Systems and methods for intelligent inter-system handoff

Claim 2

A mobile device, comprising: a transceiver configured to tune to a first non-preferred carrier associated with a first network or a second preferred carrier associated with a second network; a table containing information related to the first and second networks; a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network, wherein the learning function only tracks habits with afrequency above a certain threshold, and a processor configured to: tune the transceiver to the first non-preferred carrier; register with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempt to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier only if the information in the table indicates that the mobile device may be within range of the second preferred carrier, wherein the period between attempts to tune the transceiver is influenced by the habit profile.

Claim 3

The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the table is loaded into the mobile device at the factory.

Claim 4

The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the table is loaded into the device by a network provider.

Claim 5

The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the table is loaded over the air.

Claim 6

The mobile device of claim 4 , wherein the table is updated over the air.

Claim 7

The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the table is updated by the mobile device.

Claim 8

The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the table is constructed by the mobile device.

Claim 9

The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the table is uploaded from the Internet.

Claim 10

The mobile device of claim 1 , wherein the periodic attempts to tune to the second preferred carrier are increased based on the habit profiles.

Claim 11

A mobile device, comprising: a transceiver configured to tune to a first non-preferred carrier associated with a first network or a second preferred carrier associated with a second network; a table containing information related to the first and second networks; a positioner configured to determine the position of the mobile device relative to the second network; a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network, wherein the learning function only tracks habits with afrequency above a certain threshold, and a processor configured to: tune the transceiver to the first non-preferred carrier; register with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempt to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier only if the information in the table indicates that the second network is present and the positioner determines that the mobile device is within range of the second preferred carrier, wherein the period between attempts to tune the transceiver is influenced by the habit profile.

Claim 12

A mobile device, comprising: a transceiver configured to tune to a first non-preferred carrier associated with a first network or a second preferred carrier associated with a second network; a table containing information related to the first and second networks; a positioner configured to determine the position of the mobile device relative to the second network; a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network, wherein the learning function only tracks habits with afrequency above a certain threshold, and a processor configured to: tune the transceiver to the first non-preferred carrier; register with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempt to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier only if the information in the table indicates that the second network is present and the positioner determines that the mobile device is within range of the second preferred carrier, wherein the period between attempts to tune the transceiver is influenced by the habit profile.

Claim 13

The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the positioner can use an RSSI or bit error determination when determining the position of the mobile device relative to the second network.

Claim 14

The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the positioner is a GPS receiver.

Claim 15

The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the positioner uses time of arrival, angle of arrival, or beam forming techniques.

Claim 16

The mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the table includes, in whole or in part, information related to the position of the second network.

Claim 17

A mobile device, comprising: a transceiver configured to tune to a first non-preferred carrier associated with a first network or a second preferred carrier associated with a second network; a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network; and a processor configured to: tune the transceiver to the first non-preferred carrier; register with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempt to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier based on the habit profile; wherein the learning function only tracks habits with a frequency above a certain threshold.

Claim 18

A mobile device, comprising: a transceiver configured to tune to a first non-preferred carrier associated with a first network or a second preferred carrier associated with a second network; a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network; and a processor configured to: tune the transceiver to the first non-preferred carrier; register with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempt to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier based on the habit profile; wherein the learning function only tracks habits with a frequency above a certain threshold.

Claim 19

The mobile device of claim 15 , where in the period between attempts to tune the transceiver is influenced by the habit profile.

Claim 20

The mobile device of claim 16 , wherein the periodic attempts to tune to the second preferred carrier are increased based on the habit profile.

Claim 21

A mobile device, comprising: a transceiver configured to tune to a first non-preferred carrier associated with a first network or a second preferred carrier associated with a second network; a scheduler configured to store the information about certain events; and a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network, wherein the learning function only tracks habits with a frequency above a certain threshold, and a processor configured to: tune the transceiver to the first non-preferred carrier; register with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempt to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier based on the information stored in the scheduler, wherein the period between attempts to tune the transceiver is influenced by the habit profile.

Claim 22

A mobile device, comprising: a transceiver configured to tune to a first non-preferred carrier associated with a first network or a second preferred carrier associated with a second network; a scheduler configured to store the information about certain events; and a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network, wherein the learning function only tracks habits with a frequency above a certain threshold, and a processor configured to: tune the transceiver to the first non-preferred carrier; register with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempt to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier based on the information stored in the scheduler, wherein the period between attempts to tune the transceiver is influenced by the habit profile.

Claim 23

A wireless communication network, comprising: a table containing information related to a preferred wireless communication network; and a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device comprising: a transceiver configured to tune to a first non-preferred carrier associated with the wireless communication network or a second preferred carrier associated with the preferred wireless communication network; a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network, wherein the learning function only tracks habits with a frequency above a certain threshold, and a processor configured to: tune the transceiver to the first non-preferred carrier; register with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempt to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier only if the information in the table indicates that the mobile device may be within range of the second preferred carrier, wherein the period between attempts to tune the transceiver is influenced by the habit profile.

Claim 24

A wireless communication network, comprising: a table containing information related to a preferred wireless communication network; and a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device comprising: a transceiver configured to tune to a first non-preferred carrier associated with the wireless communication network or a second preferred carrier associated with the preferred wireless communication network; a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network, wherein the learning function only tracks habits with a frequency above a certain threshold, and a processor configured to: tune the transceiver to the first non-preferred carrier; register with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempt to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier only if the information in the table indicates that the mobile device may be within range of the second preferred carrier, wherein the period between attempts to tune the transceiver is influenced by the habit profile.

Claim 25

The wireless communication network of claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of mobile devices further comprises a positioner, and wherein the processor periodically attempts to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier only if the information in the table indicates that the second network is present and the positioner determines that the mobile device is within range of the second preferred carrier.

Claim 26

The wireless communication network of claim 19 , wherein the habit profile relates certain periods of time to the availability of the preferred wireless communication network, and wherein the processor periodically attempts to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier based on the habit profile.

Claim 27

The wireless communication network of claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of devices further comprises a scheduler configured to store information related to certain events, and wherein the processor periodically attempts to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier based on the information stored in the scheduler.

Claim 28

A mobile device, comprising: a transceiving means for tuning to a first non-preferred carrier associated with a first network or a second preferred carrier associated with a second network; a storage means for storing a table containing information related to the first and second networks; a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network, wherein the learning function only tracks habits with a frequency above a certain threshold, and a processing means for: tuning the transceiving means to the first non-preferred carrier; registering with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempting to tune the transceiving means to the second preferred carrier only if the information in the table indicates that the mobile device may be within range of the second preferred carrier, wherein the period between attempts to tune the transceiver is influenced by the habit profile.

Claim 29

A mobile device, comprising: a transceiving means for tuning to a first non-preferred carrier associated with a first network or a second preferred carrier associated with a second network; a storage means for storing a table containing information related to the first and second networks; a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network, wherein the learning function only tracks habits with a frequency above a certain threshold, and a processing means for: tuning the transceiving means to the first non-preferred carrier; registering with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempting to tune the transceiving means to the second preferred carrier only if the information in the table indicates that the mobile device may be within range of the second preferred carrier, wherein the period between attempts to tune the transceiver is influenced by the habit profile.

Claim 30

The mobile device of claim 23 , further comprising a positioning means for determining the position of the mobile device relative to the second network, and wherein the processing means periodically attempts to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier based on the position determined by the positioning means.

Claim 31

The mobile device of claim 23 , wherein the periodic attempts to tune to the second preferred carrier are increased based on the habit profile.

Claim 32

A wireless communication network, comprising: a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device comprising: a transceiver configured to tune to a first non-preferred carrier associated with the wireless communication network or a second preferred carrier associated with the preferred wireless communication network; a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network, wherein the learning function only tracks habits with a frequency above a certain threshold, and a processor configured to: tune the transceiver to the first non-preferred carrier; register with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempt to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier whenever the wireless communication network sends a command to the mobile device instructing the mobile device to scan for the preferred wireless communication network, wherein the period between attempts to tune the transceiver is influenced by the habit profile.

Claim 33

A wireless communication network, comprising: a plurality of mobile devices, each mobile device comprising: a transceiver configured to tune to a first non-preferred carrier associated with the wireless communication network or a second preferred carrier associated with the preferred wireless communication network; a learning function configured to construct a habit profile that relates certain periods of time to the availability of the second network, wherein the learning function only tracks habits with a frequency above a certain threshold, and a processor configured to: tune the transceiver to the first non-preferred carrier; register with the first network over the first carrier; and periodically attempt to tune the transceiver to the second preferred carrier whenever the wireless communication network sends a command to the mobile device instructing the mobile device to scan for the preferred wireless communication network, wherein the period between attempts to tune the transceiver is influenced by the habit profile.