Facilitating data transfers with mobile entities via wireless communication hotspots

A service system for managing communication resources in relation to the transfer of data to/from a mobile entity using wireless-based communications infrastructure of multiple localized communication hotspots traversed by the mobile entity, at least some of the hotspots requiring separate utilization rights to each other, the system comprising:

• a first communications subsystem for communicating with the mobile entity;
• a second communications subsystem for communicating with the communications infrastructure of said hotspots;
• a utilization determination subsystem operative to predict progress of the mobile entity relative to said at least one hotspot, and to make a determination, based on the predicted progress of the mobile entity and its data transfer needs, about possible desired future utilization by the mobile entity of the communications infrastructure of a particular said hotspot likely to be traversed by the entity;
• and
• a management subsystem operative in dependence on said determination, to obtain, in advance, utilisation rights for the mobile entity to use said particular hotspot when the mobile entity comes to traverse that hotspot.

A mobile entity comprising:

• a communications subsystem for communicating with wireless-based communication infrastructure of localized communication hotspots in order to transfer data to/from the mobile entity;
• a utilization determination subsystem operative to predict progress of the mobile entity relative to said at least one hotspot, and to make a determination, based on the predicted progress of the mobile entity and its data transfer needs, about possible desired future utilization by the mobile entity of the communications infrastructure of a particular hotspot likely to be traversed by the entity;
• and
• a management subsystem operative in dependence on said determination, to obtain, in advance, utilisation rights for the mobile entity to use said particular hotspot when the mobile entity comes to traverse that hotspot.

A computer arrangement for managing communication resources in relation to the transfer of data to/from a mobile entity having wireless-based communications infrastructures of multiple localized communication hotspots traversed by the mobile entity, at least some of the hotspots requiring separate utilization rights to each other, the computer arrangement comprising a processor and a memory for:

• (a) deriving a first signal indicative of a prediction of progress of the mobile entity;
• (b) deriving a second signal indicative of a possible desired future utilization by the mobile entity of the communications infrastructure of a particular hotspot likely to be traversed by the entity in response to the first signal;
• and
• (c) deriving a third signal indicative of utilisation rights for the mobile entity to use said particular hotspot when traversing it in response to said second signal, the processor and memory being arranged to derive the third signal in advance of the mobile entity entering the particular hotspot.

A memory storing a program for enabling a computer arrangement to manage communication resources in relation to the transfer of data to/from a mobile entity having wireless-based communications infrastructures of multiple localized communication hotspots traversed by the mobile entity, at least some of the hotspots requiring separate utilization rights to each other, the memory being programmed for causing the computer arrangement to:

• (a) predict progress of the mobile entity;
• (b) based on the predicted progress of the mobile entity and its data transfer needs, determine possible desired future utilization by the mobile entity of the communications infrastructure of a particular hotspot likely to be traversed by the entity;
• and
• (c) in dependence on said determination, obtain, in advance, utilisation rights for the mobile entity to use said particular hotspot when traversing it.