Method for selecting a cell of a network when a wireless communications device is turned on and corresponding wireless communications device

• US 8,447,300 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V. (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: ST-Ericcson SA (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Meunier, Laurent, Roullier, Sylviane
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US13/203,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20120115472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/328, 370/329, 370/331, 370/332, 370/335, 370/338, 455/127.4, 455/432.1, 455/434, 4554351-4353, 455436-444, 455/515, 455/524, 455/525, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/558
• US Class Current: 455/435.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Method for selecting a cell from a network when a wireless communications device is turned on, following a previous power down, comprising a process for obtaining (12) the current country code (CC) corresponding to the current location where the device is situated when it is switched on and, if the current country (CC) is different from the current country code (LCC) corresponding to the place where the device was located during the said previous power down, a search (14) for the possible presence of at least one set of parameters, stored in the device, associated with the said current country code and relating to a cellular environment having already allowed a network access, and, in the eventuality of such a presence, a selection (16) of the said cell using the set or sets of parameters as a first priority.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a cell from a network when a wireless communications device is turned on, following a previous power down and saving of at least one set of parameters;

comprising a process for obtaining a current country code corresponding to a current location where said device is situated when it is switched on;

and, if a country code corresponding to said current location is different from a current country code corresponding to a place where said device was located during the previous power down;

then performing a search for a possible presence of the at least one set of parameters stored in said device associated with the current country code and relating to a cellular environment having already allowed a network access;

and, in an eventuality of such a presence, activating a selection of the cell using the at least one set of parameters as a first priority.

2. The method according to claim 1, also comprising the storage in said device of a set of parameters relating to the said cell selected prior to said power down of said device.

3. The method according to claim 1, in which said selection of said cell comprises the use of a conventional cell search algorithm if the said current country code is identical to said country code corresponding to said place where said device was located during the said previous power down or if said use of the stored set or sets of parameters has not allowed the said cell to be selected.

4. A wireless communications device, comprising:

reception means configured for receiving a current country code corresponding to a current place where said device is located when it is turned back on following a previous power down,

storage means configured for storing at least one set of parameters during previous power down, and

associated with said current country code and relating to a cellular environment having already allowed a network access,

search means capable of being activated and configured for searching in the storage means for a possible presence of at least one set of parameters,

comparison means configured for comparing said current country code with a country code corresponding to a place where said device was located during the previous power down,

selection means configured for selecting a cell from a network using, as a first priority, the at least one set of parameters, and

control means configured for activating the search means if a result of the said comparison is positive and for activating the selection means.

5. The device according to claim 4, in which said control means are also configured for storing in said storage means a set of parameters relating to the said cell selected prior to said power down of said device.

6. The device according to claim 4, also comprising additional selection means capable of being to be activated and configured for selecting a cell with a conventional cell search algorithm, and said control means are configured for activating said additional selection means if a result of the said comparison is negative or if the activation of said selection means has not allowed the said cell to be selected.