Mobile station roaming in a multiple service provider area
AssigneeAT&T Wireless Svcs. Inc.
InventorRoderick Nelson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling roaming in a multiple service provider environment. When a mobile station determines that it can no longer obtain acceptable service from a primary service provider, the mobile station determines whether it is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area. If it is, then the mobile station is permitted to obtain service from a secondary service provider (i.e. roam). If it is determined that the mobile station is not operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area, then the mobile station is prevented from roaming for a time period which allows the mobile station to emerge from a presumed coverage hole.
Claims18
A method for operation of a mobile station in a geographic area having at least a portion of overlapping coverage from a primary service provider and a secondary service provider, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining that acceptable service is no longer available from said primar service provider;
- evaluating a message previously sent by a primary service provider base station;
- determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area based on said evaluation;
- and
- if said mobile station is not operating at the periphery of said primary service provider coverage area, preventing said mobile station from obtaining service from said secondary service provider.
A method for operation of a mobile station in a geographic area having at least a portion of overlapping coverage from a primary service provider and a secondary service provider, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining that acceptable service is not available from the primary service provider;
- evaluating a message previously sent by a primary service provider base station;
- determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area based on said evaluation;
- and
- obtaining service from said secondary service provider if said mobile station is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area.
A mobile station capable of operating by obtaining service from a primary service provider or a secondary service provider in a geographic area having at least a portion of overlapping coverage from said primary service provider and said secondary service provider, said mobile station comprising:
- a processor for executing stored program instructions for controlling the operation of the mobile station;
- a memory storing said program instructions,
- said program instructions defining the steps of:
- determining that acceptable service is not available from the primary service provider;
- evaluating a message previously sent by a primary service provider base station;
- determining whether said mobile station is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area based on said evaluation;
- and
- obtaining service from said secondary service provider only if said mobile station is operating at the periphery of the primary service provider coverage area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.