Data-capable network prioritization with reject code handling

• US RE42,392 E1
• Filed: 03/27/2009
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Bao Quoc, Gunaratnum, Jayasri, Naqvi, Noushad, Phipps, Darcy Richard, Swann, Craig Ian Haight, Hind, Hugh, Taylor, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Huy D
• Application Number:
  US12/412,963
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

Reject code handling is utilized for a more time-efficient selection of data-capable networks. One illustrative method for use in selecting a wireless communication network for communications involves the steps of causing a request for data connectivity to be transmitted through a first wireless network; reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network one or more times if a reject code comprising a non-critical error is received in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network; and attempting to select a second wireless network for communications without reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network one or more times if a reject code comprising a critical error is received in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network.

Claims

1. A method for use by a mobile station in selecting a wireless communication network for communications with the mobile station, the method comprising:

causing a request for data connectivity to be transmitted through a first wireless network in attempt to select the first wireless network for communications;

reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network at least one time if a reject code comprising a non-critical error is received from the first wireless network by the mobile station in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network;

attempting to select a second wireless network for communications after the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted the at least one time without success; and

attempting to select the second wireless network for communications without reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network the at least one time if a reject code comprising a critical error is received from the first wireless network by the mobile station in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) attach request.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context request.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying whether the reject code comprises a critical error by identifying whether the reject code corresponds to a permanent problem or fault that exists with the first wireless network or service subscription associated with an end user of the mobile station.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying that the reject code is a critical/non-critical error by comparing the reject code with each one of a plurality of error codes and identifying a match between the reject code and one of the plurality of error codes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network comprises reattempting the request up to a predetermined number of times.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of reattempting is performed by the mobile station without user intervention.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining an indication of whether the first wireless network currently makes a voice and data connectivity available to the mobile station;

wherein the indication for the first wireless network is indicative of currently available data connectivity if the request for data connectivity is accepted;

wherein the indication for the first wireless network is indicative of currently unavailable data connectivity if the reject code comprising the critical error is received; and

wherein the indication for the first wireless network is indicative of currently unavailable data connectivity after the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted the at least one time without success.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a list of currently unavailable data service networks for the mobile station;

wherein the list includes the first wireless network if the reject code comprising the critical error is received;

wherein the list includes the first wireless network if the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted the at least one time without success; and

wherein the list fails to include the first wireless network if the request for data connectivity is accepted.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a Routing Area Update (RAU) request.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the reject code comprising the critical error has a value of one of 7, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the reject code comprising the critical error is indicative that data services are not allowed by the first wireless network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of attempting to select the second wireless network for communications is performed only if the first wireless network is not on an Operator Controlled Public Land Mobile Network (O-PLMN) list or a User Controlled PLMN (U-PLMN) list of the mobile station.

14. A computer program product, comprising:

a storage medium;

computer instructions stored on the storage medium;

the computer instructions being executable by a processor for;

causing a request for data connectivity to be transmitted through a first wireless network in attempt to select the first wireless network for communications;

reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network if a reject code comprising a non-critical error is received from the first wireless network in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network;

attempting to select a second wireless network for communications after the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted the at least one time without success; and

attempting to select a the second wireless network for communications without reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network if a reject code comprising a critical error is received in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) attach request.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context request.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

identifying whether the reject code comprises a critical error by identifying whether the reject code corresponds to a permanent problem or fault that exists with the first wireless network or service subscription associated with an end user of the mobile station.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

identifying that the reject code is a critical/non-critical error by comparing the reject code with each one of a plurality of error codes and identifying a match between the reject code and one of the plurality of error codes.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network comprises reattempting the request up to a predetermined number of times.

20. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein attempting to select the second wireless network for communications comprises repeating the acts of causing and reattempting for the second wireless network.

21. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

maintaining an indication of whether the first wireless network currently makes a voice and data connectivity available to the mobile station;

wherein the indication for the first wireless network is indicative of currently available data connectivity if the request for data connectivity is accepted;

wherein the indication for the first wireless network is indicative of currently unavailable data connectivity if the reject code comprising the critical error is received; and

wherein the indication for the first wireless network is indicative of currently unavailable data connectivity after the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted without success.

22. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer instructions are further executable for:

maintaining a list of currently unavailable data service networks for the mobile station;

wherein the list includes the first wireless network if the reject code comprising the critical error is received;

wherein the list includes the first wireless network if the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted without success; and

wherein the list fails to include the first wireless network if the request for data connectivity is accepted.

23. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a Routing Area Update (RAU) request.

24. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the reject code comprising the critical error has a value of one of 7, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

25. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the reject code comprising the critical error is indicative of data services not being allowed by the first wireless network.

26. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the act of attempting to select the second wireless network for communications is performed only if the first wireless network is not on an Operator Controlled Public Land Mobile Network (O-PLMN) list or a User Controlled PLMN (U-PLMN) list of the mobile station.

27. A mobile station, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

the one or more processors being operative to;

cause a request for data connectivity to be transmitted through a first wireless network with use of the wireless transceiver in attempt to select the first wireless network for communications;

reattempt the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network at least one time if a reject code comprising a non-critical error is received from the first wireless network via the wireless transceiver in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network;

attempt to select a second wireless network for communications after the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted the at least one time without success; and

attempt to select the second wireless network for communications without reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network if a reject code comprising a critical error is received from the first wireless network via the wireless transceiver in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network.

28. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) attach request.

29. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context request.

30. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to identify whether the reject code comprises a critical error by identifying whether the reject code corresponds to a permanent problem or fault that exists with the first wireless network or service subscription associated with an end user of the mobile station.

31. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to identify that the reject code is a critical/noncritical error by comparing the reject code with each one of a plurality of error codes stored in the memory and identifying a match between the reject code and one of the plurality of error codes.

32. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network comprises reattempting the request up to a predetermined number of times.

33. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein the reattempting is performed by the one or more processors without user intervention.

34. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

maintain an indication of whether the first wireless network currently makes a voice and data connectivity available to the mobile station;

wherein the indication for the first wireless network is indicative of currently available data connectivity if the request for data connectivity is accepted;

wherein the indication for the first wireless network is indicative of currently unavailable data connectivity if the reject code comprising the critical error is received; and

wherein the indication for the first wireless network is indicative of currently unavailable data connectivity after the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted without success.

35. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

maintain a list of currently unavailable data service networks for the mobile station;

wherein the list includes the first wireless network if the reject code comprising the critical error is received;

wherein the list includes the first wireless network if the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted without success; and

wherein the list fails to include the first wireless network if the request for data connectivity is accepted.

36. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a Routing Area Update (RAU) request.

37. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein the reject code comprising the critical error has a value of one of 7, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

38. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein the reject code comprising the critical error is indicative of data services not being allowed by the first wireless network.

39. The mobile station of claim 27, wherein the act of attempting to select the second wireless network for communications is performed only if the first wireless network is not on an Operator Controlled Public Land Mobile Network (O-PLMN) list or a User Controlled PLMN (U-PLMN) list of the mobile station.

40. A communication system, comprising:

a first wireless communication network;

a second wireless communication network;

a mobile station operative to select one of the first wireless communication network and the second wireless communication network for communications;

the mobile station including;

one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

the one or more processors being operative to;

cause a request for data connectivity to be transmitted through the first wireless network with use of the wireless transceiver in attempt to select the first wireless network for communications;

cause the first wireless network to be selected for communications based on identifying that the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is accepted;

reattempt the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network if a reject code comprising a non-critical error is received from the first wireless network via the wireless transceiver in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network;

attempt to select a second wireless network for communications after the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted the at least one time without success; and

attempt to select the second wireless network for communications without reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network if a reject code comprising a critical error is received from the first wireless network via the wireless transceiver in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network.

41. The communication system of claim 40, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) attach request.

42. The communication system of claim 40, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context request.

43. The communication system of claim 40, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to identify whether the reject code comprises a critical error by identifying whether the reject code corresponds to a permanent problem or fault that exists with the first wireless network or service subscription associated with an end user of the mobile station.

44. The communication system of claim 40, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to cause the first wireless network to be selected for communications based on identifying that the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is accepted.

45. The communication system of claim 40, wherein reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network comprises reattempting the request up to a predetermined number of times.

46. The communication system of claim 40, wherein the reattempting is performed by the one or more processors of the mobile station without user intervention.

47. The communication system of claim 40, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

maintain an indication of whether the first wireless network currently makes a voice and data connectivity available to the mobile station;

wherein the indication for the first wireless network is indicative of currently available data connectivity if the request for data connectivity is accepted;

wherein the indication for the first wireless network is indicative of currently unavailable data connectivity if the reject code comprising the critical error is received; and

wherein the indication for the first wireless network is indicative of currently unavailable data connectivity after the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted without success.

48. The communication system of claim 40, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

maintain a list of currently unavailable data service networks for the mobile station;

wherein the list includes the first wireless network if the reject code comprising the critical error is received;

wherein the list includes the first wireless network if the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted without success; and

wherein the list fails to include the first wireless network if the request for data connectivity is accepted.

49. The communication system of claim 40, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises a Routing Area Update (RAU) request.

50. The communication system of claim 40, wherein the reject code comprising the critical error has a value of one of 7, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

51. The communication system of claim 40, wherein the reject code comprising the critical error is indicative of data services not being allowed by the first wireless network.

52. The communication system of claim 40, wherein the act of attempting to select the second wireless network for communications is performed only if the first wireless network is not on an Operator Controlled Public Land Mobile Network (O-PLMN) list or a User Controlled PLMN (U-PLMN) list of the mobile station.

53. A method for use in selecting a wireless communication network for communications with a mobile station, the method comprising:

causing a request for data connectivity to be transmitted through a first wireless network in attempt to select the first wireless network for communications;

reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network at least one time if a reject code comprising a non-critical error is received in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network;

attempting to select a second wireless network for communications without reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network the at least one time if a reject code comprising a critical error is received from the first wireless network in response to the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network; and

maintaining an indication of whether the first wireless network currently makes a voice and data connectivity available to the mobile station, the indication being indicative of currently available data connectivity if the request for data connectivity is accepted and indicative of currently unavailable data connectivity if one of;

(1) the reject code comprising the critical error is received in response to the request for data connectivity, and (2) the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted the at least one time without success.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the request for data connectivity comprises one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) attach request and a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context request.

55. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

attempting to select the second wireless network for communications after the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network is reattempted the at least one time without success.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the act of reattempting the request for data connectivity through the first wireless network comprises reattempting the request up to a predetermined number of times.

57. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

identifying whether the reject code comprises a critical error by identifying whether the reject code corresponds to a permanent problem or fault that exists with the first wireless network or service subscription associated with an end user of the mobile station.