Home network name displaying methods and apparatus for multiple home networks

• US 8,948,756 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2013
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3G Licensing S.A. (Fineur International S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Zinn, Ronald Scotte, Naqvi, Noushad, Weigele, Ingo W., Phillips, Catherine M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US13/917,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20130273910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.2, 455/566, 455/406, 455/432.1, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/435.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method for use in a mobile station involves receiving a plurality of Mobile Country Code (MCC) and Mobile Network Code (MNC) pairs corresponding to a plurality of available PLMNs available to the mobile station; selecting a PLMN from the plurality of available PLMN available to the mobile station; and if there is no match between the received MCC and MNC pair of a selected PLMN and a plurality of home network MCC and MNC pairs corresponding to a plurality of home networks in a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) list of the mobile station, the HPLMN list identifying a plurality of home networks of the mobile station, displaying a roaming indicator.

Claims

1. A method for use in a mobile station, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of Mobile Country Code (MCC) and Mobile Network Code (MNC) pairs corresponding to a plurality of available Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) available to the mobile station;

selecting a PLMN associated with one of the received MCC and MNC pairs based on a Homo Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) list and a Preferred PLMN (PPLMN) list of the mobile station, giving a preference to one or more home networks identified in the HPLMN list over one or more non-home roaming networks identified in the PPLMN list, the HPLMN list identifying a plurality of home networks of the mobile station; and

comparing the MCC and MNC pair of the selected PLMN with one or more home network MCC and pairs corresponding to one or more home networks of the HPLMN, where if there is no match between the MCC and MNC pair of the selected PLMN and the one or more home network MCC and MNC pairs corresponding to one or more home networks of the HPLMN, displaying a roaming indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising maintaining access to the HPLMN list which is stored in memory of the mobile station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the act of maintaining access to the HPLMN list comprises the further act of maintaining access to a subscriber identity module via a subscriber identity module interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of home networks in the HPLMN list are equivalent to a home PLMN of the mobile station.

5. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising maintaining access to the Preferred PLMN (PPLMN) list.

6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising comparing a received MCC and MNC pair of the selected PLMN with the plurality of home network MCC and MNC pairs corresponding to the plurality of home networks of the HPLMN list.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a Location Area Code (LAC) is used in addition to the MCC and the MNC in the acts of comparing.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the act of comparing comprises the further act of comparing as necessary until a match between the received MCC and MNC pair of the selected available wireless communication network and one of the home network MCC and MNC pairs is found, if at all.

9. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising registering with the selected PLMN.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station is adapted for communications in accordance with Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM).

11. The method of claim 1, which is performed by computer instructions which are executable by one or more processors of the mobile station, the computer instructions being stored in a computer readable medium.

12. A mobile station, comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a controller coupled to the wireless transceiver;

a memory coupled to the controller;

the controller being adapted to;

receive a plurality of Mobile Country Code (MCC) and Mobile Network Code (MNC) pairs corresponding to a plurality of available Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) available to the mobile station;

select a PLMN associated with one of the received MCC and MNC pairs based on a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) list and a Preferred PLMN (PPLMN) list of the mobile station, giving a preference to one or more home networks identified in the HPLMN list over one or more non-home roaming networks identified in the PPLMN list, the HPLMN list identifying a plurality of home networks of the mobile station; and

compare the MCC and MNC pair of the selected PLMN with one or more home network MCC and MNC pairs corresponding to one or more home networks of the HPLMN, where if there is no match between the MCC and MNC pair of the selected PLMN and the one or more home network MCC and MNC pairs corresponding to one or more home networks of the HPLMN, display a roaming indicator.

13. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the controller is further adapted to maintain access to the HPLMN list which is stored in memory of the mobile station.

14. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein the controller is further adapted to maintain access to the HPLMN list by maintaining access to a subscriber identity module via a subscriber identity module interface.

15. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the plurality of home networks in the HPLMN list are equivalent to a home PLMN of the mobile station.

16. The mobile station of claim 12, the method further comprising maintaining access to the Preferred PLMN (PPLMN) list.

17. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the controller is further adapted to compare a received MCC and MNC pair of the selected PLMN with the plurality of home network MCC and MNC pairs corresponding to the plurality of home networks of the HPLMN list.

18. The mobile station of claim 17, wherein a Location Area Code (LAC) is used by the controller in addition to the MCC and the MNC when comparing and identifying.

19. The mobile station of claim 17, wherein the controller is further adapted to compare as necessary until a match between the received MCC and MNC pair of the registered PLMN and one of the home network MCC and MNC pairs is found, if at all.

20. The mobile station of claim 12, wherein the mobile station is adapted for communications in accordance with Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM).