KR20060128868A - Network aware mobile devices and operations - Google Patents

Abstract

A network aware mobile device (12) includes a transceiver, which identifies one of a plurality of networks (18,20,22) with which the transceiver can communicate. Memory stores information associating networks with operations, which can be performed using the transceiver. Operations are executed when communication with one of the plurality of networks is permitted.

Description

NETWORK AWARE MOBILE DEVICES AND OPERATIONS}

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention generally relates to network communications, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing network aware devices and services related to network communications.

Recent trends in mobile devices include the creation of devices that can communicate over multiple networks. As one example, mobile devices can communicate over both cellular and wireless LAN (WLAN) networks. Cellular coverage is widely available, but expensive for airtime. WLAN access is generally only available near WLAN hotspots, but the cost for propagation time is much lower. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a system and method that enables a mobile device to provide any operations or services based on the type of network that it is currently accessing.

The network aware mobile device includes a transceiver that identifies one of the plurality of networks with which the transceiver can communicate. The memory stores information that associates networks with operations that may be performed using a transceiver. When communication with one of the plurality of networks is allowed, the operations are performed.

The advantages, features, and various additional features of the present invention will become more apparent upon a sufficient consideration of exemplary embodiments, which will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 shows a diagram illustrating a mobile unit moving between networks and the result of initiation of communication with each network, in accordance with the present invention.

2 is a block diagram illustrating components of an exemplary mobile unit in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of employing a network recognition apparatus according to the present invention.

It is to be understood that the drawings are intended to illustrate the concept of the invention and are not the only possible configuration for representing the invention.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for enabling a mobile device to sense the type of network (eg, WLAN, cellular) with which it is communicating, to perform operations according to the network type. In one embodiment, the user employs a mobile device to manually check what type of network the user is currently using. The device may also automate the process for the user instead of having to constantly check the network status and perform actions as soon as the device is in any network.

Although the present invention is described in the context of a mobile telephone system, it is to be understood that the present invention is much more widely applicable and may include any multimedia or telecommunication device capable of communicating over multiple networks. In addition, it is to be understood that the elements shown in the drawings may be implemented as various forms of hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Preferably, these elements are implemented in hardware in one or more suitably programmed general purpose devices that can include a processor, memory, and input / output interfaces.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, the same reference numerals refer to similar or identical elements in the several views, and in FIG. 1 and 2, a mobile system 10 comprising network aware mobile units is in accordance with the present invention. Illustrated illustratively. The present invention includes at least one mobile unit 12 that may include a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless portable computer, or other mobile communication devices. Unit 12, in this example, receives information from one or more networks 18, 20, or 22, such that the associated access point for the wireless local area network, the cell site from the cellular network, or the satellite equipment for the satellite network. Transceiver 16 to provide an update to the program, and a program 14 stored in memory 15. The transceiver 16 is adapted to communicate with a plurality of different networks such as, for example, cellular 18, WLAN 20 or satellite 22 networks.

In one embodiment, unit 12 interrogate the proximity network by transmitting a plurality of different signals. Each signal corresponds with available network types. For example, cell signals, WLAN signals, and satellite signals may be transmitted. The nearest networks may then respond to the query signal. Unit 12 selects the network to use based on the signal strengths or, if multiple networks are available, selects the network to use based on the type and number of operations to be performed.

Referring to FIG. 1, for example, if a user attempts to make a phone call from the mobile device as indicated in block 32, it would be desirable for the call to be processed immediately. In this case, cellular network 18 would be best suited to meet the needs of the user. Certain operations that are not time-critical, such as checking or sending e-mail, or downloading multimedia data such as news, weather stock quotes, or audio / video, must be performed immediately. It doesn't have to be. In this case, waiting for entry to WLAN 20 as shown in block 30 would be the cheapest and suitable solution. The present invention takes this advantage to perform operations in a manner that reduces the user's propagation time cost and improves performance. Other operations, such as long distance calls or other operations, can be performed in other networks, eg, satellite network 22, as shown in block 34.

Referring to FIG. 2, unit 12 preferably performs operations that a user can configure for network aware use. Program 14 may provide the ability to enter information into memory 15 for network aware operations settings 38. The network aware operations settings may include a table or other graphical user interface (GUI) that provides a relationship between the functions of unit 12 and the available network options. For example, a user may choose to send an e-mail when a WLAN is available, choose to use a satellite link for a long distance call, and / or choose to use a cell network when the call should be made immediately. Other operations may correspond to the or other network types. The network aware operations setting 38 may employ the characteristics of the unit 12 to inform the user that information related to the selected user operation is available for searching. This will be explained in more detail below.

The user may configure certain operations (such as in the examples above) to be network-aware by employing the user interface 40. The user interface 40 can include a plurality of different configurations, depending on the device and the required functions of the device. Interface 40 may include a display, keypad or keyboard, microphone, speaker, or any other suitable input / output interface. If an operation is classified as being network-aware, then the mobile device performs that operation only when a certain type of network is accessed. Since the WLAN propagation time rate is generally less than the cellular propagation time rate, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, certain operations will only be performed when the device or unit 12 communicates with the WLAN 20. The invention provides that operations are performed only when the device accesses a particular WLAN (eg, a WLAN that a user is accounting for, or a WLAN having a propagation time rate below a user-specified threshold, etc.). Can be extended as one.

In yet another embodiment, the networks 18, 20 and / or 22 identify the networks themselves by sending signals or packets continuously or periodically. As the networks identify themselves, the mobile unit 12 must receive these signals and will communicate directly with the appropriate network with a predetermined task. The control module 40 controls the interactions between the components / functions of the unit 12. The control module 40 may include one or more processors for executing operations and device functions in the unit 12.

If the user chooses to perform a network-aware operation, the device will first check to see what type of network it is communicating with. Depending on the user setup, network-aware operations will be performed from the user's mobile device only if a properly matched network is available. If the operation is not urgent and the user is in the cellular network, the mobile device will not immediately perform the operation. Instead, the device will detect when a user enters, for example, a WLAN hotspot area. If a WLAN is detected, the device will turn on its WLAN radio and connect to the WLAN network. At this time, the device will perform the operation requested by the user. Since the WLAN propagation time rate is cheaper, the cost is saved.

In another embodiment, the user may be informed that the user has e-mail, and the like, such as in the way that the phone now notifies or notifies the user of, for example, voice mail, e-mail, or multimedia files, and the like. Includes feature 38. This warning will not use any cellular propagation time. At this time, the device has not yet downloaded the e-mail. The user can then walk near the WLAN hotspot and the device will download the e-mail over the WLAN network.

In another embodiment, operations are performed when a particular type of network is available, that is, a particular WLAN, for example, a WLAN to which a user is accounting, or a WLAN having a propagation time rate below a certain level, and the like. The mobile device informs the user that e-mail is available (or other input information) using the same method as informing the user that the current cell phone has a voicemail waiting. There is no need to pay for cellular propagation time). The user can then enter the WLAN hotspot and download the information.

The operations selected to be performed by the unit 12 are performed by suitable hardware / software of the apparatus. This hardware / software may include the necessary security stacks and appropriate protocol stacks for network communication.

Referring to FIG. 3, a method of employing a network aware mobile device is described by way of example. In block 102, a network aware device is provided. Network aware devices may include cellular telephones, PDAs, laptop computers, and the like. The network aware device includes a function capable of decrypting the available networks. This can be done by a process disclosed in the device or in a network. In block 104, the user configures the mobile device to provide default networks on which the selected operations of the mobile device will be performed. Certain operations of a mobile device may be classified as network-aware. These operations will be performed by the device only when the device communicates with a particular type of network, such as a WLAN. In block 106, the user selects an action or actions to be performed.

Table 1 shows an example correspondence of operations and networks. Networks can be arranged to provide priority. One or more network types may be assigned for each operation. After a certain amount of time has elapsed, the elapsed time may be allocated such that the next network is employed to perform the operation.

action First network Second network Elapsed time phone call Cellular Cellular 0 min E mail WLAN Cellular 120 minutes Internet access Home WLAN Other WLAN 20 minutes Long distance calls Cellular satellite 5 minutes

In an optional embodiment, the user preferences may be sorted and / or allocated execution time. If the networks selected as available first are not available for the allotted time period, then at block 107, the next ordered network is used to perform the pending operation or operations. In block 108, the mobile device identifies the network that it is on, or networks available to the device on which the device operations are being performed. The operation to be performed may include, at block 109, notifying the user that information from the network selected by the user is available for retrieval as the preferred network for that operation. When the user enters this network, the action notified to the user will be automatically performed to retrieve the information. Auto-discovery depends on prioritized networks, so if the first network is unavailable, the next network will be employed to perform the operation (see block 110 below).

If a suitable network is available, the mobile device will automatically perform the actions selected by the user at block 110. The mobile device automatically performs an action upon detecting a suitable network. No user intervention is required here.

While preferred embodiments of network aware mobile devices and operations have been described (but are not intended to be limiting as illustrative), it is noted that various modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art based on the above description. Should be. Accordingly, it should be understood that various changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the invention disclosed within the scope and spirit of the invention as outlined by the appended claims. Accordingly, while the invention has been disclosed in accordance with the details and characteristics required by the patent law, what is claimed and protected by the patent certificate is in accordance with the claims appended hereto.

Claims (19)

A transceiver 16 identifying one of the plurality of networks 18, 20, 22 with which the transceiver can communicate; A memory (15) for storing information associating networks and operations that can be performed using the transceiver; And Means 40 for performing the operations if communication with one of the plurality of networks is permitted Network aware mobile device comprising a. The network aware mobile device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver (16) is included in one of a telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a portable computer. 2. The network aware mobile device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of networks comprises one or more wireless local area networks (WLANs) and cellular networks (18). The network aware mobile device of claim 1, wherein the memory (15) stores a user-programmable table that correlates transceiver operations with network preferences. 2. A network aware mobile device according to claim 1, wherein said execution means (40) comprise automatic execution (14) of said actions. 2. The network aware mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a function (38) for determining the identity of a network connected to the mobile device. 2. The memory system of claim 1, wherein the memory 15 includes a list of network preferences corresponding to one or more operations, and further includes an associated time, so that when the corresponding time has elapsed, the next network preference is determined. A network aware mobile device employed to perform an operation. The network aware mobile device of claim 1, further comprising a notification characteristic for notifying a user that information is available for download, wherein the information is automatically downloaded when communication with a network selected by the user is established. . The network of claim 8, wherein the network selected by the user is selected from a list of network preferences corresponding to one or more operations, further comprising a corresponding time, when the corresponding time has elapsed, a next network preference causes the operation to take place. A network aware mobile device that is employed to perform. A method of operating a network aware mobile device, Providing 102 a device that recognizes a network in which the device is deployed; Configuring 104 the device to perform a selected action on the selected network; And Allowing the operation to be performed when able to communicate with the selected network (110) How to include. The method of claim 10, wherein configuring (104) the apparatus comprises assigning operations to networks. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein assigning (104) operations to the networks comprises storing operation assignments in a table. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the allocating step 104 includes allocating networks to operations according to priority, so that if a first network is unavailable, a next network is employed to perform the operation. Way. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein allowing the operation to perform includes automatically performing the operation when communication with a suitably selected network is established. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising identifying (108) a network or networks in which the device is included. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the network or networks comprises identifying (108) a network in which the apparatus is included by transmitting a signal to the networks to identify the networks themselves. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying the network or networks comprises identifying (108) a network in which the apparatus is included by receiving network identification signals. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein allowing the operation to be performed includes: notifying the user that the information is available for retrieval and automatically retrieving the information when communication with the user selected network is established (109). How to include. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein automatically retrieving includes assigning networks to operations according to priority (107), so that if the first network is unavailable, the next network may perform the operation. Method adopted.

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