U.S. patent application number 13/897391 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-20 for performing neighbor cell activities in a multi-stack device.
This patent application is currently assigned to QUALCOMM Incorporated. The applicant listed for this patent is QUALCOMM Incorporated. Invention is credited to Raghavendra S. Anand, Mungal S. Dhanda, Chih-Ping Hsu, Sathish Krishnamoorthy, Shawn C. Morrison, Subbarayudu Mutya, Divaydeep Sikri.
Application Number | 20140342728 13/897391 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50942356 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140342728 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dhanda; Mungal S. ; et
al. |
November 20, 2014 |
PERFORMING NEIGHBOR CELL ACTIVITIES IN A MULTI-STACK DEVICE
Abstract
Systems, methods, and devices providing a framework which
reduces the amount of switching required by single transceiver
hardware chain mobile devices operating multiple cellular
technology and/or service stacks. The various embodiments enable
two or more service stacks on the mobile device of various cellular
technologies (e.g., 3GPP GSM, UMTS, LTE, WCDMA, etc), to share
information, such as network measurements. The various embodiments
may also enable one service stack to perform procedures for and
provide information to another service stack.
Inventors: |
Dhanda; Mungal S.; (Slough,
GB) ; Anand; Raghavendra S.; (Hyderabad, IN) ;
Morrison; Shawn C.; (Boulder, CO) ; Hsu;
Chih-Ping; (San Diego, CA) ; Sikri; Divaydeep;
(Woking, GB) ; Mutya; Subbarayudu; (Hyderabad,
IN) ; Krishnamoorthy; Sathish; (Hyderabad,
IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QUALCOMM Incorporated |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
QUALCOMM Incorporated
San Diego
CA
|
Family ID: |
50942356 |
Appl. No.: |
13/897391 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/422.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 88/06 20130101;
H04W 24/00 20130101; H04W 48/16 20130101; H04W 48/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/422.1 |
International
Class: |
H04W 24/00 20060101
H04W024/00 |
Claims
1. A method of performing neighboring cell signal measurements in a
mobile device having a first service stack and a second service
stack sharing a single transceiver channel, comprising: receiving,
in the first service stack, a request for neighboring cell signal
measurement data from the second service stack; measuring signal
strength of neighboring cells via the first service stack to
generate the requested neighboring cell signal measurement data in
the first service stack; and providing the requested neighboring
cell signal measurement data from the first service stack to the
second service stack, wherein the first service stack and the
second service stack are each associated with a single subscription
served by different radio access networks and by one core
network.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for neighboring cell
signal measurement data identifies neighboring cells to be
measured, and wherein measuring neighboring cell signal strength
via the first service stack to generate the requested neighboring
cell signal measurement data in the first service stack comprises:
identifying common neighbor cells between the first service stack
and the second service stack; and measuring signal strength of any
unique identified neighboring cells to be measured and any neighbor
cells common among the first service stack and the second service
stack only once to generate the requested neighboring cell signal
measurement data in the first service stack.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second service stack is in
idle mode.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, in the
second service stack, a radio technology of the first service
stack; determining, in the second service stack, whether the first
service stack's radio technology is more efficient than a radio
technology of the second service stack; and sending the request for
neighboring cell signal measurement data to the first service stack
in response to determining the first service stack's radio
technology is more efficient than a radio technology of the second
service stack.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for neighboring cell
signal measurement data includes a request for signal strength
measurements and a request for cell identification, and wherein
measuring signal strength of neighboring cells via the first
service stack to generate the requested neighboring cell signal
measurement data in the first service stack comprises measuring
signal strength of neighboring cells via the first service stack
and performing cell identification of the neighboring cells via the
first service stack to generate the requested neighboring cell
signal measurement data in the first service stack.
6. A mobile device, comprising: a transceiver; and a processor
coupled to the transceiver and configured with processor-executable
instructions such that a first service stack and a second service
stack share a single transceiver channel and the first service
stack and the second service stack are each associated with a
single subscription served by different radio access networks and
by one core network, wherein the processor is configured with
processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
receiving, in the first service stack, a request for neighboring
cell signal measurement data from the second service stack;
measuring signal strength of neighboring cells via the first
service stack to generate the requested neighboring cell signal
measurement data in the first service stack; and providing the
requested neighboring cell signal measurement data from the first
service stack to the second service stack.
7. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the processor is
configured with processor-executable instructions to perform
operations such that: the request for neighboring cell signal
measurement data identifies neighboring cells to be measured; and
measuring neighboring cell signal strength via the first service
stack to generate the requested neighboring cell signal measurement
data in the first service stack comprises: identifying common
neighbor cells between the first service stack and the second
service stack; and measuring signal strength of any unique
identified neighboring cells to be measured and any neighbor cells
common among the first service stack and the second service stack
only once to generate the requested neighboring cell signal
measurement data in the first service stack.
8. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the processor is
configured with processor-executable instructions to perform
operations such that the second service stack is in idle mode.
9. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the processor is
configured with processor-executable instructions to perform
operations further comprising: determining, in the second service
stack, a radio technology of the first service stack; determining,
in the second service stack, whether the first service stack's
radio technology is more efficient than a radio technology of the
second service stack; and sending the request for neighboring cell
signal measurement data to the first service stack in response to
determining the first service stack's radio technology is more
efficient than a radio technology of the second service stack.
10. The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the processor is
configured with processor-executable instructions to perform
operations such that: the request for neighboring cell signal
measurement data includes a request for signal strength
measurements and a request for cell identification; and measuring
signal strength of neighboring cells via the first service stack to
generate the requested neighboring cell signal measurement data in
the first service stack comprises measuring signal strength of
neighboring cells via the first service stack and performing cell
identification of the neighboring cells via the first service stack
to generate the requested neighboring cell signal measurement data
in the first service stack.
11. A mobile device having a first service stack and a second
service stack sharing a single transceiver channel, comprising:
means for receiving, in the first service stack, a request for
neighboring cell signal measurement data from the second service
stack; means for measuring signal strength of neighboring cells via
the first service stack to generate the requested neighboring cell
signal measurement data in the first service stack; and means for
providing the requested neighboring cell signal measurement data
from the first service stack to the second service stack, wherein
the first service stack and the second service stack are each
associated with a single subscription served by different radio
access networks and by one core network.
12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the request for
neighboring cell signal measurement data identifies neighboring
cells to be measured, and wherein means for measuring neighboring
cell signal strength via the first service stack to generate the
requested neighboring cell signal measurement data in the first
service stack comprises: means for identifying common neighbor
cells between the first service stack and the second service stack;
and means for measuring signal strength of any unique identified
neighboring cells to be measured and any neighbor cells common
among the first service stack and the second service stack only
once to generate the requested neighboring cell signal measurement
data in the first service stack.
13. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein second service stack is
in idle mode.
14. The mobile device of claim 11, further comprising: means for
determining, in the second service stack, a radio technology of the
first service stack; means for determining, in the second service
stack, whether the first service stack's radio technology is more
efficient than a radio technology of the second service stack; and
means for sending the request for neighboring cell signal
measurement data to the first service stack in response to
determining the first service stack's radio technology is more
efficient than a radio technology of the second service stack.
15. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the request for
neighboring cell signal measurement data includes a request for
signal strength measurements and a request for cell identification,
and wherein means for measuring signal strength of neighboring
cells via the first service stack to generate the requested
neighboring cell signal measurement data in the first service stack
comprises means for measuring signal strength of neighboring cells
via the first service stack and performing cell identification of
the neighboring cells via the first service stack to generate the
requested neighboring cell signal measurement data in the first
service stack.
16. A non-transitory processor readable storage medium having
stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to
cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that a
first service stack and a second service stack share a single
transceiver channel and the first service stack and the second
service stack are each associated with a single subscription served
by different radio access networks and by one core network, the
stored processor-executable instructions configured to cause a
mobile device processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, in the first service stack, a request for neighboring
cell signal measurement data from the second service stack;
measuring signal strength of neighboring cells via the first
service stack to generate the requested neighboring cell signal
measurement data in the first service stack; and providing the
requested neighboring cell signal measurement data from the first
service stack to the second service stack.
17. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim
16, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions area
configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations
such that: the request for neighboring cell signal measurement data
identifies neighboring cells to be measured, and measuring
neighboring cell signal strength via the first service stack to
generate the requested neighboring cell signal measurement data in
the first service stack comprises: identifying common neighbor
cells between the first service stack and the second service stack;
and measuring signal strength of any unique identified neighboring
cells to be measured and any neighbor cells common among the first
service stack and the second service stack only once to generate
the requested neighboring cell signal measurement data in the first
service stack.
18. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim
16, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions area
configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations
such that the second service stack is in idle mode.
19. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim
16, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions area
configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations
further comprising: determining, in the second service stack, a
radio technology of the first service stack; determining, in the
second service stack, whether the first service stack's radio
technology is more efficient than a radio technology of the second
service stack; and sending the request for neighboring cell signal
measurement data to the first service stack in response to
determining the first service stack's radio technology is more
efficient than a radio technology of the second service stack.
20. The non-transitory processor-readable storage medium of claim
16, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions area
configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations
such that: the request for neighboring cell signal measurement data
includes a request for signal strength measurements and a request
for cell identification, and measuring signal strength of
neighboring cells via the first service stack to generate the
requested neighboring cell signal measurement data in the first
service stack comprises measuring signal strength of neighboring
cells via the first service stack and performing cell
identification of the neighboring cells via the first service stack
to generate the requested neighboring cell signal measurement data
in the first service stack.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Mobile devices, such as smart phones, are evolving to
support multiple different cellular technologies provided by
multiple different wireless service providers, as well as
supporting more than one service contract with different wireless
service providers. A mobile device supporting more than one
cellular technology and/or service provider may have only a single
transceiver hardware chain (i.e., a single radio device). In a
mobile device with only a single transceiver hardware chain, the
different cellular technologies and/or service stacks must
timeshare the transceiver hardware. When one stack on the mobile
device is operating in a connected mode, such as during a voice
and/or data call, switching the transceiver hardware from
supporting one service stack to another (i.e., "tune away") may
result in dead time for the connected stack.
SUMMARY
[0002] The systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments
provide a framework which reduces the amount of switching required
by single transceiver hardware chain mobile devices operating
multiple cellular technologies and/or service stacks, such as
single radio digital short range radio (DSRR) devices. The various
embodiments enable two or more service stacks on the mobile device
of various cellular technologies (e.g., 3GPP GSM, UMTS, LTE, WCDMA,
etc), to share information, such as network measurements. The
various embodiments may also enable one service stack to perform
procedures for and provide information to another service stack on
the mobile device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and
constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary
embodiments of the invention, and together with the general
description given above and the detailed description given below,
serve to explain the features of the invention.
[0004] FIG. 1 is a communication system block diagram of a network
suitable for use with the various embodiments.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a communication system block diagram of a mobile
device, two radio access networks, and one core network according
to another embodiment.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram illustrating an embodiment
method for performing neighboring cell signal measurements.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram illustrating an embodiment
method for performing neighboring cell signal measurements.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a component diagram of an example mobile device
suitable for use with the various embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] The various embodiments will be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same
reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to
the same or like parts. References made to particular examples and
implementations are for illustrative purposes, and are not intended
to limit the scope of the invention or the claims.
[0010] The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an
example, instance, or illustration." Any implementation described
herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as
preferred or advantageous over other implementations.
[0011] As used herein, the terms "mobile device" and "receiver
device" are used interchangeably herein to refer to any one or all
of cellular telephones, smart phones, personal or mobile
multi-media players, personal data assistants (PDA's), laptop
computers, tablet computers, smart books, palm-top computers,
wireless electronic mail receivers, multimedia Internet enabled
cellular telephones, wireless gaming controllers, and similar
personal electronic devices which include a programmable processor
and memory and circuitry for operating multiple cellular
technologies and/or service stacks.
[0012] As used herein, the term "service stack" is used herein to
refer to hardware, software, or a combination hardware and software
for operating with a cellular technology. A service stack may
operate with one cellular technology, such as 3GPP GSM, UMTS, LTE,
WCDMA, by controlling the transceiver hardware of a mobile device
to communicate with radio access networks (RANs) operating on the
service stack's.
[0013] The various embodiments provide a framework which reduces
the amount of switching required by single transceiver hardware
chain mobile devices operating multiple cellular technology and/or
service stacks. An example of such a mobile device is a digital
short range radio ("DSSR")) device that has two or more SIM cards
but only a single transceiver chain. The various embodiments enable
two or more service stacks on the mobile device belonging to the
same family of cellular technology (e.g., 3GPP GSM, UMTS, LTE,
WCDMA, etc), to share information, such as network measurements.
The various embodiments may also enable one service stack to
perform procedures for and provide information to another service
stack on the mobile device.
[0014] Mobile devices, such as smart phones, are evolving to
support multiple different cellular technologies provided by
multiple different wireless service providers as well as supporting
more than one service contract with different wireless service
providers. A mobile device supporting more than one cellular
technology and/or service provider (may have only a single
transceiver hardware chain (i.e., single radio device). In a mobile
device with a single transceiver hardware chain (i.e., a single
transceiver channel), the different cellular technologies and/or
service stacks must timeshare the transceiver hardware (i.e.,
transceiver channel). When one service stack on the mobile device
is operating in a connected mode, such as during a voice and/or
data call, switching the transceiver hardware from supporting one
service stack to another (i.e., "tune away") may result in dead
time for the connected stack.
[0015] As an example, when a first service stack, such as a Global
System for Communications ("GSM") stack, is in a dedicated call, a
second service stack, such as a Wideband Code Division Multiple
Access ("WCDMA") stack, may need to perform inter-radio access
technology ("inter-RAT") GSM neighbor cell measurements. Currently,
to provide the WCDMA stack with the inter-RAT GSM neighbor cell
measurements, the GSM call must be paused, the transceiver must be
tuned away to the WCDMA subscription frequency, the GSM
measurements for the WCDMA stack must be initiated, the transceiver
must be tuned to the GSM frequencies, and then the WCDMA stack may
perform the inter-RAT GSM neighbor cell measurements. After the
inter-RAT GSM neighbor cell measurements are completed the
transceiver is tuned back to the WCDMA subscription. Only after the
idle activities of the WCDMA stack are completed is the transceiver
turned back over to the GSM stack and tuned back to the GSM
subscription frequencies and the GSM call resumed. This example
illustrates the problem with conventional devices in that the
transceiver is tuned away from GSM frequencies to eventually
measure GSM frequencies, resulting in unnecessary dead time.
Additionally, the neighbor cells for the GSM stack and the WCDMA
stack may be the same, which may result in current mobile devices
performing duplicate measurements of the same neighbor cells.
[0016] The various embodiments enable two or more service stacks on
the mobile device to share cell signal strength measurement data
with each other. By sharing signal measurement data, one service
stack may remain in an idle state while the other service stack
performs signal measurements and provides signal measurement data
to the idle service stack. The various embodiments leverage the
commonalities among various cellular technologies to share common
functions among different service stacks. The various embodiments
enable an active service stack to perform measurements, such as
idle mode measurements, for an idle service stack. For example, a
WCDMA service stack at times may need to perform GSM inter-RAT
measurements as part of its idle mode, and the WCDMA service stack
may request a GSM service stack perform the GSM inter-RAT
measurements and provide the measurement data back to the WCDMA
service stack.
[0017] The various embodiments enable the sharing of signal
measurement data between service stacks in a variety of example
mobile device and network configurations. In an embodiment, a
mobile device may support a single subscription (i.e., a single
subscriber identity module (SIM)) served by two service stacks, a
first and second service stack. The first service stack and the
second service stack may be camped on different RANs, but serve the
same core network. As an example, the single subscription may use
one RAN for packet service, e.g., 3G/HSPA/LTE, while the other RAN
may be used for circuit switched service CDMA/GSM. The service
stacks are likely to have similar neighbor cells, thus one service
stack may perform the measurements for both stacks.
[0018] In another embodiment, one service stack may send a request
for neighboring cell measurement data to another active service
stack. The request may identify the neighboring cells to be
measured. The active service stack may identify any common
neighboring cells to prevent the duplicate measurement of matching
neighboring cells. The active service stack may then measure any
unique cells and any common neighbor cells, and may provide the
measurement data for the requested neighboring cells back to the
requesting service stack. In this manner, each neighboring cell may
only be measured once, even though the measurement data of any
given neighboring cell may be of interest to both service
stacks.
[0019] In another embodiment, a first service stack may determine
whether another service stack would be more efficient to measure
the first service stack's neighboring cells, and request the other
stack measure the neighboring cells if the other stack is more
efficient. As an example, a first service stack may operate in a
WCDMA technology and a second stack may operate in a GSM
technology. When the second service stack enters an idle mode, the
second service stack may determine that based on the first service
stack being a WCDMA technology stack, it would be more efficient
for the second service stack to perform its own measurements (i.e.,
take control of the transceiver hardware chain to measure its GSM
neighboring cells) rather than have the first service stack attempt
to measure the GSM neighboring cells.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless network system 100 suitable
for use with the various embodiments. The wireless network system
100 may include a mobile device 102 in communication with radio
access networks (RANs) 108 and 118 connected to the Internet 110
and core networks 112 and 120. RAN 108 may include one or more base
stations 104 connected to one or more base station controllers 106
connected to the Internet 110. RAN 118 may include one or more base
stations 114 connected to one or more base station controllers 116
connected to the Internet 110. RANs 108 and 118 may be from the
same family of cellular technology (e.g., 2G, 3G, CDMA, GSM, UMTS,
LTE, WCDMA, etc) or from different families of cellular technology
(e.g., 2G, 3G, CDMA, GSM, UMTS, LTE, WCDMA, etc). Core networks 112
and 120 may be networks associated with different service
providers, such as AT&T.RTM., Sprint.RTM., or Verizon.RTM., and
may share the use of RANs 108 and 118 or may exclusively use RANs
108 or 118.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment system 200 in which a
mobile device 202 may be in communication with two RANs 212 and
214, each connected to the same core network 216. The mobile device
202 may include one subscription service 204 (e.g., a SIM card)
served by two service stacks 206 and 208. The service stacks 206
and 208 may be in communication with each other and the transceiver
hardware chain 210. The transceiver hardware chain 210 may connect
the mobile device 202 to the RANs 212 and 214. In an embodiment,
service stacks 206 and 208 may be camped on different RANs 212 and
214, respectively, but serve the same core network 216 and same
subscription service 204. As an example, the subscription service
204 may use one service stack 206 and RAN 212 for packet service
(e.g., 3G/HSPA/LTE) while the other service stack 208 and RAN 214
are used for circuit switched service (e.g., CDMA/GSM). In an
embodiment, the service stacks 206 and 208 may have similar
neighbor cells, thus one service stack 206 or 208 may perform
measurements for both stacks 206 and 208.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram illustrating an embodiment
method 300 for performing neighboring cell signal measurements in a
mobile device having a first service stack and a second service
stack, but a single transceiver channel. In an embodiment, the
operations of method 300 may be performed by a processor of a
mobile device. While the operations of method 300 are illustrated
as occurring on the second service stack or the first service
stack, the performing stack could be swapped for each service stack
(i.e., the first service stack may perform the operations
illustrated as performed by the second service stack and vice
versa). In an optional embodiment, in optional block 301 the second
service stack may enter an idle mode. In this manner, when the
second service stack is in an idle mode, it may request the first
service stack perform any required neighboring cell signal
measurements.
[0023] In block 302 the second service stack may generate a request
for neighboring cell signal measurement data identifying the
neighboring cells to be measured. In an embodiment, the second
service stack may be required to periodically measure the
neighboring cells of the current cell associated with the second
service stack and may store the neighboring cell IDs and
neighboring cell information, such as each neighboring cells
assigned channel, frequency, encoding, etc., in a memory available
to the second service stack. As an example, the neighboring cell
IDs and neighboring cell information may be stored in a neighbor
cell data table in a memory available to the second service stack,
and the second service stack may generate a request for neighboring
cell signal measurement data including the information stored in
the neighbor cell data table. In an embodiment, the request for
neighboring cell signal measurement data may include the
neighboring cell ID and neighboring cell information, such as each
neighboring cell's assigned channel, encoding, frequency, etc., and
an indication of one or more required measurement to be performed,
such as signal strength measurements, cell identification, etc. In
an additional embodiment, the request may also include subscription
information specific to the radio technology of the second service
stack, such as a subscription ID, which the first service stack may
require to perform measurements for the second service stack. In
block 304 the second service stack may send the request for
neighboring cell signal measurement data 304 to the first service
stack, and in block 306 the first service stack may receive the
request for neighboring cell signal measurement data.
[0024] In block 308 the first service stack may identify common
neighbor cells between the two stacks. As an example, the first
service stack may compare a listing of the current neighboring cell
neighboring cell IDs to the request for neighboring cell signal
measurement data received from the second service stack, and
identify any matching neighboring cell IDs as indicating common
neighboring cells between the first and second service stacks. In
block 310 the first service stack may measure signals of the unique
neighboring cells between the first service stack and the second
service stack. Measuring the signal of unique neighboring cells may
include tuning the transceiver hardware chain of the mobile device
to receive signals from each unique neighboring cell. In an
embodiment, the first service stack may perform required signal
measurements for its own neighboring cells and any second service
stack neighboring cells which are not common to the first
neighboring cells. In this manner, common neighboring cells between
the first service stack and second service stack may be measured
only once. In this manner, redundant measurements may be avoided,
reducing the overall measurement time. Additionally, the
measurement of neighboring cell signals by the first service stack
may prevent the loss of time in transferring control of the
transceiver hardware chain to the second service stack and back to
the first service stack, time lost in establishing connections
between the second service stack and its current cell, etc. As
examples, measuring the signal of the unique neighboring cells may
include measuring signal strength, performing inter-RAT
measurements, performing cell identification of the neighboring
cells, etc. In block 312 the first service stack may generate the
requested neighboring cell signal measurement data. In block 314
the first service stack may send the requested neighboring cell
signal measurement data to the second service stack, and in block
316 the second service stack may receive the requested neighboring
cell signal measurement data from the first service stack.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a process flow diagram illustrating an embodiment
method 400 for performing neighboring cell signal measurements in a
mobile device having a first service stack and a second service
stack, but a single transceiver channel. Embodiment method 400 is
similar to method 300 described above with reference to FIG. 5,
except that the second service stack may determine whether or not
to request the first service stack perform measurements based on
the efficiency of the first service stack's radio technology in
measuring the second service stack's neighboring cells. In this
manner, when the technology of the first service stack would not
result in the first service stack performing more efficient
measurements for the second service stack, the second service stack
may perform its own neighboring cell measurements. As an example,
if the second service stack is a GSM service stack and the first
service stack is a WCDMA service stack, the second service stack
may determine having the first service stack perform the
measurements would not be efficient, and may perform its own
measurements. In an embodiment, the operations of method 400 may be
performed by a processor of a mobile device. While the operations
of method 400 are illustrated as occurring on the second service
stack or the first service stack, the performing stack could be
swapped for each service stack (i.e., the first service stack may
perform the operations illustrated as performed by the second
service stack and vice versa).
[0026] In an optional embodiment, as discussed above, in optional
block 301 the second service stack may enter an idle mode. In block
402 the second service stack may determine the first service
stack's radio technology. As an example, the second service stack
may determine whether the first service stack is a GSM service
stack or a WCDMA service stack. In an embodiment, an indication of
the technology associated with each service stack of the mobile
device may be stored in a memory of the mobile device, and the
second service stack may reference the memory of the mobile device
to determine the technology of the first service stack. In
determination block 404 the second service stack may determine
whether the first service stack technology is more efficient than
the technology of the second service stack to provide neighboring
cell signal measurement data. In an embodiment, the mobile device
may have stored in a memory available to the second service stack a
data table ranking stack technologies by efficiency and the second
service stack may compare the ranking of the determined technology
of the first service stack to its own technology to determine
whether the first stack technology is more efficient to provide
neighboring cell signal measurement data. If the first service
stack technology is not more efficient to provide neighboring cell
signal measurement data (i.e., determination block 404="No"), in
block 406 the second service stack may perform its own signal
measurements. If the first service stack technology is more
efficient (i.e., determination block 404="Yes"), in blocks 302,
304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, and 316 the second service stack and
the first service stack, respectively, may perform operations of
like numbered blocks of method 300 described above with reference
to FIG. 3.
[0027] The various embodiments may be implemented in any of a
variety of computing devices, an example of which is illustrated in
FIG. 5. For example, the computing device may be a wireless device
500 (e.g., a smart phone). Wireless device 500 may include a
processor 502 coupled to internal memories 504 and 510. Internal
memories 504 and 510 may be volatile or non-volatile memories, and
may also be secure and/or encrypted memories, or unsecure and/or
unencrypted memories, or any combination thereof. The processor 502
may also be coupled to one or more touch screen displays 506, such
as a resistive-sensing touch screen, capacitive-sensing touch
screen infrared sensing touch screen, or the like. Additionally,
the display of the wireless device 500 need not have touch screen
capability. Additionally, the wireless device 500 may have one or
more antenna 508 for sending and receiving electromagnetic
radiation that may be connected to a wireless data link and/or
cellular telephone transceiver 516 coupled to the processor 502.
The wireless device 500 may have a subscriber identity module
(SIM), such as a SIM circuit and/or card, coupled to the processor
502. The wireless device 500 may also include physical buttons 512a
and 512b for receiving user inputs. The wireless device 500 may
also include a power button 518 for turning the wireless device 500
on and off.
[0028] The processor 502 may be any programmable microprocessor,
microcomputer or multiple processor chip or chips that can be
configured by software instructions (applications) to perform a
variety of functions, including the functions of the various
embodiments described above. In some devices, multiple processors
may be provided, such as one processor dedicated to wireless
communication functions and one processor dedicated to running
other applications. Typically, software applications may be stored
in the internal memory 504 and/or 510 before they are accessed and
loaded into the processor 502. The processor 502 may include
internal memory sufficient to store the application software
instructions. In many devices the internal memory may be a volatile
or nonvolatile memory, such as flash memory, or a mixture of both.
For the purposes of this description, a general reference to memory
refers to memory accessible by the processor 502 including internal
memory or removable memory plugged into the device and memory
within the processor 502 themselves.
[0029] The foregoing method descriptions and the process flow
diagrams are provided merely as illustrative examples and are not
intended to require or imply that the steps of the various
embodiments must be performed in the order presented. As will be
appreciated by one of skill in the art the order of steps in the
foregoing embodiments may be performed in any order. Words such as
"thereafter," "then," "next," etc. are not intended to limit the
order of the steps; these words are simply used to guide the reader
through the description of the methods. Further, any reference to
claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles
"a," "an" or "the" is not to be construed as limiting the element
to the singular.
[0030] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits,
and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments
disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware,
computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate
this interchangeability of hardware and software, various
illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have
been described above generally in terms of their functionality.
Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software
depends upon the particular application and design constraints
imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the
described functionality in varying ways for each particular
application, but such implementation decisions should not be
interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present
invention.
[0031] The hardware used to implement the various illustrative
logics, logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in
connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented
or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal
processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC),
a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic
device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware
components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the
functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a
microprocessor, but, in the alternative, the processor may be any
conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state
machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of
computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a
microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more
microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such
configuration. Alternatively, some steps or methods may be
performed by circuitry that is specific to a given function.
[0032] In one or more exemplary embodiments, the functions
described may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or
any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions
may be stored as one or more instructions or code on a
non-transitory computer-readable medium or non-transitory
processor-readable medium. The steps of a method or algorithm
disclosed herein may be embodied in a processor-executable software
module which may reside on a non-transitory computer-readable or
processor-readable storage medium. Non-transitory computer-readable
or processor-readable storage media may be any storage media that
may be accessed by a computer or a processor. By way of example but
not limitation, such non-transitory computer-readable or
processor-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, FLASH
memory, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage
or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that may be
used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or
data structures and that may be accessed by a computer. Disk and
disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc,
optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk, and
blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while
discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the
above are also included within the scope of non-transitory
computer-readable and processor-readable media. Additionally, the
operations of a method or algorithm may reside as one or any
combination or set of codes and/or instructions on a non-transitory
processor-readable medium and/or computer-readable medium, which
may be incorporated into a computer program product.
[0033] The preceding description of the disclosed embodiments is
provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the
present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will
be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic
principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
the present invention is not intended to be limited to the
embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope
consistent with the following claims and the principles and novel
features disclosed herein.
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