On April 10, 2008, the US Patent & Trademark Office published Apple’s patent application titled Dynamic Carrier Selection . Apple’s patent generally relates to the field of telecommunications, and more particularly to dynamically selecting mobile carriers. Apple’s patent clearly illustrates an application relating to a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Server. Was this considered prior to working with AT&T or is Apple showing their cards for the future?

Apple’s patent FIG. 1 illustrated below, is a block diagram of a system for providing access to mobile or cellular communications services in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Apple’s Patent Background:

A typical mobile phone or other cellular communication device is preprogrammed with a carrier or network operator that serves as the home network for the device. Normally, the device communicates over the home network when it is in an area served by the home network. When the device is outside of the home network area (or is roaming), the device typically uses a preferred roaming list to determine which network operator or carrier to use. In other words, the phone is programmed with a preferred roaming list, which is a list of identifiers for carriers that can be used, in order of preference, when the home carrier cannot be used.

In some cases, a service subscriber is served by a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). An MVNO is a mobile operator that does not own communications spectrum and typically does not possess any network infrastructure. Instead, MVNO’s contract with traditional mobile operators to buy service (e.g., usage minutes) for their own customers. An MVNO is typically tied to a specific carrier (e.g., Sprint or Verizon, which does own spectrum and has its own network infrastructure). Accordingly, primary service to an MVNO customer is provided through that specific carrier (i.e., the carrier is the “home” carrier).

Apple’s Summary

This invention relates generally to the dynamic updating of carrier preference data for a mobile device. For example, carrier preference data can be updated in accordance with or to reflect bids from actual carriers as to the cost of network access (i.e., usage minutes).

According to one embodiment of the invention, access to a wireless cellular communication network can be provided by storing a network address on a mobile device. The network address can identify a mobile virtual network operator server storing mobile network operator data for use by the mobile device. A request for network operator data can be sent from the mobile device to the mobile virtual network operator server, and, in response to the request, network operator data can be received. A network operator for the mobile device can be selected based on the received network operator data, and communications can be conducted using the selected network operator.

Specific implementations of the invention can include one or more of the following features. The mobile device may not be associated with a particular home network operator. Bids can be received from multiple network operators for rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained. Preferences among the network operators can be determined using the received bids, and the preferences are used to select the network operator. Preferences may be further based on a location of the mobile device, the quality of service offered by the network operator, and/or type of communication. Bids from multiple network operators for rate information relating to rates at which communication services using each network operator can be obtained and the rate information can be sent to the mobile device for use in selecting the network operator. The rate information can be displayed on a user interface of the mobile device and a user selection of the network operator can be received from a user. The mobile device can be registered with a network operator for a limited purpose of sending the request and receiving the network operator data in response to the request, and the mobile device can be separately registered with the selected network operator for conducting communications after receiving the network operator data. Negotiations can be conducted with one or more network operators to provide access for the purpose of sending the request and the network operator data can be received in response to the request. The network operator data can be dynamically updated in the mobile virtual network operator server based on parameters associated with multiple network operators. The mobile device is preprogrammed with a carrier identifier associated with the mobile virtual network operator server.

According to another specific implementation, a message can be received from a mobile device identifying a current location of the mobile device. Network operator preference data can be sent to the mobile device, and the network operator preference data can identify a first set of preferences among multiple network operators for use by the mobile device in selecting one or more network operators. The network operator preference data can be updated to identify a second set of preferences among the multiple network operators, and the updated network operator preference data can be sent to the mobile device.

In addition, updating the network operator preference data can be performed dynamically based on parameters associated with the multiple network operators. The parameters include bids relating to rates at which communication services are available from each network operator, data relating to the network operators in an area corresponding to the current location of the mobile device, and/or rate information for different communication services available from each network operator. Bid information for each of multiple network operators can be received, and the bid information can relate to one or more rates at which communication services are available from each network operator. The network operator preference data can be updated using the bid information. The updated network operator preference data enables a user of the mobile device to select among multiple network operators. The updated network operator preference data can enable the mobile device to automatically select among multiple network operators.

A mobile virtual network operator server can operate to receive location data from mobile devices and, in response to the received location data, send network operator preference data to each mobile device. The network operator preference data can include data indicating preferences among multiple network operators and/or data for use in determining preferences among multiple network operators. An interface with each of multiple network operators can enable the mobile virtual network operator server to receive location data from each of the mobile devices and send network operator preference data to each of the mobile devices.

In addition, the mobile virtual network operator server can be a home location register. The mobile virtual network operator server may be operable to generate the network operator preference data based on parameters relating to the multiple network operators. The parameters can include pricing information for each of the network operators. The mobile virtual network operator server can operate to dynamically update the network operator preference data using the pricing information.

Other Apple Patents Published Today

Other Apple patents were listed today, including another Nike + iPod patent titled Lifestyle companion system, Transfer and synchronization of media data and Audio processing for improved user experience.

Apple lists Tony Fadell (Portola Valley, CA) as the sole inventor of this patent which was originally filed in October 2006.

NOTICE: MacNN presents only a brief summary of patents with associated graphic(s) for journalistic news purposes as each such patent application and/or grant is revealed by the U.S. Patent & Trade Office. Readers are cautioned that the full text of any patent applications and/or grants should be read in its entirety for further details.

Written and researched by Neo.