Apparatus and method for performing network scanning using black-list network information

• US 8,725,144 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2011
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Islam, M. Khaledul, Hossain, Asif
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gao, Jing
• Application Number:
  US13/330,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20120088503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 455/434, 455/435.2, 455/432.1
• US Class Current: 455/434
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for making use of black-list network information to make scanning more efficient in multi-mode mobile devices. When performing a scan for a network, if a network that is blacklisted is found, scanning is discontinued for any network that has the same radio access technology as the network that was found. Thus, excessive scanning that can be costly for the mobile device in terms of battery life and responsiveness to provide service, is avoided.

Claims

1. A method for execution in a mobile device, the method comprising:

scanning for wireless networks, using a first Radio Access Technology (RAT), within at least one of a plurality of frequency blocks of a frequency band associated with the first RAT;

upon finding a network within a given frequency block of the frequency band, obtaining network identification information for the network;

if the network identification information is included in black-list network information of the mobile device, determining that the first RAT is barred for a current location of the mobile device;

aborting the scanning for wireless networks on the first RAT and skipping scanning for wireless networks on any other RAT associated with the first RAT; and

scanning for wireless networks, using a second RAT other than the first RAT and any other RAT associated with the first RAT, on frequency blocks other than the given frequency block prior to scanning on the given frequency block.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the network identification information is included in black-list network information of the mobile device prior to making any access attempt on the network; and

if the network identification is not included in black-list network information of the mobile device, attempting to access the network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein scanning for a network comprises starting to scan with a previously successfully used RAT.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

scanning for wireless networks using the first RAT comprises scanning for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) wireless networks;

aborting the scanning for wireless networks on the first RAT comprises (i) aborting the scanning for GSM wireless networks;

skipping scanning for wireless networks on any other RAT associated with the first RAT comprises (ii) skipping scanning for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) wireless networks; and

scanning for wireless networks using the second RAT comprises scanning (iii) for Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless networks.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein steps (i), (ii) and (iii) are executed upon the mobile device moving from a first geographical area in which GSM and UMTS are not barred to a second geographical area in which GSM and UMTS are barred but CDMA is not barred.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein scanning for wireless networks using the second RAT on frequency blocks other than the given frequency block prior to scanning on the given frequency block comprises:

refraining from scanning the given frequency block, or scanning the given frequency block only after searching other possible frequencies.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the black-list network information on the mobile device.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that when executed by a processor of a mobile device implement a method comprising:

scanning for wireless networks, using a first Radio Access Technology (RAT), within at least one of a plurality of frequency blocks of a frequency band associated with the first RAT;

upon finding a network within a given frequency block of the frequency band, obtaining network identification information for the network;

if the network identification information is included in black-list network information of the mobile device, determining that the first RAT is barred for a current location of the mobile device;

aborting the scanning for wireless networks on the first RAT and skipping scanning for wireless networks on any other RAT associated with the first RAT; and

scanning for wireless networks, using a second RAT other than the first RAT and any other RAT associated with the first RAT, on frequency blocks other than the given frequency block prior to scanning on the given frequency block.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the network identification information is included in black-list network information of the mobile device prior to making any access attempt on the network; and

if the network identification is not included in black-list network information of the mobile device, attempting to access the network.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein scanning for a network comprises starting to scan with a previously successfully used RAT.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein:

scanning for wireless networks using the first RAT comprises scanning for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) wireless networks;

aborting the scanning for wireless networks on the first RAT comprises (i) aborting the scanning for GSM wireless networks;

skipping scanning for wireless networks on any other RAT associated with the first RAT comprises (ii) skipping scanning for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) wireless networks; and

scanning for wireless networks using the second RAT comprises scanning (iii) for Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless networks.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein steps (i), (ii) and (iii) are executed upon the mobile device moving from a first geographical area in which GSM and UMTS are not barred to a second geographical area in which GSM and UMTS are barred but CDMA is not barred.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein scanning for wireless networks using the second RAT on frequency blocks other than the given frequency block prior to scanning on the given frequency block comprises:

refraining from scanning the given frequency block, or scanning the given frequency block only after searching other possible frequencies.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

storing the black-list network information on the mobile device.

15. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless access radio configured for communicating with wireless networks;

a processor; and

a network scan function configured for;

scanning for wireless networks, using a first Radio Access Technology (RAT), within at least one of a plurality of frequency blocks of a frequency band associated with the first RAT;

upon finding a network within a given frequency block of the frequency band, obtaining network identification information for the network;

if the network identification information is included in black-list network information of the mobile device, determining that the first RAT is barred for a current location of the mobile device;

aborting the scanning for wireless networks on the first RAT and skipping scanning for wireless networks on any other RAT associated with the first RAT; and

scanning for wireless networks, using a second RAT other than the first RAT and any other RAT associated with the first RAT, on frequency blocks other than the given frequency block prior to scanning on the given frequency block.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the network scan function is further configured for:

determining whether the network identification information is included in black-list network information of the mobile device prior to making any access attempt on the network; and

if the network identification is not included in black-list network information of the mobile device, attempting to access the network.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the network scan function is configured for scanning for a network by starting to scan with a previously successfully used RAT.

18. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein:

the network scan function is configured for scanning for wireless networks using the first RAT by scanning for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) wireless networks;

the network scan function is configured for aborting the scanning for wireless networks on the first RAT by (i) aborting the scanning for GSM wireless networks;

the network scan function is configured for skipping scanning for wireless networks on any other RAT associated with the first RAT by (ii) skipping scanning for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) wireless networks; and

the network scan function is configured for scanning for wireless networks using the second RAT by scanning (iii) for Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) wireless networks.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the network scan function is configured for executing steps (i), (ii) and (iii) upon the mobile device moving from a first geographical area in which GSM and UMTS are not barred to a second geographical area in which GSM and UMTS are barred but CDMA is not barred.

20. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the network scan function is configured for scanning for wireless networks using the second RAT on frequency blocks other than the given frequency block prior to scanning on the given frequency block by:

refraining from scanning the given frequency block, or scanning the given frequency block only after searching other possible frequencies.

21. The mobile device of claim 15, further comprising:

a memory configured for storing the black-list network information on the mobile device.