Mobile device radio management

Abstract

Alternative network access for a mobile device having a first radio and a second radio, or in some cases, only one radio can include using a first radio in a first connection with a first access point. Whether to establish a second connection with a second access point using a second radio is determined. The determination is based on a first set of access conditions associated with the first access point and a second set of access conditions associated with the second access point. The second connection is established with the second access point using the second radio based on the determining, which indicates establishing the second connection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for a mobile device comprising one or more wireless radio systems, the method comprising, by the mobile device:
 monitoring for one or more wake-up events;   receiving, from a remote server, an indication of one or more access points; and,   when at least one of the one or more wake-up events is detected,
 turning on at least a first one of the one or more wireless radio systems, 
 using the first wireless radio system to perform a scan of the environment to identify one or more access points, and, 
 when at least one of the identified one or more access points matches the downloaded indication of one or more access points, determining whether or not to connect to the at least one access point, via the first wireless radio system, based, at least in part, on a set of one or more rules. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein monitoring for one or more wake-up events comprises maintaining a wake-up timer that expires after a wake-up interval, wherein one of the one or more wake-up events comprises expiration of the wake-up timer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, by the mobile device:
 when determined to connect to the at least one access point, connecting to the at least one access point via the first wireless radio system; and,   after subsequently disconnecting from the at least one access point, maintaining a shorter wake-up interval for a predetermined number of intervals immediately following the disconnection, and lengthening the wake-up interval after the predetermined number of intervals immediately following the disconnection.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless radio systems comprise a plurality of wireless radio systems, and wherein the method further comprises, by the mobile device, while connected to an access point via a second one of the plurality of wireless radio systems:
 executing an application that requires a transmission of data; and   delaying the transmission of data until a connection to the at least one access point via the first wireless radio system is established.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the set of one or more rules comprises different acceptable delays of the transmission of data for different cost levels required to transmit the data. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether or not to connect to the at least one access point, via the first wireless radio system, based, at least in part, on the set of one or more rules, comprises:
 receiving terms and conditions directly from the at least one access point; and   applying the set of one or more rules to the received terms and conditions.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, by the mobile device, receiving, from the remote server, authentication information for establishing a connection with the at least one access point, wherein the authentication information is associated with an expiration time at which the authentication information expires. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, by the mobile device:
 collecting statistics for the identified one or more access points; and   transmitting the collected statistics to the remote server.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, by the mobile device:
 receiving an initial price for connecting to the at least one access point; and,   when determined to connect to the at least one access point,
 connecting to the at least one access point via the first wireless radio system, 
 downloading an updated price via the connection to the at least one access point via the first wireless radio system, and 
 determining whether or not to disconnect from the at least one access point based, at least in part, on the updated price. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, by the mobile device:
 when determined to connect to the at least one access point, connecting to the at least one access point via the first wireless radio system; and,   after connecting to the at least one access point via the first wireless radio system,
 reevaluating the connection to the at least one access point at a time interval to determine whether a better connection is available, and 
 adjusting the time interval for the reevaluation based on one or more parameters, wherein the one or more parameters comprise a price of the connection to the at least one access point. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, by the mobile device:
 when determined to connect to the at least one access point, connecting to the at least one access point via the first wireless radio system;   receiving, from the remote server, an instruction to terminate the connection to the at least one access point; and,   in response to the instruction, terminating the connection to the at least one access point, and temporarily preventing any further connection to the at least one access point.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining whether or not to connect to the at least one access point, via the first wireless radio system, based, at least in part, on the set of one or more rules, comprises:
 receiving terms and conditions for the at least one access point, wherein the terms and conditions indicate a manner of advertising required for using a connectivity service provided by the at least one access point; and   applying the set of one or more rules to the terms and conditions, including the manner of advertising, wherein the set of one or more rules comprise an indication of an acceptable manner of advertising, and wherein a determination to connect to the at least one access point is more likely when the manner of advertising indicated in the terms and conditions matches the acceptable manner of advertising indicated in the set of one or more rules.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless radio systems comprise a plurality of wireless radio systems, wherein the first wireless radio system is a Wi-Fi radio system, wherein the plurality of wireless radio systems further comprise a cellular radio system configured to communicate in a cellular network, wherein the method further comprises, by the remote server, instructing the mobile device to switch from the cellular radio system to the Wi-Fi radio system, even when the cellular radio system is available to the mobile device, based on a load to the cellular network, and wherein the at least one wake-up event is reception of the instruction from the remote server. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless radio systems comprise a plurality of wireless radio systems, wherein the at least one wake-up event comprises an amount of data being transmitted over a particular time interval, via a second one of the plurality of wireless radio systems, exceeding a predetermined value. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wake-up event comprises activation of a specific application. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, by the mobile device, when determined to connect to the at least one access point:
 connecting to the at least one access point via the first wireless radio system; and   determining whether or not a captive portal exists for the at least one access point by
 requesting a specific web site, 
 receiving a response to the request, 
 comparing the response to an expected response, 
 when the response does not match the expected response, determining that a captive portal exists for the at least one access point, and, 
 when the response matches the expected response, determining that a captive portal does not exist for the at least one access point. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, by the mobile device, when determined to connect to the at least one access point:
 connecting to the at least one access point via the first wireless radio system;   storing, in memory, information about the connection to the at least one access point, wherein the stored information comprises a location at which the at least one access point was used and an identifier of the at least one access point; and   transmitting the stored information to the remote server.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the stored information further comprises an identification of the first wireless radio system, a total amount of data used over the connection or a total time that the connection was used, and an identifier of an application that used the connection. 
     
     
         19 . A method for selection of network access implemented by a remote server, the method comprising:
 determining a location of a mobile device;   determining one or more access points within a vicinity of the location of the mobile device; and   sending, to the mobile device, an indication of one or more access points and a set of one or more rules.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 determining whether or not the mobile device is moving; and,   when determined that the mobile device is moving, extending the vicinity of the location of the mobile device in a direction in which the mobile device is moving.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising receiving a list of one or more access points identified by the mobile device, wherein determining a location of the mobile device comprises correlating the list of the one or more access points to a database of access point locations. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the set of one or more rules comprises adjusting the wake-up interval of a radio system within the mobile device. 
     
     
         23 . A remote server comprising:
 memory; and   at least one processor configured to
 determine a location of a mobile device, 
 determine one or more access points within a vicinity of the location of the mobile device, and 
 send, to the mobile device, an indication of one or more access points and a set of one or more rules. 
   
     
     
         24 . The remote server of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 determine whether or not the mobile device is moving; and,   when determined that the mobile device is moving, extend the vicinity of the location of the mobile device in a direction in which the mobile device is moving.   
     
     
         25 . The remote server of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a list of one or more access points identified by the mobile device, wherein determining a location of the mobile device comprises correlating the list of the one or more access points to a database of access point locations. 
     
     
         26 . The remote server of  claim 23 , wherein the set of one or more rules comprises adjusting a wake-up interval of a radio system within the mobile device.