Preferred roaming list and system select feature
First Claim
1. A mobile communication station, comprising:
- a wireless transceiver for two-way communication via a selected one of a plurality of public wireless communication systems and for signaling with the public wireless communication systems;
a programmable controller coupled to the wireless transceiver for controlling operation thereof;
a memory coupled to the controller;
a user interface coupled to the programmable controller to enable a user of the mobile station to provide a selection input to the programmable controller; and
a program for execution by the programmable controller, execution of the program causing the mobile station to operate in at least two modes in response to the selection input by the user as follows;
in a first one of the modes, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to scan an air-interface only for a system identification matching an identifier stored in the memory and register for communication through a system broadcasting the matching system identification; and
if a user selects a second one of the modes, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to first scan the air-interface for a system identification matching an identifier stored in the memory of the mobile station and register for communication through a system broadcasting the matching system identification, and if the mobile station fails to detect a match for a stored identifier on the air interface, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to perform an alternate scan of an air-interface to find an identifier for another system not identified in the memory of the mobile station and to register for communication with said another system if an identifier for said another system is found during the alternate scan.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The System Select feature provides user selectable modes of operation in a mobile communication station, which allow certain fall-back options when a preferred system may not be available, but still steers the bulk of the system selection operations to preferred systems. In a first user selected mode, the mobile station scans for a broadcast system identifier or “SID” that matches an identifier of a preferred system stored in memory of the station. The second mode allows the user at least one option, which involves selection of a less than preferred system, but with this mode, the mobile station will still make a first attempt to register with a system having a SID matching one stored in memory of the station. A preferred implementation offers the user four system selection options. Options based on stored identifiers include an option to select only the home system, and an option to select from a preferred roaming list (PRL) if the home system is unavailable. In the other two options, if the scanning operations for the home system and systems on the PRL are ineffective, one option involves scanning a band corresponding to that used by the home system. In contrast, the other option involves scanning a band other than that used by the home system. The System Select programming, however, limits the operation in the last optional setting, for example to a set time period or until completion of one call. The preferred embodiment facilitates a substantially one-rate service, where the service provider charges the one rate for all calls through the home system, all systems on the PRL list and any system found during a scan of the home-system band.
237 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A mobile communication station, comprising:
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a wireless transceiver for two-way communication via a selected one of a plurality of public wireless communication systems and for signaling with the public wireless communication systems;
a programmable controller coupled to the wireless transceiver for controlling operation thereof;
a memory coupled to the controller;
a user interface coupled to the programmable controller to enable a user of the mobile station to provide a selection input to the programmable controller; and
a program for execution by the programmable controller, execution of the program causing the mobile station to operate in at least two modes in response to the selection input by the user as follows;
in a first one of the modes, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to scan an air-interface only for a system identification matching an identifier stored in the memory and register for communication through a system broadcasting the matching system identification; and
if a user selects a second one of the modes, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to first scan the air-interface for a system identification matching an identifier stored in the memory of the mobile station and register for communication through a system broadcasting the matching system identification, and if the mobile station fails to detect a match for a stored identifier on the air interface, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to perform an alternate scan of an air-interface to find an identifier for another system not identified in the memory of the mobile station and to register for communication with said another system if an identifier for said another system is found during the alternate scan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
the memory stores a list of system identifiers for preferred public wireless communication systems, and in the first mode, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to register for communication with any system broadcasting an identification matching any one of the system identifiers contained in the list.
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8. A mobile station as in claim 1, wherein:
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the memory stores a system identifier for a home system assigned to serve the mobile station and a list of system identifiers for preferred public wireless communication systems, wherein in the first mode;
the programmable controller causes the transceiver to conduct a first scan of the air-interface for a system identification consisting of the home system identifier and register with a system broadcasting the home system identifier if the transceiver detects the home system identifier on the air-interface, and if the mobile station does not detect a system broadcasting the home system identifier, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to conduct a second scan of the air interface and register with a predetermined system if the predetermined system broadcasts an identification matching any one of the system identifiers contained in the list.
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9. A mobile station as in claim 1, wherein if the user selects the second mode, the programmable controller operates the transceiver in the second mode until detection of a predetermined event, and upon detection of the predetermined event, the programmable controller shifts the transceiver to operation in the first mode.
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10. A mobile station as in claim 9, wherein the predetermined event comprises expiration of a specific time interval of operation in the second mode.
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11. A mobile station as in claim 9, wherein the predetermined event comprises a single call for the mobile station while operating in the second mode.
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12. A mobile station as in claim 1, wherein the alternate scan of an air-interface in the second mode comprises scanning a communication band corresponding to a communication band used by one of the systems assigned to serve as a home system for the mobile station.
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13. A mobile station as in claim 1, wherein the alternate scan of an air-interface in the second mode comprises scanning a communication band other than a communication band used by one of the systems assigned to serve as a home system for the mobile station.
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14. A mobile station as in claim 1, wherein the program for the programmable controller causes the mobile station to operate in at least three modes in response to the selection input by the user.
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15. A mobile communication station, comprising:
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a wireless transceiver for two-way communication via a selected one of a plurality of public wireless communication systems and for signaling with the public wireless communication systems;
a programmable controller coupled to the wireless transceiver for controlling operation thereof;
a memory coupled to the controller;
a user interface coupled to the programmable controller to enable a user of the mobile station to provide a selection input to the programmable controller; and
a program for execution by the programmable controller, execution of the program causing the mobile station to operate in at least three modes in response to the selection input by the user as follows;
if a user selects a first one of the modes, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to scan an air-interface only for a system identification matching an identifier stored in the memory and register for communication through a system broadcasting the matching system identification;
if a user selects a second one of the modes, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to first scan the air-interface for a system identification matching an identifier stored in the memory of the mobile station and register for communication through a system broadcasting the matching system identification, and if the mobile station fails to detect a match for a stored identifier on the air interface, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to perform an alternate scan of an air-interface to find an identifier for another system not identified in the memory of the mobile station and to register for communication with said another system if an identifier for said another system is found during the alternate scan; and
if a user selects a third one of the modes, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to first scan the air-interface for a system identification matching an identifier stored in memory of the mobile station and register for communication with a system broadcasting the matching system identification if a match is detected, and if the mobile station fails to detect a match for a stored identifier on the air interface, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to perform a second alternate scan of an air-interface different from the first alternate scan of an air interface to find an identifier for another system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
the alternate scans comprise scans of different communications bands, and one communication band comprises a band corresponding to a communication band used by one of the systems assigned to serve as a home system for the mobile station.
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17. A mobile station as in claim 15, wherein if the user selects the third mode, the mobile station operates in the third mode until detection of a predetermined event, and upon detection of the predetermined event, the mobile station shifts to the first mode.
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18. A mobile station as in claim 17, wherein the predetermined event comprises passage of a predetermined time interval following selection of the third mode by the user.
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19. A mobile station as in claim 17, wherein the predetermined event comprises a single call for the mobile station through another system selected as a result of the second alternate scan.
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20. A method of operating a mobile station to select and operate through selected ones of a plurality of public wireless communication systems, comprising:
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detecting a first user selection;
in response to the first user selection operating in a first mode to execute the following steps;
(a) scanning an air-interface to detect a system identification broadcast by a system, and (b) registering for communication with the system only if the detected identification matches an identifier stored in memory of the mobile station;
detecting a second user selection; and
in response to the second user selection operating in a second mode to execute the following steps;
(i) scanning the air-interface first for a broadcast system identification matching an identifier stored in memory of the mobile station, (ii) registering for communication with a system if a detected broadcast identification matches an identifier stored in memory of the mobile station, and (iii) if there is no match to a stored identifier detected during scanning of the air interface in the second mode, performing an alternate scan of an air-interface; and
(iv) registering for communication with another system not identified in the memory of the mobile station found during the alternate scan. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A software product, comprising:
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a machine readable medium for bearing information; and
executable code carried as the information on the machine readable medium, the executable code forming a control program for a mobile communication station operable to communicate through selected ones of a plurality of public wireless communication systems and for signaling with the public wireless communication systems, the control program causing the mobile station to perform the following steps when a processor of the mobile station executes the code;
detecting a first user selection;
in response to the first user selection operating in a first mode to execute the following steps;
(a) scanning an air-interface to detect broadcast of a system identification, and (b) locking onto an available system only if the detected broadcast identification of the available system matches an identifier stored in memory of the mobile station; and
detecting a second user selection; and
in response to the second user selection operating in a second mode to execute the following steps;
(i) scanning the air-interface first for a broadcast system identification matching an identifier stored in memory of the mobile station, (ii) locking onto an identified system if a detected identification broadcast by the identified system matches an identifier stored in memory of the mobile station, and (iii) if there is no match to a stored identifier detected during scanning of the air interface in the second mode, performing an alternate scan of an air-interface; and
(iv) locking onto another system not identified in the memory of the mobile station found during the alternate scan. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of providing a substantially one-rate wireless communication service for wireless subscribers over a wide geographic area, comprising:
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establishing a home wireless communication system for providing wireless services for mobile stations of the subscribers at the one rate;
identifying a plurality of foreign wireless communication systems as preferred systems for providing wireless services for mobile stations of the subscribers at a preferential rate, the home system and the preferred systems providing service over at least a substantial portion of the wide geographic area;
storing system identifiers for the home system and the preferred systems in the mobile stations;
programming the mobile stations to selectively operate in two system selection modes in response to user inputs, wherein in the first mode, each programmed mobile station executes the following steps;
(a) scanning an air-interface to detect a system identification, and (b) registering only with a system broadcasting a detected identification matching an identifier stored in the memory of the mobile station;
wherein in the second mode, each programmed mobile station executes the following steps;
(i) scanning the air-interface first to detect a system identification, (ii) registering with a system broadcasting a detected identification matching an identifier stored in the memory of the mobile station during the scan of the air-interface, and (iii) if there is no match to a stored identifier detected during scanning of the air interface in the second mode, performing an alternate scan of an air-interface; and
(iv) locking onto another system not identified in the memory of the mobile station identified during the alternate scan; and
billing the subscribers at only the one rate at least for all calls through the home system and all calls through any of the preferred systems. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
the alternate scan of an air-interface comprises scanning a band assigned to the home system; and
the billing step further comprises billing the subscribers at only the one rate for any calls through said another system.
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38. A method of providing a substantially one-rate wireless communication service as in claim 36, wherein:
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the alternate scan of an air-interface comprises scanning a band different from a band assigned to the home system; and
the method further comprises notifying a user of a mobile station of a limitation, upon selection of the second mode.
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39. A method of providing a substantially one-rate wireless communication service as in claim 38, wherein calls through another system may result in billing at a rate different from the one-rate.
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40. A method of providing a substantially one-rate wireless communication service as in claim 38, wherein calls through another system may require billing to credit cards of the subscribers.
Specification