METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING AN ALTERNATE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK

• US 20090104907A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: RASKY, PHILLIP D., BURKE, TIMOTHY M., OTTING, MARCIA J., D'AVELLO, ROBERT F., MATHIS, JAMES E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,270,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.300
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method for selecting an alternate wireless communication system for a wireless communication device is disclosed. The method comprises using a first radio access technology (RAT) by a wireless communication device when scanning (202) for an initial wireless communication network (201). The wireless communication device further registers (215) to the initial wireless communication network (201). Then, the initial wireless communication network (201) determines (206) alternate RAT wireless communication network information for the wireless communication device and sends (235) the alternate RAT wireless communication network information to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device receives the alternate RAT wireless communication network information and selects (240) a first alternate wireless communication network from within the alternate RAT wireless communication network information, scans for the first alternate wireless communication network using an alternate RAT and registers with the first alternate wireless communication network using the alternate RAT.

Claims

1. A method for selecting an alternate wireless communication system for a wireless communication device comprising:

using a first radio access technology (RAT) when scanning for an initial wireless communication network;

registering the wireless communication device with the initial wireless communication network using the first RAT; and

receiving an alternate RAT wireless communication network information from the initial wireless communication network using the first RAT.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting a first alternate wireless communication network from within the alternate RAT wireless communication network information;

scanning for the first alternate wireless communication network using an alternate RAT;

registering the wireless communication device with the first alternate wireless communication network using the alternate RAT.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting the first alternate wireless communication network from within the alternate RAT wireless communication network information is based on at least one priority factor listed at the wireless communication device, wherein the at least one priority factor is based at least on signal strength, RAT capabilities of the wireless communication device, or transmit power.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending at least a priority factor to the initial wireless communication network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the alternate RAT wireless communication network information comprises at least a best alternate wireless communication network based on the priority factor.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the alternate RAT wireless communication network information has no alternate wireless communication network, if there is no alternate wireless communication network better than the initial wireless communication network based on the priority factor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternate RAT wireless communication network information is based upon a present location of the wireless communication device.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

transmitting the present location of the wireless communication device to the initial wireless communication network.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the initial wireless communication network finds the present location of the wireless communication device.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requesting the alternate RAT wireless communication network information from the initial wireless communication network using the first RAT, before receiving.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein requesting is performed using short messaging service (SMS).

12. The method of claim 10, wherein requesting “

automatically”

occurs upon registering.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the alternate RAT wireless communication network information uses packet data signaling.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the alternate RAT wireless communication network information uses a short messaging service (SMS) and wherein the first RAT is Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) radio access technology.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the alternate RAT wireless communication network information uses a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) and wherein the first RAT is Universal Mobile Telecommunications System UMTS radio access technology

16. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the alternate RAT wireless communication network information uses a broadcast/multicast service (BCMCS) and wherein the first RAT is Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 1x radio access technology.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the alternate RAT wireless communication network information uses a Service Set Identifier (SSID) and wherein the first RAT is IEEE 802.11 radio access technology (WiFi).

18. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the alternate RAT wireless communication network information uses outbound signaling words (OSW) conveyed over a control channel or over a traffic channel and wherein the first RAT is Land Mobile Radio access technology (LMR).

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternate RAT wireless communication network information comprises at least a frequency band, a channel set, a channel assignment, a channel allocation, signaling codes, security codes, system identifiers, a system timing of alternate RATs relative to the first RAT, or a timing error of alternate RATs.

20. A method for transmitting alternate RAT wireless communication network information by an initial wireless communication network comprising:

determining alternate RATs and wireless communication networks for a wireless communication device based upon at least one of a present location of the wireless communication device, or a priority factor;

sending alternate RAT wireless communication network information to the wireless communication device using a first RAT.

21. A method of claim 20, wherein determining is performed in response to a request for alternate RAT wireless communication network information sent by the wireless communication device.

22. A wireless communication device comprising:

a first RAT transceiver for requesting alternate RAT wireless communication network information using a first RAT and for receiving the alternate RAT wireless communication network information using the first RAT;

a controller, coupled to the first RAT transceiver;

a memory, coupled to the controller, for storing at least a priority factor;

a first processor sub-unit, coupled to the memory and the controller, for selecting an alternate wireless communication network using the priority factor;

an alternate RAT transceiver, coupled to the controller, for scanning for the alternate wireless communication network using an alternate RAT.

23. The wireless communication device of claim 22, further comprising:

a GPS receiver, coupled to a processor, for determining a location of the wireless communication device.

24. An initial wireless communication network comprising:

a receiver using a first RAT;

a controller coupled to the receiver;

an alternate RAT selector, coupled to the controller, for selecting alternate RAT wireless communication network information to send to a wireless communication device based on at least one of a present location of the wireless communication device or a priority factor;

a first database of alternate RAT wireless communication network information, coupled to the alternate RAT selector; and

a transmitter, coupled to the controller, using the first RAT to transmit the alternate RAT wireless communication network information selected by the alternate RAT selector.

25. The initial wireless communication network of claim 24 further comprising:

a second database to store RAT capabilities of the wireless communication device,

wherein the alternate RAT selector selects the alternate RAT wireless communication network information to be compatible with the RAT capabilities of the wireless communication device.