Centralized mobile access point acquisition

An apparatus that facilitates remote access to a mobile network, comprising:

• a communication processor that obtains information specific to a user terminal (UT) from an over the air (OTA) message originating from the UT via a data link with a base station (BS) serving the UT or an OTA link with the UT, a network database or an operator's home location register;
• a data parser that employs the UT-specific information to determine access capabilities of the UT that are indicative of (i) a first set of access point types to which the UT is configured to communicate, or (ii) both the first set of access point types and a second set of access point types to which the UT is not configured to communicate;
• an SDL module that generates a custom system determination list (SDL) that establishes a given access point type from the first set of access point types as a preferred type of access point for access point selection based upon the access capabilities of the UT,
• wherein the custom SDL establishes multiple priority hierarchies that establish different access point priorities when the UT is within and outside a home geographic area (GEO), the multiple priority hierarchies including:
• if the first set of access point types includes Femto and macro, Femto is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is operating in the home GEO, and macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is not operating in the home GEO, or
• if the first set of access point types includes macro and the second set of access point types includes Femto, macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL irrespective of whether the UT is operating in the home GEO;
• and
• a transmitter that transmits the custom SDL from the mobile network to the UT.

An apparatus configured to facilitate remote access to a mobile network, comprising:

• means for obtaining information specific to a user terminal (UT) from a direct or indirect over the air (OTA) message originating from the UT, a network database or an operator's home location register;
• means for employing the UT-specific information to determine access capabilities of the UT that are indicative of (i) a first set of access point types to which the UT is configured to communicate, or (ii) both the first set of access point types and a second set of access point types to which the UT is not configured to communicate;
• means for generating a custom system determination list (SDL) that establishes a given access point type from the first set of access point types as a preferred type of access point for access point selection based upon the access capabilities of the UT,
• wherein the custom SDL establishes multiple priority hierarchies that establish different access point priorities when the UT is within and outside a home geographic area (GEO), the multiple priority hierarchies including:
• if the first set of access point types includes Femto and macro, Femto is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is operating in the home GEO, and macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is not operating in the home GEO, or
• if the first set of access point types includes macro and the second set of access point types includes Femto, macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL irrespective of whether the UT is operating in the home GEO;
• and
• means for transmitting the custom SDL from the mobile network to the UT.

An apparatus configured to facilitate remote access to a mobile network, comprising:

• a processor coupled to memory and configured to execute:
• a first module configured to obtain information specific to a user terminal (UT) from a direct or indirect over the air (OTA) message originating from the UT, a network database or an operator's home location register;
• a second module configured to employ the UT-specific information to determine access capabilities of the UT that are indicative of (i) a first set of access point types to which the UT is configured to communicate, or (ii) both the first set of access point types and a second set of access point types to which the UT is not configured to communicate;
• a third module configured to generate a custom system determination list (SDL) that establishes a given access point type from the first set of access point types as a preferred type of access point for access point selection based upon the access capabilities of the UT,
• wherein the custom SDL establishes multiple priority hierarchies that establish different access point priorities when the UT is within and outside a home geographic area (GEO), the multiple priority hierarchies including:
• if the first set of access point types includes Femto and macro, Femto is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is operating in the home GEO, and macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is not operating in the home GEO, or
• if the first set of access point types includes macro and the second set of access point types includes Femto, macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL irrespective of whether the UT is operating in the home GEO;
• and
• a fourth module configured to transmit the custom SDL from the mobile network to the UT.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising

• a first set of codes for causing a computer to obtain information specific to a user terminal (UT) from a direct or indirect over the air (OTA) message originating from the UT, a network database or an operator's home location register;
• a second set of codes for causing the computer to employ the UT-specific information to determine access capabilities of the UT that are indicative of (i) a first set of access point types to which the UT is configured to communicate, or (ii) both the first set of access point types and a second set of access point types to which the UT is not configured to communicate;
• a third set of codes for causing the computer to generate a custom system determination list (SDL) that establishes a given access point type from the first set of access point types as a preferred type of access point for access point selection based upon the access capabilities of the UT,
• wherein the custom SDL establishes multiple priority hierarchies that establish different access point priorities when the UT is within and outside a home geographic area (GEO), the multiple priority hierarchies including:
• if the first set of access point types includes Femto and macro, Femto is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is operating in the home GEO, and macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is not operating in the home GEO, or
• if the first set of access point types includes macro and the second set of access point types includes Femto, macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL irrespective of whether the UT is operating in the home GEO;
• and
• a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to transmit the custom SDL from a mobile network to the UT.

A method of operating a user terminal (UT) for selecting an access point to a mobile network, comprising:

• submitting a network registration request that comprises a UT identifier (ID) to a cell of the mobile network;
• obtaining a custom system determination list (SDL) configured to the UT ID, the custom SDL establishing a preferred type of access point based on access capabilities of the UT that are indicative of (i) a first set of access point types to which the UT is configured to communicate, or (ii) both the first set of access point types and a second set of access point types to which the UT is not configured to communicate;
• and
• employing the custom SDL to search neighboring cells or channels if the cell does not correspond to the preferred type of access point,
• wherein the preferred type of access point is from the first set of access point types, and
• wherein the custom SDL establishes multiple priority hierarchies that establish different access point priorities when the UT is within and outside a home geographic area (GEO), the multiple priority hierarchies including:
• if the first set of access point types includes Femto and macro, Femto is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is operating in the home GEO, and macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is not operating in the home GEO, or
• if the first set of access point types includes macro and the second set of access point types includes Femto, macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL irrespective of whether the UT is operating in the home GEO.

A user terminal (UT) configured for selecting an access point to a mobile network, comprising:

• a communication processor that submits a network registration request that comprises a UT identifier (ID) to a cell of the mobile network;
• a receiver that obtains a custom system determination list (SDL) configured to the UT ID, the custom SDL establishing a preferred type of access point based on access capabilities of the UT that are indicative of (i) a first set of access point types to which the UT is configured to communicate, or (ii) both the first set of access point types and a second set of access point types to which the UT is not configured to communicate;
• and
• a base station re-selection module that employs the custom SDL to search neighboring cells if the cell does not correspond to the preferred type of access point,
• wherein the preferred type of access point is from the first set of access point types, and
• wherein the custom SDL establishes multiple priority hierarchies that establish different access point priorities when the UT is within and outside a home geographic area (GEO), the multiple priority hierarchies including:
• if the first set of access point types includes Femto and macro, Femto is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is operating in the home GEO, and macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is not operating in the home GEO, or
• if the first set of access point types includes macro and the second set of access point types includes Femto, macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL irrespective of whether the UT is operating in the home GEO.

An apparatus configured for selecting an access point to a mobile network, comprising:

• means for submitting a network registration request that comprises a user terminal (UT) identifier (ID) to a cell of the mobile network;
• means for obtaining a custom system determination list (SDL) configured to the UT ID, the custom SDL establishing a preferred type of access point based on access capabilities of the UT that are indicative of (i) a first set of access point types to which the UT is configured to communicate, or (ii) both the first set of access point types and a second set of access point types to which the UT is not configured to communicate;
• and
• means for employing the custom SDL to search neighboring cells or channels if the cell does not correspond to the preferred type of access point,
• wherein the preferred type of access point is from the first set of access point types, and
• wherein the custom SDL establishes multiple priority hierarchies that establish different access point priorities when the UT is within and outside a home geographic area (GEO), the multiple priority hierarchies including:
• if the first set of access point types includes Femto and macro, Femto is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is operating in the home GEO, and macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is not operating in the home GEO, or
• if the first set of access point types includes macro and the second set of access point types includes Femto, macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL irrespective of whether the UT is operating in the home GEO.

An apparatus configured to select among access points of a mobile network, comprising:

• a processor coupled to memory and configured to execute:
• a first module that submits a network registration request that comprises a user terminal (UT) identifier (ID) to a cell of the mobile network;
• a second module that obtains a custom system determination list (SDL) configured to the UT ID, the custom SDL establishing a preferred type of access point based on access capabilities of the UT that are indicative of (i) a first set of access point types to which the UT is configured to communicate, or (ii) both the first set of access point types and a second set of access point types to which the UT is not configured to communicate;
• and
• a third module that employs the custom SDL to search neighboring cells or channels if the cell does not correspond to the preferred type of access point,
• wherein the preferred type of access point is from the first set of access point types, and
• wherein the custom SDL establishes multiple priority hierarchies that establish different access point priorities when the UT is within and outside a home geographic area (GEO), the multiple priority hierarchies including:
• if the first set of access point types includes Femto and macro, Femto is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is operating in the home GEO, and macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is not operating in the home GEO, or
• if the first set of access point types includes macro and the second set of access point types includes Femto, macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL irrespective of whether the UT is operating in the home GEO.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising:

• a first set of codes for causing a computer to submit a network registration request that comprises a user terminal (UT) identifier (ID) to a cell of a mobile network;
• a second set of codes for causing the computer to obtain a custom system determination list (SDL) configured to the UT ID, the custom SDL establishing a preferred type of access point based on access capabilities of the UT that are indicative of (i) a first set of access point types to which the UT is configured to communicate, or (ii) both the first set of access point types and a second set of access point types to which the UT is not configured to communicate;
• and
• a third set of codes for causing the computer to employ the custom SDL to search neighboring cells or channels if the cell does not correspond to the preferred type of access point,
• wherein the preferred type of access point is from the first set of access point types, and
• wherein the custom SDL establishes multiple priority hierarchies that establish different access point priorities when the UT is within and outside a home geographic area (GEO), the multiple priority hierarchies including:
• if the first set of access point types includes Femto and macro, Femto is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is operating in the home GEO, and macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL if the UT is not operating in the home GEO, or
• if the first set of access point types includes macro and the second set of access point types includes Femto, macro is the preferred type of access point in the custom SDL irrespective of whether the UT is operating in the home GEO.