Selective communication mode transitioning techniques for mobile devices

An apparatus for use in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

• means for identifying an initial attribute of a signaling environment experienced by said mobile device located within or proximate to a coverage area of a first access device, said initial attribute being based, at least in part, on a wireless signal transmitted by a second access device and acquired by said mobile device;
• means for subsequently determining whether said mobile station is likely within or proximate to said coverage area based, at least in part, on said initial attribute and a current attribute of said signaling environment experienced by said mobile device, said current attribute being based, at least in part, on a subsequent wireless signal transmitted by said second access device and acquired by said mobile device;
• and
• means for initiating an attempt to establish a wireless connection with said first access device, in response to a determination that said mobile station is likely within or proximate to said coverage area.

A mobile device comprising:

• memory;
• a wireless communication interface;
• a processing unit to:
• identify an initial attribute of a signaling environment experienced by said mobile device located within or proximate to a coverage area of a first access device via said wireless communication interface, said initial attribute being based, at least in part, on a wireless signal transmitted by a second access device and acquired by said mobile device via said wireless communication interface;
• store data and said memory representing at least said initial attribute;
• subsequently determine whether said mobile station is likely within or proximate to said coverage area based, at least in part, on said stored data representing said initial attribute and further identified data representing a current attribute of said signaling environment experienced by said mobile device via said wireless communication interface, said current attribute being based, at least in part, on a subsequent wireless signal transmitted by said second access device and acquired by said mobile device via said wireless communication interface;
• and
• in response to a determination that said mobile station is likely within or proximate to said coverage area, initiate an attempt to establish a wireless connection with said first access device, via said wireless communication interface.

An article comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein computer implementable instructions executable by a processing unit of a mobile device to:
• identify an initial attribute of a signaling environment experienced by said mobile device located within or proximate to a coverage area of a first access device, said initial attribute being based, at least in part, on a wireless signal transmitted by a second access device and acquired by said mobile device;
• subsequently determine whether said mobile station is likely within or proximate to said coverage area based, at least in part, on said initial attribute and a current attribute of said signaling environment experienced by said mobile device, said current attribute being based, at least in part, on a subsequent wireless signal transmitted by said second access device and acquired by said mobile device;
• and
• initiate an attempt to establish a wireless connection with said first access device, in response to a determination that said mobile station is likely within or proximate to said coverage area.