Methods and applications for supporting radio access system selection by multi-mode mobile stations

• US 8,364,199 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Xue, Hao, Islam, M. Khaledul, Willey, William Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US11/627,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20080182615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,195 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/425, 455/432.3, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• 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 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• 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

Methods are provided for a multi-mode mobile station to perform multi-mode system selection using a multi-mode system selection algorithm as a function of multi-mode overlay information. The multi-mode overlay information includes a plurality of associations, each association being between a respective set of systems that serve at least a common geographical area, at least some of the associations being between systems using differing radio access technology. Methods are also provided for a system to prepare multi-mode overlay information that includes a plurality of associations and send the multi-mode overlay information to the mobile station.

Claims

1. A method performed by a multi-mode mobile station, the method comprising:

receiving a request message for multi-mode capability of the multi-mode mobile station;

in response to the request message, transmitting a response message including multi-mode capability information of the multi-mode mobile station;

receiving a message comprising multi-mode overlay information, the multi-mode overlay information associated with the multi-mode capability information of the multi-mode mobile station;

selecting a first system based on the multi-mode overlay information, the multi-mode overlay information comprising;

a prioritized list of systems that serve at least a common geographical area; and

priority information comprising a higher priority search time associated with at least the first system; and

searching for a higher priority system after a time specified by the higher priority search time associated with the first system;

wherein the multi-mode overlay information comprises timing information in respect of searches to be conducted for systems; and

wherein;

the timing information is in respect of each system to be searched for, the timing information specifying for a given type of system included in the multi-mode overlay information a time between searches for this type of system that the mobile station is to use when searching for this type of system as a higher priority system than a current system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the multi-mode overlay information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode overlay information comprises:

identification parameters for each system of the prioritized list of systems.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the identification parameters for at least one CDMA (code division multiple access) system comprise at least one of:

a SID (system identifier);

a SID and a NID (network identifier);

an MCC (mobile country code); and

an MCC and an MNC (mobile network code); and

wherein the identification parameters for at least one GSM/GPRS/UMTS (Global System for Mobile Communications/General Packet Radio Services/Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) system comprise at least one of;

an MCC;

an MCC and an MNC; and

an MCC, an MNC and a LAC (location area code).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein multi-mode overlay information comprises a plurality of group associations, at least one of said group associations being between a respective set of systems that serve the common geographical area.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing radio access technology specific system selection information for at least one radio access technology; and

performing system selection using a radio access technology specific system selection algorithm.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein storing radio access technology specific system selection information for at least one radio access technology and performing system selection using a radio access technology specific system selection algorithm comprises:

for CDMA storing a CDMA PRL (Preferred Roaming List), and performing CDMA system selection using the CDMA PRL; and

for GSM/GPRS/UMTS storing a PLMN (public land mobile network) list, and performing system selection using the PLMN list.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a first system based on multi-mode overlay information comprises:

attempting to acquire the first system using one of;

a most recently used radio access technology and a default radio access technology; and

having acquired the first system, determining system information from the multi-mode overlay information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein searching for a higher priority system comprises:

determining that there is a higher priority system; and

acquiring the higher priority system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein performing system selection comprises performing searches for systems in accordance with the timing information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the timing information comprises at least one of:

a set of bits that indicate an actual timer value;

a set of bits that indicate an actual timer value offset by a predetermined value; and

a set of bits that index into a table of timer values.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the timing information is in respect of each system identified in the multi-mode overlay information, the timing information indicating for a given system, while that system is acquired, at least one of;

how often to search for a system with higher priority than the given system and with a different RAT than the RAT of the given system; and

how often to search for a system with higher priority than the given system and with a different RAT than the RAT of the given system, wherein for at least some systems, multiple timing informations are specified each for a respective higher priority system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a message comprising multi-mode overlay information, the multi-mode overlay information associated with the multi-mode capability of the mobile station comprises receiving the multi-mode overlay information over the air, and wherein receiving the multi-mode overlay information over the air comprises:

receiving for each system of the prioritized list of systems;

a group identifier identifying a group of association that the system belongs to;

a system type identifying a type of the system and at least one identification parameter; and

priority information indicating relative priority of the system;

search timing information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode overlay information for a system comprises:

overlay group information defining a group association of the system with other systems in at least a common geographical location;

a system type identifying a type of the system and at least one identification parameter; and

intra-group overlay priority timing information in respect of searches to be conducted for systems.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the first system is a system different from the highest priority system.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the multi-mode overlay information comprises more than one radio access technology grouped together as a single system.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the timing information is provided in respect of some but not necessarily all of the systems.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the timing information includes an indication of for which systems timing information is provided.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-mode capability information comprises at least one bit for each of a plurality of radio access technologies indicating whether each radio access technology is supported.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-mode capability information comprises at least one bit for each of CDMA, GSM/GPRS/UMTS, and WLAN.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a multi-mode system selection function for performing multi-mode system selection as a function of multi-mode overlay information, the multi-mode overlay information comprising a plurality of group associations, at least one of the group associations being between a respective set of systems that serve at least a common geographical area;

a memory for storing multi-mode overlay information, the multi-mode overlay information comprising;

a prioritized list of systems that serve at least a common geographical area; and

priority information comprising a higher priority search time associated with one or more systems of the prioritized list of systems;

a wireless access radio for accessing systems having one or more radio access technologies, the wireless access radio further configured to;

receive a request message for multi-mode capability of the mobile station;

in response to the request message, transmit a response message including the multi-mode capability information of the mobile station;

receive a message comprising multi-mode overlay information, the multi-mode overlay information associated with the multi-mode capability information of the mobile station;

wherein the multi-mode overlay information comprises timing information in respect of searches to be conducted for systems; and

wherein the timing information is in respect of each system to be searched for, the timing information specifying for a given type of system included in the multi-mode overlay information a time between searches for this type of system that the mobile station is to use when searching for this type of system as a higher priority system than a current system.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the multi-mode overlay information comprises:

overlay group information defining an association of the system with other systems in at least a common geographical location;

a system type identifying a type of the system and at least one identification parameter; and

intra-group overlay priority timing information in respect of searches to be conducted for systems.