Data-Capable Network Prioritization With Reject Code Handling

• US 20100203888A1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Naqvi, Noushad, Gunaratnam, Jayasri, Phipps, Darcy Richard, Swann, Craig Ian Haight, Hind, Hugh, Taylor, Bryan, Nguyen, Bao Quoc
• Granted Patent: US 9,326,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

Reject code handling is utilized for a more time-efficient selection of data-capable networks. One illustrative method for use in selecting a wireless communication network for communications involves the steps of selecting a first wireless network available for communications with the mobile station; causing a request for data connectivity to be transmitted to the first wireless network selected; if a rejection is received from the first wireless network in response to the request for data connectivity: reattempting the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network at least one time; selecting a second wireless network available for communications with the mobile station after the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network is reattempted the at least one time without success; and selecting the second wireless network available for communications with the mobile station without reattempting the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network the at least one time if a reject code associated with the rejection indicates that data services are not allowed in the first network is received from the first wireless network in response to the request for data connectivity.

Claims

1. A method for use by a mobile station in selecting a wireless communication network for communications with the mobile station, the method comprising:

selecting a first wireless network available for communications with the mobile station;

causing a request for data connectivity to be transmitted to the first wireless network selected;

if a rejection is received from the first wireless network in response to the request for data connectivity;

reattempting the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network at least one time;

selecting a second wireless network available for communications with the mobile station after the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network is reattempted the at least one time without success; and

selecting the second wireless network available for communications with the mobile station without reattempting the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network the at least one time if a reject code associated with the rejection indicates that data services are not allowed in the first network is received from the first wireless network in response to the request for data connectivity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises an attach request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) attach request.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reject code indicating that data services are not allowed in the first wireless network corresponds to a permanent problem or fault that exists with the first wireless network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of reattempting the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network comprises reattempting the request up to a predetermined number of times.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of reattempting is performed by the mobile station without user intervention.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a Routing Area Update (RAU) request.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reject code indicative that data services are not allowed in the first wireless network has a value of 14.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of selecting the second wireless network for communications is performed only if the second wireless network is not on an Operator Controlled Public Land Mobile Network (O-PLMN) list or a User Controlled PLMN (U-PLMN) list of the mobile station.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying one or more wireless networks available in a coverage region of the mobile station, wherein the first wireless network is selected from the one or more wireless networks identified.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of selecting the second wireless network is performed as part of an automatic network selection procedure.

12. A mobile station, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

the one or more processors being operative to;

select a first wireless network available for communications with the mobile station;

cause a request for data connectivity to be transmitted to the first wireless network selected;

if a rejection is received from the first wireless network in response to the request for data connectivity;

reattempt the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network at least one time;

select a second wireless network available for communications with the mobile station after the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network is reattempted the at least one time without success; and

select the second wireless network available for communications with the mobile station without reattempting the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network the at least one time if a reject code associated with the rejection indicates that data services are not allowed in the first network is received from the first wireless network in response to the request for data connectivity.

13. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises an attach request.

14. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) attach request.

15. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the reject code indicating that data services are not allowed in the first wireless network corresponds to a permanent problem or fault that exists with the first wireless network.

16. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to reattempt the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network by reattempting the request up to a predetermined number of times.

17. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to reattempt the request for data connectivity without user intervention.

18. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a Routing Area Update (RAU) request.

19. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the reject code indicative that data services are not allowed in the first wireless network has a value of 14.

20. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to select the second wireless network for communications only if the second wireless network is not on an Operator Controlled Public Land Mobile Network (O-PLMN) list or a User Controlled PLMN (U-PLMN) list of the mobile station.

21. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to identify one or more wireless networks available in a coverage region of the mobile station, the first wireless network being selected from the one or more wireless networks identified.

22. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to select the second wireless network as part of an automatic network selection procedure.

23. A communication system, comprising:

a first wireless communication network;

a second wireless communication network;

a mobile station operative to select one of the first wireless communication network and the second wireless communication network for communications;

the mobile station being operative to;

select a first wireless network available for communications with the mobile station;

cause a request for data connectivity to be transmitted to the first wireless network selected;

if a rejection is received from the first wireless network in response to the request for data connectivity;

reattempt the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network at least one time

select a second wireless network available for communications with the mobile station after the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network is reattempted the at least one time without success; and

select the second wireless network available for communications with the mobile station without reattempting the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network the at least one time if a reject code associated with the rejection indicates that data services are not allowed in the first network is received from the first wireless network in response to the request for data connectivity.

24. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises an attach request.

25. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) attach request.

26. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the reject code indicating that data services are not allowed in the first wireless network corresponds to a permanent problem or fault that exists with the first wireless network.

27. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the mobile station is further operative to reattempt the request for data connectivity to the first wireless network by reattempting the request up to a predetermined number of times.

28. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the mobile station is further operative to reattempt the request for data connectivity without user intervention.

29. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a Routing Area Update (RAU) request.

30. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the reject code indicative that data services are not allowed in the first wireless network has a value of 14.

31. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the mobile station is further operative to select the second wireless network for communications only if the second wireless network is not on an Operator Controlled Public Land Mobile Network (O-PLMN) list or a User Controlled PLMN (U-PLMN) list of the mobile station.

32. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the mobile station is further operative to identify one or more wireless networks available in a coverage region of the mobile station, the first wireless network being selected from the one or more wireless networks identified.

33. The communication system of claim 23, wherein the mobile station is further operative to select the second wireless network as part of an automatic network selection procedure.