| Method for selecting an air interface using an access list on a multi-mode wireless device -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method for selecting an air interface using an access list on a multi-mode wireless deviceRelated Patent Categories: Electrical Computers And Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring, Remote Data AccessingMethod for selecting an air interface using an access list on a multi-mode wireless device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070255797, Method for selecting an air interface using an access list on a multi-mode wireless device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to selecting an air interface system using a searchable access list. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Wireless subscriber devices are widely used and have become an essential aspect of modern life. Wireless subscriber devices such as pagers, mobile phones, PDA's (personal data assistants) are used for work, for personal activities, and as a way to keep in contact with friends and family. Often these devices are used to enable voice communications. Increasingly, however, these devices are used to share data messages without initiating a voice communication. These data messages may be for example, text messages, image files, video files, or audio files. As the functionality of these devices increases, their use and acceptance continues to expand. Further, users have become more reliant upon their wireless devices, and therefore demand high quality service and performance. [0003] In the current competitive market for wireless devices, a company's reputation and brand is mostly determined by the quality of its products. For example, users have an expectation for their wireless services will initiate with little delay. Currently when users activate their mobile devices to make a call or initiate a data service, part of the process requires that mobile devices scan large access lists to find an active network. In some wireless technologies this access list is referred to as a Preferred Roaming List, while it will have other names in other wireless technologies. The access list is prioritized to have the most preferred networks listed first, and less desirable networks further down on the list. In this way, the manufacturer of the mobile device or the service provider may preset the preferred network connections. When the mobile device is first activated, or when it is taken to a new geographic location and turned on, the mobile device will need to search the access list to find the most preferred network connection. In some cases, the access list can have hundreds of entries, and the mobile devices may take a minute or more to locate a service. After finding an active service, the mobile device may locally store a recently used access list that is first used before searching through the full list. [0004] For example, if a person flies from San Diego to Boston, and turns on a mobile phone when deplaning in Boston, the mobile phone will have to initiate a search of the access list, and since the mobile phone's geographic location has significantly changed, it may have to search tens or even hundreds of possible networks before finding an active Boston network. Once the phone finds a network in Boston, it enters that network into its shorter list of recently used networks, so that the next search will be faster. However, the user has been without mobile phone usage for some time, and may become impatient with the long "searching" indicator on the mobile phone. Once a network connection is made, it is used for all voice and data communications. [0005] In order for mobile devices to have more utility, mobile devices may now support multiple wireless technologies. This enables a single wireless mobile device to have a better chance of always being able to find an active network. A wireless device that supports multiple wireless technologies is often referred to as a multi-mode mobile device. For example, a multi-mode mobile device may support CDMA2000, GSM, WLAN and WiMax. When the multi-mode mobile device is activated, it searches its access list to find the first active network. It will normally search its recently used list, but if none is available, it will begin searching the full access list. Typically, this access list has been set and prioritized by the primary service provider, so the access list will be prioritized to maximize economic benefit to the service provider. In some cases, the multi-mode mobile device will search all possible connections for one technology, and if no connection is found, move to search the next less preferred technology. The access list is searched technology-by-technology, and network-by-network, until the first available network is found. This first-found connection is then used for all voice and data communications. In such a multi-mode environment, the multi-mode mobile device may take an exceptionally, and unacceptably, long time to search through the available wireless technologies to find an available network. [0006] As wireless technologies advance, some technologies are developed for specific purposes, or are better suited for particular applications. For example, some wireless technologies are particularly well suited for high speed data transmission, such as WiFi, but the technology performs best in static or nomadic applications where the receiver has only limited mobility. Other wireless technologies, such as CDMA1.times.rtt, have excellent voice handling capabilities, support full-speed mobility, but have slower data rates than some other wireless technologies. In using these multi-mode devices, a user typically makes a decision as to which technology is best suited for the task to be performed. For example, if a user wants to surf the net while at a coffee shop, the user will select to search for a WiFi connection, and may even have to physically or logically enable WiFi radio. In another example, if the user is moving in a car and desires to make a voice call, the user may simply use the mobile device's default CDMA radio. [0007] Therefore, a need exists for a multi-mode wireless device that simplifies the mode selection process, as well as reduces the time it takes to make the selection and acquire a network. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] Briefly, the present invention provides application-specific access lists for a multimode mobile wireless device. The multimode mobile device has an access list for each wireless technology. Typically, these technology specific access lists are provided by the service provider for each technology, and are provided by a service provider or the manufacturer of the multimode mobile device. For each application or, class of applications, the multimode wireless device is a likely to operate, an application-specific access list is generated. The application-specific access list ranks each of the supported wireless technologies according to its relative desirability for the application. In this way, when the multimode mobile device request an application, the application-specific access list may be used to efficiently acquire a network preferred for that particular application. The application-specific access lists may be updated from time to time as applications are added or changed, as technology specific access lists are updated, or as geographic location changes. [0009] In a particular example, a mobile handset is a multimode handset capable of operating on more than one wireless technology. The multimode handset contains a plurality of technology specific access lists, typically one for each supported wireless technology. Technology specific access list may be provided for CDMA, GSM, WLAN, or WiMax systems, as well as others. The mobile handset may generate a set of application specific access lists by sorting or ranking network entries from the technology specific access lists based on their suitability for a particular application and the mobile handset's current geographic region. The mobile handset may also contain lists of recently used networks arranged and ranked by application. When the mobile handset requests an application, it will select the application-specific access list associated with the request an application, and sequentially search the application specific access list until a suitable network is discovered. [0010] Advantageously, the present invention efficiently identifies a desirable network according to specific application requirements. This may reduce time to connect to a network, as well as provide a network operating the more preferred wireless technology. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. [0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for selecting an air interface for a multi-mode mobile device in accordance with the present invention. [0013] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a process for using application specific access lists on a multi-mode mobile device in accordance with the present invention. [0014] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process for generating application specific access lists on a multi-mode mobile device in accordance with the present invention. [0015] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for using application specific access lists on a multi-mode mobile device in accordance with the present invention. [0016] FIG. 5 is a set of application specific access list for a multi-mode wireless device in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0017] Referring now to FIG. 1, a system for selecting an air interface for a multi-mode mobile device is illustrated. System 10 has wireless subscriber device 12 structured and configured to operate on one of multiple wireless technologies. Accordingly, device 12 is a multi-mode mobile device. In any given location, more than one of its supported wireless technologies may be available, and therefore, the multi-mode wireless device 12 intelligently and adaptively selects which available wireless technology to use. For example, FIG. 1 shows that mobile device 12 is in range of CDMA basestation 20, GSM basestation 24, and WiFi access point 28. Depending on the specific application the device is to perform, the device may connect to a different basestation and a different wireless technology. If the mobile device 12 desires to make a high quality voice call, then device 12 may prefer to connect to CDMA basestation 20. Alternatively, if device 12 desires to receive high-bandwidth streaming video, then device 12 may prefer to connect to WiFi access point 28. In this way, multi-mode device 12 prefers the wireless technology best suited to the specific application to be performed. [0018] Wireless subscriber device 12 may be, for example, a wireless handset, a wireless personal data assistant, a portable computer, a router, or other wireless device. Wireless device 12 may operate according to two or more of the international communication standards such as CDMA, UMTS, GSM, EDGE, PHS, or other existing or evolving communication standards. It will also be appreciated that wireless device 12 may operate according to communication standards such as Bluetooth.RTM., IEEE 802.11, WiMax, or other proprietary or data standards. Also, wireless device 12 may operate according to a traditional cellular arrangement, a peer to peer arrangement, or a mesh network. [0019] Wireless device 12 has radio 15 and antenna structure 18 for wirelessly transmitting and receiving messages. It will be understood that multi-mode device 12 may have multiple radios according to the available wireless technologies. In some cases, a single radio device may be able to support more than one technology, and in other cases, a radio may only support a single wireless technology. Each radio is able to communicate messages, for example, voice messages, data messages, or network control messages. In this regard, the base station or other wireless infrastructure may continually send network messages to wireless device 12 and wireless device 12 may respond with status or other messages. The number, content, and frequency of these messages is according to the relevant operating communication standard. Radio 15 and antenna 18 cooperate with wireless device 12 in scanning for and acquiring a suitable air interface system with base stations 20, 24, and 28. Continue reading about Method for selecting an air interface using an access list on a multi-mode wireless device... Full patent description for Method for selecting an air interface using an access list on a multi-mode wireless device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method for selecting an air interface using an access list on a multi-mode wireless device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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