Preferred carrier selection method
First Claim
1. A method for selecting a cellular carrier for accessing cellular airtime services, said method comprising steps of:
- defining at least one home system identification code (SID) and at least one preferred SID;
monitoring cellular carrier signals to detect SIDs corresponding to cellular carriers;
selecting a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID matching the home SID if the SID matching the home SID is detected;
selecting a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID matching the preferred SID ifthe SID matching the preferred SID is detected andno SID matching the home SID is detected; and
selecting a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID not matching the home SID and not matching the preferred SID ifthe SID not matching the home SID and not matching the preferred SID is detected andno SID matching the home SID or the preferred SID is detected,wherein each of said selecting steps includes selecting cellular carriers for processing calls to emergency and non-emergency destination telephone numbers.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for selecting a cellular carrier frequency for accessing cellular airtime services based upon a list of preferred system identification codes (SIDs). A cellular telephone is programmed to accept into memory a list of preferred SIDs corresponding to carriers through which service is preferred. While any SID remains in a preferred list, the standard A/B system selection function is replaced by a substitute system selection function which includes only three carrier selection modes including the Home Only mode, the SID Only mode, and a Roam Saver mode. With the Roam Saver carrier selection mode, the cellular telephone first prefers service through a home carrier and then through a carrier broadcasting a SID matching a SID on the preferred list, but never denies service to emergency or non-emergency destinations if any SID is detected. Status indicators are used to, among other purposes, differentiate between no service being available, service being available through a carrier broadcasting a home SID, a preferred SID, or a non-preferred available SID. Also, in addition to multiple number assignment modules (NAMs) being included to support subscriptions to services from multiple carriers, the user is provided the option of manually selecting which NAM is used or enabling the cellular telephone, through an auto-NAM function, to automatically select and use the NAM of any home carrier detected by the cellular telephone.
66 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for selecting a cellular carrier for accessing cellular airtime services, said method comprising steps of:
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defining at least one home system identification code (SID) and at least one preferred SID; monitoring cellular carrier signals to detect SIDs corresponding to cellular carriers; selecting a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID matching the home SID if the SID matching the home SID is detected; selecting a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID matching the preferred SID if the SID matching the preferred SID is detected and no SID matching the home SID is detected; and selecting a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID not matching the home SID and not matching the preferred SID if the SID not matching the home SID and not matching the preferred SID is detected and no SID matching the home SID or the preferred SID is detected, wherein each of said selecting steps includes selecting cellular carriers for processing calls to emergency and non-emergency destination telephone numbers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for selecting a cellular carrier for accessing cellular airtime services, comprising:
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means for defining at least one home system identification code (SID) and at least one preferred SID; means for monitoring cellular carrier signals to detect SIDs corresponding to cellular carriers; means for selecting a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID matching the home SID if the SID matching the home SID is detected; means for selecting a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID matching the preferred SID if the SID matching the preferred SID is detected and no SID matching the home SID is detected; and means for selecting a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID not matching the home SID and not matching the preferred SID if the SID not matching the home SID and not matching the preferred SID is detected and no SID matching the home SID or the preferred SID is detected, wherein each of said selecting means includes means for selecting cellular carriers for processing calls to emergency and non-emergency destination telephone numbers. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 26)
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17. An apparatus for selecting a cellular carrier for accessing cellular airtime services, comprising:
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memory including at least one home system identification code (SID) and at least one preferred SID; cellular carrier signal monitor configured to detect SIDs corresponding to cellular carriers; logic configured to select a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID matching the home SID if the SID matching the home SID is detected; logic configured to select a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID matching the preferred SID if the SID matching the preferred SID is detected and no SID matching the home SID is detected; and logic configured to select a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID not matching the home SID and not matching the preferred SID if the SID not matching the home SID and not matching the preferred SID is detected and no SID matching the home SID or the preferred SID is detected; wherein each of said logics includes logic configured to select cellular carriers for processing calls to emergency and non-emergency destination telephone numbers. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification