Method and apparatus for fast signal acquisition of preferred wireless channel

• US 6,272,343 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tellus Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tellus Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Lu, Huihung Tim, Pon, Rayman W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Application Number:
  US09/172,335
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432, 455/434, 455/515, 455/525, 455/62, 455/552, 455/553, 455/551, 455/161.1, 455/161.2, 455/161.3, 455/166.1, 455/166.2, 455/179.1, 455/185.1, 455/186.1, 455/186.2
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

An apparatus and method for fast signal acquisition on a preferred communication channel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frequency and identification guidance system that can have a hardware as well software implementation. The memory of the device includes a prioritized multi-level system of channels and a prioritized multi-level system of identifiers. The frequency and identification guidance system utilizes both multi-level systems to guide the device to a channel belonging to the preferred Service Provider.

Claims

1. A method of fast signal acquisition on a preferred wireless frequency channel by a wireless communication apparatus said wireless communication apparatus including a memory and a frequency and identification guidance system, said method comprising the steps of:

(A) configuring said frequency and identification guidance system by;

(A1) storing a multi-level system of channels in a first main list of said memory; and

(A2) storing a multi-level system of identifiers in a second main list of said memory; and

(B) selecting said preferred wireless frequency channel provided by at least one radio transceiver by utilizing said frequency and identification guidance system, said one radio transceiver being a part of a plurality of networks of external radio transceivers,

(B1) selecting a highest priority level in said multi-level system of identifiers;

(B2) checking a channel level with the 1-st highest priority including a first plurality of channels to achieve the preferred connection;

(B3) if a preferred connection is not achieved in the step (B2), checking a channel level with the 2-nd highest priority including a second plurality of channels to achieve preferred connection;

(B4) if a preferred connection is not achieved in the step (B3), checking consecutively each channel level with the i3-th priority including an i3-th plurality of channels to achieve preferred connection, i3 being an integer greater than two and less than or equal to N, wherein said first main list includes a plurality of N levels with different priority wherein N is an integer greater or equal to one;

(B5) selecting the next highest priority level in said multi-level system of identifiers, if a connection is not achieved; and

(B6) repeating said steps (B2-B5) until said preferred connection is achieved, wherein the step of checking the channel level with the next highest priority if a preferred connection is not achieved in the preceding step, further comprises the steps of;

(a) arranging at said channel level with the next highest priority a plurality of channels in order of highest channel priority to lowest channel priority and marking said arrangement of channels as a prioritized channel list;

(b) selecting a channel with the highest channel priority on said prioritized channel list;

(c) checking whether the strength of the received signal on said selected channel is above a threshold;

(d) checking whether communication is available on said selected channel;

(e) confirming said selected channel if the second main list including a multi-level system of identifiers is not used;

(f) confirming said selecting channel if the second main list including said multi-level system of identifiers is used and if said selected level of identifiers in said second main list includes the identifier provided by a network of external radio transceivers during the communication step (d);

(g) selecting a channel with the next highest channel priority on said prioritized channel list, if said selected channel is not confirmed; and

(h) repeating said steps (c-g).