Scheduling acquisition attempts of service providing systems

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer of a subscriber station (100) to attempt to acquire one of a plurality of systems, the control logic comprising:

• first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to use a system acquisition schedule when a triggering event is detected;
• second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to select the system acquisition schedule from a plurality of system acquisition schedules based on the triggering event, wherein the system acquisition schedule defines when to attempt to acquire a desired system;
• third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to attempt to acquire the desired system in accordance with the system acquisition schedule;
• and
• fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to perform other functions when the system acquisition schedule does not indicate an attempt should be made to acquire the desired system.

An apparatus for use in a subscriber station (100) attempting to acquire one of a plurality of systems, the subscriber station (100) capable of wireless communications, the improvement comprising:

• detecting means for detecting an event that triggers use of a system acquisition schedule, wherein the system acquisition schedule defines when to attempt to acquire a desired system, the desired system being defined by a mode/frequency combination;
• selecting means for selecting the system acquisition schedule from a plurality of system acquisition schedules based on the triggering event, wherein the system acquisition schedule defines when to attempt to acquire a desired system;
• and
• acquisition means for attempting to acquire the desired system in accordance with the system acquisition schedule, wherein the subscriber station (100) performs other function when the acquisition schedule does not indicate an attempt should be made to acquire the desired system.

For use with a subscriber station (100), a method for attempting to acquire one of a plurality of systems, comprising the steps of:

• (a) detecting an event that triggers use of a system acquisition schedule, wherein the system acquisition schedule defines specific times at which the subscriber station (100) should attempt to acquire a desired system;
• (b) attempting to acquire the desired system at the specific times defined by the system acquisition schedule;
• and
• (c) attempting to acquire one or more other systems at times other than the specific times defined by the system acquisition schedule.

For use with a subscriber station (100), a method for attempting to acquire one of a plurality of systems, comprising the steps of:

• (a) detecting an event that triggers use of a system acquisition schedule, wherein the system acquisition schedule defines specific sequence steps at which the subscriber station (100) should attempt to acquire a desired system;
• (b) attempting to acquire the desired system at the specific sequence steps defined by the system acquisition schedule;
• and
• (c) attempting to acquire the one or more other systems at sequence steps other than the specific sequence steps defined by the system acquisition schedule.