System for providing intelligent network access selection for a mobile wireless device
Systems and methods enable alternative network access implemented by a mobile wireless communication device. The method includes receiving information associated with a mobile device, the information comprises location information associated with the mobile device. Based on the information associated with the mobile device, identifying an access point available for providing connectivity services to the mobile device, the access point is not the computing device. Information is provided to the mobile device which is associated with the access point. The information can comprise at least one of usage terms, usage conditions, usage costs, access point characteristics, connection characteristics, access point capacity, and access point security access information.
1. A method for enabling alternative network access for a mobile wireless communication device, the method comprising:
receiving information associated with a mobile device, wherein the information comprises identifying information associated with the mobile device;
identifying, based on the information associated with the mobile device, a plurality of access points available to provide connectivity services to the mobile device;
providing information associated with each of the plurality of access points to a selection engine for selecting one of the plurality of access points to provide the connectivity services to the mobile device based, at least in part, on signal strengths for the plurality of access points, wherein the information associated with each of the plurality of access points comprises a usage price for the access point, and wherein selecting the one access point comprises,
when signal strengths of all of the plurality of access points are below a threshold, selecting the one access point based on a highest signal strength for the plurality of access points, and,
when signal strengths of two or more of the plurality of access points are above the threshold, selecting the one access point based on a lowest usage price in the information associated with each of the two or more access points; and
receiving usage information regarding use of the connectivity services by the mobile device from at least one of the mobile device and the selected one access point.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of access points are identified based on the identifying information associated with the mobile device.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a billing charge based on the usage information.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a payment value to a provider of the selected one access point based on the usage information.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by at least one processor on the mobile device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by at least one processor on a server that receives the information associated with the mobile device from the mobile device via at least one network.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selection engine is executed by at least one processor on the mobile device.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selection engine is executed by at least one processor on a server that provides an identification of the selected one access point to the mobile device via at least one network.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with each of the plurality of access points further comprises at least one of usage terms, usage conditions, access point characteristics, connection characteristics, access point capacity, and access point security access information.
10. A system comprising a memory storage device and at least one processor configured to perform:
receiving information associated with a mobile device, wherein the information comprises identifying information associated with the mobile device;
identifying, based on the information associated with the mobile device, a plurality of access points available to provide connectivity services to the mobile device;
providing information associated with each of the plurality of access points to a selection engine for selecting one of the plurality of access points to provide the connectivity services to the mobile device based, at least in part, on signal strengths for the plurality of access points, wherein the information associated with each of the plurality of access points comprises a usage price for the access point, and wherein selecting the one access point comprises,
when signal strengths of all of the plurality of access points are below a threshold, selecting the one access point based on a highest signal strength for the plurality of access points, and,
when signal strengths of two or more of the plurality of access points are above the threshold, selecting the one access point based on a lowest usage price in the information associated with each of the two or more access points; and
receiving usage information from at least one of the mobile device and the selected one access point.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of access points are identified based on the identifying information associated with the mobile device.
12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising determining a billing charge based on the usage information.
13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising determining a payment value to a provider of the selected one access point based on the usage information.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the information associated with each of the plurality of access points further comprises at least one of usage terms, usage conditions, access point characteristics, connection characteristics, access point capacity, and access point security access information.