Multi-tier quality of service wireless communications networks

A method of setting a quality of service (QoS) level used in a plurality of multi-tier communication networks, the method comprising:

• determining, by a first processor, a first QoS level associated with a first communication device registered on a first one of the plurality of multi-tier communication networks, the first QoS level associated with the first communication device corresponding to a functional mode of the first communication device;
• determining, by a second processor, a second QoS level associated with a second communication device registered on a second one of the plurality of multi-tier communication networks, the second QoS level associated with the second communication device corresponding to a functional mode of the second communication device;
• determining, by one of the first processor and a second processor, whether the first QoS level associated with the first mobile communication device matches the second QoS level associated with the second communication device in accordance with a predetermined criteria;
• when the first and second QoS levels do not match, identifying, by one of the first processor and the second processor, a higher tier QoS level and a lower tier QoS level from among the first and second communication device QoS levels;
• and
• selecting, by one of the first processor and the second processor, a communication criterion for use by the first and second communication devices during a call, the selection being determined by either the higher tier QoS level or the lower tier QoS level;
• wherein selecting the communication criterion for use by the first and second communication devices includes upgrading the lower tier QoS level to the higher tier QoS level, and the upgrading is performed in accordance with a subscriber service plan associated with the higher tier QoS level.

A wireless communication device configured to operate on a multi-tier communication network, the wireless communication device comprising:

• a housing;
• a microphone positioned within the housing;
• a digital signal processor disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the microphone;
• a microprocessor disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the digital signal processor;
• a transceiver disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the microprocessor;
• an antenna operatively connected to the transceiver to transmit and receive signals from one or more base stations of the multi-tier communication network;
• a display disposed on a first side of the housing and operatively connected to the microprocessor;
• and
• memory operatively coupled to the microprocessor and storing quality of service (QoS) level information therein, the QoS level information corresponding to one or more functional modes of the wireless communication device;
• wherein the wireless communication device is configured to communicate, via the multi-tier communication network in accordance with the QoS level information, with a client device registered on a different communication network, the communication including:
• determining, by at least one of the microprocessor and the digital signal processor, whether the QoS level information associated with the wireless communication device matches QoS level information associated with the client device registered on the different communication network in accordance with a predetermined criteria;
• when there is no match of the QoS level information, identifying, by at least one of the microprocessor and the digital signal processor, a higher tier QoS level and a lower tier QoS level from among the QoS level information of the wireless communication device and the client device;
• and
• selecting, by at least one of the microprocessor and the digital signal processor, a communication criterion for use by the wireless communication device during communication with the client device, the selection being determined by either the higher tier QoS level or the lower tier QoS level;
• wherein selecting the communication criterion includes upgrading the lower tier QoS level to the higher tier QoS level, and the upgrading is performed in accordance with a subscriber service plan associated with the higher tier QoS level.