IP Library Granted Patent US 8,249,614
Granted Patent B2
US 8,249,614 · App. 13/176,434 · Granted Aug 21, 2012

Cellular communications system with mobile cellular device battery saving features based upon quality of service and access denial and related methods

Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,249,614
App. No.
13/176,434
Granted
Aug 21, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cellular communications system may include at least one base station selectively denying attempts to establish wireless communications links therewith, and wirelessly transmitting denial messages for denied attempts. The system may further include at least one mobile cellular communications device including a wireless transceiver and a controller cooperating therewith for attempting to establish a wireless communications link with the at least one base station having a quality of service (QoS) level associated therewith. If a denial message is received, the controller continues to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first attempt rate. Yet, if the wireless communications link cannot be established with the desired QoS level, and if no denial message is received, then the controller continues to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a second attempt rate different than the first attempt rate.

Claims (44)

1. A cellular communications system comprising:

at least one base station selectively denying attempts to establish wireless communications links therewith and wirelessly transmitting denial messages for denied attempts; and

at least one mobile cellular communications device comprising a wireless transceiver, a controller cooperating with said wireless transceiver, and at least one user input device connected to said controller, said controller configured to

attempt to establish a wireless communications link with said at least one base station having a quality of service (QoS) level associated therewith, and when a denial message is received, then continue to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first scan rate,

the denial message indicative of at least one of being too busy to establish the wireless communications link and having an incompatible protocol,

when the wireless communications link cannot be established with a desired QoS level, and when no denial message is received, then continue to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a second scan rate different than the first scan rate, and

increase at least one of the first and second scan rates in response to an access request to said at least one base station via said at least one user input device.

2. The cellular communications system of claim 1 wherein the access request comprises a request to place a telephone call.

3. The cellular communications system of claim 1 wherein the access request comprises a request to send an electronic mail (email) message.

4. The cellular communications system of claim 1 wherein said at least one user input device comprises a keypad.

5. The cellular communications system of claim 1 wherein said controller is configured to successively decrease at least one of the first and second scan rates after each unsuccessful attempt to establish the wireless communications link.

6. The cellular communications system of claim 1 wherein the first scan rate is less than the second scan rate.

7. The cellular communications system of claim 1 wherein said at least one base station has a capacity associated therewith; and wherein said at least one base station is configured to generate denial messages when an available portion of the capacity is less than a capacity threshold.

8. The cellular communications system of claim 1 wherein said QoS level is based upon a bit error rate.

9. The cellular communications system of claim 1 wherein said QoS level is based upon delay.

10. The cellular communications system of claim 1 wherein said QoS level is based upon bandwidth.

11. The cellular communications system of claim 1 wherein, said cellular communications network further comprises a central switching station configured to interface said at least one base station with a wired communications network.

12. The cellular communications system of claim 1 wherein the wireless communications link is for data service.

13. The cellular communications system of claim 1 wherein the wireless communications link is for voice service.

14. A mobile wireless communications device comprising:

a wireless transceiver, a controller cooperating with said wireless transceiver, and at least one user input device connected to said controller, said controller configured to

attempt to establish a wireless communications link with at least one base station having a quality of service (QoS) level associated therewith, and when a denial message is received, then continue to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first scan rate,

the denial message indicative of at least one of being too busy to establish the wireless communications link and having an incompatible protocol,

when the wireless communications link cannot be established with a desired QoS level, and when no denial message is received, then continue to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a second scan rate different than the first scan rate, and

increase at least one of the first and second scan rates in response to an access request to said at least one base station via said at least one user input device.

15. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 14 wherein the access request comprises at least one of a request to place a telephone call and a request to send an electronic mail (email) message.

16. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 14 wherein said controller is configured to successively decrease at least one of the first and second scan rates after each unsuccessful attempt to establish the wireless communications link.

17. The mobile wireless communications device of claim 14 wherein said QoS level is based upon at least one of a bit error rate, delay, and bandwidth.

18. A method of operating a mobile wireless communications device, the method comprising:

attempting to establish a wireless communications link with at least one base station having a quality of service (QoS) level associated therewith, and when a denial message is received, then continuing to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first scan rate;

the denial message indicative of at least one of being too busy to establish the wireless communications link and having an incompatible protocol;

when the wireless communications link cannot be established with a desired QoS level, and when no denial message is received, then continuing to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a second scan rate different than the first scan rate; and

increasing at least one of the first and second scan rates in response to an access request to the at least one base station based upon at least one user input device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the access request comprises at least one of a request to place a telephone call and a request to send an electronic mail (email) message.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising successively decreasing at least one of the first and second scan rates after each unsuccessful attempt to establish the wireless communications link.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said QoS level is based upon at least one of a bit error rate, delay, and bandwidth.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a mobile wireless communications device to perform steps comprising:

attempting to establish a wireless communications link with at least one base station having a quality of service (QoS) level associated therewith, and when a denial message is received, then continuing to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a first scan rate;

the denial message indicative of at least one of being too busy to establish the wireless communications link and having an incompatible protocol;

when the wireless communications link cannot be established with a desired QoS level, and when no denial message is received, then continuing to attempt to establish the wireless communications link at a second scan rate different than the first scan rate; and

increasing at least one of the first and second scan rates in response to an access request to the at least one base station based upon at least one user input device.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the access request comprises at least one of a request to place a telephone call and a request to send an electronic mail (email) message.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22 further comprising successively decreasing at least one of the first and second scan rates after each unsuccessful attempt to establish the wireless communications link.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein said QoS level is based upon at least one of a bit error rate, delay, and bandwidth.

Assignments (4)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064269/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064104/0103 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 22, 2014
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 034030/0941 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2011
From: ZHAO, WEN; LIANG, KENNETH J.; KIM, JIN
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 026543/0754 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 10787550 · Feb 26, 2004
Related Publication 20110263253A1 · Oct 27, 2011