Black-list Network Scanning for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-mode mobile devices do not efficiently account for blacklisted networks, frequency blocks, and radio access technologies during network scanning, leading to excessive battery consumption and delayed service acquisition due to unnecessary scanning.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a black-list network information system that restricts access to barred networks and frequency blocks, allowing the device to switch to permitted radio access technologies and skip scanning barred frequencies, thereby optimizing network scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mobile device performs comprehensive network scanning across all frequency blocks and radio access technologies, then the device can ensure complete network coverage and service acquisition, but the battery consumption increases and service acquisition time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes barred frequency blocks and barred radio access technologies from the network scanning process by maintaining a black-list that identifies networks to avoid. The device determines which frequency blocks and RATs are barred based on black-list network information, then excludes these from scanning, thereby reducing battery consumption while maintaining reliable service acquisition on permitted networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining which frequency blocks and radio access technologies are barred before the network scanning process begins. The device uses black-list network information to identify barred networks in advance, so that during scanning, it can immediately skip these pre-identified blocks and technologies, avoiding unnecessary battery consumption while ensuring comprehensive scanning of permitted networks.
2Reliability
If the mobile device scans all frequency blocks including barred ones, then the device ensures thorough network search, but the service acquisition time is delayed due to unnecessary scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts barred frequency blocks from the scanning process by maintaining a black-list that identifies networks to avoid. The device determines which frequency blocks are barred based on black-list network information and excludes these from scanning, thereby reducing service acquisition time while ensuring thorough scanning of permitted networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-identifying barred frequency blocks using black-list network information before the scanning process begins. This allows the device to skip these pre-identified blocks during scanning, significantly reducing service acquisition time while maintaining comprehensive coverage of permitted networks.
3Reliability
If the mobile device attempts to access barred networks, then the device ensures complete network access attempts, but unnecessary access attempts increase processing overhead and delay service acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts barred radio access technologies from the network access process by maintaining a black-list that identifies networks to avoid. The device determines which RATs are barred based on black-list network information and excludes these from access attempts, thereby eliminating unnecessary processing overhead while ensuring complete access attempts on permitted networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining which radio access technologies are barred using black-list network information before the network access process begins. This allows the device to skip pre-identified barred RATs during scanning and access attempts, significantly improving service acquisition efficiency while maintaining reliable access to permitted networks.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus and method is provided for making use of black-list network information to make scanning more efficient in multi-mode mobile devices. When performing a scan for a network, if a network that is blacklisted is found, scanning is discontinued for any network that has the same radio access technology as the network that was found. Thus, excessive scanning that can be costly for the mobile device in terms of battery life and responsiveness to provide service, is avoided.