Method for selecting a preferable wireless communications service provider in a multi-service provider environment

• US 6,418,318 B1
• Filed: 12/12/1995
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Raffel, Michael Allen, Lawrence, Christopher Gregory, Daly, John J., Bamburak, Michael D., Prise, Michael Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, DORIS HA
• Application Number:
  US08/570,904
• Time in Patent Office: 2,401 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/432, 455/434, 455/435, 455/436, 455/443, 455/444, 455/450, 455/451, 455/454, 455/455, 455/462, 455/464, 455/515, 455/517, 455/525, 455/551, 455/552, 455/516, 370/329
• US Class Current: 455/455
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0085 Hand-off measurements
• 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

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.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between a communication device and a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment using a frequency band search schedule that is stored in the communication device and specifies a predetermined order of frequency bands, the communication device:

1) receiving a plurality of frequency bands,

     2) associating with a less preferred service provider in a frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands,

     3) examining the plurality of frequency bands in the predetermined order specified by the frequency band search schedule while remaining associated with the less preferred service provider until another frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands having a more preferred service provider is located, the examination being conducted by determining whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has a more preferred service provider and if the last frequency band does not have a more preferred service provider, then determining whether a home frequency band of the communication device has a more preferred service provider, and

     4) registering with the more preferred service provider, the method comprising;

transmitting a code from the wireless service provider to the communication device, the code identifying the wireless service provider as a wireless service provider permitted to transmit modification information; and

transmitting modification information from the permitted wireless service provider to the communication device for modifying the frequency band search schedule.

2. A method of communicating between a communication device and a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment using a frequency band search schedule that is stored in the communication device and specifies a predetermined order of frequency bands, the communication device:

1) receiving a plurality of frequency bands,

     2) associating with a less preferred service provider in a frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands,

     3) examining the plurality of frequency bands in the predetermined order specified by the frequency band search schedule while remaining associated with the less preferred service provider until another frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands having a more preferred service provider is located, the examination being conducted by determining whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has a more preferred service provider and if the last frequency band does not have a more preferred service provider, then determining whether a home frequency band of the communication device has a more preferred service provider, and

     4) registering with the more preferred service provider, the method comprising;

transmitting modification information from the wireless service provider to the communication device for modifying the frequency band search schedule,

the wireless service provider receiving confirmation information from the communication device that the modification information has been transmitted.

3. A communication device that locates a preferable wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment using a frequency band search schedule stored in the communication device that specifies a predetermined order of frequency bands, the communication device comprising:

a transceiver that receives a plurality of frequency bands; and

a controller that;

     1) associates with a less preferred service provider in a frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands,

     2) examines the plurality of frequency bands in the predetermined order specified by the frequency band search schedule while remaining associated with the less preferred service provider until another frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands having a more preferred service provider is located, the examination being conducted by determining whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has a more preferred service provider and if the last frequency band does not have a more preferred service provider, then determining whether a home frequency band of the communication device has a more preferred service provider, and

     3) registers with the more preferred service provider.

4. A method of communicating between a communication device and a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment using a search schedule that is stored in the communication device and specifies a predetermined order of frequencies, the communication device:

1) receiving a plurality of frequencies,

     2) associating with a less preferred service provider in a frequency of the plurality of frequencies,

     3) examining the plurality of frequencies in the predetermined order specified by the search schedule while remaining associated with the less preferred service provider until another frequency of the plurality of frequencies having a more preferred service provider is located, the examination being conducted by determining whether a last frequency used by the communication device has a more preferred service provider and if the last frequency does not have a more preferred service provider, then determining whether a home frequency of the communication device has a more preferred service provider, and

     4) registering with the more preferred service provider, the method comprising;

transmitting a code from the wireless service provider to the communication device, the code identifying the wireless service provider as a wireless service provider permitted to transmit modification information; and

transmitting modification information from the permitted wireless service provider to the communication device for modifying the search schedule.

5. A method of communicating between a communication device and a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment using a search schedule that is stored in the communication device and specifies a predetermined order of frequencies, the communication device:

1) receiving a plurality of frequencies,

     2) associating with a less preferred service provider in a frequency of the plurality of frequencies,

     3) examining the plurality of frequencies in the predetermined order specified by the search schedule while remaining associated with the less preferred service provider until another frequency of the plurality of frequencies having a more preferred service provider is located, the examination being conducted by determining whether a last frequency used by the communication device has a more preferred service provider and if the last frequency used does not have a more preferred service provider, then determining whether a home frequency of the communication device has a-more preferred service provider, and

     4) registering with the more preferred service provider, the method comprising;

transmitting modification information from the wireless service provider to the communication device for modifying the search schedule,

the wireless service provider receiving confirmation information from the communication device that the modification information has been transmitted.

6. A communication device that locates a preferable wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment using a search schedule stored in the communication device that specifies a predetermined order of frequencies, the communication device comprising:

a transceiver that receives a plurality of frequencies; and

a controller that;

     1) associates with a less preferred service provider in a frequency of the plurality of frequencies,

     2) examines the plurality of frequencies in the predetermined order specified by the search schedule while remaining associated with the less preferred service provider until another frequency of the plurality of frequencies having a more preferred service provider is located, the examination being conducted by determining whether a last frequency used by the communication device has a more preferred service provider and if the last frequency does not have a more preferred service provider, then determining whether a home frequency of the communication device has a more preferred service provider, and

     3) registers with the more preferred service provider.