SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSISTED CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY

Embodiments herein provide apparatuses and techniques for providing a notification indicating guidance to reaching cellular connectivity in the event of a loss of cellular connectivity and for guiding a user of a user equipment to a location with cellular connectivity. The notification may be generated based on expiration of a timer, a screen unlock operation, or an application connection failure. The notification may indicate how long ago the cellular connectivity loss occurred and how far away a nearest location is with a cellular connectivity was. The user equipment may display a map interface based on user input selecting the notification. The map interface may show a map of the current location of the user equipment, a nearest location with cellular connectivity to the user equipment, and a path, which includes a tracked path of user equipment and a proposed path to the nearest location with cellular connectivity.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication, and more specifically to providing access to cellular connectivity in the absence of cellular connectivity.

User equipment may lose cellular connectivity when, for example, outside of an urban area. Such loss of cellular connectivity may prevent the user equipment from performing certain functions. For example, the user equipment may not be able to make an emergency call without access to cellular connectivity or certain applications on the electronic device may be disabled or lose functionality. Currently, user equipment may merely provide an indication of the loss of cellular connectivity (e.g., when in an off-grid area).

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, an electronic device comprises a display, a first receiver configured to receive a first signal associated with a first radio access technology (RAT), a second receiver configured to receive a second signal associated with a second RAT, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, and processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the display, the first receiver, and the second receiver. The processing circuitry is configured to receive an indication that the electronic device lost connection with the first RAT and the second RAT, receive a time and a location from the GNSS receiver based on the indication, and display a notification on the display based on the time and the location.

In another embodiment, a method comprises receiving, via processing circuitry of an electronic device, an indication that the electronic device has lost a first connectivity with a first RAT and a second connectivity with a second RAT, and generating, via the processing circuitry, a notification indicating a time elapsed since passing a location where the electronic device has lost the first connectivity and the second connectivity, and a distance to a nearest location with a the first connectivity to the first RAT from a current location of the electronic device.

In yet another embodiment, one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media, comprises instructions that cause processing circuitry to receive an indication that an electronic device has lost first connectivity with a first RAT and a second connectivity with a second RAT, receive a time and a location form a GNSS receiver based on the indication; and generate a notification based on the time reaching a threshold, a screen unlock operation, or selection of a software application that uses the first connectivity or the second connectivity, the notification indicating a time elapsed since the electronic device lost connectivity with the first RAT and the second RAT and a distance to a nearest location with a connectivity to the first RAT from a current location of the electronic device.

In an embodiment, an electronic device comprises a display, a first receiver configured to receive a first signal associated with a first radio access technology (RAT), a second receiver configured to receive a second signal associated with a second RAT, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, and processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the first receiver and the second receiver. The processing circuitry is configured to download crowdsourced data based on the second receiver receiving the second signal, the crowdsourced data comprising coverage information of a first RAT, receive a location of a first connectivity loss and begin receiving a current location of the electronic device from the GNSS receiver based on an indication that the first receiver lost first connectivity with the first RAT and the second receiver lost second connectivity with the second RAT, and receive an indication of a nearest location with a first connectivity based on the current location of the electronic device and on the crowdsourced data, the nearest location with the first connectivity comprising a location where the first receiver receives the first signal associated with the first RAT.

In another embodiment, an method comprises downloading, via processing circuitry of an electronic device, crowdsourced data based on a first receiver receiving a first signal associated with a first RAT, the crowdsourced data comprising known locations with a first connectivity with the first RAT and known locations without the first connectivity within a threshold distance of an electronic device, receiving, via the processing circuitry, a current location of an electronic device from a GNSS receiver based on a the first receiver losing the first connectivity with the first RAT and a second receiver losing a second connectivity with a second RAT, receiving, via the processing circuitry, an indication of a proposed path from a current location of the electronic device to a nearest location with the first connectivity based on the current location of the electronic device and on the crowdsourced data, and receiving, via the processing circuitry, an indication of a tracked path of the electronic device from a location with the first connectivity to the current location of the electronic device received from the GNSS receiver.

In yet another embodiment, one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media, comprises instructions that cause processing circuitry to display, via a display of an electronic device, a notification indicating current absence of a first connectivity with a first RAT and a guidance to reaching the first connectivity, display, via the display, a map interface comprising a proposed path from a current location of an electronic device to a nearest location with the first connectivity with the first RAT, and provide, via the display, a speaker of the electronic device, or both, navigation commands for reaching the nearest location with the first connectivity with the first RAT.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Use of the terms “approximately,” “near,” “about,” “close to,” and/or “substantially” should be understood to mean including close to a target (e.g., design, value, amount), such as within a margin of any suitable or contemplatable error (e.g., within 0.1% of a target, within 1% of a target, within 5% of a target, within 10% of a target, within 25% of a target, and so on). Moreover, it should be understood that any exact values, numbers, measurements, and so on, provided herein, are contemplated to include approximations (e.g., within a margin of suitable or contemplatable error) of the exact values, numbers, measurements, and so on. Additionally, the term “set” may include one or more. That is, a set may include a unitary set of one member, but the set may also include a set of multiple members.

This disclosure is directed to providing access to cellular connectivity when user equipment is off-grid (e.g., in an area without cellular connectivity). If the user equipment is off-grid, it may not have capability to perform certain functions, such as making phone calls or running certain software applications (e.g., a web browser). However, even when the user equipment is off-grid, cellular connectivity may be within reach or close by. Indeed, most of the off-grid locations in the U.S. have cellular connectivity within a one kilometer (km) distance. Currently, user equipment may merely provide a notification of loss of cellular connectivity when in an off-grid area. However, it is presently recognized that providing guidance to a location with cellular connectivity if the user equipment is off-grid may be desirable.

Embodiments herein provide various techniques to provide notifications of cellular connectivity loss and of guidance to reaching cellular connectivity, as well as techniques to present a map view of a path for reaching cellular connectivity. The techniques to notify a user of the cellular connectivity loss and of the guidance to reaching cellular connectivity include recording a time of cellular connectivity loss, tracking location of the user equipment, and starting an off-grid timer, based on determining that the user-equipment is off-grid. If the user equipment has not regained cellular connectivity (e.g., a cellular signal), expiration of the off-grid timer, an indication of a screen unlock operation (e.g., performed by a user), or an indication of a software application connection failure may trigger display of a notification indicating the loss of cellular connectivity and guidance to reaching cellular connectivity. In particular, the notification may display text indicating that cellular connectivity loss has occurred X minutes ago and/or nearest location with cellular connectivity is Y meters away. The distance to the nearest location with cellular connectivity may be determined based on crowdsourced data of known locations with and/or without cellular service as well as based on location information and cellular availability information collected by the user equipment. Such crowdsourced data may include metadata collected from various mobile devices and/or may be downloaded by the user equipment when the user equipment is connected to Wi-Fi.

The techniques to provide guidance to cellular connectivity include displaying a map view of the current location of the user equipment, a nearest location with cellular connectivity to the user equipment, a path traveled by the user equipment from an area with cellular connectivity to the current location, and/or a proposed path to the nearest location with cellular connectivity. The path traveled and the proposed path may be color-coded to indicate, using various colors, segments of the paths where cellular connectivity is present, segments where only emergency calls may be made, and regions without cellular connectivity. For example, segments where cellular connectivity is present may be green, segments where only emergency calls may be made may be orange, and regions without cellular connectivity may be red. In addition, the map view may include a button or a prompt that may be selected (e.g. by the user) to be routed to the location with cellular connectivity. If selected, the user equipment may provide visual and/or verbal navigation instructions to reach the nearest location with cellular connectivity.

FIG.1is a block diagram of a user equipment10, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The user equipment10may include, among other things, one or more processors12(collectively referred to herein as a single processor for convenience, which may be implemented in any suitable form of processing circuitry), memory14, nonvolatile storage16, a display18, input structures22, an input/output (I/O) interface24, a network interface26, and a power source29. The various functional blocks shown inFIG.1may include hardware elements (including circuitry), software elements (including machine-executable instructions) or a combination of both hardware and software elements (which may be referred to as logic). The processor12, memory14, the nonvolatile storage16, the display18, the input structures22, the input/output (I/O) interface24, the network interface26, and/or the power source29may each be communicatively coupled directly or indirectly (e.g., through or via another component, a communication bus, a network) to one another to transmit and/or receive data between one another. It should be noted thatFIG.1is merely one example of a particular implementation and is intended to illustrate the types of components that may be present in the user equipment10.

By way of example, the user equipment10may include any suitable computing device, including a desktop or notebook computer (e.g., in the form of a MacBook®, MacBook® Pro, MacBook Air®, iMac®, Mac® mini, or Mac Pro® available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California), a portable electronic or handheld electronic device such as a wireless electronic device or smartphone (e.g., in the form of a model of an iPhone® available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California), a tablet (e.g., in the form of a model of an iPad® available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California), a wearable electronic device (e.g., in the form of an Apple Watch® by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California), and other similar devices. It should be noted that the processor12and other related items inFIG.1may be embodied wholly or in part as software, hardware, or both. Furthermore, the processor12and other related items inFIG.1may be a single contained processing module or may be incorporated wholly or partially within any of the other elements within the user equipment10. The processor12may be implemented with any combination of general-purpose microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate array (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware components, dedicated hardware finite state machines, or any other suitable entities that may perform calculations or other manipulations of information. The processors12may include one or more application processors, one or more baseband processors, or both, and perform the various functions described herein.

In the user equipment10ofFIG.1, the processor12may be operably coupled with a memory14and a nonvolatile storage16to perform various algorithms. Such programs or instructions executed by the processor12may be stored in any suitable article of manufacture that includes one or more tangible, computer-readable media. The tangible, computer-readable media may include the memory14and/or the nonvolatile storage16, individually or collectively, to store the instructions or routines. The memory14and the nonvolatile storage16may include any suitable articles of manufacture for storing data and executable instructions, such as random-access memory, read-only memory, rewritable flash memory, hard drives, and optical discs. In addition, programs (e.g., an operating system) encoded on such a computer program product may also include instructions that may be executed by the processor12to enable the user equipment10to provide various functionalities.

In certain embodiments, the display18may facilitate users to view images generated on the user equipment10. In some embodiments, the display18may include a touch screen, which may facilitate user interaction with a user interface of the user equipment10. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the display18may include one or more liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light-emitting diode (LED) displays, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays, or some combination of these and/or other display technologies.

The input structures22of the user equipment10may enable a user to interact with the user equipment10(e.g., pressing a button to increase or decrease a volume level). The I/O interface24may enable user equipment10to interface with various other electronic devices, as may the network interface26. In some embodiments, the I/O interface24may include an I/O port for a hardwired connection for charging and/or content manipulation using a standard connector and protocol, such as the Lightning connector provided by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California, a universal serial bus (USB), or other similar connector and protocol. The network interface26may include, for example, one or more interfaces for a personal area network (PAN), such as an ultra-wideband (UWB) or a BLUETOOTH® network, a local area network (LAN) or wireless local area network (WLAN), such as a network employing one of the IEEE 802.11x family of protocols (e.g., WI-FTC)), and/or a wide area network (WAN), such as any standards related to the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including, for example, a 3rdgeneration (3G) cellular network, universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), 4thgeneration (4G) cellular network, long term evolution (LTE®) cellular network, long term evolution license assisted access (LTE-LAA) cellular network, 5thgeneration (5G) cellular network, and/or New Radio (NR) cellular network, a 6thgeneration (6G) or greater than 6G cellular network, a satellite network, a non-terrestrial network, and so on. In particular, the network interface26may include, for example, one or more interfaces for using a cellular communication standard of the 5G specifications that include the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency range (e.g., 24.25-300 gigahertz (GHz)) that defines and/or enables frequency ranges used for wireless communication. The network interface26of the user equipment10may allow communication over the aforementioned networks (e.g., 5G, Wi-Fi, LTE-LAA, and so forth).

The network interface26may also include one or more interfaces for, for example, broadband fixed wireless access networks (e.g., WIMAX®), mobile broadband Wireless networks (mobile WIMAX®), asynchronous digital subscriber lines (e.g., ADSL, VDSL), digital video broadcasting-terrestrial (DVB-T®) network and its extension DVB Handheld (DVB-H®) network, ultra-wideband (UWB) network, alternating current (AC) power lines, and so forth.

As illustrated, the network interface26may include a transceiver30. In some embodiments, all or portions of the transceiver30may be disposed within the processor12. The transceiver30may support transmission and receipt of various wireless signals via one or more antennas, and thus may include a transmitter and a receiver. The power source29of the user equipment10may include any suitable source of power, such as a rechargeable lithium polymer (Li-poly) battery and/or an alternating current (AC) power converter.

FIG.2is a functional diagram of the user equipment10ofFIG.1, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the processor12, the memory14, the transceivers30A,30B (collectively30), transmitters52A,52B (collectively52), receivers54A,54B (collectively54), antennas56A-56N (collectively56) and58A-58N (collectively58), and/or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver60may be communicatively coupled directly or indirectly (e.g., through or via another component, a communication bus, a network) to one another to transmit and/or receive data between one another.

The user equipment10may include the transmitters52and/or the receivers54that respectively enable transmission and reception of data between the user equipment10and an external device via, for example, a network (e.g., including base stations or access points) or a direct connection. As illustrated, a transmitter52and a receiver54may be combined into a transceiver30. The user equipment10may also have one or more antennas56,58electrically coupled to the transceiver30. The antennas56,58may be configured in an omnidirectional or directional configuration, in a single-beam, dual-beam, or multi-beam arrangement, and so on. Each antenna56,58may be associated with a one or more beams and various configurations. In some embodiments, multiple antennas of the antennas56,58of an antenna group or module may be communicatively coupled a respective transceiver30and each emit radio frequency signals that may constructively and/or destructively combine to form a beam. The user equipment10may include multiple transmitters, multiple receivers, multiple transceivers, and/or multiple antennas as suitable for various communication standards. In some embodiments, the transmitter52and the receiver54may transmit and receive information via other wired or wireline systems or means.

In some embodiments, the user equipment10may communicatively couple to a first communication network (e.g., a cellular network) using a first transceiver30A via a first set of antennas56, and communicatively couple to a second communication network (e.g., a Wi-Fi network) using a second transceiver30B via a second set of antennas58.

The user equipment10may include the GNSS receiver60that may enable the user equipment10to receive GNSS signals from a GNSS network that includes one or more GNSS satellites or GNSS ground stations. The GNSS signals may include a GNSS satellite's observation data, broadcast orbit information of tracked GNSS satellites, and supporting data, such as meteorological parameters, collected from co-located instruments of a GNSS satellite. For example, the GNSS signals may be received from a Global Positioning System (GPS) network, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) network, a BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), a Galileo navigation satellite network, a Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS or Michibiki) and so on. The GNSS receiver60may process the GNSS signals to determine a global position of the user equipment10.

As illustrated, the various components of the user equipment10may be coupled together by a bus system62. The bus system62may include a data bus, for example, as well as a power bus, a control signal bus, and a status signal bus, in addition to the data bus. The components of the user equipment10may be coupled together or accept or provide inputs to each other using some other mechanism.

FIG.3is a schematic diagram of a communication system100including the user equipment10ofFIG.1communicatively coupled to two networks that are each associated with a radio access technology such (RAT), according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, a first RAT may include a cellular communication technology associated with a cellular communication network102and supported by base stations104A,104B (collectively104) and a second RAT may include a Wi-Fi technology associated with a wireless Wi-Fi network106and supported by a Wi-Fi router or access point108. In particular, the base stations104may include Next Generation NodeB (gNodeB or gNB) base stations and may provide 5G/NR coverage via the cellular communication network102to the user equipment10. The base stations104may include any suitable electronic device, such as a communication hub or node that facilitates, supports, and/or implements the network102. In some embodiments, the base stations104may include Evolved NodeB (eNodeB) base stations and may provide 4G/LTE coverage via the cellular communication network102to the user equipment10. Each of the base stations104may include at least some of the components of the user equipment10shown inFIGS.1and2, including one or more processors12, the memory14, the storage16, the transceiver30, the transmitter52, the receiver54, and the associated circuitry shown inFIG.2. It should be understood that while the present disclosure may use 5G/NR as an example specification or standard, the embodiments disclosed herein may apply to other suitable specifications or standards (e.g., such as the 4G/LTE specification). Moreover, the cellular communication network102may include any suitable number of base stations104(e.g., one or more base stations104, four or more base stations104, ten or more base stations104, and so on).

Connecting to the cellular communication network102may enable the user equipment10to access the Internet, as well as send and receive data. However, if the user equipment10is too far from the base station104or if there are certain obstacles between the base station104and the user equipment10, the cellular signal may be too weak to effectively transmit or receive data or be unable to reach the user equipment10. When this happens, the user equipment10may be outside of the cellular communication network102. Similarly, the user equipment10may connect to the Internet via a wireless Wi-Fi network106and exchange data by sending and receiving Wi-Fi signal. However, the Wi-Fi signal may typically travel relatively short distances. Thus, if the user equipment10is not near the Wi-Fi router108, it may not receive a Wi-Fi signal with sufficient signal strength to exchange data. Accordingly, the areas covered by the cellular communication network102and the wireless Wi-Fi network106, respectively, may be limited. It should be appreciated that the Wi-Fi router108may include any suitable device that facilitates Wi-Fi connection such as a Wi-Fi modem and/or a Wi-Fi access point. In addition, the Wi-Fi network106may include any suitable number of routers108. Moreover, while the present disclosure may use Wi-Fi as an example specification or standard, the embodiments disclosed herein may apply to other suitable specifications or standards (e.g., such as Bluetooth).

The user equipment10is said to be off-grid when it does not have connectivity with either the first RAT or the second RAT. In particular, the user equipment10may be off-grid when it is outside the cellular communication network102and outside a wireless Wi-Fi network106, as shown by an area110inFIG.3. When off-grid, the user equipment10may not have the capability to perform certain operations, such as accessing the Internet, streaming media, or making phone calls, which may require Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity. Conversely, if the user equipment10is within reach of either cellular signals from one or more base stations104or Wi-Fi signals from one or more Wi-Fi routers108, the user equipment10may not be off-grid, even if it does not have the capability to access the Internet, and perform aforementioned operations.

As discussed, when the user equipment10is off-grid, it may be within reach (e.g., within a threshold range or distance) of a location covered by the cellular communication network102. However, this information may not be known to the user of the user equipment10. Furthermore, the user may not know where the nearest location with cellular connectivity is. Thus, as discussed, it may be desirable to provide the user with a notification (e.g., a pop-up notification, push notification, a lock screen notification, an alert, a banner notification, badge notification) indicating that the user equipment10is outside of the cellular communication network102and that the nearest location within the network102is a certain distance away.

With the foregoing in mind,FIG.4is a flow diagram of a method130for generating a notification indicating a loss of connectivity with a first RAT (e.g., cellular connectivity) and reaching connectivity with the first RAT when the user equipment10ofFIG.1is off-grid, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, the notification may indicate that a loss of cellular connectivity has occurred and provide guidance to reaching the cellular connectivity. Any suitable device (e.g., a controller) that may control components of the user equipment10, such as the processor12, may perform the method130. In some embodiments, the method130may be implemented by executing instructions stored in a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium, such as the memory14or storage16, using the processor12. For example, the method130may be performed at least in part by one or more software components, such as an operating system of the user equipment10, one or more software applications of the user equipment10, and the like. While the method130is described using steps in a specific sequence, it should be understood that the present disclosure contemplates that the described steps may be performed in different sequences than the sequence illustrated, and certain described steps may be skipped or not performed altogether.

In decision block132, the processor12determines whether the user equipment10is connected to a second RAT (e.g., connected to the wireless Wi-Fi network106). For example, the processor12may detect a Wi-Fi signal from a Wi-Fi router108and if the Wi-Fi signal is detected, the processor12may determine whether data traffic (e.g., data packets) is being exchanged with the Wi-Fi router108. Exchange of data traffic with the Wi-Fi router108may indicate that the user equipment10is connected to Wi-Fi.

If the processor12determines, or receives an indication that, the user equipment10is connected to Wi-Fi, then the processor12may cause a receiver (e.g.,54B) of the user equipment10to download crowdsourced data indicating locations with and without connectivity with the first RAT (e.g., cellular connectivity) in vicinity of the user equipment10(block134). For example, the user equipment10may download crowdsourced data indicating locations with and without cellular connectivity in an area within a threshold radius (e.g., five km or less, ten km or less, 20 km or less, 50 km or less, 100 km or less, 100 km or more, and so on) of the user equipment10. In addition, before downloading the crowdsourced data for an area, the user equipment10may first perform a check of whether the crowdsourced data for that area is already stored in its memory14. For instance, if the user equipment10has recently downloaded crowdsourced data for an area, the crowdsourced data for that area may not need to be downloaded again. In an embodiment, the user equipment10may update the crowdsourced data for an area if such data has already exists in its memory14, but has been stored before a certain date (e.g., has a threshold age). In process block138, the processor12terminates the process associated with the method130(e.g., the process terminates once the crowdsourced data has been downloaded).

The crowdsourced data may include information specifying the off-grid locations (e.g., locations lacking cellular service) and locations with cellular connectivity (e.g., location with cellular service) in an area (e.g., within a threshold range or distance from the user equipment10). The crowdsourced data may be based on metadata collected from various electronic devices. Such metadata may include timestamped global navigation satellite system (GNSS) location coordinates (which may include Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates), indication of a presence of a cellular and/or Wi-Fi signal associated with each GNSS location coordinate, signal strength of cellular signal and/or Wi-Fi signal associated with each GNSS location coordinate, and so on. The metadata from various devices may be aggregated on a server and processed to harvest information of cellular off-grid and in-service areas in various geographical regions. In particular, the processed data may be indexed to crate tuples of off-grid location coordinates and coordinates of closest corresponding locations with cellular connectivity, which may be served to user equipment10connected to Wi-Fi.

It should be appreciated that the crowdsourced data may generally be downloaded and/or updated any time the user equipment10is connected to the Internet. In an embodiment, the crowdsourced data may be updated when the cellular connectivity is present (e.g., user equipment10is part of cellular communication network102). For example, download of the crowdsourced data may be triggered by an indication that user equipment10has entered or nearing a location for which no crowdsourced data has been stored. In addition, download of the crowdsourced data may be triggered by user input. For example, user may select to download crowdsourced data for an area in anticipation of visiting that area. In another example, the user equipment10may periodically or regularly attempt to download the crowdsourced data (e.g., every day or more frequently, every week or more frequently, every month or more frequently, every year or more frequently, and so on).

If it is determined that the user equipment10is not connected to Wi-Fi (e.g., the user equipment10is having a Wi-Fi connectivity loss), the processor12determines whether the user equipment10is off-grid (decision block136). The decision as to whether the user equipment10is off-grid may be based on two conditions being true: the user equipment10does not have cellular connectivity (e.g., user equipment10has a cellular connectivity loss) and the user equipment10is in a remote location. The user equipment10may not have cellular connectivity if the user equipment10does not receive a cellular signal from the base station104or if the signal strength (e.g., reference signal received power) of the signal from the base station is below a certain threshold level (e.g., −50 decibel milliwatts (dBm) or less, −80 dBm or less, −100 dBm or less, and so on). However, a lack of cellular signal alone does not necessarily mean that the user equipment10is off-grid. For example, when user equipment10is in a dense environment (e.g., a building, a city, an elevator), cellular signal may be blocked by certain structures. Yet, a relatively small positional displacement may bring the user equipment10into an area where the cellular signal is not being blocked. To ensure that the user equipment10is truly off-grid, the processor12may determine, or receive an indication that, the user equipment10is in a remote location, such as an area sparsely covered by Wi-Fi routers108and base stations104. In an embodiment, determining whether the user equipment10is in a remote location may be based on the crowdsourced data. For example, the crowdsourced data may indicate that a location has a low density of Wi-Fi routers108(e.g., below a threshold density), suggesting that the location is remote. In another example, the crowdsourced data may indicate that an area has many locations or areas with cellular connectivity in close proximity, suggesting that the area is not remote. In another embodiment, the user equipment10may determine whether the user equipment10is in a remote location based on a database of survey data assembled by a government, an organization, a company, and/or another such entity. For example, the survey data may include information about locations that are designated as remote (e.g., rural, sparsely populated) and developed (e.g., urbanized, densely populated). Similar to the crowdsourced data, the survey data may be downloaded to user equipment10and used to determine whether the current location of the user equipment10is remote.

If user equipment10is not off-grid, the processor12terminates the process associated with the method130(process block138). If, on the other hand, the user equipment10is off-grid, the processor12records a time of cellular connectivity loss (e.g., a time when it was determined that user equipment10is no longer connected to the cellular communication network102), begins recording or storing a location of the user equipment10, and starts an off-grid timer (process block140). Recording the time of the cellular connectivity loss, beginning to track the location of the user equipment10, and starting the off-grid timer may enable or facilitate generating a notification indicating a loss of cellular connectivity and guidance to reaching the cellular connectivity, as well as triggering display of the notification. In various embodiments, the notification may be a pop-up notification, push notification, badge notification, a lock screen notification, an alert, and/or a banner notification.

In decision block142, the processor12determines whether (or receives an indication that) the cellular connectivity has resumed. In particular, the processor12may check whether user equipment10is receiving a cellular signal with the signal strength above a threshold strength level, e.g., due to having entered an area closer to the base station104. For example, signal strength of the cellular signal received via the transceiver30of the user equipment10may have increased from a lower signal strength to a higher signal strength (e.g., −125 dBm to −80 dBm). If the cellular connectivity has resumed, then the processor12resets the off-grid timer and stops recording the user location (process block144). In process block138, the processor12terminates the process associated with the method130(e.g., the process terminates once the off-grid timer is reset and the tracking of the user location is terminated).

If the cellular connectivity has not resumed, the processor12determines whether (e.g., receives an indication of) one or more notification trigger conditions are true (decision block146). The notification trigger conditions may include expiration of the off-grid timer, an indication of a screen unlock operation, and/or an indication of an application connection failure of a software application. In various embodiments, these notification trigger conditions may trigger display of the notification. For instance, in an embodiment, the off-grid timer may count down the time from the time of the loss of cellular connectivity to the time when a notification is displayed. If the timer is set to five minutes, the notification will be displayed five minutes after the user equipment10has lost cellular connectivity. In an embodiment, a screen unlock operation performed on the user equipment10(e.g., by the user) may indicate that there is an attempt to utilize the cellular connectivity capabilities of the user equipment10. Thus, the screen unlock operation may be used to trigger display of the notification. In another embodiment, if a software application (e.g., a telephony application, web browser application, media streaming application, videoconferencing application, or the like) of the user equipment10attempts to initiate cellular connectivity, then the processor12may attribute or associate a connection failure to a lack of cellular service (e.g., disconnection from the cellular communication network102), and may trigger display of the notification via the display18of the user equipment10. In an embodiment, the user may select, via settings of the user equipment10, the preferred trigger condition for the display of the notification.

If the one or more notification trigger conditions is not true, the processor12determines whether (or receives an indication that) cellular connectivity resumed (decision block142). However, if, the one or more notification trigger conditions are true, the processor12causes the display18of the user equipment10to display the notification indicating current absence of cellular connectivity and guidance to reaching cellular connectivity (process block148). In an embodiment, the notification may indicate an amount of time elapsed since cellular connectivity was lost and/or a distance to a location with the nearest cellular connectivity. For example, the notification may include text to be displayed indicated that the user equipment10has been in an area with no cellular connectivity for ten minutes and that the closest area with cellular connectivity is 100 meters away. In an alternative embodiment, the notification may indicate a distance from which connectivity loss occurred and an amount of time it may take to reach the nearest location with cellular connectivity (e.g., based on walking, biking, driving, or the like). Generally, time and/or distance units may be used to indicate a departure from the last-visited location with cellular connectivity and guidance to reaching a location with cellular connectivity. In process block138, the processor12terminates the process associated with the method130(e.g., process terminates after the notification has been displayed).

The processor12may estimate the distance from the last-visited location with cellular connectivity based on the tracked location of the user equipment10, which may be collected from the location where the user equipment10went off-grid. In addition, the time (e.g., of cellular connectivity loss) that was recorded when the user equipment10went off-grid may be stored and accessed in the memory14of the user equipment10. The distance or time to the nearest location with cellular connectivity may be determined based on the crowdsourced data. For example, the processor12may access the crowdsourced data to fetch the tuples of known off-grid and in-service areas and may identify current location of the user equipment10as corresponding to one of the tuples. Alternatively, the processor12may determine the distances from the current location of the user equipment10to known in-service locations, and select the known in-service location with the shortest distance. In certain cases, the nearest in-service location may be the location where the user equipment10has lost cellular connectivity.

FIGS.5-9illustrate various scenarios in which the notification indicating the loss of cellular connectivity and the guidance to reaching cellular connectivity (also referred to herein simply as the “notification”) appears on the display18of the user equipment10with each illustrated scenario corresponding to one of the aforementioned notification trigger conditions.FIG.5is an illustration of a notification158on the display18ofFIG.1being triggered by off-grid timer expiration, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, once the off-grid timer expires, the user equipment10may display a locked screen interface152including a notification preview154, which indicates that there is a notification158from a software application (e.g., a cellular connection assistant application). The user may unlock the locked screen interface152(e.g., by inputting a code, scanning a fingerprint, etc.) to view the notification158on the unlocked screen interface156. As shown, the notification158may indicate, for example, that the user equipment10has entered a no-coverage area three minutes ago and that the closest cellular service is 200 meters away.FIG.6is an illustration of the notification158on the display18ofFIG.1being triggered by a screen unlock operation (e.g., as performed by the user), according to embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the user equipment10may display a locked home screen interface162when off-grid. If the user has performs a screen unlock operation (e.g., by inputting a code, scanning a fingerprint, etc.), the user equipment10may display the notification158on the unlocked home screen interface164.

FIGS.7-9include additional examples of the notification158being triggered by connection failures of various applications.FIG.7is an illustration of the notification158on the display18ofFIG.1being triggered by a connection failure of a telephony application, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, if a user has attempted to make a phone call and the phone call has failed as shown by a connection failure message167on telephony application interface166, the user equipment10may next display the notification158on the phone application interface166indicating that the phone call failed due to loss of cellular service.FIG.8is an illustration of the notification158on the display18ofFIG.1being triggered by connection failure of a web browser application (e.g., Safari), according to embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, after the web browser application interface168displays the connection failure message167, the user equipment10may display the notification158as part of the web browser application interface168.FIG.9is an illustration of the notification158on the display18ofFIG.1being triggered by the connection failure of a media streaming application (e.g., Apple Music), according to embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, after a media streaming application interface170indicates that the user equipment10is offline (e.g., off-grid, unable to connect to the Internet) via the connection failure message167, the media streaming application interface170may display the notification158. It should be understood that a connection failure (e.g., failure to connect to cellular service) of any software application (e.g., WhatsApp, YouTube, Amazon, etc.) installed on the user equipment10may trigger the display of the notification158.

The notification158may only be displayed if the user equipment10is off-grid. In addition, the notification158may display a map interface and/or terminate after a threshold period of time. In some embodiments, the notification158may enable the user to provide user input, e.g., to select the map interface or dismiss the notification158. For example, if the user clicks the notification158, the user equipment10may display the map interface. The map interface may include a visual representation of locations without cellular service and locations with cellular service within a threshold distance or range of the user equipment10. An example of the map interface200shown on the display18ofFIG.1is illustrated inFIG.10. The map interface200may show a map of the current location202of the user equipment10, a nearest location204to the user equipment10with cellular connectivity, and a path (e.g., a path through the no-service area to the nearest location204). The path may include the tracked path206traveled by the user equipment10from an area with cellular connectivity to the current location202(e.g., a location without cellular connectivity) and a proposed path208from the current location202to the nearest location204with cellular connectivity. Segments of the path may be color-coded to indicate a presence or absence of cellular signal at various points along the path. For example, the segment of the path where no service is present may be specified by a red color, the segment of the path where the user equipment10may make emergency calls may be specified by orange color, and a segment of the path where the cellular connectivity is present may be specified by a green color. In an embodiment, the user equipment10may make emergency calls when it is able to only connect to a wireless network of a non-subscribed cellular network carrier and/or provider (e.g., a carrier and/or provider to which the user equipment10is not subscribed to or associated with). For example, the user equipment10that is subscribed to a first cellular network provider (e.g., T-Mobile) may make an emergency call if it is receiving cellular signal from a second cellular network provider (e.g., AT&T).

As shown inFIG.10, the nearest location204with cellular connectivity may be a new location that the user equipment10has not traveled through just prior to losing cellular connectivity. In this case, the distance (or time) to the nearest location204with cellular connectivity may correspond to the distance of (or time to travel) the proposed path208shown as part of the map interface200. However, in an embodiment, the nearest location204with cellular connectivity may be a location that the user equipment10has passed prior to loosing cellular connectivity (e.g., if there is no other locations with cellular connectivity in vicinity). In this case, the proposed path208may be superimposed on the tracked path206and the distance (or time) to reach the nearest location204with cellular connectivity may be based on tracked location of the user equipment10and the recorded time of cellular connectivity loss.

In an embodiment, the proposed path208may take into account the existing transportation infrastructure (e.g., roads, trails, bridges, etc.). For example, the proposed path208may not cross a body of water; instead, the proposed path208may go over a nearest bridge. In addition, the proposed path208may take into account a mode (e.g., walking, biking, and traveling in a car) by which the user equipment10is being transported, which may be determined based on the tracked change in position of the user equipment10. For example, if it is known that the user equipment10is being carried by a pedestrian user, then the proposed path208may include trails or sidewalks, while, if the user equipment10being transported in a car, then the proposed path208may include roads. In an embodiment, the map interface200may include more than one proposed path208to the nearest location204with cellular connectivity. In addition, the map interface200may include a user input button210that the user may select (e.g., by touching the button on a touch screen, or navigating to the button with a cursor and clicking) to be routed to the nearest location204with cellular connectivity.

It should be appreciated that the nearest location204with cellular connectivity may not necessarily be the location with cellular connectivity that is the shortest distance away from the user equipment10. In certain cases, obstacles (e.g., geological obstacles, geographical obstacles) such as bodies of water, canyons, private property, construction zones, industrial zones, buildings may lie between the current position of the user equipment10and the location with cellular connectivity that is the closest distance away. Thus, in an embodiment, the nearest location204with cellular connectivity may be the location with cellular connectivity that may be reached by the shortest proposed path208that a user may realistically undertake.

FIG.11is a flow diagram of a method230for displaying a map interface200ofFIG.10, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In process block232, the processor12causes the display18to display a notification158indicating current absence of connectivity with the first RAT (e.g., cellular connectivity) and guidance to reaching the connectivity with the first RAT. As discussed, display of the notification158may be triggered by expiration of the off-grid timer, an indication of a screen unlock operation, or an indication of a software application connection failure. In addition, the notification158may indicate time (or distance) that has elapsed since the user equipment10has entered an off-grid area and the distance (or time) to the nearest location204cellular connectivity. Accordingly, the processor12may determine (or receive an indication of) the time elapsed since the user equipment10has entered an off-grid area based on the off-grid timer and/or based on the time when the user equipment10lost cellular connectivity. In addition, the processor12may determine (or receive an indication of) the distance to the nearest location204with cellular connectivity based on crowdsourced data and/or the tracked location of the user in the off-grid area.

In process block234, the processor12causes the display18to display the map interface200showing a map of a current location202of the user equipment10, the nearest location204with cellular connectivity, and a path, which includes a path taken by the user equipment10from the location of connectivity loss. As discussed, the map interface200may show a map of the current location202of the user equipment10, a nearest location204with cellular connectivity, and a path, which includes the tracked path206traveled by the user equipment10from an area with cellular connectivity to the current location202(e.g., with no cellular connectivity) and a proposed path20from the current location202to a nearest location204with cellular connectivity. As discussed, segments of the path may be color-coded to indicate the presence or absence of cellular signal at various points along the path. In addition, the map interface200may include a user input button210that the user may select to be routed to the nearest location204with cellular connectivity.

In process block236, the processor12provides guidance to the nearest location204with cellular connectivity. In some embodiments, the guidance may be provided by the user equipment10based on a user indication or selection. In particular, the user equipment10may output audio commands or display navigation commands (e.g., indicating a direction to go, where to turn) that are based, at least in part, on the GNSS position coordinates of the user equipment10. For example, the processor12may cause the user equipment10to provide verbal directions, via speakers, earphones, headphones, and so on, in real-time indicating how to reach the nearest location204with cellular connectivity. Additionally or alternatively, the processor12may cause the display18to provide visual directions, such as arrows, maps, landmarks, indicating directions to the nearest location204with cellular connectivity.

It should be understood that while the first RAT and the second RAT may include a cellular communication technology and a Wi-Fi communication technology respectively, the first RAT and the second RAT may include any suitable RAT such as Bluetooth, a mesh wireless network technology, etc. However, in some embodiments, neither the first RAT nor the second RAT may include Bluetooth. In addition, certain types user equipment10, such as dual subscriber identity module (SIM) card devices, may connect to more than two RAT. For example, a user equipment10may connect to two different cellular networks (e.g., networks associated with two distinct network providers) in addition to connecting to Wi-Fi. In this case, the user equipment10may identify the nearest location with cellular coverage of any of the cellular networks that it may connect with.

In an embodiment, an electronic device (e.g., the user equipment10) may include a display, a first receiver configured to receive a first signal associated with a first radio access technology (RAT), a second receiver configured to receive a second signal associated with a second RAT, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver, and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may be communicatively coupled to the first receiver and the second receiver and may be configured to download crowdsourced data based on the second receiver receiving the second signal, the crowdsourced data including coverage information of a first RAT. In addition, the processing circuitry may be configured to receive a location of a first connectivity loss and begin receiving a current location of the electronic device from the GNSS receiver based on an indication that the first receiver lost first connectivity with the first RAT and the second receiver lost second connectivity with the second RAT, and receive an indication of a nearest location with a first connectivity based on the current location of the electronic device and on the crowdsourced data, the nearest location with the first connectivity including a location where the first receiver receives the first signal associated with the first RAT.

The processing circuitry may be configured to generate a map interface to be displayed by the display, the map interface indicating the current location of the electronic device, the nearest location with the first connectivity, and a path, the path including a tracked path of the electronic device and a proposed path from the current location of the electronic device to the nearest location with the first connectivity.

The path may include a first segment of the path where the first connectivity is not present, a second segment of the path where emergency connectivity is present, a third segment of the path where the first connectivity is present, and where each segment of the path has a different color.

The map interface may include an input button configured to trigger routing to the nearest location with the first connectivity.

The map interface may include a map of an area within a threshold distance of the current location of the electronic device.

The crowdsourced data may include tuples of GNSS coordinates of known locations without the first connectivity and corresponding nearest locations with the first connectivity that are within a threshold distance of the electronic device.

The proposed path may include sidewalks or trails if the electronic device is carried by a pedestrian and the proposed path comprises roads if the electronic device is transported in a car.

The processing circuitry may be configured to cause the display to display the map interface based on the display displaying a notification, where the notification indicates a current absence of the first connectivity and a guidance to reaching the first connectivity.

The processing circuitry may be configured to update the crowdsourced data based on the crowdsourced data having been downloaded before a calendar date.

The first signal may include a cellular signal and the second signal may include a Wi-Fi signal.

In another embodiment, a method may include downloading, via processing circuitry of an electronic device, crowdsourced data based on a first receiver receiving a first signal associated with a first RAT, the crowdsourced data including known locations with a first connectivity with the first RAT and known locations without the first connectivity within a threshold distance of an electronic device. In addition, the method may include receiving, via the processing circuitry, a current location of an electronic device from a GNSS receiver based on a the first receiver losing the first connectivity with the first RAT and a second receiver losing a second connectivity with a second RAT. Moreover, the method may include receiving, via the processing circuitry, an indication of a proposed path from a current location of the electronic device to a nearest location with the first connectivity based on the current location of the electronic device and on the crowdsourced data and receiving, via the processing circuitry, an indication of a tracked path of the electronic device from a location with the first connectivity to the current location of the electronic device received from the GNSS receiver.

The proposed path may avoid obstacles such as bodies of water, canyons, buildings, industrial zones, and/or construction zones.

The crowdsourced data may include metadata collected from various mobile devices, where the metadata includes GNSS coordinates of the various mobile devices and indications of a presence of the first connectivity at each GNSS coordinate of the GNSS coordinates.

The method may include displaying, via a display of the electronic device, a map interface showing the current location of the electronic device, the nearest location with the first connectivity, a path including the tracked path and the proposed path, a map of an area that comprises the current location, the nearest location with the first connectivity, and/or the path.

The method may include receiving, via the processing circuitry, an indication of a first segment of the path based on the crowdsourced data, the first segment including locations where the first receiver is not receiving the first signal and displaying, via the display, the first segment in a first color as part of the map interface.

The method may include receiving, via the processing circuitry, an indication of second segment of the path based on the crowdsourced data, the second segment including locations where the first receiver is receiving the first signal from a non-subscribed RAT and displaying, via the display, the second segment in a second color as part of the map interface.

The method may include receiving, via the processing circuitry, an indication of a third segment of the path based on the crowdsourced data, the third segment including locations where the first receiver is receiving the first signal and displaying, via the display, the third segment in a third color as part of the map interface.

In yet another embodiment, one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media, include instructions that may cause processing circuitry to display, via a display of an electronic device, a notification indicating current absence of a first connectivity with a first RAT and a guidance to reaching the first connectivity and display, via the display, a map interface that includes a proposed path from a current location of an electronic device to a nearest location with the first connectivity with the first RAT. In addition, the instructions may cause the processing circuitry to provide, via the display and/or via a speaker of the electronic device, navigation commands for reaching the nearest location with the first connectivity with the first RAT.

The instructions may cause the processing circuitry to download crowdsourced data associated with a first location based on second receiver receiving a second signal, the crowdsourced data associated with the first location including known locations with the first connectivity and known locations without the first connectivity within a threshold distance of the first location.

The instructions may cause the processing circuitry to update the crowdsourced data associated with the first location based on the crowdsourced data associated with the first location being stored in a memory of the electronic device.