Mobile Device Blacklist for Packet Data Service Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices in CDMA networks lack a standardized mechanism to determine data service availability, leading to unnecessary data call attempts and battery drain, especially when roaming between networks with varying service agreements.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device with a memory-based blacklist that stores wireless networks not providing packet data services, allowing it to dynamically avoid attempting data calls on unsupported networks and notify its home server of changes in service availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the mobile device attempts data calls on all detected wireless networks to discover service availability, then complete service discovery is achieved, but battery life is significantly reduced due to repeated failed attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device performs preliminary actions by maintaining a blacklist of networks that have previously rejected data service requests. Before attempting data calls, the device checks this blacklist to avoid networks known to reject services, thereby performing the discovery function while conserving battery power through selective avoidance rather than exhaustive trial attempts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mobile device maintains continuous data connectivity to support seamless mobility, then data mobility is improved, but unnecessary data call attempts are made on networks without roaming agreements, increasing network traffic and energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by monitoring data call outcomes and updating the blacklist accordingly. When a data call is rejected by a network, this information is fed back into the blacklist mechanism, preventing future unnecessary attempts on the same network. This feedback loop enables seamless mobility adaptation while eliminating wasteful energy consumption on networks without proper roaming agreements.
3Measurement precision
If the mobile device makes blind data call origination attempts to determine service availability, then accurate service discovery is achieved, but network traffic increases and call setup time is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device performs preliminary checks against the blacklist before initiating data call origination. This preliminary action filters out networks known to reject data services, ensuring that subsequent call attempts are made only on networks with confirmed service availability. This approach maintains measurement precision for service discovery while eliminating wasteful call setup time on incompatible networks.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for packet data service discovery are described. A current blacklist comprising entries for wireless networks not providing packet data services (i.e. either not supporting the services or not having a packet data services roaming agreement) is kept in memory of the mobile device based on previous attempts to connect to such networks. Current preferred roaming lists identify whether a given wireless network can be acquired, but do not identify whether a data services roaming agreement exists. At least one of the following advantages is provided: no advance knowledge of data services roaming agreements is required; no mobile device software change is required when the data services roaming agreement changes; mobile device can notify a server of a wireless network status change; significant power savings at the mobile device; and avoid unnecessary network access, which in turn saves network resources and capacity.