METHOD FOR CATEGORIZATION OF MULTIPLE PROVIDERS IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SERVICE ENVIRONMENT

• US 20120077492A1
• Filed: 12/07/2011
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bamburak, Michael D., Daly, John J., Lawrence, Christopher Gregory, Prise, Michael Edward, Raffel, Michael Allen
• Granted Patent: US 9,002,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/434
• 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 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• 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

A communication device locates a preferable wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment using a frequency band search schedule. Initially, the communications device registers with a less preferred service provider in a first frequency band. While remaining registered with the less preferred service provider, the device examines several frequency bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule. A frequency band is examined by dividing the frequency band into many sub-bands, and by locating the strongest signal above a threshold within the sub-band being examined. The examination continues until a second frequency band having a more preferred service provider is located. The communication device then registers with the more preferred service provider. The category of service provider may be identified and displayed on the communication device.

Claims

1. A method by which a wireless communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising:

storing a frequency search schedule, wherein the frequency search schedule comprising a plurality of frequency bands in a predetermined order, wherein the predetermined order is based upon time-weighted counts of previous registrations within each of the plurality of frequency bands; and

examining the plurality of frequency bands until a service provider is located by examining the plurality of frequency bands in the predetermined order specified by the frequency search schedule.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a plurality of counters representing the time-weighted counts of the previous registrations with each frequency band of the frequency search schedule.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

incrementing a counter corresponding to one of the plurality of frequency bands of the frequency search schedule upon a registration with any service provider within that frequency band; and

adjusting the counter by a time-weighting factor to produce a time-weighted count corresponding to the frequency band.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

modifying the frequency search schedule using information transmitted over a wireless interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the examining the plurality of examining frequency bands comprises first examining a frequency band that had carried a service provider last used by the communication device, if the service provider last used by the communication device was an optimal service provider.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, wherein the computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method, comprising;

storing a frequency search schedule, wherein the frequency search schedule comprising a plurality of frequency bands in a predetermined order, wherein the predetermined order is based upon time-weighted counts of previous registrations within each of the plurality of frequency bands; and

examining the plurality of frequency bands until a service provider is located by examining the plurality of frequency bands in the predetermined order specified by the frequency search schedule.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

storing a plurality of counters representing the time-weighted counts of the previous registrations with each frequency band of the frequency search schedule.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

incrementing a counter corresponding to one of the plurality of frequency bands of the frequency search schedule upon a registration with any service provider within that frequency band; and

adjusting the counter by a time-weighting factor to produce a time-weighted count corresponding to the frequency band.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

modifying the frequency search schedule using information transmitted over a wireless interface.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the examining the plurality of examining frequency bands comprises first examining a frequency band that had carried a service provider last used by the communication device, if the service provider last used by the communication device was an optimal service provider.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method by which a wireless communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising:

storing a frequency search schedule, wherein the frequency search schedule comprising a plurality of frequency bands in a predetermined order, wherein the predetermined order is based upon time-weighted counts of previous registrations within each of the plurality of frequency bands; and

examining the plurality of frequency bands until a service provider is located by examining the plurality of frequency bands in the predetermined order specified by the frequency search schedule.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

storing a plurality of counters representing the time-weighted counts of the previous registrations with each frequency band of the frequency search schedule.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising:

incrementing a counter corresponding to one of the plurality of frequency bands of the frequency search schedule upon a registration with any service provider within that frequency band; and

adjusting the counter by a time-weighting factor to produce a time-weighted count corresponding to the frequency band.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising:

modifying the frequency search schedule using information transmitted over a wireless interface.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the examining the plurality of examining frequency bands comprises first examining a frequency band that had carried a service provider last used by the communication device, if the service provider last used by the communication device was an optimal service provider.