Remote Server Network Selection via Geographic Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices often incur unnecessary roaming charges due to poor signal strength within their home network, causing them to connect with roaming partners even when located within their home network area.
Innovation Solution
A method where a remote server determines the geographic position of a mobile device and selects between a home network and a roaming network based on predefined rules, ensuring the device connects to the home network when possible to avoid roaming charges, using geographic boundary maps and positioning logic to make informed network selection decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile device connects to roaming partner networks when home network signal strength is insufficient, then connectivity is maintained, but unnecessary roaming charges are incurred when the device is actually within home network coverage area
Solution Approach 1:
A remote server acts as an intermediary between the mobile device and network selection process. The server receives location information from the device, determines whether the device is within home network coverage area using geographic boundary maps, and provides network selection recommendations. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by enabling accurate connectivity decisions that prevent unnecessary roaming charges while maintaining reliable connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the mobile device's geographic location and comparing it with home network coverage boundaries. When the device moves between coverage areas, the system receives location updates, re-evaluates network selection criteria, and adjusts recommendations accordingly. This feedback loop ensures connectivity decisions are always based on current location data, preventing unnecessary roaming charges.
2Ease of operation
If the mobile device uses traditional signal strength-based network selection, then connectivity decisions are simple, but the device may connect to roaming networks even when within home network coverage area
Solution Approach 1:
The network selection process is segmented into distinct functional components: location determination by the mobile device, coverage area evaluation by the remote server, and network recommendation generation. This segmentation allows the complex geographic boundary analysis to be performed by the server while keeping the mobile device's role simple, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and accurate network selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote server serves as an intermediary that handles the complex geographic boundary analysis and network evaluation logic. The mobile device simply provides location information and receives recommendations, maintaining ease of operation. The intermediary server performs the sophisticated analysis needed to prevent unnecessary roaming charges without complicating the device's operation.
3Speed
If the mobile device determines network selection based solely on signal strength and preferred roaming list, then the selection process is fast, but it cannot distinguish between being within home network vs. roaming area
Solution Approach 1:
Geographic boundary maps of home network coverage areas are pre-loaded into the mobile device before network selection is needed. When the device determines its location using GPS or other positioning methods, it can immediately compare its coordinates against the pre-stored boundary data to quickly determine whether it is within the home network coverage area. This preliminary preparation enables fast network selection with high location-based accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a geographic location dimension to the traditional signal strength-based network selection process. By incorporating latitude and longitude coordinates along with pre-stored geographic boundary maps, the system transforms the selection criteria from purely signal-based to a multi-dimensional approach that includes spatial location information. This enables accurate distinction between home network and roaming areas while maintaining selection speed through efficient coordinate comparison.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for connecting a mobile device with one of a plurality of wireless networks begins by initiating a network selection process of the mobile device with the plurality of wireless networks. A remote server determines a geographic position of the mobile device with respect to at least one of the plurality of wireless networks. The remote server selects one of a first network and a second network of the plurality of wireless networks responsive to the determined geographic position of the mobile device and an associated rule set stored at the remote server.