Multi-rat mobile communication devices and methods for network selection

Abstract

A mobile communication device supporting a plurality of Radio Access Technologies (RATs) and a plurality of radio frequencies is provided. In the mobile communication device, a Baseband processor is configured to schedule the plurality of RATs and the plurality of radio frequencies in pairs in an order for a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) selection procedure, and determine one of the pairs and repeat the determined pair in the order of the pairs during the PLMN selection procedure.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 108,156, filed on Jan. 27, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention generally relates to wireless communication technologies, and more particularly, to methods for network selection by mobile communication devices supporting a plurality of Radio Access Technologies (RATs) and a plurality of radio frequencies.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]With growing demand for ubiquitous computing and networking, various Radio Access Technologies (RATs) have been developed, such as the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) technology, General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology, Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution (EDGE) technology, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) technology, High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) technology, Interim Standard 95...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a mobile communication device that can connect to multiple networks using different radio frequencies. The device uses a processor to schedule the connection of these networks in pairs, and then repeats the process in order of the pairs during the network selection procedure. The technical effect is that the device can quickly and efficiently connect to different networks and switch between them without slowing down the user's experience.

Problems solved by technology

However, due to the complexity of various network deployments, so-called multi-RAT mobile phones have been developed, which generally support two or more RATs and radio frequencies, and select one of the RATs for obtaining mobile services.

Since multi-RAT mobile phones support multiple RATs and radio frequencies, the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) selection procedure will inevitably take a long time to complete a full scan for all of the supported RATs on each supported radio frequency.

This may create an unfavorable situation where a multi-RAT mobile phone enters an area with very poor signal quality only for a short time (e.g., passing through a tunnel).

Later, even if the multi-RAT mobile phone swiftly enters an area with signal coverage of those that have been scanned in the early stage of the full scan, it will still continue the full scan with the un-scanned RATs and radio frequencies and cannot regain normal services from the available area using the scanned RAT and radio frequency.

The delay for regaining normal services is expected to get worse especially when the number of supported RATs and radio frequencies increases, and the longer the delay is, the higher the chance of a service breakup (e.g., TCP / IP-based application).

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