US6430396B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for selecting a wireless communications service provider in a multi-service provider environment
Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
•
Filing: 1999-10-25
•
Granted: 2002-08-06
•
Expires: 2019-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment using a frequency band search schedule. The frequency band search schedule has a first or home band and a several other frequency bands in a predetermined order. The order of the frequency bands may be programmed by the user or by a home service provider over the air. The communication device searches for an acceptable service provider by examining the home band and then the other bands listed in the frequency band search schedule. The bands are examined in the order specified by the frequency band 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Bamburak
- 👤 John J. Daly
- 👤 Christopher Gregory Lawrence
- 👤 Michael Edward Prise
- 👤 Michael Allen Raffel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:58
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W48/00; H04W48/16; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/24; H04B7/26; H04B7/2621; H04W48/18; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H04W88/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A wireless communication device that locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising: a memory that stores a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; and a processor that examines frequency bands in the order within the frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located, but skips frequency bands in the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found to have an acceptable service provider.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A wireless communication device that locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising: a memory that stores a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; and a processor that examines frequency bands in the order within the frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located, but skips frequency bands in the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found to have an acceptable service provider.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wireless communication device of claim 1 , wherein the processor registers with the acceptable service provider.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The wireless communication device of claim 1 , wherein the processor determines whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has an acceptable service provider before examining frequency bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The wireless communication device of claim 1 , wherein a highest priority frequency band in the frequency band search schedule is a home frequency band of the communication device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The wireless communication device of claim 1 , wherein the frequency band search schedule is in an order optimized to reduce a time necessary to locate an acceptable service provider.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
89 words
A method by which a communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, the method comprising: storing a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; and examining frequency bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located while skipping frequency bands in the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
89 words
A method by which a communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, the method comprising: storing a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; and examining frequency bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located while skipping frequency bands in the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising registering with the acceptable service provider.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising determining whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has an acceptable service provider before examining frequency bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein a highest priority frequency band in the frequency band search schedule is a home frequency band of the communication device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the frequency band search schedule is in an order optimized to reduce a time necessary to locate an acceptable service provider.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
A recording medium that stores a control program for use by a wireless communication device, the control program including instructions for: storing a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; and examining frequency bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located while skipping frequency bands in the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
90 words
A recording medium that stores a control program for use by a wireless communication device, the control program including instructions for: storing a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; and examining frequency bands in the order specified by the frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located while skipping frequency bands in the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The recording medium of claim 11 , the control program further including instructions for registering with the acceptable service provider.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The recording medium of claim 11 , the control program further including instructions for determining whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has an acceptable service provider before examining frequency bands in an order specified by the frequency band search schedule.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The recording medium of claim 11 , wherein a highest priority frequency band in the frequency band search schedule is a home frequency band of the communication device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The recording medium of claim 11 , wherein the frequency band search schedule is in an order optimized to reduce a time necessary to locate an acceptable service provider.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
90 words
A wireless communication device that locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising: a memory that stores a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; and a processor that deletes frequency bands from the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider to form a modified order and examines frequency bands in the modified order until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
90 words
A wireless communication device that locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising: a memory that stores a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; and a processor that deletes frequency bands from the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider to form a modified order and examines frequency bands in the modified order until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A wireless communication device of claim 16 , wherein the processor registers with the acceptable service provider.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The wireless communication device of claim 16 , wherein the processor determines whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has an acceptable service provider before examining frequency bands in an order specified by the modified frequency band search schedule.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The wireless communication device of claim 16 , wherein a highest priority frequency band in the modified frequency band search schedule is a home frequency band of the communication device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The wireless communication device of claim 16 , wherein the modified frequency band search schedule is in an order optimized to reduce a time necessary to locate an acceptable service provider.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
97 words
A method by which a communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, the method comprising: storing a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; deleting frequency bands from the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider to form a modified frequency band search schedule; and examining frequency bands in an order specified by the modified frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
97 words
A method by which a communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, the method comprising: storing a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; deleting frequency bands from the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider to form a modified frequency band search schedule; and examining frequency bands in an order specified by the modified frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising registering with the acceptable service provider.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising determining whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has an acceptable service provider before examining frequency bands in an order specified by the modified frequency band search schedule.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein a highest priority frequency band in the modified frequency band search schedule is a home frequency band of the communication device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the modified frequency band search schedule is in an order optimized to reduce a time necessary to locate an acceptable service provider.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
98 words
A recording medium that stores a control program for use by a wireless communication device, the control program including instructions for: storing a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; deleting frequency bands from the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider to form a modified frequency band search schedule; and examining frequency bands in an order specified by the modified frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
98 words
A recording medium that stores a control program for use by a wireless communication device, the control program including instructions for: storing a frequency band search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a prioritized order; deleting frequency bands from the frequency band search schedule that have been previously searched by the communication device and found not to have an acceptable service provider to form a modified frequency band search schedule; and examining frequency bands in an order specified by the modified frequency band search schedule until a frequency band having an acceptable service provider is located.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The recording medium of claim 26 , the control program further including instructions for registering with the acceptable service provider.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
The recording medium of claim 26 , the control program further including instructions for determining whether a last frequency band used by the communication device has an acceptable service provider before examining frequency bands in an order specified by the modified frequency band search schedule.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
The recording medium of claim 26 , wherein a highest priority frequency band in the modified frequency band search schedule is a home frequency band of the communication device.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The recording medium of claim 26 , wherein the modified frequency band search schedule is in an order optimized to reduce a time necessary to locate an acceptable service provider.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4788543A
Cited
US4903320A
Cited
US5101500A
Cited
US4916728A
Cited
US5276905A
Cited
US5020091A
Cited
US5203015A
Cited
EP0459344A1
Cited
US5159625A
Cited
EP0510322A2
Cited
GB2257334A
Cited
US5463675A
Cited
US5504803A
Cited
US5711001A
Cited
US5404355A
Cited
US5406643A
Cited
US5754952A
Cited
US5420908A
Cited
US5541977A
Cited
US5517677A
Cited
CA2115877A1
Cited
US5442806A
Cited
US5412375A
Cited
US5590397A
Cited
US5524135A
Cited
US5483684A
Cited
US5509052A
Cited
US5513247A
Cited
US5479484A
Cited
US5513242A
Cited
US5613208A
Cited
US5655218A
Cited
US5586338A
Cited
US5761618A
Cited
US5613204A
Cited
US5734980A
Cited
US5603084A
Cited
US5603084C1
Cited
US5768380A
Cited
US5790952A
Cited
US6128489A
Cited
US5832367A
Cited
US5905955A
Cited
US6282420B1
Cited
US5884181A
Cited
US5983115A
Cited
US5974328A
Cited
US5950130A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-08-05 | 2006-02-04 | 2006-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-08-05 | 2010-02-04 | 2010-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-08-05 | 2014-02-04 | 2014-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |