Method of acquiring an alternate communication system upon failure of reverse link communications

Abstract

A wireless communication device automatically and seamlessly switches to an alternate, available system when it is unable to complete a call origination attempt, without requiring the user to take any affirmative actions to select the alternate system. The wireless communication device stores a list of preferred communication systems. The mobile station attempts to acquire one of these preferred communication systems upon failure of the reverse link. If that is not successful, the mobile station attempts to acquire a communication system most likely to provide service. If that is also not successful, the mobile station re-attempts acquisition of the current communication system. The mobile station also re-attempts acquisition with one of the preferred communication systems after a predetermined idle time.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.