# US 2010/0167731 A1 · Methods and apparatus for signal scanning and acquisition for multiple-air-interface devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0167731 A1 - Document ID: US20100167731A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/648,177 - Filed: 2009-12-28 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-30 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Samuel Jacob Horodezky; James Lionel Panian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100167731A1 ## CPC - H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information - H04W 8/205: {Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier} - H04W 48/18: Selecting a network or a communication service - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Methods and apparatus for signal scanning and acquisition for multiple-air-interface devices are discussed. In particular, scanning of a location for signals from one or more local service providers is carried out, wherein scanning is operable to detect signals based on at least a first air interface and a second air interface, such as CDMA and UMTS, respectively. A list of local service providers detected from the scanning is assembled to allow a user to select a connection to at a local service provider from the list. Thus, a user is afforded the ability to see all service provider signals in the location, for all bands and air-interfaces supported by the modem on a user's multiple-air-interface device. The user may therefore acquire connection more easily without having any prior knowledge about the area or its service providers, and regardless of the type of air interface originating the local signals. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of signal scanning for connection to a local service provider, the method comprising: scanning a location for signals from one or more local service providers, wherein scanning is operable to detect signals based on at least a first air interface and signals based on a second air interface; and assembling a list of local service providers detected from the scanning to allow a selection of a connection to at least one of the local service providers from the list. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein scanning includes first determining an order of scanning among the first and second air interfaces and among local service providers using each air interface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as defined in claim 2, wherein determining the order of scanning includes precluding search of particular service providers and air interfaces based on predefined filtering conditions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein scanning includes first determining the location based on at least one of a user location input, an IP address to location mapping, a WLAN location, and a GPS input. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second air interfaces include one or more local service providers operating according to that particular air interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first air interface is UMTS and the second air interface is CDMA. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising: initiating connection with a selected local service provider selected from the list of local service providers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method as defined in claim 7, wherein when the selected local service provider is a provider using CDMA air interface, initiating connection further comprises: accessing provisioning firmware particular to the selected local service provider from a database that is operable for connection to the particular selected local service provider. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first air interface is UMTS and the scanning for local service providers operating with UMTS includes performing one of a standard GSM manual search of one or more local UMTS service providers according to the GSM standard. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first air interface is CDMA and the scanning for local service providers operating with CDMA includes accessing a database storing information for each respective local CDMA service provider, wherein the information is operable to allow a user device to at least detect signals from a respective CDMA service provider. ### Claim 11 An apparatus for signal scanning for connection to a local service provider, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor configured to: scan a location for signals from one or more local service providers, wherein scanning is operable to detect signals based on at least a first air interface and signals based on a second air interface; and assemble a list of local service providers detected from the scanning to allow a selection of a connection to at least one of the local service providers from the list; and a memory coupled to the at least one processor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to scan by first determining an order of scanning among the first and second air interfaces and among local service providers using each air interface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the order of scanning by precluding search of particular service providers and air interfaces based on predefined filtering conditions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the location based on at least one of a user location input, an IP address to location mapping, a WLAN location, and a GPS input. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein each of the first and second air interfaces include one or more local service providers operating according to that particular air interface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the first air interface is UMTS and the second air interface is CDMA. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to initiate connection with a selected local service provider selected from the list of local service providers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein when the selected local service provider is a provider using CDMA air interface, initiating connection further comprises: accessing provisioning firmware particular to the selected local service provider from a database that is operable for connection to the particular selected local service provider. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the first air interface is UMTS and the scanning for local service providers operating with UMTS includes performing one of a standard GSM manual search of one or more local UMTS service providers according to the GSM standard. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the first air interface is CDMA and the scanning for local service providers operating with CDMA includes accessing a database storing information for each respective local CDMA service provider, wherein the information is operable to allow a user device to at least detect signals from a respective CDMA service provider. ### Claim 21 An apparatus for signal scanning for connection to a local service provider, the apparatus comprising: means for scanning a location for signals from one or more local service providers, wherein scanning is operable to detect signals based on at least a first air interface and signals based on a second air interface; and means for assembling a list of local service providers detected from the scanning to allow a selection of a connection to at least one of the local service providers from the list. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the means for scanning includes means for determining an order of scanning among the first and second air interfaces and among local service providers using each air interface. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein the means for determining an order is further configured to determine the order of scanning by precluding search of particular service providers and air interfaces based on predefined filtering conditions. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the means for scanning is further configured to first determine the location based on at least one of a user location input, an IP address to location mapping, a WLAN location, and a GPS input. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein each of the first and second air interfaces include one or more local service providers operating according to that particular air interface. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the first air interface is UMTS and the second air interface is CDMA. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The apparatus as defined in claim 21, further comprising: means for initiating connection with a selected local service provider selected from the list of local service providers. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus as defined in claim 27, wherein when the selected local service provider is a provider using CDMA air interface, initiating connection further comprises: accessing provisioning firmware particular to the selected local service provider from a database that is operable for connection to the particular selected local service provider. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the first air interface is UMTS and the scanning for local service providers operating with UMTS includes performing one of a standard GSM manual search of one or more local UMTS service providers according to the GSM standard. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein the first air interface is CDMA and the scanning for local service providers operating with CDMA includes accessing a database storing information for each respective local CDMA service provider, wherein the information is operable to allow a user device to at least detect signals from a respective CDMA service provider. ### Claim 31 A computer program product, comprising: computer-readable medium comprising: code for causing a computer to scan a location for signals from one or more local service providers for connection of a user device to a local service provider, wherein scanning is operable to detect signals based on at least a first air interface and signals based on a second air interface; and code for causing a computer to assemble a list of local service providers detected from the scanning to allow a selection of a connection to at least one of the local service providers from the list. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The computer program product as defined in claim 31, wherein code for causing a computer to scan includes code for causing a computer to first determine an order of scanning among the first and second air interfaces and among local service providers using each air interface. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The computer program product as defined in claim 32, wherein code for causing a computer to determine the order of scanning includes code for causing a computer to preclude search of particular service providers and air interfaces based on predefined filtering conditions. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The computer program product as defined in claim 31, wherein code for causing a computer to determine the order of scanning includes code for causing a computer to first determine the location based on at least one of a user location input, an IP address to location mapping, a WLAN location, and a GPS input. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The computer program product as defined in claim 31, wherein each of the first and second air interfaces include one or more local service providers operating according to that particular air interface. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31) The computer program product as defined in claim 31, wherein the first air interface is UMTS and the second air interface is CDMA. ### Claim 37 (depends on 31) The computer program product as defined in claim 31, the computer-readable medium further comprising: code for causing a computer to initiate connection with a selected local service provider selected from the list of local service providers. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The computer program product as defined in claim 37, wherein when the selected local service provider is a provider using CDMA air interface, initiating connection further comprises: accessing provisioning firmware particular to the selected local service provider from a database that is operable for connection to the particular selected local service provider. ### Claim 39 (depends on 31) The computer program product as defined in claim 31, wherein the first air interface is UMTS and the scanning for local service providers operating with UMTS includes performing one of a standard GSM manual search of one or more local UMTS service providers according to the GSM standard. ### Claim 40 (depends on 31) The computer program product as defined in claim 31, wherein the first air interface is CDMA and the scanning for local service providers operating with CDMA includes accessing a database storing information for each respective local CDMA service provider, wherein the information is operable to allow a user device to at least detect signals from a respective CDMA service provider.