Patent · US Expired

Techniques for facilitating optimal service acquisition

US6584311B1 · kind B1 · utility

26Cited by
11References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 24, 2000
Grant dateJun 24, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 24, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W48/18
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system for facilitating the acquisition of a most desirable wireless service for a wireless phone. The system includes a scanning mechanism for periodically scanning for a signal indicative of a wireless service having a coverage area that overlaps one or more coverage areas of other wireless services. A service acquisition mechanism acquires the wireless service or one of the other wireless services based on predetermined selection criteria and the signal. More specifically, the present invention includes a wireless phone having a first mechanism for determining if a detected system, i.e., service is associated with a coverage area that overlaps one or more coverage areas of different systems. A second mechanism compares the different systems to the detected system and selects a preferred system based on the comparison. A third mechanism acquires the preferred system. In the specific embodiment, the wireless phone includes a computer that runs software for implementing the first, second, and third mechanisms.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.