Geographic area assisted system selection for mobile stations

• US 20030003922A1
• Filed: 06/28/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: McClure, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access

Abstract

A method includes determining a location of a mobile station, comparing the location to information that is descriptive of a map that is stored in the mobile station and deriving at least one system selection parameter from the mobile station'"'"'s location relative to the map. The system selection parameter can be one or more of a band of frequencies, including a license block, within which the mobile station may obtain access to a desired system, a frequency channel on which the mobile station may obtain access to a desired system, and a protocol to be used by the mobile station to obtain access to a desired system. The system selection parameter can be used to select a public system, or it can be used to select a non-public system. The determination of the location of the mobile station can be performed by the mobile station without assistance from a network operator, or by the mobile station with assistance from the network operator, or by the network operator. In the latter case the determined location is transmitted to the mobile station from the network operator. The map is preferably downloaded from the network operator to a memory of the mobile station.

Claims

1. A method for operating a wireless communication system, comprising:

determining a location of a mobile station;

comparing the location to information that is descriptive of a map that is stored in the mobile station; and

deriving at least one system selection parameter from the mobile station'"'"'s location relative to the map.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the system selection parameter is comprised of a band of frequencies within which the mobile station may obtain access to a desired system.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the system selection parameter is comprised of a frequency channel on which the mobile station may obtain access to a desired system.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the system selection parameter is comprised of a protocol to be used by the mobile station to obtain access to a desired system.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the system selection parameter is used to select a public system.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the system selection parameter is used to select a non-public system.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the determination of the location of the mobile station is performed by the mobile station without assistance from a network operator.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the determination of the location of the mobile station is performed by the mobile station with assistance from a network operator.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein the determination of the location of the mobile station is performed by a network operator, and where the determined location is transmitted to the mobile station from the network operator.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein the map is downloaded from a network operator to a memory of the mobile station.

19. A wireless communication system as in claim 1, wherein the determination of the location of the mobile station is performed by a network operator, and where the determined location is transmitted to the mobile station from the network operator.

11. A wireless communication system, comprising:

circuitry for determining a location of a mobile station; and

a data processor for comparing the location to information that is descriptive of a map that is stored in a memory of the mobile station, and for deriving at least one system selection parameter from the mobile station'"'"'s location relative to the map.

12. A wireless communication system as in claim 11, wherein the system selection parameter is comprised of a band of frequencies within which the mobile station may obtain access to a desired system.

13. A wireless communication system as in claim 11, wherein the system selection parameter is comprised of a frequency channel on which the mobile station may obtain access to a desired system.

14. A wireless communication system as in claim 11, wherein the system selection parameter is comprised of a protocol to be used by the mobile station to obtain access to a desired system.

15. A wireless communication system as in claim 11, wherein the system selection parameter is used to select a public system.

16. A wireless communication system as in claim 11, wherein the system selection parameter is used to select a non-public system.

17. A wireless communication system as in claim 11, wherein the determination of the location of the mobile station is performed by the mobile station without assistance from a network operator.

18. A wireless communication system as in claim 11, wherein the determination of the location of the mobile station is performed by the mobile station with assistance from a network operator.

20. A wireless communication system as in claim 11, wherein the map is downloaded from a network operator to the memory of the mobile station.

21. A mobile station for use with a wireless communication system, comprising a data processor for comparing a location of the mobile station to information that is descriptive of a map that is stored in a memory of the mobile station, and for deriving at least one system selection parameter from the mobile station'"'"'s location relative to the map.

22. A mobile station as in claim 21, wherein the information is downloaded from a network operator.

23. A mobile station as in claim 21, wherein there are a hierarchy of maps, where a map that is lower in the hierarchy provides more a detailed system selection parameter than a map higher in the hierarchy.

24. A mobile station as in claim 21, wherein the system selection parameter is comprised of at least one of a band of frequencies within which the mobile station may obtain access to a desired system, a frequency channel on which the mobile station may obtain access to a desired system and a protocol to be used by the mobile station to obtain access to a desired system.

25. A mobile station as in claim 21, wherein the map is downloaded from a network operator to the memory of the mobile station.

26. A mobile station as in claim 21, and further comprising means for determining a location of the mobile station.