Method for categorization of multiple providers in a wireless communication service environment

• US 8,095,133 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2009
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bamburak, Michael D., Daly, John J., Lawrence, Christopher Gregory, Prise, Michael Edward, Raffel, Michael Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): CAI, WAYNE HUU
• Application Number:
  US12/647,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20100099411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435, 4554351-4353, 455/525, 455/552.1, 455/62, 455/150.1, 455/151.1, 4551611-1612, 455/188.1
• US Class Current: 455/435.3
• 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 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• 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 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. The category of service provider may be identified and displayed on the communication device.

Claims

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

storing a frequency search schedule, where the frequency search schedule comprises a listing of a plurality of frequency bands in a predetermined order;

performing a global search for an optimal service provider, including searching the plurality of frequency bands in the predetermined order specified by the frequency search schedule;

while searching the plurality of frequency bands, if the optimal service provider is found, then halting the search and then registering with the optimal service provider; and

after searching the plurality of frequency bands, if the optimal service provider has not been found, then registering with a best preferred service provider, where the best preferred service provider has a highest priority of all service providers found while searching the plurality of frequency bands.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ordering one of the plurality of frequency bands in the frequency search schedule based upon time-weighted counts of previous registrations with service providers in each frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

incrementing a counter corresponding to one of the plurality of frequency bands in the frequency search schedule upon registration with a service provider in that one frequency band; and

adjusting the counter by a time-weighting factor to produce a time-weighted count corresponding to that one frequency band.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

attempting to lock onto a control channel before performing the global search, the control channel associated with a service provider last used by the wireless communication device, if the service provider last used by the wireless communication device was the optimal service provider.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

searching a frequency band that had carried a service provider last used by the wireless communication device before performing the global search, if the last used service provider was the optimal service provider.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a periodic search for the optimal service provider if the global search did not find the optimal service provider.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the performing the periodic search for the optimal service provider comprises:

waiting in an idle state until a timer expires, then exiting the idle state;

after exiting the idle state, searching one of the plurality of frequency bands that is next to be searched according to the frequency search schedule and a periodic search pointer;

while searching the next one of the plurality of frequency bands, if the optimal service provider is found, then halting the searching and registering with the optimal service provider; and

after searching the next one of the plurality of frequency bands, if the optimal service provider has not been found, then incrementing the periodic search pointer and returning to the idle state.

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

searching for an optimal service provider in a last used frequency band that was last used by the wireless communication device for a last used service provider;

registering with the optimal service provider, if the optimal service provider was found in the last used frequency band;

if the optimal service provider was not found in the last used frequency band, then performing a search for an acceptable service provider, where the search searches in a plurality of frequency bands listed in a search schedule in an order specified by the search schedule;

while performing the search, if the optimal service provider is found, then halting the search and registering with the optimal service provider; and

after performing the search, if the optimal service provider has not been found, then registering with the acceptable service provider having a highest priority.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

performing a periodic search for the optimal service provider if the search did not find the optimal service provider.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the performing the periodic search for the optimal service provider comprises:

waiting in an idle state until a timer expires, then exiting the idle state;

after exiting the idle state, searching a next one of a plurality of frequency bands listed in a periodic search schedule, wherein the next one frequency band is next to be searched according to the periodic search schedule and a periodic search pointer;

while searching the next one of the plurality of frequency bands, if the optimal service provider is found, then halting the searching and registering with the optimal service provider; and

after searching the next one of the plurality of frequency bands, if the optimal service provider has not been found, then incrementing the periodic search pointer and returning to the idle state.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

removing a frequency band from the periodic search schedule wherein the frequency band that is removed is one of the plurality of frequency bands listed in the periodic search schedule in which the acceptable service provider was found.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

ordering one of the plurality of frequency bands in the periodic search schedule based upon time-weighted counts of previous registrations with service providers in each frequency band.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

removing the last used frequency band from the search schedule if the last used frequency band was searched before performing the search.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

ordering one of the plurality of frequency bands in the search schedule based upon time-weighted counts of previous registrations with service providers in each frequency band.