Location-Based Pattern for Scanning for Wireless Local Area Networks

Abstract

A mobile device having a wireless local area network interface and one or more other wireless interfaces identifies a location of the mobile device via one or more of the other wireless interfaces, estimates a likelihood of finding a wireless local area network at the location, and scans for wireless local area networks while at the location during scan sessions that are separated by intervals, where the intervals are determined by the estimated likelihood.

1 . A method in a mobile device having a wireless local area network interface and one or more other wireless interfaces, the method comprising:
 identifying a location of said mobile device via one or more of said other wireless interfaces;   estimating a likelihood that a wireless local area network is detectable at said location;   adjusting a series of time intervals that separate scan sessions of a pattern for scanning for wireless local area networks according to said estimated likelihood, so that as said likelihood increases, the time intervals decrease subject to a lower limit and as said likelihood decreases, the time intervals increase subject to an upper limit; and   scanning for wireless local area networks while at said location during scan sessions that are separated by said adjusted time intervals.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said upper limit is a constant value that is independent of said likelihood. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said upper limit is dependent on said likelihood. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of said one or more other wireless interfaces is a cellular interface, said location is a cellular location, and estimating said likelihood comprises:
 estimating said likelihood as a function of how many times said mobile device roamed to said cellular location.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of said one or more other wireless interfaces is a Global Positioning System receiver, said location is a geographical location, and estimating said likelihood comprises:
 estimating said likelihood as a function of how many times said mobile device entered said geographic location.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein estimating said likelihood comprises:
 estimating said likelihood as a function of how many times said mobile device associated with any wireless local area network while at said location.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein estimating said likelihood comprises:
 estimating said likelihood as a function of how many times said mobile device detected any wireless local area network while at said location.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein estimating said likelihood comprises:
 estimating said likelihood as a function of how many times said mobile device associated with a particular wireless local area network while at said location.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein estimating said likelihood comprises:
 estimating said likelihood as a function of how many times said mobile device detected a particular wireless local area network while at said location.   
     
     
         10 . A mobile device comprising:
 a processor;   a wireless local area network interface coupled to said processor, through which said mobile device is able to scan for wireless local area networks;   one or more other wireless interfaces coupled to said processor, through which said mobile device is able to identify a location of said mobile device; and   a memory to store code which, when executed by said processor, is arranged to estimate a likelihood that a wireless local area network is detectable at said location, to adjust a series of time intervals that separate scan sessions of a pattern for scanning for wireless local area networks according to said estimated likelihood, so that as said likelihood increases, the time intervals decrease subject to a lower limit and as said likelihood decreases, the time intervals increase subject to an upper limit, and to control said wireless local area network interface to scan for wireless local area networks while at said location during scan sessions that are separated by said adjusted time intervals.   
     
     
         11 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein said upper limit is a constant value that is independent of said likelihood. 
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein said upper limit is dependent on said likelihood. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein said code, when executed by said processor, is further arranged to collect information about wireless local area network activity of said mobile device while at said location. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein one of said one or more other wireless interfaces is a cellular interface, said location is a cellular location, and wherein said code, when executed by said processor, is arranged to estimate said likelihood as a function of how many times said mobile device roamed to said cellular location. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein one of said one or more other wireless interfaces is a Global Positioning System receiver, said location is a geographical location, and wherein said code, when executed by said processor, is arranged to estimate said likelihood as a function of how many times said mobile device entered said geographical location. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein said code, when executed by said processor, is arranged to estimate said likelihood as a function of how many times said mobile device associated with any wireless local area network while at said location. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein said code, when executed by said processor, is arranged to estimate said likelihood as a function of how many times said mobile device detected any wireless local area network while at said location. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein said code, when executed by said processor, is arranged to estimate said likelihood as a function of how many times said mobile device associated with a particular wireless local area network while at said location. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile device of  claim 10 , wherein said code, when executed by said processor, is arranged to estimate said likelihood as a function of how many times said mobile device detected a particular wireless local area network while at said location. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions which when executed by a mobile device having a wireless local area network interface and one or more other wireless interfaces, result in said mobile device:
 identifying a location of said mobile device via one or more of said other wireless interfaces;   estimating a likelihood that a wireless local area network is detectable at said location;   adjusting a series of time intervals that separate scan sessions of a pattern for scanning for wireless local area networks according to said estimated likelihood, so that as said likelihood increases, the time intervals decrease subject to a lower limit and as said likelihood decreases, the time intervals increase subject to an upper limit; and   scanning for wireless local area networks while at said location during scan sessions that are separated by said adjusted time intervals.