratio between a most recently used scan ratio and an initial scan ratio from the decreasing sequence of scan ratios and the second selected scan ratio is a second midpoint scan ratio between a most recently used scan ratio and an initial scan ratio from the second decreasing sequence of scan ratios. ### Claim 17 A mobile computing device, comprising: one or more processors; and one or more computer readable media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile computing device to carry out functions comprising: determining a decreasing sequence of scan ratios, each scan ratio indicating a proportion of time over which the mobile computing device scans one or more frequencies to attempt connection with a wireless network during a disconnected time window when the mobile computing device is disconnected from the wireless network; determining a connected time window when the mobile computing device is connected to the wireless network, the connected time window occurring after the disconnected time window; determining a ping-pong rate for the mobile computing device based at least on a duration of the connected time window; selecting a scan ratio from the decreasing sequence of scan ratios based on the ping-pong rate; and scanning the one or more frequencies in accordance with the decreasing sequence of scan ratios and starting from the selected scan ratio to cause the mobile computing device to attempt connection with the wireless network. ### Claim 18 An article of manufacture comprising one or more non-transitory computer readable media having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a mobile computing device, cause the mobile computing device to carry out functions that comprise: determining a decreasing sequence of scan ratios, each scan ratio indicating a proportion of time over which the mobile computing device scans one or more frequencies to attempt connection with a wireless network during a disconnected time window when the mobile computing device is disconnected from the wireless network; determining a connected time window when the mobile computing device is connected to the wireless network, the connected time window occurring after the disconnected time window; determining a ping-pong rate for the mobile computing device based at least on a duration of the connected time window; selecting a scan ratio from the decreasing sequence of scan ratios based on the ping-pong rate; and scanning the one or more frequencies in accordance with the decreasing sequence of scan ratios and starting from the selected scan ratio to cause the mobile computing device to attempt connection with the wireless network.