Providing easy access to radio networks
An improved connectivity to radio access point is enabled by a server that includes a database storing data about various radio access points, and an evaluation module evaluating the quality of connection to each of the access points. Clients receive updates about relevant access points from the server and use the information to connect to the preferred access point. The clients also check connectivity to other access points in the vicinity, and report the findings to the server. The server uses the reports to update its database, and send corresponding updates to the clients.
1. A method for improving user experience with a network-connected communications device comprising:
measuring user experience with content applications operating on the device during connection of the device with at least one access point;
developing a measurement report associated with a quality of the user experience;
detecting with the device if there is a lull in communication between the device and one access point used for a current network connection;
breaking a connection of the device with the one access point used for a current network connection when the lull in transmission activity is detected by the device;
connecting the device to another access point other than the one used for the current network connection;
developing another measurement report associated with a quality of the user experience; and
transmitting the measurement reports wirelessly for receipt by a particular server.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein information in the measurement reports is based on operations of the device in communication with the access points.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the measurement reports include information from one or more radio resource surveys.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each radio resource survey uses information gathered from one or more measurement trips.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein select information in the measurement reports is discarded after expiration of time period.
6. A network-connected communications device comprising:
a memory for storing instructions; and
a processor for executing the stored instructions to:
measure user experience with content applications operating on the device during connection of the device with at least one access point,
develop a measurement report associated with a quality of the user experience,
detect with the device if there is a lull in communication between the device and one access point used for a current network connection;
break a connection of the device with the one access point used for a current network connection when the lull in transmission activity is detected by the device,
connect the device to another access point other than the one used for the current network connection,
develop another measurement report associated with a quality of the user experience,
and
cause to transmit the measurement reports wirelessly for receipt by a particular server.
7. The communications device of claim 6 , wherein information in the measurement reports is based on operations of the device in communication with the access points.
8. The communications device of claim 6 , wherein the measurement reports include information from one or more radio resource surveys.
9. The communications device of claim 8 , wherein each radio resource survey uses information gathered from one or more measurement trips.
10. The communications device of claim 9 , wherein select information in the measurement reports is discarded after expiration of time period.
11. A method comprising:
receiving, from a set of mobile devices, measurement reports associated with quality of user experience during connection of at least one of the mobile devices with a set of network access points, including at least one measurement report generated by a mobile device that has detected a lull in communication between the mobile device and one network access point used for a current network connection, and broken the connection with the one network access point during the lull in transmission activity and connected with another network access point other than the one used by the mobile device for the current network connection; and
generating a map comprising a set of network access point indicators, wherein each of the network access point indicators reflects an indication of a quality of connection associated with a corresponding one of the set of network access points.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the measurement reports include information from one or more radio resource surveys.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein each radio resource survey uses information gathered from one or more measurement trips.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the indication of the quality of connection is an indication of network bandwidth.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the indication of the quality of connection is determined based on one or more of a received signal strength indication, a number-of occupied IP addresses, a data speed, a rate of connection drops, or a ping delay.
16. A server comprising:
a receiver configured to receive, from a set of mobile devices, measurement reports associated with quality of user experience during connection of at least one of the mobile devices with a set of network access points, including at least one measurement report generated by a mobile device that has detected a lull in communication between the mobile device and one network access point used for a current network connection, and broken connection with the network access point used for the current network connection during the lull in transmission activity and connected with another network access point other than the one used by the mobile device for the current network connection; and
a processor configured to generate a map comprising a set of network access point indicators, Wherein each of the network access point indicators reflects an indication of a quality of connection associated with a corresponding one of the set of network access points.
17. The server of claim 16 , wherein the measurement reports include information from one or more radio resource surveys.
18. The server of claim 17 , wherein each radio resource survey uses information gathered from one or more measurement trips.
19. The server of claim 16 , wherein the indication of the quality of connection is an indication of network bandwidth.
20. The server of claim 16 , wherein the indication of the quality of connection is determined based on one or more of a received signal strength indication, a number of occupied IP addresses, a data speed, a rate of connection drops, or a ping delay.