EP0779751A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Powered down selection of a preferable wireless communications service provider in a multi-service provider environment
Assignee: AT&T Wireless Services Inc
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Filing: 1996-12-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A powered down communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment by examining frequency bands while powered down until a frequency band having a acceptable service provider is located. The frequency bands are examined in an order specified by a stored search schedule. An acceptable service provider is identified by comparing the identity of a service provider specified by an identifier received from a band being examined with a list of acceptable service providers. The communication device then registers with the acceptable service provider when powered up.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Bamburak
- 👤 John J. Daly
- 👤 Christopher Gregory Lawrence
- 👤 Michael Edward Prise
- 👤 Michael Allen Raffel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:49
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W48/00; H04W48/18; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A method by which a powered down communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising the steps of: examining frequency bands while powered down until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located; and registering with the acceptable service provider when powered up.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, ether comprising the step of identifying an acceptable service provider by comparing the identity of a service provider specified by an identifier received from a band being examined with a list of acceptable service providers.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
86 words
A method by which a powered down communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising the steps of: storing a frequency band search schedule, the frequency band search schedule having a plurality of bands in a predetermined order; examining frequency bands while powered down until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located by examining the plurality of bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule; and registering with the acceptable service provider when powered up.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of identifying an acceptable service provider by comparing the identity of a service provider specified by an identifier received from a band being examined with a list of acceptable service providers.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
125 words
A method by which a powered down communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising the steps of: storing a frequency band search schedule, the frequency band search schedule having a first band and a plurality of bands in a predetermined order; examining frequency bands while powered down until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located by examining the first band and then the plurality of bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule; identifying an acceptable service provider by comparing the identity of a service provider specified by an identifier received from a band being examined with a list of acceptable service providers; and registering with the acceptable service provider when powered up.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the first band is a last frequency band that the communication device used for service registration when the communication device was powered down.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the first band is a frequency band that the communication device used for service registration when the communication device was last powered up.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of modifying the frequency band search schedule using information transmitted over a wireless interface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of modifying the frequency band search schedule using information from a keypad.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
115 words
A method by which a powered down communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising the steps of: tuning to a first frequency band while powered down; receiving a received geographic identifier from a service provider in the first frequency band; comparing the received geographic identifier to a listing of stored geographic identifiers in order to locate a matching stored geographic identifier, each of the stored geographic identifiers being associated with a desirable frequency band having a desirable service provider; tuning to a first desirable frequency band, the first desirable frequency band being associated with the matching stored geographic identifier; and registering with the desirable service provider when powered up.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the step of receiving the received geographic identifier comprises receiving a system identifier code from a wireless service provider.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
157 words
A method by which a powered down communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising the steps of: tuning to a first frequency band while powered down; receiving a received geographic identifier from a service provider in the first frequency band; comparing the received geographic identifier to a listing of stored geographic identifiers in order to attempt to locate a matching stored geographic identifier, each of the stored geographic identifiers being associated with a desirable frequency band having a desirable service provider; examining frequency bands while powered down until a second frequency band having the desirable service provider is located, the examination being carried out if the step of comparing the received geographic identifier does not produce the matching stored geographic identifier; updating the listing of stored geographic identifiers so that the second frequency band is associated with the received geographic identifier; and registering with the acceptable service provider when powered up.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the step of receiving the received geographic identifier comprises receiving a system identifier code from a wireless service provider.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of modifying the listing of stored geographic identifiers using information transmitted over a wireless interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of modifying the listing of stored geographic identifiers using information from a keypad.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the step of examining frequency bands comprises examining a plurality of frequency bands in a order specified by a frequency band search schedule.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of modifying the frequency band search schedule using information transmitted over a wireless interface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of modifying the frequency band search schedule using information from a keypad.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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