Method and apparatus for system selection

• US 7,139,587 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2003
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Casca, Fred A.
• Application Number:
  US10/444,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20040235475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.3, 455/435.2, 455/440, 455/433
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• 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

In a wireless communication device which is transportable between plural geographic region, wherein each geographic region has preferred and non-preferred communication systems for the wireless communication device, a method of selecting an appropriate communication system, including providing the wireless communication device with a non-PRL system table for storing acquisition parameters, including a communication system identification, a band class designation for a band class, a channel designation for a channel in the band class, and geographic region identification; making entries in the non-PRL system table when the wireless communication device acquire an appropriate channel in a geographic region; searching the non-PRL system table when the wireless communication device next changes geographic regions; and selecting a communication system based on the acquisition parameters in the non-PRL system table as a result of the searching.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication device which is transportable between plural geographic region, wherein each geographic region has preferred and non-preferred communication systems for the wireless communication device, a method of selecting an appropriate communication system, comprising:

providing the wireless communication device with a non-volatile memory having therein a most recently used table, a roaming list system table, and an unknown system table for storing acquisition parameters of unknown systems when an unknown system is first encountered, including a communication system identification, a band class designation for a band class, a channel designation for a channel in the band class, and geographic region identification wherein the unknown system table is distinct from the most recently used table and the roaming list system table;

making entries in the unknown system table when the wireless communication device first acquires an appropriate channel in a geographic region;

searching the unknown system table when the wireless communication device next changes geographic regions; and

selecting a communication system based on the acquisition parameters in the unknown system table as a result of said searching.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device is a CDMA device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the band classes include cellular and PCS.

4. A communication system selection apparatus for selecting an appropriate communication system for a wireless communication device which is transportable between plural geographic region, wherein each geographic region has preferred and communication systems for the wireless communication device, comprising:

a roaming list system table, a most recently used table and an unknown system table for storing acquisition parameters of an unknown system when the unknown system is first encountered, including a communication system identification, a band class designation for a band class, a channel designation for a channel in the band class, and geographic region identification wherein the unknown system table is distinct from the most recently used table and the roaming list system table;

a non-volatile memory for storing said roaming list system table, the MRU table and the unknown system table, including entries in the unknown system table which are made when the wireless communication device first acquires an appropriate channel in a geographic region;

a search mechanism for interrogating said unknown system table when the wireless communication device next changes geographic regions; and

a selection mechanism for selecting a communication system based on the acquisition parameters in said unknown system table as a result of the interrogation.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the wireless communication device is a CDMA device.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 which operates in the cellular and PCS bands.