Mobility protocol for narrow-band internet of things (NB-IoT) networks

A method comprising:

• at a computing device comprising at least one processor, a communication interface, and memory:
• monitoring a wireless data connection corresponding to the computing device and a first narrow-band internet of things (NB-IoT) node;
• generating, based on historical connection information of the computing device, a preferred connections list comprising one or more NB-IoT nodes;
• updating, while the wireless data connection is established, the preferred connections list by:
• scoring each NB-IoT node of the one or more NB-IoT nodes, wherein the scoring is based on a direction of travel of the computing device;
• modifying, based on the scoring, an order of priority of the one or more NB-IoT nodes;
• and
• repeating the scoring and the modifying the order of priority periodically while the wireless data connection is established;
• determining, based on comparing a connection strength corresponding to the wireless data connection to a threshold value, whether or not the connection strength is below the threshold value;
• generating, based on identifying that the connection strength is below the threshold value, a connection transfer request packet corresponding to real-time information of the computing device;
• sending, based on a preferred connections list, the connection transfer request packet to one or more NB-IoT nodes on the preferred connections list;
• receiving, based on sending the connection transfer request packet, a determination result from a second NB-IoT node of the one or more NB-IoT nodes, and in response:
• if the determination result indicates that the second NB-IoT node will accept a connection transfer:
• generating an acknowledgment packet configured to cause the connection transfer with the second NB-IoT node;
• and
• causing, based on the acknowledgment packet, the first NB-IoT node to transfer the wireless data connection to the second NB-IoT node, or
• if the determination result indicates that the second NB-IoT node will not accept the connection transfer:
• updating the preferred connections list by removing the second NB-IoT node from the preferred connections list;
• and
• sending, after updating the preferred connections list and to one or more NB-IoT nodes on the updated preferred connections list, a second connection transfer request packet.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device comprising at least one processor, a communication interface, and memory, cause the computing device to:

• monitor a wireless data connection corresponding to the computing device and a first narrow-band internet of things (NB-IoT) node;
• generate, based on historical connection information of the computing device, a preferred connections list comprising one or more NB-IoT nodes;
• update, while the wireless data connection is established, the preferred connections list by:
• scoring each NB-IoT node of the one or more NB-IoT nodes, wherein the scoring is based on a direction of travel of the computing device;
• modifying, based on the scoring, an order of priority of the one or more NB-IoT nodes;
• and
• repeating the scoring and the modifying the order of priority periodically while the wireless data connection is established;
• determine, based on comparing a connection strength corresponding to the wireless data connection to a threshold value, whether or not the connection strength is below the threshold value;
• generate, based on identifying that the connection strength is below the threshold value, a connection transfer request packet corresponding to real-time information of the computing device;
• send, based on a preferred connections list, the connection transfer request packet to one or more NB-IoT nodes on the preferred connections list;
• receive, based on sending the connection transfer request packet, a determination result from a second NB-IoT node of the one or more NB-IoT nodes, and in response:
• if the determination result indicates that the second NB-IoT node will accept a connection transfer:
• generate an acknowledgment packet configured to cause the connection transfer with the second NB-IoT node;
• and
• cause, based on the acknowledgment packet, the first NB-IoT node to transfer the wireless data connection to the second NB-IoT node, or
• if the determination result indicates that the second NB-IoT node will not accept the connection transfer:
• updating the preferred connections list by removing the second NB-IoT node from the preferred connections list;
• and
• sending, after updating the preferred connections list and to one or more NB-IoT nodes on the updated preferred connections list, a second connection transfer request packet.