Patent · US Active

Navigation system acquisition and use of cellular coverage map data

US9043135B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
7References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 31, 2012
Grant dateMay 26, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 31, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W24/08
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A mobile device can obtain wireless network signal strength map data that indicates, for various nearby geographical regions, the wireless network signal strength in each such region. A mobile device can transmit that data to a vehicular navigation system responsible for automatically selecting a high-quality route of vehicular travel between a specified source and destination. The system can take the wireless network signal map data into account when selecting that route. When selecting from among multiple different routes of vehicular travel between a specified source and destination, the system may employ an algorithm that considers wireless network signal strengths along those routes, in addition to the other factors. Consequently, the system can select a longer route having better signal strength over a shorter route having worse signal strength. The system can present the selected route within a set of suggested routes, potentially along with reasons for each route's suggestion.

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