Periodic reexamination of DCCH pointer channel while camped on an ACC

• US 6,154,651 A
• Filed: 07/28/1998
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Hicks, Scott G., Findikli, Nadi S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jama, Isaak R.
• Application Number:
  US09/123,627
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 455/434, 455/435, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452, 455/455, 455/515, 370/329, 370/348, 370/336, 370/337, 370/524
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• 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 method and system used in a wireless network that provides communication service on both analog control channels (ACCs) and digital control channels (DCCHs) controls access to wireless services by a mobile station. The method comprises the steps of acquiring wireless services on a select ACC; periodically receiving a pointer to a preferred DCCH as part of a message received from the wireless network via the ACC; initially attempting to acquire wireless service on the preferred DCCH, including determining if received signal strength is acceptable and available service features are acceptable, and if not, then indicating the preferred DCCH as rejected; storing information on the rejected DCCH; and subsequently attempting to acquire wireless service on the rejected DCCH only if the DCCH was rejected due to received signal strength not being acceptable.

Claims

1. A method for use in a wireless network that provides communication services on both analog control channels (ACCs) and digital control channels (DCCHs), to control access to wireless services by a mobile station, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring wireless services on a select ACC;

periodically receiving a pointer to a preferred DCCH as part of a message received from the wireless network via the ACC;

initially attempting to acquire wireless services on the preferred DCCH, including determining if received signal strength is acceptable and available service features are acceptable, and if not then indicating the preferred DCCH as rejected;

storing information on the rejected DCCH; and

subsequently attempting to acquire wireless service on the rejected DCCH if the DCCH was rejected due to receive signal strength not being acceptable.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing step includes storing channel number, hyberband and digital verification color code associated with the rejected DCCH.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing step includes storing an indicator of the reason that the DCCH acquisition was rejected.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the storing step includes storing the reasons that the DCCH was rejected as due to signal strength, due to service or unknown.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing step includes storing a minimum signal strength necessary to camp on the rejected DCCH.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein in subsequently attempting to acquire wireless service on the rejected DCCH the mobile station obtains a signal strength measurement.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of averaging signal strength measurements.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein further comprising the step of resetting the DCCH to preferred if the subsequent received signal strength is acceptable.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing step includes storing information indicating if a wireless service provider for the acquired ACC is acceptable or unacceptable.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of starting a triggered scan timer if on an unacceptable service provider or if on an acceptable service provider and the rejected DCCH was rejected because received signal strength was not acceptable.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of resetting the DCCH to preferred after the triggered scan timer expires.

16. The mobile station of claim 1 wherein the memory stores a minimum signal strength necessary to camp on the rejected DCCH.

12. A mobile station for use in a wireless network that provides communication services on both analog control channels (ACCs) and digital control channels (DCCHs), the mobile station comprising:

a receiver and transmitter for communicating with the wireless network via ACCs and DCCHs; and

a programmed controller operable to control the receiver and transmitter and operating in accordance with a program stored in a memory to acquire service including acquiring wireless services on a select ACC, periodically receiving a pointer to a preferred DCCH as part of a message received from the wireless network via the ACC, initially attempting to acquire wireless services on the preferred DCCH, including determining if received signal strength is acceptable and available service features are acceptable, and if not then indicating the preferred DCCH as rejected, storing in the memory information on the rejected DCCH, and subsequently attempting to acquire wireless service on the rejected DCCH if the DCCH was rejected due to receive signal strength not being acceptable.

13. The mobile station of claim 12 wherein the memory stores channel number, hyberband and digital verification color code associated with the rejected DCCH.

14. The mobile station of claim 12 wherein the memory stores an indicator of the reason that the DCCH acquisition was rejected.

15. The mobile station of claim 14 wherein the memory stores the reasons that the DCCH was rejected as due to signal strength, due to service or unknown.

17. The mobile station of claim 12 wherein the controller program in subsequently attempting to acquire wireless service on the rejected DCCH obtains a received signal strength measurement.

18. The mobile station of claim 17 wherein the program averages signal strength measurements.

19. The mobile station of claim 17 wherein the program resets the DCCH to preferred if the subsequent received signal strength is acceptable.

20. The mobile station of claim 12 wherein the memory stores information indicating if a wireless service provider for the acquired ACC is acceptable or unacceptable.

21. The mobile station of claim 20 wherein the program starts a triggered scan timer if on an unacceptable service provider or if on an acceptable service provider and the rejected DCCH was rejected because received signal strength was not acceptable.

22. The mobile station of claim 21 wherein the program resets the DCCH to preferred after the triggered scan timer expires.