US6119003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for performing automatic mode selection in a multimode mobile terminal
Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
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Filing: 1997-09-02
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Granted: 2000-09-12
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Expires: 2017-09-02
Abstract
Abstract A wireless user terminal (10), such as a multimode cellular telephone, includes at least three master control systems, specifically a primary system controller, a secondary system controller, and a multimode controller. The multimode controller is capable of bidirectionally exchanging control messages and status messages with the primary and secondary system controllers for automatically switching the state of the terminal bidirectionally between the primary and secondary systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Marko Kukkohovi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:06
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W48/00; H04W48/18; H04W52/00; H04W52/02; H04W52/0209; H04W52/0225; H04W52/0241; H04W52/0245; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/06; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for operating a wireless user terminal of a type that is capable of communicating with a plurality of networks that do not support internetwork roaming, comprising the steps of: scanning for a first network having a highest assigned priority; registering in the first network if the first network is available for use; if the highest priority network is not found, or becomes unavailable for use, automatically scanning for a second network having a second highest assigned priority; registering in the second network if the second network is available for use; automatically scanning for the first network while registered in the second network; and registering in the first network if the first network is available for use; wherein if the terminal is granted only limited service when registering into the first network, or is switched from a full service state to a limited service state, wherein the limited service is a subset of the full service that is available to the terminal from the first network, the method includes a further step of periodically scanning for the second network while still registered in the first network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for operating a wireless user terminal of a type that is capable of communicating with a plurality of networks that do not support internetwork roaming, comprising the steps of: scanning for a first network having a highest assigned priority; registering in the first network if the first network is available for use; if the highest priority network is not found, or becomes unavailable for use, automatically scanning for a second network having a second highest assigned priority; registering in the second network if the second network is available for use; automatically scanning for the first network while registered in the second network; and registering in the first network if the first network is available for use; wherein if the terminal is granted only limited service when registering into the first network, or is switched from a full service state to a limited service state, wherein the limited service is a subset of the full service that is available to the terminal from the first network, the method includes a further step of periodically scanning for the second network while still registered in the first network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the steps of automatically scanning are initiated by a loss of service in the network in which the terminal is registered.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the steps of automatically scanning are initiated by a predicted loss of service in the network in which the terminal is registered.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the steps of automatically scanning are initiated by a simultaneous presence of a plurality of predetermined criteria.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the steps of automatically scanning are initiated by a simultaneous presence of a plurality of unrelated predetermined criteria.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the steps of automatically scanning are initiated by a simultaneous presence of a plurality of related predetermined criteria.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of automatically scanning for the first network while registered in the second network is performed periodically.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, and further including a step of placing predetermined portions of the terminal into a low power mode of operation, the predetermined portions being those portions that are not required to communicate with the network to which the terminal is registered.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
141 words
A multimode user terminal, comprising at least three master control systems, specifically a primary system controller, a secondary system controller, and a multimode controller, wherein the multimode controller is capable of bidirectionally exchanging control messages and status messages with the primary and secondary system controllers for automatically switching the state of the terminal bidirectionally between the primary and secondary systems, wherein the primary and secondary systems do not support inter-network roaming; and wherein if the terminal is granted only limited service when registering into the primary system, or is switched from a full service state to a limited service state, wherein the limited service is a subset of the full service that is available to the terminal from the first network, the method includes a further step of periodically scanning for the secondary system while still registered in the primary system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
141 words
A multimode user terminal, comprising at least three master control systems, specifically a primary system controller, a secondary system controller, and a multimode controller, wherein the multimode controller is capable of bidirectionally exchanging control messages and status messages with the primary and secondary system controllers for automatically switching the state of the terminal bidirectionally between the primary and secondary systems, wherein the primary and secondary systems do not support inter-network roaming; and wherein if the terminal is granted only limited service when registering into the primary system, or is switched from a full service state to a limited service state, wherein the limited service is a subset of the full service that is available to the terminal from the first network, the method includes a further step of periodically scanning for the secondary system while still registered in the primary system.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
173 words
A method for operating a wireless user terminal of a type that is capable of communicating with a plurality of networks that do not support inter-network roaming, comprising the steps of: scanning for a first network having a first priority; registering in the first network if the first network is available for use; if the first network is not found, or becomes unavailable for use, automatically scanning for a second network having a second priority that is less than the first priority; registering in the second network if the second network is available for use; automatically scanning for the first network while registered in the second network; and registering in the first network if the first network is available for use; wherein in response to a condition wherein the terminal is granted only limited service by not being provided all available services in the first network that are consistent with the terminal's subscription, the method includes a further step of periodically scanning for the second network while still registered in the first network.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
173 words
A method for operating a wireless user terminal of a type that is capable of communicating with a plurality of networks that do not support inter-network roaming, comprising the steps of: scanning for a first network having a first priority; registering in the first network if the first network is available for use; if the first network is not found, or becomes unavailable for use, automatically scanning for a second network having a second priority that is less than the first priority; registering in the second network if the second network is available for use; automatically scanning for the first network while registered in the second network; and registering in the first network if the first network is available for use; wherein in response to a condition wherein the terminal is granted only limited service by not being provided all available services in the first network that are consistent with the terminal's subscription, the method includes a further step of periodically scanning for the second network while still registered in the first network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein a network selection criterion considered by the terminal comprises information received from a broadcast channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein a network selection criterion considered by the terminal comprises a time of day.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein network selection criteria considered by the terminal comprise information received from a broadcast channel, in conjunction with a time of day.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein if the second network is not available for use the method includes further steps of: automatically scanning for a third network while registered in the first network; registering in the third network if the third network is available for use; automatically scanning for the first network while registered in the third network; registering in the first network if the first network is available for use; otherwise automatically scanning for the second network while registered in the third network; and registering in the second network if the second network is available for use.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-09-12 | 2004-03-13 | 2004-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-09-12 | 2008-03-13 | 2008-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-09-12 | 2012-03-13 | 2012-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |