Mobile Device Network Offload via Region Rules
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communications devices incur substantial international roaming charges when crossing borders, as existing technologies lack efficient methods to manage network usage and offload traffic effectively across different regions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that initiate registration with a wireless wide area network, receive a region indicator, and selectively communicate using a rules profile to offload communications from a wide area network to a local area network, based on constraints such as time, performance, and access point identifiers, reducing roaming expenses for service providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the mobile communications device communicates with the wide area network internationally, then network coverage and service availability are improved, but international roaming charges and service provider expenses increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a local area network as an intermediary communication path between the mobile device and the wide area network. When the device detects it is in a foreign region, it can offload data traffic through local Wi-Fi or other LAN connections, which then route internationally through local internet connections rather than through the expensive cellular roaming infrastructure. This intermediary path reduces roaming charges while maintaining network coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is segmented into multiple independent networks: a wide area network for voice and critical data, and a local area network for data offloading. The device can selectively use each network based on location and traffic type, separating expensive roaming traffic from cost-effective local traffic paths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mobile communications device uses multiple communication networks, then network usage flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device is equipped with multiple radios (cellular and Wi-Fi) that can serve universal communication purposes. The same device hardware handles both wide area network communication and local area network offloading, with the controller intelligently selecting which network to use based on location, traffic type, and configured rules, rather than requiring separate specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The network selection is dynamic rather than static. The controller continuously monitors location information, network availability, and traffic characteristics, adjusting the communication path in real-time based on current conditions. Rules profiles can be dynamically applied or modified based on geographic location, time of day, and network performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of managing network resource usage of a mobile communications device includes initiating registration of the mobile communications device with a wireless wide area communications network. The method includes receiving a region indicator from the wireless wide area communications network in response to the initiating. The method includes selectively communicating by the mobile communications device with a second communications network according to a rules profile associated with the region indicator. The region indicator may be a country code or network code. The rules profile may be one of a plurality of rules profiles identified based on the region indicator. Individual rules profiles of the plurality of rules profiles specify at least one of time of day constraints, access point identifier constraints, and performance threshold constraints.