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

• US 6,430,396 B1
• Filed: 10/25/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• 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): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, CHARLES CHIANG
• Application Number:
  US09/425,240
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 455/62, 455/434, 455/168.1, 455/67.1, 455/67.3, 455/432, 455/435, 455/166.22, 455/456, 455/452-454, 455/450, 455/512
• US Class Current: 455/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2621 using frequency division multiple access [FDMA] H04B7/2615 takes precedence
• 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 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 wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment using a frequency band search schedule. The frequency band search schedule has a first or home band and a several other frequency bands in a predetermined order. The order of the frequency bands may be programmed by the user or by a home service provider over the air. The communication device searches for an acceptable service provider by examining the home band and then the other bands listed in the frequency band search schedule. The bands are examined in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule. An acceptable service provider is identified by comparing the identity of a service provider specified by an identifier received from a band being examined with a list of acceptable service providers.

Claims

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

a memory that stores a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; and

a processor that examines frequency bands in the order within the frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located, but skips frequency bands in the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found to have an acceptable service provider.

2. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor registers with the acceptable service provider.

3. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the processor determines whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has an acceptable service provider before examining frequency bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule.

4. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein a highest priority frequency band in the frequency band search schedule is a home frequency band of the communication device.

5. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the frequency band search schedule is in an order optimized to reduce a time necessary to locate an acceptable service provider.

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

storing a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; and

examining frequency bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located while skipping frequency bands in the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising registering with the acceptable service provider.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has an acceptable service provider before examining frequency bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein a highest priority frequency band in the frequency band search schedule is a home frequency band of the communication device.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the frequency band search schedule is in an order optimized to reduce a time necessary to locate an acceptable service provider.

11. A recording medium that stores a control program for use by a wireless communication device, the control program including instructions for:

storing a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; and

examining frequency bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located while skipping frequency bands in the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider.

12. The recording medium of claim 11, the control program further including instructions for registering with the acceptable service provider.

13. The recording medium of claim 11, the control program further including instructions for determining whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has an acceptable service provider before examining frequency bands in an order specified by the frequency band search schedule.

14. The recording medium of claim 11, wherein a highest priority frequency band in the frequency band search schedule is a home frequency band of the communication device.

15. The recording medium of claim 11, wherein the frequency band search schedule is in an order optimized to reduce a time necessary to locate an acceptable service provider.

16. A wireless communication device that locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising:

a memory that stores a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; and

a processor that deletes frequency bands from the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider to form a modified order and examines frequency bands in the modified order until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located.

17. A wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein the processor registers with the acceptable service provider.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein the processor determines whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has an acceptable service provider before examining frequency bands in an order specified by the modified frequency band search schedule.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein a highest priority frequency band in the modified frequency band search schedule is a home frequency band of the communication device.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 16, wherein the modified frequency band search schedule is in an order optimized to reduce a time necessary to locate an acceptable service provider.

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

storing a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order;

deleting frequency bands from the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider to form a modified frequency band search schedule; and

examining frequency bands in an order specified by the modified frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising registering with the acceptable service provider.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising determining whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has an acceptable service provider before examining frequency bands in an order specified by the modified frequency band search schedule.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein a highest priority frequency band in the modified frequency band search schedule is a home frequency band of the communication device.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the modified frequency band search schedule is in an order optimized to reduce a time necessary to locate an acceptable service provider.

26. A recording medium that stores a control program for use by a wireless communication device, the control program including instructions for:

storing a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order;

deleting frequency bands from the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider to form a modified frequency band search schedule; and

examining frequency bands in an order specified by the modified frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located.

27. The recording medium of claim 26, the control program further including instructions for registering with the acceptable service provider.

28. The recording medium of claim 26, the control program further including instructions for determining whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has an acceptable service provider before examining frequency bands in an order specified by the modified frequency band search schedule.

29. The recording medium of claim 26, wherein a highest priority frequency band in the modified frequency band search schedule is a home frequency band of the communication device.

30. The recording medium of claim 26, wherein the modified frequency band search schedule is in an order optimized to reduce a time necessary to locate an acceptable service provider.