Scanning and decoding methods and apparatus for mobile communication devices
First Claim
1. A method for use in scanning a radio frequency (RF) band having a plurality of RF channels in a scanning procedure, the method comprising the acts of:
- for at least some of the plurality of RF channels of the RF band;
measuring a signal strength level of an RF signal of a wireless communication network on an RF channel;
repeating the act of measuring at least one time so that at least one other signal strength level of the RF signal is identified;
completing an averaging function with the signal strength level and the at least one other signal strength level for identifying an averaged signal strength level for the RF signal on the RF channel; and
in between at least some of the acts of measuring signal strength levels of the RF signal, decoding control information on at least one of the RF channels of the RF band and storing the control information in memory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one illustrative scanning and decoding method, a signal strength level of an RF signal on an RF channel is measured for a plurality of RF channels of an RF band. The act of measuring a signal strength level is repeated at least one time to obtain at least one other signal strength level of the RF signal. Subsequently, an averaging function is completed with use of the signal strength level and the at least one other signal strength level for identifying an averaged signal strength level of the RF signal. At least one optimal RF signal is then identified based on the averaged signal strength levels of the RF signals on the RF channels. In between the repeated acts of measuring signal strength levels of the RF signals, and prior to identifying the averaged signal strength levels, control information is decoded on at least one of the RF channels and stored in memory. A wireless communication network is selected for communication with use of the control information stored in the memory which corresponds to one of the at least one optimal RF signal. In this manner, the mobile station expeditiously obtains the control information for network selection or other purposes prior to completing the averaging of the signal strength levels.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for use in scanning a radio frequency (RF) band having a plurality of RF channels in a scanning procedure, the method comprising the acts of:
for at least some of the plurality of RF channels of the RF band;
measuring a signal strength level of an RF signal of a wireless communication network on an RF channel;
repeating the act of measuring at least one time so that at least one other signal strength level of the RF signal is identified;
completing an averaging function with the signal strength level and the at least one other signal strength level for identifying an averaged signal strength level for the RF signal on the RF channel; and
in between at least some of the acts of measuring signal strength levels of the RF signal, decoding control information on at least one of the RF channels of the RF band and storing the control information in memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication device, comprising;
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a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;
an antenna means coupled to the RF transceiver;
one or more processors coupled to the RF transceiver;
the one or more processors being adapted to, for at least some of a plurality of RF channels of an RF band;
measuring a signal strength level of an RF signal of a wireless communication network on an RF channel;
repeat the act of measuring at least one time so that at least one other signal strength level of the RF signal is identified;
complete an averaging function with the signal strength level and the at least one other signal strength level for identifying an averaged signal strength level for the RF signal on the RF channel; and
in between at least some of the acts of measuring signal strength levels of the RF signal, decode control information on at least one of the RF channels of the RF band and storing the control information in memory. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer program product, comprising:
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a storage medium;
computer program instructions stored in the storage medium;
the computer program instructions being executable by one or more processors for scanning a radio frequency (RF) band having a plurality of RF channels by;
for at least some of the plurality of RF channels of the RF band;
identifying a signal strength level of an RF signal of a wireless communication network on an RF channel;
repeating the act of identifying at least one time so that at least one other signal strength level of the RF signal is identified;
completing an averaging function with the signal strength level and the at least one other signal strength level for identifying an averaged signal strength level for the RF signal on the RF channel; and
in between at least some of the acts of identifying signal strength levels of the RF signal;
decoding control information on at least one of the RF channels of the RF band and storing the control information in memory. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification