Methods and apparatus for facilitating dynamic service-based system selection and determination

• US 8,554,205 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2008
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Shi, Guangming Carl, Lee, Kuo-Chun, Cheng, Steven, Siu, Isaac Ta-yan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D
• Application Number:
  US12/256,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20100105378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A method for facilitating dynamic service-based system selection and determination may be implemented by a communications device. The method may include presenting system selection options to a user based on information that is received about Network Access Providers (NAPs) and Network Service Providers (NSPs). The method may also include receiving user input about the system selection options. The user may be permitted to provide input about specific services offered by specific NSPs. The method may also include determining user preferences regarding system selection based on the user input. The method may also include creating a preferred roaming list (PRL) based on the user preferences. The method may further include using the PRL to scan for available networks and channels and to find serving systems.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating dynamic service-based system selection and determination, the method being implemented by a mobile device, the method comprising:

presenting system selection options based on information that is received about Network Access Providers (NAPs) and Network Service Providers (NSPs);

receiving user input about the system selection options, wherein the user is permitted to provide input about specific services offered by specific NSPs;

determining user preferences regarding system selection based on the user input;

creating a preferred roaming list (PRL) based on the user preferences;

using the PRL to scan for available networks and channels and to find serving systems;

determining information about available NAPs and NSPs related to the available networks and channels, wherein an option for manual system selection is selected;

displaying information about the available NAPs and NSPs; and

receiving input selecting an NAP and at least one NSP.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating an NAP/NSP record table based on NAP records and NSP records that are received by the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving updated information about the NAPs and the NSPs; and

dynamically updating the system selection options based on the updated information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured for operation in a high-speed wireless communication network, and wherein the information about the NAPs and the NSPs is included in a downlink MAP (DL-MAP) message that is received by the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user preferences comprise a user selection of different NSPs for different services.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user preferences comprise a request to change the NSP that is utilized for a particular service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user preferences comprise a request to sign up for a new service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured for operation in a fourth generation (4G) wireless communication network, and wherein the mobile device is also configured for operation in at least one second generation (2G) or third generation (3G) wireless communication network.

9. A mobile device configured for facilitating dynamic service-based system selection and determination, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

present system selection options based on information that is received about Network Access Providers (NAPs) and Network Service Providers (NSPs);

receive, from an input device, user input about the system selection options, wherein the user is permitted to provide input about specific services offered by specific NSPs;

determine user preferences regarding system selection based on the user input;

create a preferred roaming list (PRL) based on the user preferences;

use a receiver to scan for available networks and channels using the PRL and to find serving systems using the PRL;

determine information about available NAPs and NSPs related to the available networks and channels, wherein an option for manual system selection is selected;

provide information about the available NAPs and NSPs to a display; and

receive, from the input device, input selecting an NAP and at least one NSP.

10. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the instructions are also executable to create an NAP/NSP record table based on NAP records and NSP records that are received by the mobile device.

11. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the instructions are also executable to:

receive updated information about the NAPs and the NSPs; and

dynamically update the system selection options based on the updated information.

12. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the mobile device is configured for operation in a high-speed wireless communication network, and wherein the information about the NAPs and the NSPs is included in a downlink MAP (DL-MAP) message that is received by the mobile device.

13. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the user preferences comprise a user selection of different NSPs for different services.

14. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the user preferences comprise a request to change the NSP that is utilized for a particular service.

15. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the user preferences comprise a request to sign up for a new service.

16. The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the mobile device is configured for operation in a fourth generation (4G) wireless communication network, and wherein the mobile device is also configured for operation in at least one second generation (2G) or third generation (3G) wireless communication network.

17. A mobile device configured for facilitating dynamic service-based system selection and determination, comprising:

means for presenting system selection options based on information that is received about Network Access Providers (NAPs) and Network Service Providers (NSPs);

means for receiving user input about the system selection options, wherein the user is permitted to provide input about specific services offered by specific NSPs;

means for determining user preferences regarding system selection based on the user input;

means for creating a preferred roaming list (PRL) based on the user preferences;

means for using the PRL to scan for available networks and channels and to find serving systems;

means for determining information about available NAPs and NSPs related to the available networks and channels, wherein an option for manual system selection is selected;

means for displaying information about the available NAPs and NSPs; and

means for receiving input selecting an NAP and at least one NSP.

18. The mobile device of claim 17, further comprising creating an NAP/NSP record table based on NAP records and NSP records that are received by the mobile device.

19. The mobile device of claim 17, further comprising:

means for receiving updated information about the NAPs and the NSPs; and

means for dynamically updating the system selection options based on the updated information.

20. A computer-program product for facilitating dynamic service based system selection and determination by a mobile device, the computer-readable product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon, the instructions comprising:

code for presenting system selection options to a user based on information that is received about Network Access Providers (NAPs) and Network Service Providers (NSPs);

code for receiving user input about the system selection options, wherein the user is permitted to provide input about specific services offered by specific NSPs;

code for determining user preferences regarding system selection based on the user input;

code for creating a preferred roaming list (PRL) based on the user preferences; and

code for using the PRL to scan for available networks and channels and to find serving systems;

code for determining information about available NAPs and NSPs related to the available networks and channels, wherein an option for manual system selection is selected;

code for displaying information about the available NAPs and NSPs; and

code for receiving input selecting an NAP and at least one NSP.

21. The computer-program product of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise code for creating an NAP/NSP record table based on NAP records and NSP records that are received by the mobile device.

22. The computer-program product of claim 20, wherein the instructions further comprise:

code for receiving updated information about the NAPs and the NSPs; and

code for dynamically updating the system selection options based on the updated information.