Location-Based Pattern for Scanning for Wireless Local Area Networks
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorSherif Abdel-Kader
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile device having a wireless local area network interface and one or more other wireless interfaces identifies a location of the mobile device via one or more of the other wireless interfaces, estimates a likelihood of finding a wireless local area network at the location, and scans for wireless local area networks while at the location during scan sessions that are separated by intervals, where the intervals are determined by the estimated likelihood.
Claims20
A method in a mobile device having a wireless local area network interface and one or more other wireless interfaces, the method comprising:
- identifying a location of said mobile device via one or more of said other wireless interfaces;
- estimating a likelihood that a wireless local area network is detectable at said location;
- adjusting a series of time intervals that separate scan sessions of a pattern for scanning for wireless local area networks according to said estimated likelihood, so that as said likelihood increases, the time intervals decrease subject to a lower limit and as said likelihood decreases, the time intervals increase subject to an upper limit;
- and
- scanning for wireless local area networks while at said location during scan sessions that are separated by said adjusted time intervals.
A mobile device comprising:
- a processor;
- a wireless local area network interface coupled to said processor, through which said mobile device is able to scan for wireless local area networks;
- one or more other wireless interfaces coupled to said processor, through which said mobile device is able to identify a location of said mobile device;
- and
- a memory to store code which, when executed by said processor, is arranged to estimate a likelihood that a wireless local area network is detectable at said location, to adjust a series of time intervals that separate scan sessions of a pattern for scanning for wireless local area networks according to said estimated likelihood, so that as said likelihood increases, the time intervals decrease subject to a lower limit and as said likelihood decreases, the time intervals increase subject to an upper limit, and to control said wireless local area network interface to scan for wireless local area networks while at said location during scan sessions that are separated by said adjusted time intervals.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions which when executed by a mobile device having a wireless local area network interface and one or more other wireless interfaces, result in said mobile device:
- identifying a location of said mobile device via one or more of said other wireless interfaces;
- estimating a likelihood that a wireless local area network is detectable at said location;
- adjusting a series of time intervals that separate scan sessions of a pattern for scanning for wireless local area networks according to said estimated likelihood, so that as said likelihood increases, the time intervals decrease subject to a lower limit and as said likelihood decreases, the time intervals increase subject to an upper limit;
- and
- scanning for wireless local area networks while at said location during scan sessions that are separated by said adjusted time intervals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.