Methods and apparatus for selecting a communication network

• US 8,731,552 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Hind, Hugh, Naqvi, Noushad, Church, Mark Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEIBER, SHANTELL LAKETA
• Application Number:
  US13/239,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20120243436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/331, 370/352, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 455/433, 455/434, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455436-444, 455/552.1
• US Class Current: 455/435.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• 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 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/24 between backbone network devices

Abstract

Network selection techniques for use in a mobile device which is configured for voice and packet data communications are described. The mobile device performs a scanning operation to identify one or more communication networks, and consults a network selection list for selecting, in accordance with assigned priorities of the list, one of the identified networks. The mobile device also determines whether a packet data service interconnection to a home network via the selected network is available. If the interconnection to the home network via the selected network is determined to be available, then the mobile device operates with voice and packet data services in the selected network. Otherwise, if the interconnection to the home network via the selected network is determined to be unavailable, then the mobile device repeats the acts of consulting and determining for the next identified network in the list.

Claims

1. A network selection method for use in a mobile device which is configured for voice and packet data communications, the method comprising:

performing a scanning operation to identify one or more communication networks;

consulting a network selection list for selecting, in accordance with assigned priorities of the network selection list, one of the identified communication networks;

determining whether a data service interconnection to a home network is available by sending a request for data service via the selected communication network to a home network server of the home network;

when the data service interconnection to the home network via the selected communication network is determined to be available based on receipt of an acceptance of the request for data service from the home network server, operating in the selected communication network for receiving a data service using the data service interconnection; and

otherwise, when the data service interconnection to the home network via the selected communication network is determined to be unavailable based on receipt of a non-delivery notification or no acknowledgement from the home network server, repeating the acts of consulting and determining for a next selected one of the identified communication networks in the network selection list.

2. The network selection method of claim 1, wherein the selected communication network comprises a non-home network.

3. The network selection method of claim 1, wherein the data service interconnection utilizes a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).

4. The network selection method of claim 1, wherein the data service interconnection comprises a GPRS Roaming Exchange (GRX) or a Gp link.

5. The network selection method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the data service interconnection to the home network via the selected communication network is determined to be available based on receipt of the acceptance of the request for data service, adding the communication network to a network list based on the identifying.

6. The network selection method of claim 1, wherein the network selection list comprises a Preferred Public Land Mobile Network (PPLMN) list.

7. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium;

computer instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium;

the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors of a mobile communication device for selecting a communication network by;

performing a scanning operation to identify one or more communication networks;

consulting a network selection list for selecting, in accordance with assigned priorities of the network selection list, one of the identified communication networks;

determining whether a data service interconnection to a home network via the selected communication network is available by sending a request for data service via the selected communication network to a home network server of the home network;

when the data service interconnection to the home network via the selected communication network is determined to be available based on receipt of an acceptance of the request for data service from the home network server, operating in the selected communication network for receiving a data service using the data service interconnection; and

otherwise, when the data service interconnection to the home network via the selected communication network is determined to be unavailable based on receipt of a non-delivery notification or no acknowledgement from the home network server, repeating the acts of consulting and determining for a next selected one of the identified communication networks in the network selection list.

8. A mobile communication device configured for voice and packet data communications, the mobile communication device comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;

one or more processors coupled to the RF transceiver;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

the one or more processors being configured to;

cause a scanning operation to be performed with the RF transceiver to identify one or more communication networks;

consult a network selection list for selecting, in accordance with assigned priorities of the network selection list, one of the identified communication networks;

determine whether a data service interconnection to a home network via the selected communication network is available by sending a request for data service via the selected communication network to a home network server of the home network;

when the data service interconnection to the home network via the selected communication network is determined to be available based on receipt of an acceptance of the request for data service from the home network server, operate in the selected communication network for receiving a data service using the data service interconnection; and

otherwise, when the data service interconnection to the home network via the selected communication network is determined to be unavailable based on receipt of a non-delivery notification or no acknowledgement from the home network server, repeat the actions of consulting and determining for a next selected one of the identified communication networks in the network selection list.

9. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the selected communication network comprises a non-home network.

10. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the packet service interconnection utilizes a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).

11. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the data service interconnection comprises a GPRS Roaming Exchange (GRX).

12. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

when the data service interconnection to the home network via the selected communication network is determined to be available based on receipt of the acceptance of the request for data service, add the communication network to the network list based on the identifying.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 8, wherein the network selection list comprises a Preferred Public Land Mobile Network (PPLMN) list.

14. A network selection method for use in a mobile communication device while roaming outside of its home network, the mobile communication device being configured for voice and packet data communications, the method comprising:

performing, at the mobile communication device, a scanning operation to identify one or more communication networks;

consulting, at the mobile communication device, a network selection list for selecting, in accordance with assigned priorities of the network selection list, one of the identified communication networks;

after the selection of the one of the identified communication networks, attempting, at the mobile communication device, to connect back to the home network from the selected communication network over a Gp link;

when the Gp link between the selected communication network and the home network is available, operating the mobile communication device in the selected communication network for receiving data service, from the home network to the selected communication network, over the Gp link; and

otherwise, when no Gp link between the selected communication network and the home network is available in response to the attempt, repeating the acts of consulting and attempting for a next selected one of the identified visited networks in the network selection list.

15. The network selection method of claim 14, wherein the selected communication network comprises a non-home public land mobile network (PLMN).

16. The network selection method of claim 14, wherein the data service comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).

17. The network selection method of claim 14, wherein the network selection list comprises a Preferred Public Land Mobile Network (PPLMN) list.

18. The network selection method of claim 14, wherein the communication networks comprise Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs).