Method for scanning wireless frequencies

• US 7,509,125 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Vuong, Thanh, Alfano, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost; Dwayne D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehra; Inder P
• Application Number:
  US11/083,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20060211421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 455/161.1, 455/455, 455/456.3, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/456.1, 455/443
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service

Abstract

A method of scanning frequencies for registration onto a wireless service provider by a wireless device is provided. The inventive method comprises predefining a priority sequence of frequencies in association with each of a plurality of locations. Itinerary information is received and a current expected location of the device in real-time based is determined based on the itinerary information. The device then scans frequencies according to any priority sequence predefined for the current expected location.

Claims

1. A method of scanning frequencies for registration onto a wireless service provider by a wireless device comprising:

receiving and storing itinerary information on the wireless device, the itinerary information including a plurality of locations of the wireless device at a future date and time outside of the wireless device'"'"'s home network;

requesting a plurality of predefined priority sequences of frequencies based on the itinerary information;

receiving and storing the plurality of predefined priority sequences of frequencies on the wireless device;

determining on the wireless device a current expected location of the wireless device in real-time based on the itinerary information;

determining on the wireless device a priority sequence to be scanned from the plurality of stored priority sequences based on the current expected location; and

scanning frequencies according to the priority sequence for the current expected location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the itinerary information comprises at least two expected locations of the wireless device at a date and time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein two expected locations are outside of a home network of the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a current expected location of the wireless device occurs on any one of power-up of the device, the device losing wireless signal, a trigger of an itinerary alarm and at the direction of a user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the current expected location of the wireless device is dynamic.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the itinerary information comprises at least one of arrival time, arrival date, arrival location, departure time, departure date, departure location, travel time, flight number, train number and check-in confirmation.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising retrieving current itinerary information in real-time and in response updating itinerary information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the itinerary information is inputted into an electronic calendar system.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising predicting a date and time of at least one intermediate location according to the itinerary information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the itinerary information is updated with the predicted date and time and the at least one intermediate location.

11. A computer readable storage device storing statements and instructions for use in the execution in a computer of the method of claim 1.

12. A personal data assistant comprising the readable storage device of claim 11.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising predefining priority sequences of frequencies each in association with each of a plurality of locations, the one or more priority sequences being selected from the predefined priority sequences.

14. A wireless communications device, comprising:

a communications subsystem;

a processor and memory, the memory including data and instructions to configure the processor to;

receive and store itinerary information in the memory, the itinerary information including a plurality of locations of the wireless device at a future date and time outside of the wireless device'"'"'s home network;

request a plurality of predefined priority sequences of frequencies based on the itinerary information;

receive and store the plurality of predefined priority sequences of frequencies in the memory;

determine a current expected location of the wireless device in real-time based on the itinerary information;

determine a priority sequence to be scanned from the plurality of stored priority sequences based on the current expected location; and

scan frequencies for registration onto a wireless service provider according to the determined priority sequence for the current expected location.

15. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the data and instructions further configure the processor to request the plurality of predefined priority sequences from a server containing the predefined priority sequences of frequencies each in association with one of a plurality of locations.

16. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the itinerary information comprises at least two expected locations of the wireless device at a date and time.

17. The wireless communications device of claim 16, wherein the at least two expected locations are outside of a home network of the wireless device.

18. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the data and instructions configuring the processor to determine a current expected location of the wireless device occurs on any one of power-up of the device, the device losing wireless signal, a trigger of an itinerary alarm and at the direction of a user.

19. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the data and instructions configuring the processor to determine the current expected location of the wireless device is dynamic.

20. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the itinerary information comprises at least one of arrival time, arrival date, arrival location, departure time, departure date, departure location, travel time, flight number, train number and check-in confirmation.

21. The wireless communications device of claim 20, wherein the data and instructions further configure the processor to retrieve current itinerary information in real-time and in response updating itinerary information.

22. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the itinerary information is inputted into an electronic calendar system.

23. The wireless communications device of claim 14, wherein the data and instructions further configure the processor to predict a date and time of at least one intermediate location according to the itinerary information.

24. The wireless communications device of claim 23, wherein the itinerary information is updated with the predicted date and time and the at least one intermediate location.