US 9,320,005 B2 · Location-assisted service capability monitoring

Abstract

A digitally stored map can indicate the signal quality for each of the map's regions. A device can determine its location, speed, and direction using global positioning system (GPS) and other sensors. Based on this information, the mobile device can predict a field of locations within which the device will probably be located within a specified future time frame. Based on both the information indicating signal quality and the probable future field of locations, the device can estimate a moment at which the device will probably begin to suffer from low-quality or absent signal. Using this prediction, the device can proactively perform a variety of anticipatory remedial actions. For example, the device can begin allocating a greater portion of currently available wireless network communication bandwidth to the reception of data packets that represent content that is being streamed to the device, so that the device can proactively buffer those packets.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method of responding to anticipated travel into a region having particular network communication service quality characteristics, the method comprising:

detecting, at a mobile device, using one or more sensors of the mobile device:
a current location of the mobile device;
a current direction of travel of the mobile device;
and
a current speed of travel of the mobile device;
determining, based at least in part on the current location, the current direction of travel, and the current speed of travel, by the mobile device, that the mobile device will enter a region having the particular network communication service quality characteristics within a specified threshold amount of time;
and
in response to determining that the mobile device will enter the region within the specified threshold amount of time, automatically displaying, on a display of the mobile device, a notification alerting a user of the mobile device that the mobile device will enter the region having the particular network communication service quality characteristics within the specified threshold amount of time.

5 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:

determining, based at least in part on measurements performed by one or more sensors of a mobile device:
a current travel context;
and
that the mobile device is going to enter a region having a wireless network communication service signal quality that is less than a specified threshold, wherein determining that the mobile device is going to enter the region comprises adjusting a narrowness of a field of potential regions about a current linear path of the mobile device based at least in part on the current travel context;
and
in response to determining that the mobile device is going to enter the region, instructing one or more applications to begin, prior to the entry of the mobile device into the region, caching wirelessly streamed data at a rate faster than a rate at which the one or more applications had been caching wirelessly streamed data, wherein at least one of the one or more applications is executing on the mobile device.

3 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:

determining, based at least in part on (1) a current location of a mobile device, (2) a current speed of the mobile device, (3) a current direction of the mobile device, and (4) a current travel context, a field of potential locations in which the mobile device can potentially be located within a specified interval of time following a current time, wherein the current location, the current direction of travel, the current speed of travel, and the current travel context are detected using one or more sensors of the mobile device, wherein determining the field of potential locations comprises adjusting a narrowness of the field of potential locations about a current linear path of the mobile device based at least in part on the current travel context;
and
determining, based at least in part on (a) the field of potential locations and (b) digital map data that indicates wireless network communication service signal qualities for regions in a plurality of regions, that the field of potential locations at least partially overlaps a particular region in which a wireless network communication service signal quality is less than a specified threshold;
and
in response to determining that the field of potential locations at least partially overlaps a particular region in which a wireless network communication service signal quality is less than a specified threshold, sending a notification to one or more applications that have registered to receive notifications, wherein at least one of the one or more applications is executing on the mobile device.

2 more elements

A mobile device comprising:

one or more sensors that indicate a current location of the mobile device,
a current speed of the mobile device, and
a current direction of the mobile device;
one or more processors;
and
a memory storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
(1) determine, based at least in part on data obtained by the one or more sensors:
a current travel context;
and
that the mobile device will enter into a particular region in which a wireless network communication service signal quality is less than a specified threshold within a specified threshold quantity of time following a present time, wherein determining that the mobile device will enter into the particular region comprises adjusting a narrowness of a field of potential regions about a current linear path of the mobile device based at least in part on the current travel context;
and
(2) responsive to determining that the mobile device will enter into the particular region within the specified threshold quantity of time, instruct one or more applications executing on the mobile device to begin caching data for presentation during a period of time during which the mobile device will be present within the particular region.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Location-assisted service capability monitoring

Life of this patent

Location-assisted service capability monitoring

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24