Wireless Roaming Signal Logic for Call Quality

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems often experience poor signal environments due to geographic limitations, inadequate signal strength, or poorly designed networks, leading to dropped calls, errors, and unintelligible voice communications, prompting the need for automatic or user-controlled roaming to alternative service providers.

Innovation Solution

A wireless device with signal logic that samples signal strength at intervals, determines if it falls below a user-set threshold, and automatically or manually switches to a stronger signal from another provider, resetting back to the default provider after a specified time, utilizing multiple timers to manage this process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wireless device uses the default service provider's signal, then the service provider maintains control over network quality and pricing, but the user experiences poor signal strength and dropped calls in areas with weak coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall qualityVSAvoidsignal coverage flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts roaming behavior based on real-time signal conditions. The device monitors signal strength continuously and automatically activates roaming only when the default provider's signal falls below a threshold, allowing the system to adapt between using the default provider and roaming based on environmental conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter of network selection by introducing user-configurable signal strength thresholds and duration parameters. Users can set minimum signal strength levels and time durations that trigger roaming, allowing customization of when and how the device switches between providers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the wireless device automatically roams to alternative providers when signal is weak, then the user experiences improved call quality, but the device complexity increases due to multiple timers and signal logic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal strengthVSAvoidroaming control mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple functions into the existing wireless device architecture. The signal strength monitoring, threshold comparison, timer management, and roaming activation are integrated into the device's existing baseband processor and control logic, avoiding the need for separate dedicated hardware components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs self-monitoring of signal strength and automatically makes roaming decisions based on predefined user parameters. The system serves itself by continuously evaluating signal conditions and autonomously activating or deactivating roaming without requiring manual user intervention or complex external control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If the wireless device monitors signal strength continuously to determine when to roam, then the switching accuracy improves, but the energy consumption increases due to frequent sampling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal strength detectionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic sampling of signal strength at defined intervals rather than continuous monitoring. The device checks signal levels at regular time periods, which reduces power consumption while still maintaining adequate detection accuracy to trigger roaming when signal conditions deteriorate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a threshold-based approach where full monitoring activity is only activated when signal strength approaches the roaming trigger threshold. Normal operation uses reduced monitoring, and intensive monitoring is applied only when needed, balancing energy consumption with detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Adaptability or versatility

If the wireless device allows user-configurable roaming thresholds, then the adaptability to user needs improves, but the ease of operation decreases due to additional configuration steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser customizationVSAvoidsetup complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides default threshold values and parameters that are pre-configured for typical usage scenarios. Users can immediately benefit from roaming functionality without configuration, and only need to adjust parameters if their specific needs differ from the defaults, reducing the perceived complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8995995B2System and method for enhanced automatic roaming

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 CENTURYLINK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC

AI summary

A system and method for automatically roaming with a wireless device. A signal strength of a first wireless signal is sampled at a time interval. A determination is made whether the signal strength is less than a threshold for a predetermined duration. The wireless device is set to roam on a second wireless signal in response to the signal strength of the first wireless signal being less than the threshold for the predetermined duration. The wireless device is reset to a default setting for communication after a predetermined duration.