Method and apparatus for best service rescan scheduling for mobile device operating in an EVDO hybrid mode

• US 8,160,583 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wen, Zhao, Asif, Hossain, Shahid, Chaudry Rasul
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Application Number:
  US12/540,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20090298494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 455/434
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/264 for data rate control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/535 based on resource usage policies

Abstract

A method and apparatus for best service rescan scheduling on a mobile device operating in an EVDO hybrid mode, the method comprising the steps of: blocking a best service rescan on the mobile device if the mobile device in an EVDO traffic state, the mobile device characterized by blocking means, the blocking means enabled to block a best service rescan on the mobile device if the mobile device in an EVDO traffic state.

Claims

1. A method for best service rescan scheduling on a mobile device communicating on a first network connection and a second network connection, the second network connection being dependent upon the first network connection being active and in an idle mode, the device having a preferred roaming list and a best service rescan function for triggering a rescan to acquire a preferred network if the device is not connected to the preferred network in said preferred roaming list, the method comprising:

determining if the device is connected to the preferred network;

determining if the second network connection is in a traffic state; and

if the second network connection is in the traffic state and the device is not connected to the preferred network, delaying the best service rescan on the mobile device while the second network connection is determined to be in the traffic state, said delaying configured to prevent dropping of the second network connection by the device as a result of the best service rescan.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the delaying step includes:

checking whether a best service rescan timer is running when entering a second network connection traffic state; and

if the best service rescan timer is running, pausing the best service rescan timer.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of restarting the best service rescan timer when the second network connection traffic state ends.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the delaying step includes:

checking whether a best service rescan timer is running when entering a second network connection traffic state; and

if the best service rescan timer is running, stopping the best service rescan timer.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of performing a best service rescan when the second network connection traffic state ends.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the delaying step includes:

checking whether a best service rescan timer is running when entering a second network connection traffic state; and

if a best service rescan timer is not running, blocking the best service rescan timer from starting.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of performing the best service rescan when the second network connection traffic state ends.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the delaying step includes:

allowing a best service rescan timer to continue running; and

if the best service rescan timer expires while the mobile device is in the second network connection traffic state, preventing the mobile device from performing the best service rescan until the second network connection traffic state ends.

9. A mobile device for communication on a first network connection and a second network connection, the second network connection being dependent on the first network connection being established and in an idle mode, the device having improved best service rescan scheduling, including a preferred roaming list and a best service rescan function for triggering a rescan to acquire a preferred network if the device is not connected to the preferred network in said preferred roaming list, the mobile device comprising:

a rescan subsystem configured to;

determine if the device is connected to the preferred network;

determine if the second network connection is in a traffic state; and

if the second network connection is in the traffic state and the device is not connected to the preferred network, delay the best service rescan on the mobile device while the second network connection is determined to be in the traffic state, said delaying configured to prevent dropping of the second network connection by the device as a result of the best service rescan.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, the rescan subsystem further configured to check whether a best service rescan timer is running when entering a second network connection traffic state;

and

if a best service rescan timer is running, pausing the best service rescan timer.

11. The mobile device of claim 10, further comprising restarting the best service rescan timer when the second network connection traffic state ends.

12. The mobile device of claim 9, further configured to check whether a best service rescan timer is running when entering a second network connection traffic state;

and

if a best service rescan timer is running, stop the best service rescan timer.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, further configured to perform a best service rescan when the second network connection traffic state ends.

14. The mobile device of claim 9, further configured to check whether a best service rescan tinier is running when entering a second network connection traffic state;

and

if a best service rescan timer is not running, the blocking the best service rescan timer from starting.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, further configured to perform a best service rescan when the second network connection traffic state ends.

16. The mobile device of claim 9, further configured to stop a best service rescan if the best service rescan timer expires while the mobile device is in the second network connection traffic state.

17. The mobile device of claim 16, further configured to perform a best service rescan when the second network connection traffic state ends.