Multimode roaming mobile devices

• US 20050282544A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Oommen, Paul, Tseng, Yichyun Mitch
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A mobile device for roaming between wireless communications networks in different geographical regions is provided. The mobile device includes an interface configured to transmit and receive signals over a wireless channel according to a communication mode using one of a plurality of access technologies. The device also includes a store holding a preferred roaming list having a common block holding data common to the plurality of access technologies, and a set of access technology-specific blocks each holding channel acquisition data specific to one of the plurality of access technologies for setting up the communication mode.

Claims

1. A mobile device for roaming between wireless communications networks in different geographical regions, the mobile device comprising:

an interface configured to transmit and receive signals over a wireless channel according to a communication mode using one of a plurality of access technologies; and

a store holding a preferred roaming list having a common block holding data common to said plurality of access technologies, and a set of access technology-specific blocks each holding channel acquisition data specific to one of the plurality of access technologies for setting up said communication mode.

2. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein said common data comprises access level information indicating preferred access technologies associated with different geographical regions.

3. The mobile device according to claim 2, comprising means for comparing network parameters received in broadcast messages from the wireless communication networks in the region where the mobile device is located with the access level information to select one of said plurality of access technologies for said communication mode.

4. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the common block has a set of pointers identifying respective ones of the set of access technology-specific blocks.

5. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the store comprises a memory.

6. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the store comprises a removable user identity module.

7. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the store comprises a subscriber identity module.

8. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the common data comprises parameters relating to accessing a management station for a region where the mobile device is located.

9. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the common data comprises security parameters.

10. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the common data comprises a common identity parameter capable of identifying the mobile device in each of the wireless communications networks.

11. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the common block and access technology-specific blocks are stored in the form of a hierarchical tree.

12. A method of selecting a communication mode for a mobile device roaming between wireless communications networks in different geographical regions, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving network parameters identifying wireless communications networks in the region where the mobile device is located;

comparing said network parameters with preferences among a plurality of access technologies and selecting one of said access technologies; and

scanning channel acquisition data for the selected access technology to set up a communication mode using the selected access technology.

13. A method of managing a preferred roaming list of a mobile device capable of transmitting and receiving signals using each of a plurality of access technologies, the method comprising:

transmitting a notification message from a mobile device to a management server, said notification message including parameters identifying the device and an access technology of a current communication mode; and

transmitting an update message from the management server to the mobile device according to said communication mode, for performing an update to at least one access technology-specific blocks of a preferred roaming list stored at the mobile device.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the update to the at least one access technology-specific block relates to the access technology of the current communication mode.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the update to the at least one access technology-specific block relates to an access technology other than the one which is being used for the current communication mode.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the steps of transmitting the notification message and transmitting the update message comprise transmitting said notification message and said update message over a wireless interface.

17. The method according to claim 13, which further comprises the step of retrieving the preferred roaming list from the mobile device over a wireless interface.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of retrieving the preferred roaming list from the mobile device over the wireless interface is based on algorithms of tree encoding and compression.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the steps of transmitting the notification message and the update message are implemented according to open mobile alliance device management protocol.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the steps of transmitting the notification message and the update message are based on internet protocol over-the-air-HCM protocol.

21. The method according to claim 13, wherein the steps of transmitting the notification message and the update message are based on over-the-air service provisioning/parameter administration protocol.

22. The method according to claim 13, wherein the steps of transmitting the notification message and the update message are based on air interface messaging.

23. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of storing the preferred roaming list retrieved from the mobile device at a network location associated with the management server.

24. The method according to claim 23, which further comprises the step of transmitting the preferred roaming list from the management server to a remote management server in a different network.

25. The method according to claim 24, which further comprises the step of transmitting the preferred roaming list from the remote management server to the mobile device in said different network.

26. A computer program product comprising a code sequence which, when executed by a processor in a mobile device, carries out the following steps:

receiving network parameters identifying wireless communications networks in a region where the mobile device is located;

comparing said network parameters with preferences among a plurality of access technologies and selecting one of said access technologies; and

scanning channel acquisition data for the selected access technology to set up a communication mode using the selected access technology.

27. A computer program product comprising a code sequence which when executed by a processor on a mobile device carries out the following steps:

transmitting a notification message from the mobile device to a management server in a network, said notification message including parameters identifying the mobile device and an access technology of a current communication mode; and

receiving an update message from the management server and performing an update to at least one access technology-specific blocks of a preferred roaming list.

28. A communications system comprising a management server having:

means for receiving a notification message from a mobile device, said notification message including parameters identifying the mobile device and an access technology of a current communication mode; and

means for transmitting an update message for performing an update to at least one access technology-specific blocks of a preferred roaming list stored at the mobile device.

29. A mobile device for roaming between wireless communication networks in different geographical regions, the mobile device comprising:

receiving means for receiving network parameters identifying wireless communications networks in the region where the mobile device is located;

comparing means for comparing said network parameters with preferences among a plurality of access technologies and selecting one of said access technologies; and

scanning means for scanning channel acquisition data for the selected access technology to set up a communication mode using the selected access technology.