System search to detect for a wireless communication network in a crowded frequency band

A method comprising:

• performing acquisition for a first communication system to look for service from the first communication system by scanning for one or more networks in the first communication system from which service was received previously;
• performing a search for a second communication system if service was not found for the first communication system, wherein the second communication system has a shorter search time than the first communication system;
• and
• performing a frequency scan for the first communication system, the frequency scan for the first system omitting channels on which a signal satisfying a predetermined criterion was detected during the search for the second communication system, wherein the frequency scan comprises a coarse frequency scan and a fine frequency scan.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for performing acquisition for a first communication system to look for service from the first communication system by scanning for one or more networks in the first communication system from which service was received previously;
• means for performing a search for a second communication system if service was not found for the first communication system, wherein the second communication system has a shorter search time than the first communication system;
• and
• means for performing a frequency scan for the first communication system, the frequency scan for the first communication system omitting channels on which a signal satisfying a predetermined criterion was detected during the search for the second communication system, wherein the frequency scan comprises a coarse frequency scan and a fine frequency scan.

A non-transitory processor readable media for storing instructions operable in a wireless device to:

• perform acquisition for a first communication system to look for service from the first communication system by scanning for one or more networks in the first communication system from which service was received previously;
• perform a search for a second communication system if service was not found for the first communication system, wherein the second communication system has a shorter search time than the first communication system;
• and
• perform a frequency scan for the first communication system, the frequency scan for the first communication system omitting channels on which a signal satisfying a predetermined criterion was detected during the search for the second communication system, wherein the frequency scan comprises a coarse frequency scan and a fine frequency scan.