Method and system for mapping provisioning information of different communications networks

• US 7,630,711 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2006
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Green, Michael, Parekh, Nileshkumar J., Nagaraj, Thadi M., Zou, Qiuzhen, Jain, Nikhil, Radhakrishnan, Dhinakar
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor; Barry W
• Application Number:
  US11/326,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• 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 wireless communications device is configurable to communicate with either one of two networks over a wireless medium, each of the two networks having a different air interface protocol. Additionally, the wireless device includes stored provisioning information for a set of networks of a first type and can map this first provisioning information into a second format for use with networks of a second type. The device also includes a non-volatile memory for storing default provisioning information so that some information remains available regardless of what is erased from the memory. The default provisioning information is enough to establish a connection over one of the available networks and allow reconstruction of a provisioning list.

Claims

1. A wireless device capable of communicating with multiple network types, comprising:

a transceiver configured to communicate with any of a plurality of network types over a wireless media, each of the plurality of network types having a different air interface protocol;

a non-volatile memory configured to store respective default provisioning data for more than one of the plurality of network types; and

a processor configured to convert default provisioning data for a first of the plurality of network types into corresponding provisioning information for a second of the plurality of network types, wherein the processor is further configured to use the corresponding provisioning information and the default provisioning data associated with the second of the plurality of network types to cause the transceiver to acquire and establish a connection with the second of the plurality of network types.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor configured to use one of the respective default provisioning data to cause the transceiver to establish a connection with the corresponding one of the plurality of network types.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the default provisioning data associated with the second of the plurality of network types includes signaling information related to a corresponding air interface protocol.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network types include a GSM network and a CDMA network.

5. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of network types includes a wireless LAN.

6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein default provisioning data for a first of the plurality of network types includes an MCC/MNC pair for a OSM network.

7. The wireless device of claim 1 wherein the corresponding provisioning information for a second of the plurality of network types includes an SID/NID pair for a CDMA network.

8. The wireless device of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory accessible by the processor and configured to store provisioning information for one or more of the plurality of network types.

9. The wireless device of claim 8, further comprising:

a user interface configured to permit a user to modify the provisioning information.

10. The wireless device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to prevent a user from modifying the default provisioning data.

11. The wireless device of claim 8 wherein the memory and the non-volatile memory are one and the same.

12. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to construct a provisioning list comprising the corresponding provisioning information and the default provisioning data associated with the second of the two network types defined as new provisioning information for the second of the plurality of network types.

13. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the provisioning list includes a CDMA PRL.

14. The wireless device of claim 12, wherein the provisioning list includes a GSM PLMN.

15. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the processor further comprises an algorithm that generates the corresponding provisioning information based on the default provisioning data for the first of the plurality of network types.

16. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the default provisioning data for the second of the plurality of network types is not mappable from the default provisioning data for the first of the plurality of network types.

17. A method for generating a provisioning list for a wireless device capable of communicating with multiple network types and having a transceiver configured to communicate with either one of two network types over a wireless medium, each of the two networks having a different air interface protocol, the method comprising:

retrieving first default provisioning information for a first of the network types;

retrieving second default provisioning information for a second of the network types;

converting the first default provisioning information into corresponding provisioning information for the second of the network types; and

building the provisioning list using the second default provisioning information and the corresponding provisioning information combined as new provisioning information for the second of the network types, wherein the new provisioning information enables the wireless device to acquire and establish a connection with the second of the network types.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

preventing a user of the wireless device from modifying the default provisioning information.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the provisioning list includes a home network.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the provisioning list includes one or more preferred networks.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the provisioning list includes one or more forbidden networks.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the second default provisioning information includes signaling information related to a corresponding air interface protocol.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the converting further comprises executing an algorithm that generates the corresponding provisioning information based on the first default provisioning information.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the second default provisioning information is not mappable from the first default provisioning information.

25. A computer readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for generating a provisioning list for a wireless device capable of communicating with multiple network types and having a transceiver configured to communicate with either one of two network types over a wireless medium, each of the two networks having a different air interface protocol, said instructions comprising:

a routine to retrieve first default provisioning information for a first of the network types;

a routine to retrieve second default provisioning information for a second of the network types;

a routine to convert the first default provisioning information into corresponding provisioning information for the second of the network types; and

a routine to build the provisioning list using the second default provisioning information and the corresponding provisioning information combined as new provisioning information for the second of the network types, wherein the new provisioning information enables the wireless device to acquire and establish a connection with the second of the network types.

26. The instructions of claim 25, wherein the second default provisioning data associated with the second of the network types includes signaling information related to a corresponding air interface protocol.

27. The instructions of claim 25, wherein the first default provisioning data includes an MCC/MNC pair for a GSM network, and wherein the corresponding provisioning information for the second of the network types includes an SID/NID pair for a CDMA network.

28. The instructions of claim 25, wherein the routine to convert further comprises an algorithm that generates the corresponding provisioning information based on the first default provisioning data.

29. The instructions of claim 25, wherein the second default provisioning data is not mappable from the first default provisioning data.

30. A wireless device capable of communicating with multiple network types, comprising:

means for communicating with any of a plurality of network types over a wireless media, each of the plurality of network types having a different air interface protocol;

means for storing respective default provisioning data for more than one of the plurality of network types; and

means for converting default provisioning data for a first of the plurality of network types into corresponding provisioning information for a second of the plurality of network types, wherein the means for converting is further configured to use the corresponding provisioning information and the default provisioning data associated with the second of the plurality of network types to cause the means for communicating to acquire and establish a connection with the second of the plurality of network types.

31. The wireless device of claim 30, wherein the default provisioning data associated with the second of the plurality of network types includes signaling information related to a corresponding air interface protocol.

32. The wireless device of claim 30, wherein default provisioning data for a first of the plurality of network types includes an MCC/MNC pair for a GSM network, and wherein the corresponding provisioning information for a second of the plurality of network types includes an SID/NID pair for a CDMA network.

33. The wireless device of claim 30, wherein the means for converting further comprises an algorithm that generates the corresponding provisioning information for a second of the plurality of network types based on the default provisioning data for a first of the plurality of network types.

34. The wireless device of claim 30, wherein the default provisioning data associated with the second of the plurality of network types is not mappable from the default provisioning data of the first of the plurality of network types.