US 9,288,751 B2 · Use of position data to select wireless access point

Abstract

A mobile computing device comprises a radio frequency transceiver, a memory, and processing circuit. The radio frequency transceiver is configured to communicate with wireless access points. The memory is configured to store position data representative of a position of the mobile computing device and wireless access point data for a plurality of wireless access points. The processing circuit is configured to select one of the plurality of wireless access points based on the position data and to initiate wireless communication with the selected wireless access point.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims31

Dependent claims

A mobile computing device, comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver configured to communicate with wireless access points of a wireless wide-area network (WWAN) system;
a memory configured to store position data representative of a position of the mobile computing device and wireless access point data for a plurality of wireless access points of the WWAN system, wherein the wireless access point data includes position data associated with a wireless access point of the WWAN system;
and
a processing circuit configured to select one of the plurality of wireless access points within a vicinity of the mobile computing device based on the position data representative of the position of the mobile computing device and the position data associated with the wireless access point of the WWAN system, and based on a trusted list of wireless access points that report statistics and usage to a service provider, the processing circuit being further configured to initiate wireless communication with the selected wireless access point.

1 more element

A mobile computing device, comprising:

a radio frequency transceiver configured to communicate with wireless access points of a wireless wide-area network (WWAN) system;
a memory;
a user input device;
a display;
and
a processing circuit configured to use a trusted list of wireless access points that report statistics and usage to a service provider for selection of a wireless access point identifier corresponding to the wireless access point, to display a plurality of wireless access point identifiers of wireless access points within a vicinity of the mobile computing device on the display, to receive a user selection of one of the wireless access point identifiers via the user input device, to initiate communication with a wireless access point of the WWAN system corresponding to the wireless access point identifier in response to receiving the user selection, to retrieve position data representative of a position of the mobile computing device, and to associate the wireless access point identifier of the wireless access point of the WWAN system with the position data in the memory.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description7,989 words

Summary55 words

#Mobile computing devices, such as mobile telephones, laptop computers, and personal digital assistants, can communicate with different wireless networks in different locations. The same mobile computing device may communicate via a wired network in an office building, a Wi-Fi network at home or at a hotel, and a cellular network while in a moving vehicle.

Brief description of the drawings7 figures

#FIG. 1 is a front view of a mobile computing device, according to an exemplary embodiment;

#FIG. 2 is a back view of a mobile computing device, according to an exemplary embodiment;

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the mobile computing device of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to an exemplary embodiment;

Detailed description7,780 words

#Described herein is a system and method which improves the speed with which a device may select and communicate with a wireless access point. Further described is a system and method of creating a database of preferred wireless access points using position data. Further described is a system and method that avoids wasting time looking for a preferred wireless access point in the wrong location. Further described is a system and method that saves battery power by avoiding scanning or polling for wireless access points not in the vicinity of the mobile computing device. Further described is a system and method of selecting a wireless access point based on position data, which may be displayed for user-initiated communication or used to initiate communication without user input (e.g., automatically). Further described is a system and method of selecting a wireless access point based on position data and a database of wireless access points meeting security or reliability criteria.

#The teachings herein extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the above-mentioned exemplary advantages.

#Referring first to FIG. 1, a mobile computing device 100 is shown. Device 100 is a smart phone, which is a combination mobile telephone and handheld computer having personal digital assistant functionality and is configured to be carried by a user while in use. The teachings herein can be applied to other mobile computing devices (e.g., a laptop computer) or other electronic devices (e.g., a desktop personal computer, etc.). Personal digital assistant functionality can comprise one or more of personal information management, database functions, word processing, spreadsheets, voice memo recording, etc. and is configured to synchronize personal information from one or more applications with a computer (e.g., desktop, laptop, server, etc.). Device 100 is further configured to receive and operate additional applications provided to device 100 after manufacture, e.g., via wired or wireless download, SecureDigital card, etc.

Facts

Application

11/897,240Filed 29 Aug 2007

Published

US 2009/0061870 A15 Mar 2009

Granted

15 Mar 2016

Term ends

7 Jun 2030

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 1,013 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification3 codes

H04W 48/20
Access restriction ; Network selection; Access point selection: selecting an access point
H04W 88/02
Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices: terminal devices
H04W
Wireless communication networks

Timeline

29 Aug 2007Application filedUS 11/897,240
4 Jan 2008Assigned to Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A.security agreement
5 Mar 2009PublishedUS 2009/0061870 A1
6 Jul 2010Assigned to Palm, Inc.release of security interest
28 Oct 2010Assigned to Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.assignment of assignor's interest
3 May 2011Assigned to Palm, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
3 May 2013Assigned to Palm, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
18 Dec 2013Assigned to Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.assignment of assignor's interest
18 Dec 2013Assigned to Palm, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
18 Dec 2013Assigned to Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.assignment of assignor's interest
28 Jan 2014Assigned to Qualcomm Incorporatedassignment of assignor's interest
15 Mar 2016GrantedUS 9,288,751 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
7 Jun 2030Term endsEstimated, includes 1,013 days of adjustment

Use of position data to select wireless access point

Life of this patent

Use of position data to select wireless access point

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims31

Description7,989 words

Drawings

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent

Description7,989 words