Network Selection Methods And Apparatus With Home Network Prioritization After Network Signal Recovery Or Power-On

• US 20110021190A1
• Filed: 10/04/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wireless Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Gunaratnam, Jayasri, Phipps, Darcy Richard, Swann, Craig Ian Haight, Hind, Hugh R., Naqvi, Noushad S., Taylor, Bryan, Nguyen, Bao Quoc
• Granted Patent: US 8,731,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/12 using signalling between network elements
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A network selection method for a mobile station which is associated with a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) identified by a home Mobile Network Code (MNC) and Mobile Country Code (MCC) pair. The mobile station identifies a plurality of PLMNs in a geographic area, and selects a non-home PLMN identified by a non-home MNC/MCC pair and designated as a Registered PLMN (RPLMN). In response to regaining signal coverage from an out-of-coverage condition with the RPLMN, or being powered-on from a power-off state entered while operating with the RPLMN, the mobile station selects the HPLMN if the HPLMN identified by the home MNC/MCC pair is available. Otherwise, if the HPLMN is unavailable and the RPLMN identified by the non-home MNC/MCC pair is available, the mobile station selects the RPLMN. However, if the RPLMN is unavailable, the mobile station selects an alternate PLMN in accordance with an automatic or manual network selection method.

Claims

1. A network selection method for a mobile station, comprising:

selecting and operating with a non-home communication network;

after regaining signal coverage from an out-of-coverage condition, performing the following acts of;

identifying a plurality of communication networks in a coverage area within which the mobile station is operating;

if a home communication network is identified as being available, selecting and operating with the home communication network; and

otherwise, if the non-home communication network is identified as being available, selecting and operating with the non-home communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

otherwise, if the non-home communication network is identified as being unavailable, selecting and operating with an alternate communication network based on a list of networks.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

otherwise, if the non-home communication network is identified as being unavailable, receiving a selecting of an alternate communication network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

otherwise, if the non-home communication network is identified as being unavailable, presenting a selection of at least one available alternate communication networks.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

otherwise if no home communication networks are identified and no manual selection has occurred;

selecting and operating with an alternate network which provides only emergency services.

6. A mobile station, comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

an antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver;

one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver;

the one or more processors being configured to select a communication network with which to communicate, the mobile station configured to;

select and operate with a non-home communication network; and

after regaining signal coverage from an out-of-coverage condition, the mobile station further configured to;

identify a plurality of communication networks in a coverage area within which the mobile station is operating;

if a home communication network is identified as being available, select and operate with the home communication network; and

otherwise, if the non-home communication network is identified as being available, select and operate with the non-home communication network.

7. The mobile station of claim 6, further configured to:

otherwise, if the non-home communication network is identified as being unavailable, select and operate with an alternate communication network based on a list of networks.

8. The mobile station of claim 6, further configured to:

otherwise, if the non-home communication network is identified as being unavailable, receive a selecting of an alternate communication network.

9. The mobile station of claim 6, further configured to:

otherwise, if the non-home communication network is identified as being unavailable, present a selection of at least one available alternate communication networks.

10. The mobile station of claim 6, further configured to:

otherwise if no home communication networks are identified and no manual selection has occurred;

select and operate with an alternate network which provides only emergency services.

11. A communication system, comprising:

a first non-home communication network;

a second communication network;

one or more mobile stations which are operable with the first non-home communication network and the second communication network;

the one or more mobile stations having the second communication network designated as a home communication network;

the one or more mobile stations being operative to perform a network selection method comprising;

selecting and operating with a non-home communication network;

after regaining signal coverage from an out-of-coverage condition, performing the following acts of;

identifying a plurality of communication networks in a coverage area within which the mobile station is operating;

if a home communication network is identified as being available, selecting and operating with the home communication network; and

otherwise, if the non-home communication network is identified as being available, selecting and operating with the non-home communication network.

12. The communication system of claim 11, further comprising:

otherwise, if the non-home communication network is identified as being unavailable, selecting and operating with an alternate communication network based on a list of networks.

13. The communication system of claim 11, further comprising:

otherwise, if the non-home communication network is identified as being unavailable, receiving a selecting of an alternate communication network.

14. The communication system of claim 11, further comprising:

otherwise, if the non-home communication network is identified as being unavailable, presenting a selection of at least one available alternate communication networks.

15. The communication system of claim 11, further comprising:

otherwise if no home communication networks are identified and no manual selection has occurred;

selecting and operating with an alternate network which provides only emergency services.