Methods and apparatus for intelligent wirless technology selection

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for intelligently selecting and operating one or more air interfaces of a mobile wireless device for e.g., call setup time reduction. In one embodiment, operation of a high speed cellular interface is selectively adjusted or disabled or switched out when not required so as to minimize call setup times by, e.g., using a different cellular interface to receive pages. In one implementation, the wireless device includes a high-speed cellular interface, a lower-speed cellular interface, and a WLAN (e.g., Wi-Fi) interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Mobile apparatus, comprising:
 a cellular wireless transceiver operable in at least first and second modes;   a second wireless transceiver;   a processor in signal communication with the cellular and second transceivers; and   logic in communication with the processor and configured to:
 determine if the second transceiver is operating; 
 when it is determined that the second transceiver is operating, operate the cellular wireless transceiver in the first mode; and 
 when it is determined that the second transceiver is not operating, operate the cellular wireless transceiver in the second mode; 
   wherein the operation of the cellular wireless transceiver in the first mode reduces call setup time as compared to operation in the second mode.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first mode comprises an idle mode of a code division multiple access (CDMA)-based wireless technology. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second mode comprises an idle mode of a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based wireless technology. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second mode comprises an idle mode of a cellular wireless technology that is primarily utilized to provide high-speed data access for the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first mode comprises an idle mode of a code division multiple access (CDMA)-based wireless technology;   the second mode comprises an idle mode of a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based wireless technology; and   the second interface comprises a wireless LAN (WLAN) interface.   
     
     
         6 . Mobile wireless apparatus, comprising:
 a first cellular wireless interface operable in at least first and second modes;   a second cellular wireless interface operable in at least first and second modes;   a local area wireless transceiver;   a processor in signal communication with the first and second cellular interfaces and the local area transceiver; and   logic in communication with the processor and configured to:
 determine when the local area transceiver is in a designated state; and 
 when it is determined that the local area transceiver is in the designated state, cause a transition from the first cellular interface operating in its first mode to the second cellular interface operating in its first mode; 
   wherein the transition reduces subsequent voice call setup time as compared to operation of the first cellular wireless interface in its first mode.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first mode and second mode of the first cellular interface comprise (i) an idle or standby mode; and (ii) an active or connected mode, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first cellular interface comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based wireless technology;   the second cellular interface comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA)-based wireless technology; and   the local area interface comprises a wireless LAN (WLAN) interface compliant with an IEEE-Std. 802.11 standard.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the logic is configured such that the determination and causation of the transition are performed proactively upon the designated state being achieved. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the designated state comprises association of the mobile apparatus via the local area interface to a base station or access point, and the logic is configured such that the causation of the transition is performed upon the designated state being achieved. 
     
     
         11 . Mobile wireless apparatus, comprising:
 a first cellular wireless interface having at least an idle or standby mode;   a second cellular wireless interface having at least an idle or standby modes;   a third wireless interface having high-speed data capability;   a processor in signal communication with the first and second cellular interfaces and the third interface; and   logic in communication with the processor and configured to:
 receive a communication from an external entity indicating that the third interface is at least connected; and 
 based at least in part on said communication:
 (i) cause the second cellular interface to operate in its idle or standby mode and receive any voice call pages; and 
 
 (ii) cause the first cellular interface to be temporarily disabled from receiving the any voice call pages. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the communication is received by the apparatus via the third interface. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the communication from an external entity indicating that the third interface is at least connected further includes information indicating that the third interface connection is operating at least to a prescribed level. 
     
     
         14 . A method of reducing voice call setup time in a mobile wireless device having at least first and second cellular radio access technologies and a non-cellular radio access technology, the method comprising:
 selectively utilizing the second cellular access technology in place of the first when the non-cellular access technology is enabled;   wherein the second technology can receive indications of incoming voice calls, and can set up such calls via the second technology faster than said first cellular access technology can.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the selectively utilizing comprises using the second cellular access technology in an idle mode. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the second cellular technology comprises a code division multiple access (CDMA)-based wireless technology;   the first cellular interface comprises a Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based wireless technology; and   the local area interface comprises a wireless LAN (WLAN) interface compliant with an IEEE-Std. 802.11 standard.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising reverting to use of said first cellular interface from said second access technology at least during periods when said non-cellular technology is not enabled. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the selectively utilizing comprises informing a network entity that said non-cellular access technology is enabled.