Quality of experience enhancement for wireless networks based on received signal strength at a mobile device

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for network and/or evaluation and selection based on received signal strength at a device. For example, an received signal strength indicator (RSSI) can be measured (e.g., using Android API or other suitable methods). Then, the measured RSSI level can be compared against a threshold RSSI level, which can be determined on a device-by-device basis. In some embodiments, the RSSI values can assist the network evaluation and selection in certain situations, for example, where WiFi network quality is degraded because of locational movement and not backbone structure, and/or where there are multiple access points (APs) providing WiFi networks under the same SSID and each AP having different effective coverage. Further, in some embodiments, the RSSI values can provide the capabilities of WiFi AP suspension based on MAC addresses. In some embodiments, the RSSI values can be adopted to trigger QoE measurements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for network evaluation comprising:
 measuring a set of parameters using an application and/or transport layer protocol for one or more available networks;   determining a quality level for the one or more available networks based off of the measured parameters;   selecting a radio associated with an available network based on the determined quality level for the one or more available networks;   repeating measuring the set of parameters and determining a quality level; and   when the determined quality level is below a quality threshold, selecting a subsequent radio associated with a subsequently available network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, if the determined quality level is below a quality threshold:
 identifying whether the below-threshold quality level is substantially caused by a location of the mobile device;   preventing the mobile device from connecting to the network according to the identified cause.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the quality level is determined by measuring a set of parameters for available networks accessible by a number of available radio modules on the mobile device using an application layer protocol, and wherein the set of parameters includes a round-trip time (RTT) and packet loss (PL) percentage. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the identification of cause for the below-threshold quality level is based on measuring radio signal strength received at the mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 comparing the radio signal strength with a signal strength threshold;   if the radio signal strength is below the signal strength threshold, identifying the cause as the location;   if the radio signal strength is not below the signal strength threshold, identifying the cause as not the location.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 if there are multiple access points providing a plurality of networks with a same unique identifier:   measuring a respective radio signal strength received for the plurality of networks;   determining whether a network with maximum radio signal strength is connected.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 if the network with maximum radio signal strength is not connected, connecting to the network with maximum radio signal strength;   if the network with maximum radio signal strength connected, preventing connection to the access point which provides the network with maximum radio signal strength.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thresholds are specific to hardware characteristics of the mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the quality level is determined by a local proxy on the mobile device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the local proxy is non-native to an operating system of the mobile device, and wherein the local proxy and the remote proxy are parts of a distributed proxy and cache system which facilitates network and mobile traffic management. 
     
     
         11 . A mobile device that is configured to select a radio from a number of available radio modules on a mobile device for communication, the device comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory circuitry coupled to the processors and having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by at least one of the processors, cause the mobile device to:
 measure a set of parameters using an application and/or transport layer protocol for one or more available networks; 
 determine a quality level for the one or more available networks based off of the measured parameters; 
 select a radio associated with an available network based on the determined quality level for the one or more available networks; 
 repeat measuring the set of parameters and determining a quality level; and 
   when the determined quality level is below a quality threshold, select a subsequent radio associated with a subsequently available network.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile device of  claim 11 , wherein, if the determined quality level is below a quality threshold, the memory circuitry causes the mobile device to:
 identify whether the below-threshold quality level is substantially caused by a location of the mobile device;   prevent the mobile device from connecting to the network according to the identified cause.   
     
     
         13 . The mobile device of  claim 11 , wherein the quality level is determined by measuring a set of parameters for available networks accessible by a number of available radio modules on the mobile device using an application layer protocol, and wherein the set of parameters includes a round-trip time (RTT) and packet loss (PL) percentage. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile device of  claim 12 , wherein the identification of cause for the below-threshold quality level is based on measuring radio signal strength received at the mobile device. 
     
     
         15 . The mobile device of  claim 14 , wherein the memory circuitry causes the mobile device to:
 compare the radio signal strength with a signal strength threshold;   if the radio signal strength is below the signal strength threshold, identify the cause as the location;   if the radio signal strength is not below the signal strength threshold, identify the cause as not the location.   
     
     
         16 . The mobile device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 if there are multiple access points providing a plurality of networks with a same unique identifier, the memory circuitry causes the mobile device to:   measure a respective radio signal strength received for the plurality of networks;   determine whether a network with maximum radio signal strength is connected.   
     
     
         17 . The mobile device of  claim 16 , wherein the memory circuitry further causes the mobile device to:
 connect to the network with maximum radio signal strength when the network with maximum radio signal strength is not connected;   prevent connection to the access point which provides the network with maximum radio signal strength when the network with maximum radio signal strength connected.   
     
     
         18 . The mobile device of  claim 11 , wherein the thresholds are specific to hardware characteristics of the mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile device of  claim 11 , wherein the quality level is determined by a local proxy on the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile device of  claim 19 , wherein the local proxy is non-native to an operating system of the mobile device, and wherein the local proxy and the remote proxy are parts of a distributed proxy and cache system which facilitates network and mobile traffic management.