Method and system for detecting a preferred wireless network for a mobile device

A system for detecting a wireless network, comprising:

• means for receiving at a mobile device a signal having data indicative of a location of the mobile device, wherein the specified network is overlapped by coverage from a macro network;
• means for determining whether the mobile device is within a coverage area of a specified network based on the data;
• and
• means for scanning for the specified network in response to at least determining that the mobile device is within the coverage area of the specified network, wherein a decision as to whether to scan, by the mobile device, for the specified network is based on a distance between the location of the mobile device and a location of the specified network;
• means for electing whether or not to camp onto the specified network;
• means for continuing to scan until the mobile device enters the specified network or until the mobile device exits the macro network and camp on the specified network if signals are received from the specified network at a minimal signal strength, even if other signals are received from the macro network at a signal strength greater than the signals received from the specified network.

A system for detecting a wireless network, comprising:

• logic encoded in media;
• and
• the logic operable to receive at a mobile device in a macro network a signal having data indicative of a location of the mobile device, determine whether the mobile device is within a coverage area of a specified network based on the data and scan for the specified network in response to at least determining that the mobile device is within the coverage area of the specified network, wherein a decision as to whether to scan, by the mobile device, for the specified network is based on a distance between the location of the mobile device and a location of the specified network, determine if the specified network is available, continue scanning until the mobile device enters the specified network or until the mobile device exits the macro network;
• and camp on the specified network if signals are received from the specified network at a minimal signal strength, even if other signals are received from the macro network at a signal strength greater than the signals received from the specified network.

A method for detecting a preferred wireless network while camped onto an overlying macro network, comprising:

• receiving at a mobile device a base station broadcast message having a base station identifier;
• extracting a base station identifier from the base station broadcast message;
• determining whether the mobile device is within a coverage area of a preferred network by comparing the base station identifier to a listing of base station identifiers for base stations at least proximate to the preferred network stored in a network table at the mobile device, wherein the preferred network is overlapped by coverage from the macro network;
• scanning for the preferred network in response to at least the base station identifier from the base station broadcast message matching one of the base station identifiers in the network table;
• camping onto the preferred network if available, wherein a decision as to whether to scan, by the mobile device, for the preferred network is based on a distance between the location of the mobile device and a location of the preferred network;
• determining if the preferred network is available;
• continuing to scan until the mobile device enters the preferred network or until the mobile device exits the macro network;
• and
• camping on the preferred network if signals are received from the preferred network at a minimal signal strength, even if other signals are received from the macro network at a signal strength greater than the signals received from the preferred network.