Establishing mobile connectivity conditions for mobile subscriber units in a wireless communication networks

A mobile subscriber unit operable to establish mobile connectivity conditions in a wireless communication network, the mobile subscriber unit comprising:

• a transceiver operable to scan for candidate access points and affiliated channels for roaming;
• a processor coupled to the transceiver, the processor operable to direct roaming of the mobile subscriber unit from an originating access point to one of the candidate access points on an affiliated channel for roaming;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory operable to record, in a link record, an entry including an identity of the originating access point, an identity of the candidate access point, the affiliated channel for roaming, and a handoff experience value,
• wherein,
• the processor is further operable to use the link record upon subsequent roaming of the mobile subscriber unit to attempt a self-devised handoff without having the transceiver perform further scanning for access points and affiliated channels,
• the handoff experience value is quantified using parameters including an indicator as to how well the handoff was completed, and
• the entry includes a highest handoff experience value for the self-devised handoff attempt.

A method for establishing mobile connectivity conditions for mobile subscriber units in a wireless communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

• scanning, by each mobile subscriber unit, for candidate access points and affiliated channels for roaming;
• roaming from an originating access point to one of the candidate access points on an affiliated channel for roaming;
• recording, in a link record in the mobile subscriber unit, an entry including an identity of the originating access point, an identity of the candidate access point, the affiliated channel for roaming, and a handoff experience value;
• and
• using the link record upon subsequent roaming to attempt a self-devised handoff without further scanning for access points and affiliated channels,
• wherein,
• the entry includes a creation time of the entry and an identifier of the mobile subscriber unit that created the entry.