US 9,432,943 B2Granted

Adaptive network searching in out-of-service scenarios

AssigneeApple Inc.

InventorsMuhammad A. Alam, Giri Prassad Deivasigamani, Gaurav Nukala

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Abstract

Adaptive out-of-service search behavior by a wireless user equipment (UE) device. The UE may perform cellular communications according to a radio access technology (RAT). It may be determined that cellular service according to the RAT is not available. A search algorithm may be selected from at least two possible search algorithms. A search for cellular service according to the RAT may be performed according to the search algorithm. The various possible search algorithms may specify different ratios of time spent scanning for cellular service to time spent sleeping. The selected search algorithm may be chosen based on any or all of an estimated remaining battery life of the UE, a user activity level, user input, or various other considerations.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions which, when executed at a wireless user equipment (UE) device, cause the UE to:

perform cellular communications according to a first radio access technology (RAT);
determine that cellular service according to the first RAT is not available;
determine a user activity level of the UE;
select a first search algorithm from at least two possible search algorithms, wherein the first search algorithm is selected based at least in part on the determined user activity level of the UE;
perform a first search for cellular service according to the first RAT, wherein the first search is performed according to the first search algorithm;
after selection of the first search algorithm, determine that one or more pre-configured conditions for modifying out-of-service search behavior of the UE have occurred, wherein the one or more pre-configured conditions comprise one or more of:
crossing a pre-configured estimated remaining battery life threshold;
or
receiving user input specifying a modification of out-of-service search behavior of the UE;
select a second search algorithm from the at least two possible search algorithms based on the one or more pre-configured conditions having occurred;
and
interrupt the first search and initiate a second search for cellular service according to the first RAT, wherein the second search is performed according to the second search algorithm.

9 more elements

A wireless user equipment (UE) device, the UE comprising:

a radio, comprising one or more antennas for performing wireless communication;
a processing element operably coupled to the radio;
wherein the radio and the processing element are configured to:
establish a wireless link with a base station, wherein the base station acts as a serving cell for the UE;
determine that the wireless link with the base station has been broken;
perform a search for cellular service according to a first search configuration based on determining that the wireless link with the base station has been broken, wherein the first search configuration is selected based at least in part on a determined user activity level of the UE;
detect a first pre-configured condition for modifying the first search configuration, wherein the first pre-configured condition comprises one or more of:
user activity crossing a user activity threshold;
battery level crossing a battery level threshold;
and/or
receiving user input specifying a modification of out-of-service search behavior of the UE;
and
perform a search for cellular service according to a second search configuration based on detecting the first pre-configured condition for modifying the search configuration.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/152,594Filed 10 Jan 2014 · us provisional application
Priority: 10 Jan 2013
Published: US 2014/0194086 A110 Jul 2014
Granted: 30 Aug 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

H04W 52/0254
Using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity: detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
H04W 48/16
Access restriction ; Network selection; Access point selection: discovering, processing access restriction or access information
H04W 52/0241
Using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal: where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
H04W 48/18
Access restriction ; Network selection; Access point selection: selecting a network or a communication service