Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating selection by a mobile node of a network portion to communicate to effectuate a selected communication service

• US 20060172735A1
• Filed: 01/28/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Buckley, Adrian, Alfano, Nicholas P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,229,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating selection of a radio access network with which a roaming mobile node attempts to effectuate communications pursuant to a selected communication service. Listings are maintained at the mobile node, each containing entries of networks and their communication service capabilities. Different listings identify networks of differing preference levels. Detection is made of available networks, and a selector selects with which network to attempt to communicate based upon network availability, network capability, and preference.

Claims

1. In a radio communication system having a mobile node operable to effectuate at least a first selected communication service with a selected available network portion of a network formed of a first network portion and at least a second network portion, the first network portion capable of performing a first set of communication services and the at least the second network portion capable of performing a second set of communication services, an improvement of apparatus for facilitating selection, at the mobile node, with which, if any, of the first and at least second network portions to effectuate the first selected communication service, said apparatus comprising:

a first database listing a first set of entries of network portions, each entry of the 10 first set of entries associated with a first level of preference by the mobile node with which to communicate;

at least a second database listing at least a second set of entries of network portions, each entry of the second set of entries identifying network portions associated with a second level of preference by the mobile node with which to communicate;

a selector adapted to receive indications of when the mobile node is within coverage areas of the first and at least network portions and adapted to access said first and at least second databases, respectively, said selector for selecting with which, if any, of the first and at least second network portions to effectuate the first selected communication service, selection made by said selector responsive to which, if any, of the first and at least second sets of communication services that the first selected communication service is a member and with which of said first and at least second database listings that an associated one of the first and at least second network portions is associated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least the second database comprises the second database and at least a third database, the third database listing a third list of entries of network portions, each entry of the third set of entries identifying network portions associated with a third level of preference by the mobile node with which to communicate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein selection made by said selector of with which, if any, of the first and at least second network portions to effectuate the first selected communication service is further responsive to with which of said first, second, and third database listings, respectively, that an associated one of the first and at least second network portions is associated.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a forbidden-list database listing a forbidden-list of entries of network portions, each entry of the forbidden-list of entries identifying network portions associated with a prohibition level of non-preference by the mobile node indicating the mobile node to be prohibited from communicating with any network portion entered on the forbidden list of entries.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein selection made by said selector of with which, if any, of the first and at least second network portions to effectuate the first selected communication service is further responsive to whether any of the first and at least second network portions is entered at said forbidden-list database.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each entry listed in said first database further includes indications of the first set and at least second set, respectively, of communication services, as appropriate, associated therewith with which the entry is capable of providing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the indications of the first set and at least second set of communication services identify each communication service forming, respectively, the first set and the at least the second set.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein selection is made by said selector is responsive to determination of whether the first selected communication service is identified in any of the first and at least second sets of communication services associated with entries contained in at least said first database.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said selector comprises a determiner for determining whether the first selected communication service is identified in any of the first and at least second sets of communication services associated with entries contained in at least said first database.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the determiner comprising said selector selectably further determines whether the first selected communication service is identified in any of the first and at least second sets of communication services associated with entries contained in at least said second database upon determination that the selected communication service fails to form a portion of any of the first and at least second sets of communication services associated with entries forming said first database.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein groups of communication services define tiers of network-portion capabilities, and wherein the indications of the communication services associated with each entry in said first database comprise identification of which tier of network-portion capability is associated therewith.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein selection made by said selector is responsive to determinations of whether the tiers of service associated with any entry of said first database comprises a tier that includes the first selected communication service.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said selector comprises a determiner for determining whether the first selected communication service is identified in any of the tiers 20 defining any of the first and at least second sets of communication services associated with entries contained in at least said first database.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the determiner comprising said selector selectably further determines whether the first selected communication service is identified in any of the tiers defining any of the first and at least second sets of communication services associated with entries contained in at least said second database.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a detector for detecting when the mobile node is positioned within coverage area of the first network portion and within coverage area of the at least the second network portion and wherein said selector is adapted to receive indications of detections made by said detector.

16. In a method of communicating in a radio communication system having a mobile node operable to effectuate at least a first selected communication service with a selected available network portion of a network formed of a first network portion and at least a second network portion, the first network portion capable of performing a first set of communication services and the at least the second network portion capable of performing a second set of communication services, an improvement of a method for facilitating selection, at the mobile node with which, if any, of the first and at least second network portion to effectuate the first selected communication service, said method comprising the operations of:

listing a set of entries of network portions, each entry of the first set of entries associated with a first level of preference by the mobile node with which to communicate;

listing at least a second set of entries of network portions, each entry of the second set of entries identifying network portions associated with a second level of preference by the mobile node with which to communicate; and

selecting with which, if any, of the first and at least second network portions to effectuate the first selected communication service, selection made responsive to which, if any, of the first and at least second sets of communication services that the first selected communication service is a member and with which of the first and at least second sets of entries that an associated one of the first and at least second network portions is associated,

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the operation, prior to said operation of selecting, of detecting when the mobile node is positioned within coverage area of the first network portion and within coverage area of the at least the at least second network portion, and wherein selection made during said operation of selecting is further responsive to detections made during said operation of detecting.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein selection is made during said operation of selecting of an entry listed on the first set of entries if any entry is associated with a set of communication services of which the first selected communication service forms a portion.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein selection is made during said operation of selecting of an entry listed on the at least second set of entries of no entry of the first set of entries is associated with a set of communication services of which the first selected communication service forms a portion.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said operation of selecting further comprises the operation of subsequently selecting another network portion to effectuate a second selected communication service.