Methods and apparatus for acquiring service from a more desirable communication system

• US 20040110523A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Atsushi
• Granted Patent: US 7,433,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data

Abstract

A method for acquiring service from a more desirable wireless communication system while receiving service from a less desirable communication system is provided. The method may include acquiring service from a first communication system. The method may then involve waiting for a reattempt period that is related to a likelihood of acquiring service from a more desirable communication system. The method may then involve attempting to acquire service from a second communication system that is more desirable than the first communication system.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication device, a method comprising:

acquiring service from a first communication system;

waiting for a reattempt period that is related to a likelihood of acquiring service from a more desirable communication system; and

attempting to acquire service from a second communication system that is more desirable than the first communication system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the likelihood of acquiring service is proportional to a success rate of acquisition attempts made while the wireless communication device is receiving service from the first communication system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication system comprises a base station, wherein acquiring service from the first communication system comprises establishing communication with the base station, and wherein the likelihood of acquiring service is proportional to a success rate of acquisition attempts made while the wireless communication device is in communication with the base station.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the likelihood of acquiring service after attempting to acquire service from the second communication system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein updating the likelihood of acquiring service comprises:

increasing the likelihood of acquiring service if the wireless communication device successfully acquires service from the second communication system; and

decreasing the likelihood of acquiring service if the wireless communication device does not successfully acquire service from the second communication system.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising changing the reattempt period to reflect the updated likelihood of acquiring service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein changing the reattempt period comprises:

decreasing the reattempt period if updating the likelihood of acquiring service comprises increasing the likelihood of acquiring service; and

increasing the reattempt period if updating the likelihood of acquiring service comprises decreasing the likelihood of acquiring service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is mobile.

9. In a mobile wireless communication device located in a geographical region, a method comprising:

acquiring service from a first communication system that is not the most desirable communication system in the geographical region;

waiting for a reattempt period that is related to a success rate of previous acquisition attempts made by the mobile wireless communication device under similar circumstances; and

attempting to acquire service from a second communication system that is more desirable than the first communication system and that is capable of providing service within the geographical region.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the previous acquisition attempts were made while the wireless communication device was receiving service from the first communication system.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first communication system comprises a base station, wherein acquiring service from the first communication system comprises establishing communication with the base station, and wherein the previous acquisition attempts were made while the wireless communication device was in communication with the base station.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising updating the success rate after attempting to acquire service from the second communication system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising changing the reattempt period to reflect the updated success rate.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein changing the reattempt period comprises:

identifying a predetermined reattempt period that is associated with a range of success rates that encompasses the updated success rate; and

changing the reattempt period to match the predetermined reattempt period.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the reattempt period is only changed if the number of acquisition attempts made by the mobile wireless communication device under similar circumstances exceeds a threshold value.

16. A wireless communication device, comprising:

an antenna configured to send and receive wireless communication signals;

a transceiver in electronic communication with the antenna;

modulation and processing circuitry in electronic communication with the transceiver; and

a system acquisition module in electronic communication with the transceiver, the system acquisition module being configured to implement a method comprising;

acquiring service from a first communication system;

waiting for a reattempt period that is related to a likelihood of acquiring service from a more desirable communication system; and

attempting to acquire service from a second communication system that is more desirable than the first communication system.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the likelihood of acquiring service is proportional to a success rate of acquisition attempts made on more desirable communication systems while the wireless communication device is receiving service from the first communication system.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the first communication system comprises a base station, wherein acquiring service from the first communication system comprises establishing communication with the base station, and wherein the likelihood of acquiring service is proportional to a success rate of acquisition attempts made on more desirable communication systems while the wireless communication device is in communication with the base station.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises updating the likelihood of acquiring service after attempting to acquire service from the second communication system.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein updating the likelihood of acquiring service comprises:

increasing the likelihood of acquiring service if the wireless communication device successfully acquires service from the second communication system; and

decreasing the likelihood of acquiring service if the wireless communication device does not successfully acquire service from the second communication system.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises changing the reattempt period to reflect the updated likelihood of acquiring service.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein changing the reattempt period comprises:

decreasing the reattempt period if updating the likelihood of acquiring service comprises increasing the likelihood of acquiring service; and

increasing the reattempt period if updating the likelihood of acquiring service comprises decreasing the likelihood of acquiring service.

23. The device of claim 16, wherein the wireless communication device is mobile.

24. A mobile wireless communication device located in a geographical region, comprising:

an antenna configured to send and receive wireless communication signals;

a transceiver in electronic communication with the antenna;

modulation and processing circuitry in electronic communication with the transceiver; and

a system acquisition module in electronic communication with the transceiver, the system acquisition module being configured to implement a method comprising;

acquiring service from a first communication system that is not the most desirable communication system in the geographical region;

waiting for a reattempt period that is related to a success rate of previous acquisition attempts made by the mobile wireless communication device under similar circumstances; and

attempting to acquire service from a second communication system that is more desirable than the first communication system and that is capable of providing service within the geographical region.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the previous acquisition attempts were made while the wireless communication device was receiving service from the first communication system.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein the first communication system comprises a base station, wherein acquiring service from the first communication system comprises establishing communication with the base station, and wherein the previous acquisition attempts were made while the wireless communication device was in communication with the base station.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein the method further comprises updating the success rate after attempting to acquire service from the second communication system.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises changing the reattempt period to reflect the updated success rate.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein changing the reattempt period comprises:

identifying a predetermined reattempt period that is associated with a range of success rates that encompasses the updated success rate; and

changing the reattempt period to match the predetermined reattempt period.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the reattempt period is only changed if the number of acquisition attempts made by the mobile wireless communication device under similar circumstances exceeds a threshold value.