Network selection in a mobile telecommunications system
First Claim
1. A method of operating a mobile telecommunications apparatus in a telecommunications system wherein the apparatus comprises means for making telephone calls via the system, the method comprising:
- detecting a number of available networks;
receiving network identification information from the available networks;
selecting one of the available networks by comparing the network identification information with stored network information comprising at least one of a preferred network table and a barred network table;
registering with the selected network;
determining whether the stared information requires updating, and outputting a request message for receiving updating information for updating the stored network information if the stored information is determined to require updating.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile telephone (1) in a cellular telecommunications system uses data stored in a SIM cards (10) select a network (4) for registration and to perform optimise call routing to a call destination. If data relevant to networks which are currently available is not stored, a request message is sent to a control centre (14) and updating information received in a response message. The subscriber identity data stored in a memory file (200) of the SIM can also be replaced to enable a preferred subscriber identifier to be used with the currently registered network, selection being made using a look-up table (201) updated when required using request and response messages. Greater control of the network selection and cost saving by avoiding roaming agreements are thereby achievable.
154 Citations
111 Claims
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1. A method of operating a mobile telecommunications apparatus in a telecommunications system wherein the apparatus comprises means for making telephone calls via the system, the method comprising:
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detecting a number of available networks;
receiving network identification information from the available networks;
selecting one of the available networks by comparing the network identification information with stored network information comprising at least one of a preferred network table and a barred network table;
registering with the selected network;
determining whether the stared information requires updating, and outputting a request message for receiving updating information for updating the stored network information if the stored information is determined to require updating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 82, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111)
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11. A mobile telecommunications apparatus for use in a telecommunications system, comprising:
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detecting means for detecting a number of available networks;
receiving means for receiving network identification information from the available networks;
selecting means for selecting one of the available networks by comparing the network identification information with stored network information comprising at least one of a preferred network table and a barred network table; and
registering means for registering with the selected network;
wherein the apparatus further comprises;
determining means for determining whether the stored information requires updating, and output means for outputting a request message for receiving updating information for updating the stored information if the stored information is determined to require updating. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 85)
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21. A method of operating a mobile telecommunications apparatus in a telecommunications system wherein the apparatus comprises means for making outgoing telephone calls via the system, means for receiving a user generated input defining a call destination and routing means for selecting a preferred route to the call destination via the system for an outgoing telephone call by referring to routing information stored in the apparatus, the method comprising:
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registering with a network of the system which is local to the current location of the apparatus;
receiving network identification information from the local network;
determining from the network identification information whether the stored routing information requires updating, and outputting a request message for receiving updating information for updating the stored routing information if the stored routing information is determined to require updating. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A mobile telecommunications apparatus for use in a telecommunications system, comprising:
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registering means for registering with a network of the system which is a local network with respect to the current location of the apparatus;
receiving means for receiving network identification information from the local network;
storing means for storing routing information;
routing means for determining a preferred route via the system for an outgoing call made by the apparatus based on a user input call number, the network identification information and the stored routing information;
wherein the apparatus further comprises;
determining means for determining whether the stored routing information requires updating, and output means for outputting a request message for receiving updating information for updating the stored routing information if the stored routing information is determined to require updating. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. A method of operating a mobile telecommunications apparatus in a telecommunications system wherein the apparatus comprises means for making telephone calls via the system and subscriber identity data stored in a first memory of the apparatus is used to associate telephone calls from the apparatus with a respective subscriber account, a set of subscriber identifiers being associated with the same account for use as the subscriber identity data, the method comprising:
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obtaining a network identifier from a network with which the apparatus is registered;
determining which one of the set of subscriber identifiers is preferred for use as the subscriber identity data when the apparatus is registered to the network identified by the network identifier; and
, if different from the subscriber identity data;
replacing the subscriber identity data stored in the first memory with the preferred subscriber identifier. - View Dependent Claims (95, 96, 97, 98, 99)
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94. A method as claimed in claim 931 wherein the step of replacing the subscriber identity data comprises obtaining the preferred subscriber identifier by sending a request message via the network and receiving a response message containing the preferred subscriber identifier.
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100. A mobile telecommunications apparatus for use in a telecommunications system wherein the apparatus comprises means for making telephone calls via the system and subscriber identity data is stored in a first memory of the apparatus for associating telephone calls from the apparatus with a respective subscriber account, a set of subscriber identifiers being associated with the same account for use as the subscriber identity data, the apparatus comprising:
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registering means for obtaining a network identifier from a network with which the apparatus is registered;
means for determining which one of the set of subscriber identifiers is preferred for use as the subscriber identity data when the apparatus is registered to the network identified by the network identifier; and
replacing means operable, if different from the subscriber identity data, to replace the subscriber identity data stored in the first memory with the preferred subscriber identifier. - View Dependent Claims (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106)
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Specification