IP Library Granted Patent US 8,443,063
Granted Patent B1
US 8,443,063 · App. 13/012,163 · Granted May 14, 2013

Determination of communication networks for a wireless communication device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,443,063
App. No.
13/012,163
Granted
May 14, 2013
Kind
B1
Abstract

A network control system to determine alternative networks for a wireless communication device comprises a processing system and a communication transceiver. The processing system is configured to determine an identifier of a first wireless access node in communication with a first communication network serving the wireless communication device, and process the identifier of the first wireless access node with a network data structure to determine a second communication network for the wireless communication device based on the identifier. The communication transceiver is configured to transfer the network data associated with the second communication network for delivery to the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to initiate a handoff to a second wireless access node in communication with the second communication network based on the network data associated with the second communication network.

Claims (33)

1. A method to determine alternative networks for a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

in the wireless communication device:

determining an identifier of a first wireless access node in communication with a first communication network serving the wireless communication device;

transferring a request for network data associated with a second communication network for delivery to a network control system, wherein the request includes the identifier of the first wireless access node;

in the network control system:

processing the identifier of the first wireless access node with a network data structure to determine the second communication network for the wireless communication device based on the identifier;

transferring the network data associated with the second communication network for delivery to the wireless communication device; and

in the wireless communication device, initiating a handoff to a second wireless access node in communication with the second communication network based on the network data associated with the second communication network;

wherein the network data comprises an identifier of the second wireless access node;

wherein the network data comprises a frequency of a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with the second wireless access node;

wherein initiating the handoff to the second wireless access node comprises scanning for the frequency of the RF signal associated with the second wireless access node.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the request includes a velocity indicator of the wireless communication device, and further comprising in the network control system, determining if the wireless communication device is moving towards the second wireless access node based on the velocity indicator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the network data comprises a service set identifier (SSID) associated with the second wireless access node.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the network data comprises a service name associated with the second wireless access node.

5. A method of operating a network control system to determine alternative networks for a wireless communication device, the method comprising:

determining an identifier of a first wireless access node in communication with a first communication network serving the wireless communication device;

processing the identifier of the first wireless access node with a network data structure to determine a second communication network for the wireless communication device based on the identifier;

receiving, from the wireless communication device, a request for network data associated with the second communication network; and

transferring the network data associated with the second communication network for delivery to the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to initiate a handoff to a second wireless access node in communication with the second communication network based on the network data associated with the second communication network;

wherein the network data comprises an identifier of the second wireless access node;

wherein the network data comprises a frequency of a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with the second wireless access node;

wherein the wireless communication device configured to initiate the handoff to the second wireless access node comprises the wireless communication device configured to scan for the frequency of the RF signal associated with the second wireless access node.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the request includes a velocity indicator of the wireless communication device, and further comprising determining if the wireless communication device is moving towards the second wireless access node based on the velocity indicator.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the network data comprises a service set identifier (SSID) associated with the second wireless access node.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the network data comprises a service name associated with the second wireless access node.

9. A network control system to determine alternative networks for a wireless communication device, the system comprising:

a processing system configured to determine an identifier of a first wireless access node in communication with a first communication network serving the wireless communication device, and process the identifier of the first wireless access node with a network data structure to determine a second communication network for the wireless communication device based on the identifier; and

a communication transceiver configured to receive a request for network data associated with the second communication network from the wireless communication device and to transfer the network data associated with the second communication network for delivery to the wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device is configured to initiate a handoff to a second wireless access node in communication with the second communication network based on the network data associated with the second communication network;

wherein the network data comprises an identifier of the second wireless access node;

wherein the network data comprises a frequency of a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with the second wireless access node;

wherein the wireless communication device configured to initiate the handoff to the second wireless access node comprises the wireless communication device configured to scan for the frequency of the RF signal associated with the second wireless access node.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the request includes a velocity indicator of the wireless communication device, and further comprising the processing system configured to determine if the wireless communication device is moving towards the second wireless access node based on the velocity indicator.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the network data comprises a service set identifier (SSID) associated with the second wireless access node.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 055604/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 052969/0475 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
GRANT OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Mar 6, 2017
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 041895/0210 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2011
From: NELSON, RODNEY DEWAINE; CARTER, PATRICK SCOTT; QUIRK, KEVIN J.
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 025684/0126 →