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EP-4740533-A1 - AUTOMATIC ACCESS TO ON-BOARD COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

EP4740533A1EP 4740533 A1EP4740533 A1EP 4740533A1EP-4740533-A1

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for configuring a user device to access a communicating network is provided. A user device may execute an application configured to support voice communications when the user device is located within a plurality of vehicles. The user device may determine, via the application, that the user device is in a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles. The use device may obtain, via the application and from a computing system associated with the vehicle, a list of communication networks that support voice bearers available based upon a current state of the vehicle. The user device may select, via the application, a preferred communication network from the list of communication networks based on one or more predetermined characteristics of the communication networks. The user device may configure, via the application, the user device with credentials to access the preferred communication network. The user device may transmit, to the computing system associated with the vehicle, a registration message that includes the credentials for the preferred communication network.

Inventors

  • RIPPE, Christopher, Michael

Assignees

  • Gogo Business Aviation LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240621

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A method, implemented by a user device, for configuring the user device to access a communicating network, comprising: executing, via one or more processors, an application configured to support voice communications when the user device is located within a plurality of vehicles; determining, via the application, that the user device is in a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles; obtaining, via the application and from a computing system associated with the vehicle, a list of communication networks that support voice bearers available based upon a current state of the vehicle; selecting, via the application, a preferred communication network from the list of communication networks based on one or more predetermined characteristics of the communication networks; configuring, via the application, the user device with credentials to access the preferred communication network; and transmitting, to the computing system associated with the vehicle, a registration message that includes the credentials for the preferred communication network.
  2. 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more predetermined characteristics include at least one of the following a cost, a latency, and a data rate of the respective voice bearers of the communication network.
  3. 3. The method of either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the credentials are maintained in a profile of the preferred communication network stored in the user device.
  4. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the profile includes at least one of a domain, a profile name, or an extension number associated with the communication network.
  5. 5. The method of any one of claims 1 -4, wherein configuring the user device to access the preferred communication network further comprises: configuring, via the application, the user device to access the preferred communication network with the credentials maintained in a profile of the preferred communication network that is based upon input provided by a user of the user device.
  6. 6. The method of any one of claims 1 -5, further comprising: detecting, via the application, a stimulus to originate a voice call with a second user device located outside the vehicle; and establishing the voice call with the second user device via a voice bearer of the preferred communication network.
  7. 7. The method of any one of claims 1 -6, wherein the list of communication networks includes at least one of a satellite-based network or an air-to-ground network.
  8. 8. The method of any one of claims 1 -7, further comprising: obtaining, via the application and from the computing system associated with the vehicle, an updated list of communication networks available based upon an updated state of the vehicle, and selecting, via the application, a new preferred communication network from the updated list of communication network.
  9. 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: configuring, via the application, the user device with credentials to access the new preferred communication network; and transmitting, to the computing system associated with the vehicle, a registration message that includes the credentials for the new preferred communication network.
  10. 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: disconnecting, via the application, the user device with the preferred communication network.
  11. 1 1. A user device, comprising: one or more processors; and a non-transitory memory storing executable instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: execute, via one or more processors, an application configured to support voice communications when the user device is located within a plurality of vehicles; determine that the user device is in a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles; obtain, via the application and from a computing system associated with the vehicle, a list of communication networks that support voice bearers available based upon a current state of the vehicle; select, via the application, a preferred communication network from the list of communication networks based on one or more predetermined characteristics of the communication networks; configure, via the application, the user device with credentials to access the preferred communication network; and transmit, to the computing system associated with the vehicle, a registration message that includes the credentials for the preferred communication network.
  12. 12. The user device of claim 11 , wherein to configure the user device to access the preferred communication network, the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to: configure the user device using a profile of the preferred network stored in the user device.
  13. 13. The user device of either claim 1 1 or claim 12, wherein to configure the user device to access the preferred communication network, the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to: configure, via the application, a profile of the preferred network using input provided by a user of the user device.
  14. 14. The user device of any one of claims 1 1 -13, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to: detect, via the application, a stimulus to originate a voice call with a second user device located outside the vehicle; and establish the voice call with the second user device via a voice bearer of the preferred communication network.
  15. 15. The user device of any one of claims 1 1 -14, wherein the list of communication networks includes at least one of satellite network and one air-to-ground network.
  16. 16. The user device of any one of claims 1 1 -15, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to: obtain, via the application and from the computing system associated with the vehicle, an updated list of communication networks available based upon an updated state of the vehicle, and select, via the application, a new preferred communication network from the updated list of communication network.
  17. 17. The user device of any one of claims 1 1 -16, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to: configure, via the application, the user device with credentials to access the new preferred communication network; and transmit, to the computing system associated with the vehicle, a registration message that includes the credentials for the new preferred communication network.
  18. 18. The user device of claim 17, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to: disconnect, via the application, the user device with the preferred communication network.
  19. 19. A computer readable storage medium storing non-transitory computer readable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed on one or more processors of a user device, cause the one or more processors to: execute an application configured to support voice communications when the user device is located within a plurality of vehicles; determine, via the application, that the user device is in a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles; obtain, via the application and from a computing system associated with the vehicle, a list of communication networks that support voice bearers available based upon a current state of the vehicle; select, via the application, a preferred communication network from the list of communication networks based on one or more predetermined characteristics of the communication networks; configure, via the application, the user device with credentials to access the preferred communication network; and transmit, to the computing system associated with the vehicle, a registration message that includes the credentials for the preferred communication network.
  20. 20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed on one or more processors of a user device, cause the one or more processors to: configure the user device using a profile of the preferred network stored in the user device.

Description

AUTOMATIC ACCESS TO ON-BOARD COMMUNICATION NETWORKS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 18/218,499, filed July 5, 2023, and entitled “Automatic Access to On-Board Communication Networks”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The instant disclosure generally relates to configuring computing devices. More particularly, the instant disclosure generally relates to configuring a computing device to access a preferred communication network. BACKGROUND [0003] When a user is in a certain type of vehicle (e.g., aircraft, boats, etc.), traditional cellular networks may be unavailable. However, the user may wish to have a voice call with another user outside of the vehicle. Conventionally, the user may be required to manually configure a user device to access a communication network in a vehicle. Such a manual configuration process requires the user to have knowledge of which network equipment the vehicle operator installed in the vehicle. This information is not conventionally available to many users. Therefore, there is a need for techniques to configure a user device to access a preferred communication network automatically. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE [0004] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. [0005] In one embodiment, a method for configuring the user device to access a communicating network is provided. The method is implemented by a user device and comprises (1 ) executing, via one or more processors, an application configured to support voice communications when the user device is located within a plurality of vehicles; (2) determining, via the application, that the user device is in a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles; (3) obtaining, via the application and from a computing system associated with the vehicle, a list of communication networks that support voice bearers available based upon a current state of the vehicle; (4) selecting, via the application, a preferred communication network from the list of communication networks based on one or more predetermined characteristics of the communication networks; (5) configuring, via the application, the user device with credentials to access the preferred communication network; and (6) transmitting, to the computing system associated with the vehicle, a registration message that includes the credentials for the preferred communication network. [0006] In another embodiment, a user device configured to access a communicating network is provided. The user device comprises (i) one or more processors; and (ii) a non-transitory memory storing executable instructions thereon. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to (1 ) execute an application configured to support voice communications when the user device is located within a plurality of vehicles; (2) determine, via the application, that the user device is in a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles; (3) obtain, via the application and from a computing system associated with the vehicle, a list of communication networks that support voice bearers available based upon a current state of the vehicle; (4) select, via the application, a preferred communication network from the list of communication networks based on one or more predetermined characteristics of the communication networks; (5) configure, via the application, the user device with credentials to access the preferred communication network; and (6) transmit, to the computing system associated with the vehicle, a registration message that includes the credentials for the preferred communication network. [0007] In another embodiment, a computer readable storage medium for configuring a user device to a communications network is provided. The computer readable storage medium stores non-transitory computer readable instructions that, when executed on one or more processors of a user device, cause the one or more processors to (1 ) execute an application configured to support voice communications when the user device is located within a plurality of vehicles; (2) determine, via the application, that the user device is in a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles; (3) obtain, via the application and from a computing system associated with the vehicle, a list of communication networks that support voice bearers available based upon a current state of the vehicle; (4) select, via the application, a preferred communication network from the list of communication networks based on one or more predetermined characteristics of the communication networks; (5) configure, via the application, the user device wi