Wireless Communication Device Capable of Scanning for Available Base Stations Using Reduced Bandwidth

Abstract

A wireless communication device is disclosed that includes multiple antennas capable of being used for carrier aggregation, and that uses its additional antennas to scan for available base stations without interfering with connectivity to a current base station and/or while maximizing useable bandwidth. The wireless communication device may scan using multiple of the antennas to maximize scanning results and reduce scan time, and may scan for available base stations using some of its antennas while maintaining its connection to the current base station with its other antennas. The device can also analyze control channel portions of received signals to utilize periods of signal inactivity to scan for available base stations, such as DRX or SPS modes of operation. In addition, the device can measure various parameters to optimize its scanning capabilities.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.