Wireless communication out of range indication

Abstract

With respect to a wireless network, an out of range warning provides an estimate of an amount of time remaining until a wireless device is out of range of the wireless network. In this way, the user is presented with an opportunity to take corrective measures, if desired.

1 . A method of providing by a wireless device an out of range warning with respect to a wireless signal provider, comprising:
 receiving a wireless transmission from the wireless signal provider;   determining a current quality metric for the received wireless transmission;   determining a change of the current quality metric with respect to time;   if the change of the current quality metric with respect to time is a negative value, then estimating a period of time until the wireless device is out of range of the wireless signal provider; and   issuing the out of range warning that includes the estimated period of time until the wireless device is out of range of the wireless signal provider.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the determining a change of the quality metric with respect to time comprises:
 associating a time stamp with the current quality metric;   storing the current quality metric and the associated time stamp as a previous quality metric;   updating the current quality metric and the time stamp;   calculating a time rate of change of the quality metric;   wherein the calculating the time rate of change of the quality metric, comprises:   subtracting the updated quality metric from the previous quality metric to form a delta quality metric; and   dividing the delta quality metric by a time interval corresponding to difference between the current time stamp and the previous time stamp.   
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein calculating the estimated period of time until the wireless device is out of range of the wireless network, comprises:
 determining a difference between the current quality metric and a quality metric corresponding to the effective boundary of the wireless network; and   dividing the difference by the time rate of change of the quality metric.   
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device includes a GPS circuit arranged provide a current location of the wireless device. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 using the GPS circuit to,   determine if the wireless device is in motion; and   if the wireless device is determined to be in motion, determine the velocity and direction of motion of the wireless device.   
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 providing a change of course to a user of the wireless device to take at the current velocity that causes the time rate of change of the quality metric to change from the negative value to a non-negative value.   
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the out of range warning is issued to at least one other communication device currently in communication with the wireless device. 
   
   
       8 . A portable wireless device, comprising:
 a GPS circuit arranged to determine a current location of the portable wireless device;   a wireless transceiver unit, the wireless transceiver unit arranged to at least receive a wireless transmission from a wireless signal provider;   a processor, the processor arranged to,   determine a current quality metric for the received wireless transmission;   determine a change of the current quality metric with respect to time;   if the change of the current quality metric with respect to time is a negative value, then estimate a period of time until the wireless device is out of range of the wireless signal provider; and   issue the out of range warning that includes the estimated period of time.   
   
   
       9 . The portable wireless device as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising:
 using the GPS circuit in combination with the processor to,   determine if the wireless device is in motion; and   if the wireless device is determined to be in motion, determine the velocity and direction of motion of the wireless device.   
   
   
       10 . The portable wireless device as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 wherein if the wireless device is determined to be in motion and the time rate of change of the quality metric is negative, then the processor suggests to a user of the wireless device a change of course to take at the current velocity that causes the time rate of change of the quality metric to change from the negative value to a non-negative value.   
   
   
       11 . The portable wireless device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the out of range warning is issued to at least one other communication device currently in communication with the portable wireless device. 
   
   
       12 . Computer readable medium for storing instructions executable by a processor for providing by a wireless device an out of range warning with respect to a wireless signal provider, the computer readable medium comprising:
 computer code for receiving a wireless transmission from the wireless signal provider;   computer code for determining a current quality metric for the received wireless transmission;   computer code for determining a change of the current quality metric with respect to time;   computer code for estimating a period of time until the wireless device is out of range of the wireless signal provider if the change of the current quality metric with respect to time is a negative value; and   computer code for issuing the out of range warning that includes the estimated period of time.   
   
   
       13 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the computer code for determining a change of the quality metric with respect to time comprises:
 computer code for associating a time stamp with the current quality metric;   computer code for storing the current quality metric and the associated time stamp as a previous quality metric;   computer code for updating the current quality metric and the time stamp;   computer code for calculating a time rate of change of the quality metric;   wherein the computer code for calculating the time rate of change of the quality metric, comprises:   computer code for subtracting the updated quality metric from the previous quality metric to form a delta quality metric; and   computer code for dividing the delta quality metric by a time interval corresponding to difference between the current time stamp and the previous time stamp.   
   
   
       14 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 13 , wherein calculating the estimated period of time until the wireless device is out of range of the wireless network, comprises:
 determining a difference between the current quality metric and a quality metric corresponding to the effective boundary of the wireless network; and   dividing the difference by the time rate of change of the quality metric.   
   
   
       15 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the wireless device includes a GPS circuit arranged provide a current location of the wireless device. 
   
   
       16 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 using the GPS circuit to,   determine if the wireless device is in motion; and   if the wireless device is determined to be in motion, determine the velocity and direction of motion of the wireless device.   
   
   
       17 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing a change of course of the wireless device to take at the current velocity that causes the time rate of change of the quality metric to change from the negative value to a non-negative value.   
   
   
       18 . The computer readable medium as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the out of range warning is issued to at least one other communication device currently in communication with the wireless device.