Portable Terminal MCC-Based Network Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable terminals supporting both GSM and WCDMA experience high power consumption and prolonged service acquisition times due to repeated searches in areas that only provide WCDMA service, as they continue to search for GSM service even when unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that detect the Mobile Country Code (MCC) to determine the region's service capabilities, allowing the terminal to selectively search for either WCDMA or both GSM and WCDMA services based on the detected MCC, reducing unnecessary power consumption and service acquisition time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the portable terminal repeatedly searches for both GSM and WCDMA services in auto selection mode, then the terminal can acquire service in regions supporting either system, but power consumption increases and service acquisition time is prolonged in regions that only provide WCDMA service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the Mobile Country Code (MCC) before initiating network searches. The terminal determines the country's service capabilities in advance and stores this information, then uses it to guide subsequent network searches. This preliminary detection allows the terminal to avoid unnecessary GSM searches in WCDMA-only countries, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining service acquisition capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the portable terminal repeatedly searches for both GSM and WCDMA services in auto selection mode, then the terminal can acquire service in regions supporting either system, but service acquisition time is drastically delayed in regions that only provide WCDMA service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the Mobile Country Code (MCC) before initiating network searches. The terminal determines the country's service capabilities in advance and stores this information, then uses it to guide subsequent network searches. This preliminary detection allows the terminal to avoid unnecessary GSM searches in WCDMA-only countries, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining service acquisition capability.
3Reliability
If the portable terminal continues searching for GSM mode in No service or Limited service regions, then the terminal may eventually acquire service when moving into a service area, but power consumption is considerably increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring the MCC and comparing it against stored information about countries with only WCDMA service. When the terminal detects it is in a WCDMA-only country, it receives feedback to switch to searching only for WCDMA networks. This feedback mechanism maintains service acquisition reliability in WCDMA-only regions while eliminating the harmful effect of continuous GSM searches that would otherwise drain power.
4Speed
If the portable terminal searches for both GSM and WCDMA when moving from GSM service areas to WCDMA-only areas, then the terminal can rapidly acquire service, but power consumption increases due to searching for unavailable GSM service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the Mobile Country Code (MCC) before initiating network searches. The terminal determines the country's service capabilities in advance and stores this information, then uses it to guide subsequent network searches. This preliminary detection allows the terminal to avoid unnecessary GSM searches in WCDMA-only countries, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining service acquisition capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile communication system selection is disclosed. A method for selecting a mobile communication system of a portable terminal includes driving a first timer; checking whether a Mobile Country Code (MCC) of a region where the portable terminal is located is obtained by searching for a network until the first timer expires; when the MCC is obtained before the first timer expires, storing the obtained MCC to a previous MCC list; performing a first checking operation for checking whether the obtained MCC belongs to a list of countries supporting only a first mobile communication system; and obtaining a service of the first mobile communication system by searching for only the first mobile communication system when the obtained MCC belongs to the list of the countries supporting only the first mobile communication system.