Methods and Applications for Supporting Radio Access System Selection by Multi-Mode Mobile Stations

• US 20080182615A1
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Willey, William Daniel, Xue, Hao, Islam, M. Khaledul
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• 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

Methods are provided for a multi-mode mobile station to perform multi-mode system selection using a multi-mode system selection algorithm as a function of multi-mode overlay information. The multi-mode overlay information includes a plurality of associations, each association being between a respective set of systems that serve at least a common geographical area, at least some of the associations being between systems using differing radio access technology. Methods are also provided for a system to prepare multi-mode overlay information that includes a plurality of associations and send the multi-mode overlay information to the mobile station.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a system comprising:

a multi-mode mobile station performing multi-mode system selection using a multi-mode system selection algorithm as a function of multi-mode overlay information, the multi-mode overlay information comprising a plurality of associations, each association being between a respective set of systems that serve at least a common geographical area, at least some of the associations being between systems using differing radio access technology.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the multi-mode mobile station storing the multi-mode overlay information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode overlay information comprises:

for each association, identification parameters for the respective set of systems.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the identification parameters for at least one CDMA (code division multiple access) system comprise at least one of:

a SID (system identifier);

a SID and a NID (network identifier);

an MCC (mobile country code); and

an MCC and an MNC (mobile network code); and

wherein the identification parameters for at least one GSM/GPRS/UMTS (Global System for Mobile Communications/General Packet Radio Services/Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) system comprise at least one of;

an MCC;

an MCC and an MNC; and

an MCC, an MNC and a LAC (location area code).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein multi-mode overlay information comprises for each system a respective overlay group number, the systems with the same overlay group number comprising the respective set of systems of one of said associations.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing radio access technology specific system selection information for at least one radio access technology; and

performing system selection using a radio access technology specific system selection algorithm.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein storing radio access technology specific system selection information for at least one radio access technology and performing system selection using a radio access technology specific system selection algorithm comprises:

for CDMA storing a CDMA PRL (Preferred Roaming List), and performing CDMA system selection using the CDMA PRL;

for GSM/GPRS/UMTS storing a PLMN (public land mobile network) list, and performing system selection using the PLMN list.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein multi-mode overlay information comprises priority information for each system that prioritizes systems of each association.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the multi-mode mobile station performing multi-mode system selection using a multi-mode system selection algorithm as a function of the multi-mode overlay information comprises:

attempting to acquire a system using one of;

a most recently used radio access technology and a default radio access technology;

having acquired a particular system, determining system information from the multi-mode overlay information;

determining if there is another system using a different RAT in the set of systems having a higher priority than the particular system;

if there is a higher priority system, acquiring the higher priority system.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the multi-mode mobile station performing multi-mode system selection using a multi-mode system selection algorithm as a function of the multi-mode overlay information comprises:

having acquired a system included in one of the sets of systems of the multi-mode overlay information, periodically attempting to connect to another system in the set of systems having a higher priority than the particular system if there is a higher priority system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the multi-mode overlay information comprises a higher priority system search time for each system that defines how often to search for a higher priority system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode overlay information comprises timing information in respect of searches to be conducted for systems, and wherein performing system selection comprises performing searches for systems in accordance with the timing information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the timing information comprises at least one of:

a set of bits that indicate an actual timer value;

a set of bits that indicate an actual timer value offset by a predetermined value;

a set of bits that index into a table of timer values.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the timing information is in respect of each system identified in the multi-mode overlay information, the timing information indicating for a given system, while that system is acquired, at least one of;

how often to search for a system with higher priority than the given system and with a different RAT than the RAT of the given system; and

how often to search for a system with higher priority than the given system and with a different RAT than the RAT of the given system, wherein for at least some systems, multiple timing informations are specified each for a respective higher priority system.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the timing information is in respect of each system to be searched for, the timing information specifying for a given type of system included in the multi-mode overlay information a time between searches for this type of system that the mobile station is to use when searching for this type of system as a higher priority system than a current system.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein:

the timing information is provided in respect of some but not necessarily all of the systems, and the timing information includes an indication of for which systems timing information is provided.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the multi-mode mobile station receiving the multi-mode overlay information over the air, wherein receiving the multi-mode overlay information over the air comprises:

receiving for each system;

a group identifier identifying the association the system belongs to;

a system type identifying a type of the system and at least one identification parameter;

priority information indicating relative priority of the system;

search timing information.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode overlay information for a system comprises:

overlay group information defining an association of the system with other systems in at least a common geographical location;

a system type identifying a type of the system and at least one identification parameter;

intra-group overlay priority timing information in respect of searches to be conducted for systems.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a multi-mode system selection function for performing multi-mode system selection as a function of multi-mode overlay information, the multi-mode overlay information comprising a plurality of associations, each association being between a respective set of systems that serve at least a common geographical area, at least some of the associations being between systems using differing radio access technology;

a memory for storing multi-mode overlay information;

a wireless access radio for accessing systems having one or more radio access technologies.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the multi-mode overlay information comprises:

overlay group information defining an association of the system with other systems in at least a common geographical location;

a system type identifying a type of the system and at least one identification parameter;

intra-group overlay priority timing information in respect of searches to be conducted for systems.