Controlling a delivery of voice communications over a cellular data network or a wireless network based on user's profile

#The present invention relates generally to voice communications, and more particularly to controlling the delivery of voice communications over a cellular data network or a wireless network based on the user's profile.

#A cellular network is a radio network using varying radio frequencies over land areas called cells. Each cell is served by at least one fixed location transceiver (e.g., radio/cell tower). Radio waves are used to transfer signals between the fixed location transceiver and a cellular phone or device. The transceiver may pass signals along to other cellular capable devices within the cell, to another transceiver, or to a wired network connection. Many mobile computing devices, such as tablet computers and smartphones, are capable of accessing a cellular network. Wireless service providers provide this access to registered mobile computing devices, typically under terms of a wireless contract. The cell tower typically acts as the network access point to the mobile computing device.

#However, there are times when the mobile device user loses the cell phone signal, such as when the user enters a building. In such a situation, the mobile device continues to ping the cellular network for service and drains the battery of the mobile device at a high rate.

#A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when the following detailed description is considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 illustrates a hardware configuration of a mobile device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

#The present invention comprises a method, system and computer program product for controlling the delivery of voice communications. In one embodiment of the present invention, a profile is created for the user of a mobile device that specifies the thresholds for switching between a cellular data network and a wireless network to conduct voice communications as well as stores a list of contacts and associated security levels (e.g., communicate only on a secure network, communicating via an unsecure network is acceptable). The party who is communicating with the user of the mobile device using cellular radio over a cellular network is identified, such as using social media, reverse phone look-up and/or a contact list. The signal strength of the cellular radio signal received by the mobile device over the cellular data network is monitored. If the signal strength of the cellular radio signal is below a threshold, then the mobile device detects one or more wireless networks that are in the area of the user of the mobile device. The profile of the user of the mobile device is then checked to determine if the mobile device is authorized to switch to one of the detected wireless networks to deliver voice communications based on a security level associated with the identified party. If the security level associated with the identified party is that calls to/from the identified party may occur over an unsecure network, then the mobile device switches to one of the detected wireless networks to deliver voice communications, whether they are secure or not, or displays a notification to the user to switch to one of the detected wireless networks to deliver voice communications. If, however, the security level associated with the identified party is that calls to/from the identified party may only occur over a secure network, then the mobile device will only switch to one of the detected wireless networks to deliver voice communications if such a wireless network is secure or display to the user a notification to switch to one of the detected wireless networks to deliver voice communications if such a wireless network is secure. In this manner, the user is able to control the delivery of voice communications, such as switching from utilizing a cellular network to utilizing a wireless network if such a network meets the user's requirements to deliver voice over Internet protocol when the cellular radio signal is poor.

#In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits have been shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details considering timing considerations and the like have been omitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

#Referring now to the Figures in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system 100 configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, communication system 100 includes a mobile computing device 101 (also referred to herein as simply “mobile device”) in communication with a remote mobile computing device 102 (also referred to herein as simply “remote mobile device”) via a cellular communications network 103 (also referred to herein as “cellular data network”) or via a wireless network 104 (e.g., Wi-Fi network).