WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK SELECTION

Abstract

The invention relates to setting up of a communication link from a mobile device to a wireless network. In a scenario where a number of different networks are accessible, the network once selected for connection is stored as a preferred selection, and is thereafter automatically selected for a subsequent scenario in which the same combination of networks is detected as being accessible. A connection link to the preferred network may then be automatically setup upon detection of the previously detected combination of networks, or actual setup of the connection may be activated upon a simple connection command from a user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description of the invention with references to the accompanying drawings, on which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a wireless communications device in the form of a mobile phone, by means of which an embodiment of the present invention may be employed;

FIG. 2 illustrates the presence of wireless communications device according to an embodiment of the invention within the range of three different communication networks; and

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates functional block diagram of a wireless communications device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wireless communications device, comprising: a memory for storing identity information for combinations of wireless networks and, for at least one of the combinations, information of a preferred network of that combination;a signal transceiver unit configured to receive network communication signals including network identity information;a control unit, including a processor system and a client software, configured tocompare identity information stored in the memory with received identity information for a number of simultaneously accessible networks,select the preferred network of a stored combination comprising the number of simultaneously accessible networks, and set up a connection to the selected network.

2. The wireless communications device of claim 1, comprising a user interface operable to manually select one of a number of simultaneously detected networks, wherein the control unit is configured to store identity information for the number of simultaneously detected networks as a combination, and the selected network as the preferred network of that combination, in the memory.

3. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to set up a connection to the selected network responsive to a connection setup command.

4. The wireless communications device of claim 1, wherein the preferred network is the network last selected by a user for connection, among the networks comprised in that combination.

5. The wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the wireless networks is a WLAN.

6. The wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the wireless networks is a WiMAX network.

7. The wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the wireless networks is a cellular network.

8. The wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless networks is any combination of wireless networks using different techniques such as WLAN, WiMAX, cellular and the like.

9. The wireless communications device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to select the preferred network of a stored combination consisting of the number of simultaneously accessible networks.

10. The wireless communications device according to claim 1, comprising a user interface including a display and a data input interface, wherein the control unit is configured to detect signal reception from a number of networks forming a combination stored in the memory,present a connect option on the display, wherein the user interface is configured to set up a connection to the preferred network responsive to user activation of the connect option.

11. The wireless communications device according to claim 1, forming part of a mobile phone.

12. The wireless communications device according to claim 1, forming part of a portable computer.

13. Computer program product for use in a processor system of a wireless communications device, comprising computer program code executable to: detect network identity information in communication signals received from a number of simultaneously accessible networks,access a memory storing identity information for combinations of wireless networks and, for at least one of the combinations,information of a preferred network of that combination,compare identity information stored in the memory with the received identity information,select the preferred network of a stored combination comprising the number of simultaneously accessible networks, andset up a connection between the communications device and the selected network.

14. The computer program of claim 13, comprising computer program code executable to: store identity information for a number of simultaneously detected networks as a combination,sense user selection of one of the detected networks for connection, andstore the selected network as the preferred network of that combination, in the memory.

15. The computer program of claim 13, comprising computer program code executable to: set up a connection to the selected network responsive to a connection setup command.

16. The computer program of claim 13, wherein the preferred network is the network last selected by a user for connection, among the networks comprised in that combination.

17. The computer program of claim 13, wherein at least one of the wireless networks is a WLAN.

18. The computer program of claim 13, wherein at least one of the wireless networks is a WiMAX network.

19. The computer program of claim 13, wherein at least one of the wireless networks is a cellular network.

20. The computer program of claim 13, wherein the wireless networks is any combination of wireless networks using different techniques such as WLAN, WiMAX, cellular and the like.

21. The computer program of claim 13, wherein the computer program code executable to: select the preferred network of a stored combination consisting of the number of simultaneously accessible networks.

22. The computer program of claim 13, comprising computer program code executable to: detect signal reception from a number of networks forming a combination stored in the memory,present a connect option on a display, andset up a connection to the preferred network responsive to user activation of the connect option.