GB2374766A

GB2374766A - Downloading cellular communication network-dependent software

Info

Publication number: GB2374766A
Application number: GB0109867A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Benjamin Pearce; Stamatis Kourtis
Original assignee: Motorola Inc
Current assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2001-04-20
Filing date: 2001-04-20
Publication date: 2002-10-23
Also published as: GB0109867D0

Abstract

A method of, and apparatus (10) for, downloading cellular communication network-dependent software to a software downloadable radio terminal (5) is described. An estimate or forecast of the likely network connection needs for an individual user is determined and network-dependent software for one or more networks (2,3) downloaded to the user's terminal before connection is required. Optionally the user may also be pre-registered at the network(s) (2,3). One advantage provided to the user is the saving of time because the terminal (5) is prepared for operation with a new network (2,3) in advance. Other benefits can be obtained by choosing the time of download of the software to be beneficial with respect to one or more aspects of operation of the terminal (5) or a communication resource used for the software download.

Description

DOWNLOADING CELLULAR COMMUNICATION NETWORK-DEPENDENT SOFTWARE Field of the Invention This invention relates to the downloading of networkdependent software to software-downloadable radio terminals that require, over time, to be connected to more than one cellular communication network.

Background of the Invention In the field of cellular communications, service is provided to user terminals by a number of different networks. Although often a user connects primarily to a so-called home network, when away from a coverage area of this home network (when"roaming"), a user may be connected to a further network. Moreover, so-called third generation (3G) cellular communication networks (e. g.

Universal Mobile Telephone Standard, UMTS) are being introduced and will provide a wide range of multi-media services, including efficient access to the Internet. As 3G networks become more prevalent, it is expected that users will connect to different networks more often, even when in range of their home network, for example according to which type of service they require.

Another recent development is for user terminals, such as mobile telephones, to take the form of software downloadable radio terminals (also referred to as software defined radios), i. e. terminals which receive certain functionality capability by means of software

download thereto. In a software downloadable radio terminal, some degree of the functionality of the terminal is provided in a form that can be re-configured by means of providing configuration data/software which when implemented in the terminal provides the terminal with alternative or additional functionality. Different degrees of such configuration data or software forming this process are possible, from small top-ups to the operating hardware of the terminal's original functionality through to completely new arrangements (e. g. changing from code division multiple access to time division multiple access). However, whichever degree is the case, the common point is that by software download, functionality is provided to the terminal, in other words, brought into the terminal, that was previously not there before the re-configuration. In this way, a software downloadable radio or software downloadable radio terminal can be distinguished from other types of radio terminal which at most receive instructions relating to a selection between existing capabilities of that terminal.

In particular, network-dependent software may be required to be downloaded for any particular network a terminal is to be connected to. Conventional expectation is that such network-dependent software will be downloaded as a user terminal attempts connection to a network.

The choice made by a user as to which network and operator to connect to will be made by the user from a set of networks available at a particular location to achieve the service desired. This offers the user

flexibility. As a person moves around both within a country (moving from urban to rural areas for example) or between countries, connections to different networks will be needed. Conventional expectation is that the required software will be downloaded in response to a user request to use a particular service, from wherever he is, at the time, or after, this request is made.

Thus, as the tendency for users to use software downloadable radio terminals and to connect to different networks, for reasons of flexibility and mobility, increases, there arises a need for increasingly flexible and efficient ways for such connection to be implemented Summary of Invention The inventors have realised that the above described conventional approach will lead to an undesirable delay, as the required network-dependent software is downloaded, before a user can use a service to be provided by a new network. The inventors have realised this will compromise the above described flexibility offered by the possibility of connecting to different networks according to the service required. The present invention follows inter alia from the realisation of the inventors that if the requirements for different network connections were known in advance then it would be possible to preload the software for the software-downloadable radio that will be needed at some convenient time ahead of when it is to be used. The time when it is downloaded in advance can enable better use of system and terminal resources.

In summary, the present invention provides a forecast of the likely network connection needs for an individual user so that network-dependent software for the user's terminal can be preloaded, and optionally the user can be preregistered at one or more networks.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of downloading cellular communication networkdependent software to a software downloadable radio terminal, as claimed in claim 1.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for downloading cellular communication networkdependent software to a software downloadable radio terminal, as claimed in claim 12.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a software downloadable radio terminal, as claimed in claim 21.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a cellular communication network, as claimed in claim 22.

Further aspects are as claimed in the dependent claims.

One advantage provided to the user is the saving of time because the terminal is prepared for operation with a new network in advance. Other benefits can be obtained by choosing the time of download of the software to be beneficial with respect to one or more aspects of

operation of the terminal or a communication resource used for the software download.

Brief Description of Drawings Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following Figures, in which: FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a system comprising three cellular communication networks; and FIG. 2 is a flowchart representing the process steps employed in an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments Briefly stated, the invention provides a method and apparatus for forecasting or estimating future network connection needs and using that information to preload software to the software downloadable radio terminal before connection is required, and optionally also establishing user registration in the new network before connection is required.

FIG. 1 shows an overall system arrangement to which a first embodiment of the present invention may be applied.

Three cellular communication networks are shown by way of example, namely first network 1, second network 2 and third network 3. A software downloadable radio terminal 5

(hereinafter referred to as terminal 5) is functionally able to receive service from each of networks 1, 2,3, provided requisite network-dependent software, comprising configuration data, is downloaded to the terminal 5 for the respective network.

In this embodiment each of these networks is a UMTS network. The geographical area served by first network 1 overlaps the geographical area served by second network 2. In this embodiment, each of networks 1,2, 3 are made up of separate hardware such as switching centres, base stations, radio transceivers and so on. Also, they are separate in a commercial sense. However, in other embodiments, the different networks could share some or all of their hardware, but constitute different networks by virtue of being used by different commercial entities on a time division basis or with respect to different radio channels and so on. The networks may themselves be hiring such airtime or channels from different commercial entities using the relevant hardware.

In another embodiment the networks may be operated by the same commercial entity or operator but have different radio access requirements. An example of such an embodiment is where a cellular operator operates both a third generation UMTS network as well as a second generation GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) system.

Terminal 5 is initially located in the area in which first network 1 and second network 2 overlap. In this embodiment terminal 5 is a mobile telephone, but may in

other embodiments be any suitable software downloadable radio terminal, including a personal organiser, portable computer, etc.

A controller 10 is coupled to each network 1,2, 3. In this embodiment the controller 10 is separate from each network, but it may alternatively form part of one of the networks. The controller may alternatively be implemented as a distributed function formed from separate modules located in more than one network, or also partly separate from the networks.

The process steps carried out under the first embodiment are shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2. At step s2, the controller 10 estimates the likely needs that the user of terminal 5 will have for network connections for a period of time ahead, i. e. produces a forecast (the time ahead that the forecast is needed may be varied, and may indeed be continuously updated as the forecast improves-in this example the timescale is 2 days ahead). In this embodiment the source of information that is used to contribute to this forecast is knowledge of the user's schedule, in particular that during the afternoon of the next day the user will wish to access a specialist service provided by the second network 2, whereas the user's default network is the first network 1. This is an example of knowledge of the user's schedule. In other embodiments, any suitable information may be used, including any one or any combination of the following: (a) knowledge of the individual's schedule (diary)- this can provides information on the location e. g.

country, city etc. and the type of activity which might indicate the type of service needed; (b) the controller may acquire and continuously monitor historic usage patterns and build a model of the individuals usage profiles over time e. g. it would learn that 45% of the time when that individual had gone to Birmingham they had used one particular network service from a particular operator in the middle of the afternoon; (c) direct input by the individual (e. g.,'Connect me to [a particular network in France tomorrow') ; and (d) use of location information of the handset and the direction in which it is heading (e. g. the terminal 5 may be located in a part of first network 1 not overlapping the second network 2, but may be moving toward the second network 2, such that for standard service the controller can estimate that the terminal 5 will soon require service from the second network 2 instead of the first network 1).

Any or all of this information may be periodically updated as required.

The result of the forecasting algorithm is to produce a probability for the likelihood of the need for each particular connection into the future. In this embodiment this information is held in terms of a number of different timescales (e. g. next hour, next 1 to 5 hours, next 5 hours to 24 hours, next 1 to 2 days, next week). This list and associated probabilities gets periodically updated. This information is provided to an algorithm which decides which network connections to

preload and when. In this example the algorithm applies a threshold level in terms of the probability of any particular network being required the next day (at step s4), and preloads the required network-dependent software to the terminal 5 overnight.

Thus in this example, the software required for operation on second network 2 is downloaded (at step s6) to the terminal 5 overnight. In this embodiment the software is downloaded to the terminal as follows: the software is provided from the future network (i. e. network 2) to the controller 10, which then forwards the software to the network currently serving the terminal (i. e. network 1), for downloading of the software on behalf of the future network. However, any suitable arrangement may be employed.

In an alternative embodiment the algorithm looks at connection requirements, expressed as probabilities, for the next two days and preloads software for those networks with a probability of more than say 50% for connection by the end of the next two days, but also preloads software for networks with say a probability of more than 20% for connection required by the end of the next four hours. The forecast probabilities are periodically updated. Thus a variable threshold is effectively employed in which the threshold is varied according to the timescale for which the network connection requirement is estimated, i. e. calculated.

In a further embodiment, the controller 10 gleans information about available memory resource at the

terminal 5, and adjusts the download threshold or thresholds to suit the available memory capacity at the terminal 5.

In the first embodiment, the software is downloaded overnight. This choice of download provides the benefit of performing the download when the terminal 5 is not likely to be required for other use by the user. Other download times can be chosen to provide other benefits, including for example the following possibilities: (a) when the cellular communication network has a low network traffic load; (b) when the terminal is connected to an external power source; (c) when a battery of the terminal has a relatively high battery charge level; and (d) when a tariff for a communication resource employed for the download is relatively low.

In the first embodiment, one or more threshold were employed to assess which estimated future-required networks should have their operating software downloaded to the terminal 5. In a simpler embodiment, the software for any identified candidate future network is downloaded to the terminal 5 (this assumes the sources of information used to identify future networks are such as to provide only a limited number of candidate networks).

Alternatively, software from a pre-determined number of candidate networks may be downloaded.

Returning to the earlier described possibility when the information input used to estimate future network requirements includes the schedule of the user of the terminal 5, one particularly beneficial deployment thereof is as follows. The schedule contains the information that the user of terminal 5 is scheduled to travel from his usual location, e. g. a first country, which is geographically served by network 1, to a distant location which is beyond the area of network 1 and instead served, for example, by the third network 3. This may be the case when the journey to be undertaken is a flight. The controller thus knows which country and airport (e. g. foreign airport) the user is going to be flying to. It preloads the software for network 3 to the terminal 5 before the time of departure of the flight (which it also gleans from the schedule).

In this example, and indeed in all the other embodiments, the controller may optionally arrange for the terminal 5 to be registered at the relevant future network at any time before connection is required. This may conveniently be at the same time software download is arranged or provided. If such registering is indeed also carried out, then the terminal is ready for use under service by the new network as soon as required, e. g. immediately on arrival at the foreign airport in this latter embodiment.

In general, it will be appreciated that the above examples are but a selection of the many ways in which the present invention may provide benefits to users by means of early downloading of network-dependent software to software downloadable radio terminals. In particular,

sophisticated and detailed downloading patterns may be employed, using some or all of the guiding principles described above, to cater for varying user needs. One scenario, merely by way of example, is the following scenario, in which a salesperson is going to be travelling to a number of locations throughout a day. He will be using the network connections to get services both at the destination locations and while travelling between them. The salesperson keeps a plan of the schedule for the day and linked to it, the travel plans (e. g. , flights, public transport, taxis, personal car).

The controller 10 has access to this information as well as usage information from the past. The controller 10 builds a forecast of the needs throughout the day and of the salesperson's likely location at each time and associated service needs for each time and location. The controller 10 also has available information about loading patterns, coverage areas and tariffs of various networks. The controller 10 runs an algorithm that optimises the set of network connection combinations to give the user the best forecast performance and cost to meet the forecast usage needs. The controller 10 also runs an algorithm to preload the software and register the individual with the networks a suitable time ahead, taking account of the memory resource of the terminal 5.

The present invention finds particular application in cellular radio communication systems comprising for example UMTS networks. However, the inventive concepts contained herein are equally applicable to other cellular communication networks. Whilst the specific, and preferred, implementations of the present invention are

described above, it is clear that variations and modifications of such inventive concepts could be readily applied by one skilled in the art.

It will be understood that the embodiments described above tend to provide the following advantages, singly or in combination: 1 The choice of time when the software is downloaded in advance can enable better use of system and terminal resources.

2 The preloading may be done when a network has a low network traffic load-this benefits the user who might want the service during a peak usage time and would then have to wait for it.

3 The preloading can be done when the terminal is connected to a power source or has a high battery charge so the battery is not run down in the process of the download-saving the user this inconvenience.

4 The preloading can be done when the tariff is lower - saving the user money.

A general benefit to the user is the saving of time because the terminal is provisioned in advance with network-dependent software for a network the user is likely to wish to use in the future.

Claims

Claims 1. A method of downloading cellular communication network-dependent software to a software downloadable radio terminal, comprising: estimating future network requirements of the terminal to determine a cellular communication network the terminal may require to connect to and a connection time at which connection to the network may be required; and responsive to the estimating step, downloading, to the terminal, prior to the connection time, software required for connection to the cellular communication network.
2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising registering the terminal at the cellular communication network prior to the connection time.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the estimating step is performed using inputs from at least one of the following sources: (a) information related to a schedule of a user of the terminal; (b) information related to an historic usage pattern for the terminal; (c) direct input by a user of the terminal; (d) location information of the terminal; (e) movement information of the terminal.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one of sources (a) to (e) is periodically updated.

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5. A method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the user of the terminal is to embark on a pre-scheduled journey, and the cellular communication network to be connected to is located at the end of the journey.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the journey is a flight.
7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the downloading step is performed if, during the estimating step, it is determined that the likelihood of the terminal requiring connection to the cellular communication network is above a threshold.
8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the threshold is varied according to a timescale for which the requirement is calculated.
9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the threshold is varied according to available memory resource of the terminal.
10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the software is downloaded at a download time chosen as being beneficial with respect to one or more aspects of operation of the terminal or a communication resource used for the software download.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the download time is chosen to be at least one of the following times: (a) when the cellular communication network has a low network traffic load;

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(b) when the terminal is connected to an external power source; (c) when a battery of the terminal has a relatively high battery charge level; (d) when a tariff for a communication resource employed for the download is relatively low; (e) when the requirements for a following day have been determined, overnight on the night preceding the following day.
12. Apparatus for downloading cellular communication network-dependent software to a software downloadable radio terminal, comprising: means for estimating future network requirements of the terminal to determine a cellular communication network the terminal may require to connect to and a connection time at which connection to the network may be required; and means for downloading to the terminal, arranged responsive to the means for estimating, software required for connection to the cellular communication network, prior to the connection time.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for registering the terminal at the cellular communication network prior to the connection time.
14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the means for estimating is arranged to use inputs from at least one of the following sources: (a) information related to a schedule of a user of the terminal;

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(b) information related to an historic usage pattern for the terminal; (c) direct input by a user of the terminal; (d) location information of the terminal; (e) movement information of the terminal.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the means for estimating is adapted to use periodically updated inputs from the at least one of sources (a) to (e).
16. Apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the means for downloading are arranged to perform downloading if the estimating means determine that the likelihood of the terminal requiring connection to the cellular communication network is above a threshold.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the threshold is varied according to a timescale for which the requirement is calculated.
18. Apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the threshold is varied according to available memory resource of the terminal.
19. Apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 18, adapted to determine that the software is downloaded at a download time chosen as being beneficial with respect to one or more aspects of operation of the terminal or a communication resource used for the software download.

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20. Apparatus according to claim 19, adapted to choose the download time to be at least one of the following times: (a) when the cellular communication network has a low network traffic load; (b) when the terminal is connected to an external power source; (c) when a battery of the terminal has a relatively high battery charge level; (d) when a tariff for a communication resource employed for the download is relatively low; (e) when the requirements for a following day have been determined, overnight on the night preceding the following day.
21. A software downloadable radio terminal for use with the software download method of any of claims 1 to 11.
22. A cellular communication network for use with the software download method of any of claims 1 to 11.
23. A method of downloading cellular communication network-dependent software to a software downloadable radio terminal substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
24. Apparatus for downloading cellular communication network-dependent software to a software downloadable radio terminal substantially as hereinbefore described.