Method and apparatus for handling roaming lists in a wireless communication system

• US 20060128380A1
• Filed: 02/13/2006
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Uchida, Nobuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,695 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/432.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

Method and apparatus for updating roaming lists. An error handling message is provided when the roaming list protocols within the elements of a system are not compatible. A roaming list format identifier is provided to the remote user identifying the protocol version supported by the network. The roaming list format identifier acts to either request an old version of the protocol or request the current stored format at the remote user. In one embodiment, the old version is the Preferred Roaming List, and the new version is the Extended Preferred Roaming List.

Claims

1. A method for updating a roaming list with a communication entity, comprising:

storing a roaming list of a format;

receiving from said communication entity a configuration request for identifying said format of said roaming list;

sending configuration information of said format to said communication entity; and

updating said roaming list if said format is supported by said communication entity.

2. The method as in claim 1 further including providing said roaming list of said format as being selected from a group consisting of the preferred roaming list (PRL) or the extended preferred roaming list (E-PRL).

3. The method as in claim 1 further including responding to a capability request in regard to support of said roaming list from said communication entity prior to said receiving said configuration request.

4. The method as in claim 1 further including sending an error message to said communication entity if said first format is not supported by said communication entity.

5. A method for updating a roaming list of a communication entity, comprising:

receiving configuration information of a format for a roaming list from said communication entity; and

updating said roaming list of said communication entity if said format of said roaming list is being supported.

6. The method as in claim 5 further including sending a capability request in regard to support of said roaming list to said communication entity prior to said receiving said configuration information.

7. The method as in claim 5 further including providing said roaming list of said format as being selected from a group consisting of the preferred roaming list (PRL) or the extended preferred roaming list (E-PRL).

8. A communication apparatus, comprising:

means for storing a roaming list of a format;

means for receiving from a communication entity a configuration request for identifying said format of said roaming list;

means for sending configuration information of said format to said communication entity; and

means for updating said roaming list if said format being supported by said communication entity.

9. The communication apparatus as in claim 8 further including means for providing said roaming list of said first format as being selected from a group consisting of the preferred roaming list (PRL) or the extended preferred roaming list (E-PRL).

10. The communication apparatus as in claim 8 further including means for responding to a capability request in regard to support of said roaming list from said communication entity.

11. The communication apparatus as in claim 8 further including means for sending an error message to said communication entity if said format is not supported by said communication entity.

12. An infrastructure apparatus capable of updating a roaming list of a communication entity, comprising:

means for receiving configuration information of a format for a roaming list from said communication entity; and

means for updating said roaming list of said communication entity if said format of said roaming list is being supported.

13. The infrastructure apparatus as in claim 12 further including means for sending a capability request in regard to support of said roaming list to said communication entity.

14. The infrastructure apparatus as in claim 12 further including means for providing said roaming list of said format as being selected from a group consisting of the preferred roaming list (PRL) or the extended preferred roaming list (E-PRL).