Methods and Apparatus for Service Acquisition in a Multi-Frequency Network

• US 20090029705A1
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Krishnamoorthi, Raghuraman, Gupta, Binita, Li, Linbo, Mantravadi, Ashok
• Granted Patent: US 8,842,612 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network. In an aspect, a method is provided for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network. The method includes detecting a service acquisition trigger event and identifying a selected RF channel from an acquisition RF list based on signal strength, wherein the acquisition RF list identifies RF channels in one or more local operations infrastructures (LOIs) of the multi-frequency network. The method also includes acquiring a wide system on the selected RF channel, removing the selected RF channel from the acquisition RF list if the wide system can not be acquired on the selected RF channel, and repeating said operations of identifying, acquiring and removing until the wide system is acquired on the selected RF channel or a system acquisition timeout occurs.

Claims

1. A method for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the method comprising:

detecting a service acquisition trigger event;

identifying a selected RF channel from an acquisition RF list based on signal strength, wherein the acquisition RF list identifies RF channels in one or more local operations infrastructures (LOIs) of the multi-frequency network;

acquiring a wide system on the selected RF channel;

removing the selected RF channel from the acquisition RF list if the wide system can not be acquired on the selected RF channel; and

repeating said operations of identifying, acquiring and removing until the wide system is acquired on the selected RF channel or a system acquisition timeout occurs.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining the acquisition RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting comprises detecting the service acquisition trigger event based on at least one of:

a power-up condition;

detection of system loss;

a content acquisition request; and

a scheduled system acquisition attempt.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the RF channels in the acquisition RF list to measure their associated signal strength.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying comprises identifying the selected RF channel to be an RF channel in the acquisition RF list having the strongest signal strength above a signal detection threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said repeating comprises repeating said operations of identifying, acquiring and removing for RF channels in the acquisition RF list for which signal strength is above a signal detection threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising acquiring a wide control channel on the selected RF channel if the wide system is acquired.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising acquiring the wide control channel based on a wide control channel acquisition retry schedule if the wide control channel is not acquired in a first acquisition attempt.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

acquiring a local system on the selected RF channel; and

acquiring a local control channel on the selected RF channel if the local system is acquired.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising acquiring the local control channel based on a local control channel acquisition retry schedule if the local control channel is not acquired in a first acquisition attempt.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising initiating a local system acquisition procedure if the local system is not acquired.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said initiating comprises initiating the local system acquisition procedure to acquire the local system on the selected RF channel based on a local system acquisition retry schedule.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said initiating comprises setting the local system acquisition retry schedule to be a two phase schedule with each phase having a selected number of local system acquisition retry attempts.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said initiating the local system acquisition procedure comprises:

identifying a local selected RF channel to be a last best RF channel from the local acquisition RF list if signal strength for the last best RF channel is above a local signal detection threshold;

identifying a local selected RF channel to be an RF channel from the local acquisition RF list with the strongest signal strength if signal strength of the last best RF channel is equal to or below the local signal detection threshold;

acquiring the local system on the local selected RF channel;

removing the local selected RF channel from local acquisition RF list if the local system is not acquired on the local selected RF channel; and

repeating said operations of identifying the local selected RF channel, acquiring the local system, and removing the local selected RF channel, until the local system is acquired on the local selected RF channel or a local system acquisition timeout occurs.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising obtaining the local acquisition RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising monitoring the RF channels in the local acquisition RF list to measure their associated signal strength.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining the last best RF to be an RF channel where the wide system was last acquired.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising initiating a local system acquisition outer loop if the local system is not acquired.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising attempting to acquire the local system based on a pre-determined local outer loop schedule as part of the local system acquisition outer loop.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a system acquisition outer loop if the wide system is not acquired.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising attempting to acquire the wide system based on a pre-determined outer loop schedule as part of the system acquisition outer loop.

22. An apparatus for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising:

processing logic configured to;

detect a service acquisition trigger event;

identify a selected RF channel from an acquisition RF list based on signal strength, wherein the acquisition RF list identifies RF channels in one or more local operations infrastructures (LOIs) of the multi-frequency network;

acquire a wide system on the selected RF channel;

remove the selected RF channel from the acquisition RF list if the wide system can not be acquired on the selected RF channel; and

repeat said operations of identifying, acquiring and removing until the wide system is acquired on the selected RF channel or a system acquisition timeout occurs.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said processing logic is configured to obtain the acquisition RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said processing logic is configured to detect the service acquisition trigger event based on at least one of:

a power-up condition;

detection of system loss;

a content acquisition request; and

a scheduled system acquisition attempt.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said processing logic is configured to repeat said operations of identifying, acquiring and removing for RF channels in the acquisition RF list for which signal strength is above a signal detection threshold.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said processing logic is configured to:

acquire a local system on the selected RF channel; and

acquire a local control channel on the selected RF channel if the local system is acquired.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said processing logic is configured to initiate a local system acquisition procedure if the local system is not acquired.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said processing logic is configured to initiate the local system acquisition procedure to acquire the local system on the selected RF channel based on a local system acquisition retry schedule.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said processing logic is configured to:

identify a local selected RF channel to be a last best RF channel from the local acquisition RF list if signal strength for the last best RF channel is above a local signal detection threshold;

identify a local selected RF channel to be an RF channel from the local acquisition RF list with the strongest signal strength if signal strength of the last best RF channel is equal to or below the local signal detection threshold;

acquire the local system on the local selected RF channel;

remove the local selected RF channel from local acquisition RF list if the local system is not acquired on the local selected RF channel; and

repeat said operations of identifying the local selected RF channel, acquiring the local system, and removing the local selected RF channel, until the local system is acquired on the local selected RF channel or a local system acquisition timeout occurs.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said processing logic is configured to obtain the local acquisition RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said processing logic is configured to initiate a local system acquisition outer loop if the local system is not acquired.

32. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said processing logic is configured to initiate a system acquisition outer loop if the wide system is not acquired.

33. An apparatus for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a service acquisition trigger event;

means for identifying a selected RF channel from an acquisition RF list based on signal strength, wherein the acquisition RF list identifies RF channels in one or more local operations infrastructures (LOIs) of the multi-frequency network;

means for acquiring a wide system on the selected RF channel;

means for removing the selected RF channel from the acquisition RF list if the wide system can not be acquired on the selected RF channel; and

means for repeating said operations of identifying, acquiring and removing until the wide system is acquired on the selected RF channel or a system acquisition timeout occurs.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising means for obtaining the acquisition RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said means for detecting comprises means for detecting the service acquisition trigger event based on at least one of:

a power-up condition;

detection of system loss;

a content acquisition request; and

a scheduled system acquisition attempt.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said means for repeating comprises means for repeating said operations of identifying, acquiring and removing for RF channels in the acquisition RF list for which signal strength is above a signal detection threshold.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising:

means for acquiring a local system on the selected RF channel; and

means for acquiring a local control channel on the selected RF channel if the local system is acquired.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising means for initiating a local system acquisition procedure if the local system is not acquired.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said means for initiating comprises means for initiating the local system acquisition procedure to acquire the local system on the selected RF channel based on a local system acquisition retry schedule.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein said means for initiating the local system acquisition procedure comprises:

means for identifying a local selected RF channel to be a last best RF channel from the local acquisition RF list if signal strength for the last best RF channel is above a local signal detection threshold;

means for identifying a local selected RF channel to be an RF channel from the local acquisition RF list with the strongest signal strength if signal strength of the last best RF channel is equal to or below the local signal detection threshold;

means for acquiring the local system on the local selected RF channel;

means for removing the local selected RF channel from local acquisition RF list if the local system is not acquired on the local selected RF channel; and

means for repeating said operations of identifying the local selected RF channel, acquiring the local system, and removing the local selected RF channel until the local system is acquired on the local selected RF channel or a local system acquisition timeout occurs.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising means for obtaining the local acquisition RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising means for initiating a local system acquisition outer loop if the local system is not acquired.

43. The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising means for initiating a system acquisition outer loop if the wide system is not acquired.

44. A computer program product for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the computer program product comprising:

a machine-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to detect a service acquisition trigger event;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to identify a selected RF channel from an acquisition RF list based on signal strength, wherein the acquisition RF list identifies RF channels in one or more local operations infrastructures (LOIs) of the multi-frequency network;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to acquire a wide system on the selected RF channel;

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to remove the selected RF channel from the acquisition RF list if the wide system can not be acquired on the selected RF channel; and

a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to repeat said operations of identifying, acquiring and removing until the wide system is acquired on the selected RF channel or a system acquisition timeout occurs.

45. The machine-readable medium of claim 44, further comprising a sixth set of codes for causing the computer to obtain the acquisition RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

46. The machine-readable medium of claim 44, wherein said first set of codes are configured to cause the computer to detect the service acquisition trigger event based on at least one of:

a power-up condition;

detection of system loss;

a content acquisition request; and

a scheduled system acquisition attempt.

47. The machine-readable medium of claim 44, wherein said fifth set of codes are configured to cause the computer to repeat said operations of identifying, acquiring and removing for RF channels in the acquisition RF list for which signal strength is above a signal detection threshold.

48. The machine-readable medium of claim 44, further comprising:

a sixth set of codes for causing the computer to acquire a local system on the selected RF channel; and

a seventh set of codes for causing the computer to acquire a local control channel on the selected RF channel if the local system is acquired.

49. The machine-readable medium of claim 48, further comprising an eighth set of codes for causing the computer to initiate a local system acquisition procedure if the local system is not acquired.

50. The machine-readable medium of claim 49, wherein said eighth set of codes are configured to cause the computer to initiate the local system acquisition procedure to acquire the local system on the selected RF channel based on a local system acquisition retry schedule.

51. The machine-readable medium of claim 49, wherein said eighth set of codes are configured to cause the computer to:

identify a local selected RF channel to be a last best RF channel from the local acquisition RF list if signal strength for the last best RF channel is above a local signal detection threshold;

identify a local selected RF channel to be an RF channel from the local acquisition RF list with the strongest signal strength if signal strength of the last best RF channel is equal to or below the local signal detection threshold;

acquire the local system on the local selected RF channel;

remove the local selected RF channel from local acquisition RF list if the local system is not acquired on the local selected RF channel; and

repeat said operations of identifying the local selected RF channel, acquiring the local system, and removing the local selected RF channel until the local system is acquired on the local selected RF channel or a local system acquisition timeout occurs.

52. The machine-readable medium of claim 51, further comprising a ninth set of codes for causing the computer to obtain the local acquisition RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

53. The machine-readable medium of claim 51, further comprising a ninth set of codes for causing the computer to initiate a local system acquisition outer loop if the local system is not acquired.

54. The machine-readable medium of claim 44, further comprising a sixth set of codes for causing the computer to initiate a system acquisition outer loop if the wide system is not acquired.

55. At least one integrated circuit configured for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the at least one integrated circuit comprising:

a first module configured to detect a service acquisition trigger event;

a second module configured to identify a selected RF channel from an acquisition RF list based on signal strength, wherein the acquisition RF list identifies RF channels in one or more local operations infrastructures (LOIs) of the multi-frequency network;

a third module configured to acquire a wide system on the selected RF channel;

a fourth module configured to remove the selected RF channel from the acquisition RF list if the wide system can not be acquired on the selected RF channel; and

a fifth module configured to repeat said operations of identifying, acquiring, and removing until the wide system is acquired on the selected RF channel or a system acquisition timeout occurs.

56. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 55, further comprising a sixth module configured to obtain the acquisition RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

57. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 55, wherein said first module is configured to detect the service acquisition trigger event based on at least one of:

a power-up condition;

detection of system loss;

a content acquisition request; and

a scheduled system acquisition attempt.

58. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 55, wherein said fifth module is configured to repeat said operations of identifying, acquiring and removing for RF channels in the acquisition RF list for which signal strength is above a signal detection threshold.

59. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 55, further comprising:

a sixth module configured to acquire a local system on the selected RF channel; and

a seventh module configured to acquire a local control channel on the selected RF channel if the local system is acquired.

60. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 59, further comprising an eighth module configured to initiate a local system acquisition procedure if the local system is not acquired.

61. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 60, wherein said eighth module is configured to initiate the local system acquisition procedure to acquire the local system on the selected RF channel based on a local system acquisition retry schedule.

62. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 60, wherein said eighth module is configured to:

identify a local selected RF channel to be a last best RF channel from the local acquisition RF list if signal strength for the last best RF channel is above a local signal detection threshold;

identify a local selected RF channel to be an RF channel from the local acquisition RF list with the strongest signal strength if signal strength of the last best RF channel is equal to or below the local signal detection threshold;

acquire the local system on the local selected RF channel;

remove the local selected RF channel from local acquisition RF list if the local system is not acquired on the local selected RF channel; and

repeat said operations of identifying the local selected RF channel, acquiring the local system, and removing the local selected RF channel until the local system is acquired on the local selected RF channel or a local system acquisition timeout occurs.

63. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 62, further comprising a ninth module configured to obtain the local acquisition RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

64. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 62, further comprising a ninth module configured to initiate a local system acquisition outer loop if the local system is not acquired.

65. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 55, further comprising a sixth module configured to initiate a system acquisition outer loop if the wide system is not acquired.

66. A method for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the method comprising:

detecting a control channel acquisition trigger event;

acquiring a control channel on a last best RF channel;

removing the last best RF channel from a control channel handoff RF list if the control channel is not acquired on the last best RF channel for a pre-determined number of acquisition attempts;

initiating a control channel handoff procedure if the control channel is not acquired on the last best RF channel; and

repeating said operations of acquiring, removing, and initiating until the control channel is acquired or a control channel acquisition timeout occurs.

67. The method of claim 66, further comprising detecting the control channel acquisition trigger event based on at least one of:

a power-up condition;

detection of wide control channel updates; and

detection of local control channel updates,

68. The method of claim 66, further comprising obtaining the control channel handoff RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

69. The method of claim 66, further comprising determining the last best RF channel to be an RF channel where the wide system was last acquired.

70. The method of claim 66, wherein said initiating further comprises:

identifying a selected RF channel to be an RF channel with the strongest signal strength in the control channel handoff RF list;

determining whether a control channel handoff criteria is met for the selected RF channel;

acquiring wide and local system on the selected RF channel if control channel handoff criteria are met and signal strength of the selected RF channel is greater than a signal detection threshold;

removing the selected RF channel from control channel handoff RF list if the wide system can not be acquired on the selected RF channel; and

repeating operations of identifying the selected RF channel, determining whether the control channel handoff criteria is met, acquiring the wide and local system, and removing the selected RF channel, until the wide system is acquired or the control channel handoff RF list becomes empty.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising monitoring the RF channels in the control channel handoff RF list to measure their associated signal strength.

72. The method of claim 70, further comprising determining that the control channel handoff criteria is met if signal strength associated with the selected RF channel is greater than the signal strength associated with the last best RF channel plus a signal strength hysteresis value.

73. The method of claim 70, further comprising initiating a control channel acquisition outer loop if the control channel handoff RF list becomes empty and at least a wide system is acquired.

74. The method of claim 70, further comprising initiating a local system acquisition procedure if the control channel handoff RF list becomes empty, only the wide system is acquired, and the control channel acquisition trigger event is a detection of local control channel updates.

75. The method of claim 70, further comprising initiating a system acquisition inner loop if the control channel handoff RF list becomes empty and the wide system is not acquired.

76. An apparatus for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising:

processing logic configured to;

detect a control channel acquisition trigger event;

acquire a control channel on a last best RF channel;

remove the last best RF channel from a control channel handoff RF list if the control channel is not acquired on the last best RF channel for a pre-determined number of acquisition attempts;

initiate a control channel handoff procedure if the control channel is not acquired on the last best RF channel; and

repeat said operations of acquiring, removing, and initiating until the control channel is acquired or a control channel acquisition timeout occurs.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein said processing logic is configured to detect the control channel acquisition trigger event based on at least one of:

a power-up condition;

detection of wide control channel updates; and

detection of local control channel updates,

78. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein said processing logic is configured to obtain the control channel handoff RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

79. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein said processing logic is configured to:

identify a selected RF channel to be an RF channel with the strongest signal strength in the control channel handoff RF list;

determine whether a control channel handoff criteria is met for the selected RF channel;

acquire wide and local system on the selected RF channel if control channel handoff criteria are met and signal strength of the selected RF channel is greater than a signal detection threshold;

remove the selected RF channel from control channel handoff RF list if the wide system can not be acquired on the selected RF channel; and

repeat operations of identifying the selected RF channel, determining whether the control channel handoff criteria is met, acquiring the wide and local system, and removing the selected RF channel, until the wide system is acquired or the control channel handoff RF list becomes empty.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said processing logic is configured to determine that the control channel handoff criteria is met if signal strength associated with the selected RF channel is greater than the signal strength associated with the last best RF channel plus a signal strength hysteresis value.

81. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said processing logic is configured to initiate a control channel acquisition outer loop if the control channel handoff RF list becomes empty and at least a wide system is acquired.

82. An apparatus for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a control channel acquisition trigger event;

means for acquiring a control channel on a last best RF channel;

means for removing the last best RF channel from a control channel handoff RF list if the control channel is not acquired on the last best RF channel for a pre-determined number of acquisition attempts;

means for initiating a control channel handoff procedure if the control channel is not acquired on the last best RF channel; and

means for repeating said operations of acquiring, removing, and initiating until the control channel is acquired or a control channel acquisition timeout occurs.

83. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein said means for detecting comprises means for detecting the control channel acquisition trigger event based on at least one of:

a power-up condition;

detection of wide control channel updates; and

detection of local control channel updates,

84. The apparatus of claim 82, further comprising means for obtaining the control channel handoff RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

85. The apparatus of claim 82, wherein said means for initiating comprises:

means for identifying a selected RF channel to be an RF channel with the strongest signal strength in the control channel handoff RF list;

means for determining whether a control channel handoff criteria is met for the selected RF channel;

means for acquiring wide and local system on the selected RF channel if control channel handoff criteria are met and signal strength of the selected RF channel is greater than a signal detection threshold;

means for removing the selected RF channel from control channel handoff RF list if the wide system can not be acquired on the selected RF channel; and

means for repeating operations of identifying the selected RF channel, determining whether the control channel handoff criteria is met, acquiring the wide and local system, and removing the selected RF channel until the wide system is acquired or the control channel handoff RF list becomes empty.

86. The apparatus of claim 85, further comprising means for determining that the control channel handoff criteria is met if signal strength associated with the selected RF channel is greater than the signal strength associated with the last best RF channel plus a signal strength hysteresis value.

87. The apparatus of claim 85, further comprising means for initiating a control channel acquisition outer loop if the control channel handoff RF list becomes empty and at least a wide system is acquired.

88. A computer program product for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the computer program product comprising:

a machine-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to detect a control channel acquisition trigger event;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to acquire a control channel on a last best RF channel;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to remove the last best RF channel from a control channel handoff RF list if the control channel is not acquired on the last best RF channel for a pre-determined number of acquisition attempts;

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to initiate a control channel handoff procedure if the control channel is not acquired on the last best RF channel; and

a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to repeat said operations of acquiring, removing, and initiating until the control channel is acquired or a control channel acquisition timeout occurs.

89. The machine-readable medium of claim 88, wherein said first set of codes is configured to cause the computer to detect the control channel acquisition trigger event based on at least one of:

a power-up condition;

detection of wide control channel updates; and

detection of local control channel updates,

90. The machine-readable medium of claim 88, further comprising a sixth set of codes configured to cause the computer to obtain the control channel handoff RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

91. The machine-readable medium of claim 88, wherein said fourth set of codes is configured to cause the computer to:

identify a selected RF channel to be an RF channel with the strongest signal strength in the control channel handoff RF list;

determine whether a control channel handoff criteria is met for the selected RF channel;

acquire wide and local system on the selected RF channel if control channel handoff criteria are met and signal strength of the selected RF channel is greater than a signal detection threshold;

remove the selected RF channel from control channel handoff RF list if the wide system can not be acquired on the selected RF channel; and

repeat operations of identifying the selected RF channel, determining whether the control channel handoff criteria is met, acquiring the wide and local system, and removing the selected RF channel, until the wide system is acquired or the control channel handoff RF list becomes empty.

92. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, further comprising a sixth set of codes configured to cause the computer to determine that the control channel handoff criteria is met if signal strength associated with the selected RF channel is greater than the signal strength associated with the last best RF channel plus a signal strength hysteresis value.

93. The machine-readable medium of claim 91, further comprising a sixth set of codes configured to cause the computer to initiate a control channel acquisition outer loop if the control channel handoff RF list becomes empty and at least a wide system is acquired.

94. At least one integrated circuit configured for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the at least one integrated circuit comprising:

a first module configured to detect a control channel acquisition trigger event;

a second module configured to acquire a control channel on a last best RF channel;

a third module configured to remove the last best RF channel from a control channel handoff RF list if the control channel is not acquired on the last best RF channel for a pre-determined number of acquisition attempts;

a fourth module configured to initiate a control channel handoff procedure if the control channel is not acquired on the last best RF channel; and

a fifth module configured to repeat said operations of acquiring, removing, and initiating until the control channel is acquired or a control channel acquisition timeout occurs.

95. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 94, wherein said first module is configured to detect the control channel acquisition trigger event based on at least one of:

a power-up condition;

detection of wide control channel updates; and

detection of local control channel updates,

96. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 94, further comprising a sixth module configured to obtain the control channel handoff RF list from at least one of a pre-provisioned RF list and a neighbor RF list determined from neighbor description information.

97. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 94, wherein said fourth module configured to:

identify a selected RF channel to be an RF channel with the strongest signal strength in the control channel handoff RF list;

determine whether a control channel handoff criteria is met for the selected RF channel;

acquire wide and local system on the selected RF channel if control channel handoff criteria are met and signal strength of the selected RF channel is greater than a signal detection threshold;

remove the selected RF channel from control channel handoff RF list if the wide system can not be acquired on the selected RF channel; and

repeat operations of identifying the selected RF channel, determining whether the control channel handoff criteria is met, acquiring the wide and local system, and removing the selected RF channel, until the wide system is acquired or the control channel handoff RF list becomes empty.

98. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 97, further comprising a sixth module configured to determine that the control channel handoff criteria is met if signal strength associated with the selected RF channel is greater than the signal strength associated with the last best RF channel plus a signal strength hysteresis value.

99. The at least one integrated circuit of claim 97, further comprising a sixth module configured to initiate a control channel acquisition outer loop if the control channel handoff RF list becomes empty and at least a wide system is acquired.

100. A method for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the method comprising:

acquiring wide and local system on a current RF channel;

determining that signal strength of the current RF channel is below a selected threshold if the wide and local system are acquired;

monitoring RF channels in a neighbor RF list to measure their associated signal strength;

switching to a selected RF channel from the neighbor RF list having the strongest signal strength if the selected RF channel is different than the current RF channel; and

acquiring the wide and local system on the selected RF channel.

101. An apparatus for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising:

processing logic configured to;

acquire wide and local system on a current RF channel;

determine that signal strength of the current RF channel is below a selected threshold if the wide and local system are acquired;

monitor RF channels in a neighbor RF list to measure their associated signal strength;

switch to a selected RF channel from the neighbor RF list having the strongest signal strength if the selected RF channel is different than the current RF channel; and

acquire the wide and local system on the selected RF channel.

102. An apparatus for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the apparatus comprising:

means for acquiring wide and local system on a current RF channel;

means for determining that signal strength of the current RF channel is below a selected threshold if the wide and local system are acquired;

means for monitoring RF channels in a neighbor RF list to measure their associated signal strength;

means for switching to a selected RF channel from the neighbor RF list having the strongest signal strength if the selected RF channel is different than the current RF channel; and

means for acquiring the wide and local system on the selected RF channel.

103. A computer program product for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the computer program product comprising:

a machine-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to acquire wide and local system on a current RF channel;

a second set of codes for causing the computer to determine that signal strength of the current RF channel is below a selected threshold if the wide and local system are acquired;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to monitor RF channels in a neighbor RF list to measure their associated signal strength;

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to switch to a selected RF channel from the neighbor RF list having the strongest signal strength if the selected RF channel is different than the current RF channel; and

a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to acquire the wide and local system on the selected RF channel.

104. At least one integrated circuit configured for service acquisition in a multi-frequency network, the at least one integrated circuit comprising:

a first module configured to acquire wide and local system on a current RF channel;

a second module configured to determine that signal strength of the current RF channel is below a selected threshold if the wide and local system are acquired;

a third module configured to monitor RF channels in a neighbor RF list to measure their associated signal strength;

a fourth module configured to switch to a selected RF channel from the neighbor RF list having the strongest signal strength if the selected RF channel is different than the current RF channel; and

a fifth module configured to acquire the wide and local system on the selected RF channel.