Mobile device with improved network scanning

A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium comprising program instructions which, when executed at a wireless user equipment (UE) device, cause the UE to:

• receive an indication that a cellular scan is to be performed while the UE is camped in a first cell;
• access first information regarding results of prior cellular scan operations for the first cell
• analyzing a data structure to determine that the data structure comprises first information regarding results of prior cellular scan operations for the first cell, wherein the prior cellular scan operations comprise one or more of higher priority public land mobile network (HP-PLMN) scans, reselection scans, out-of-service (OOS) scans, and better system reselection (BSR) scans, wherein, for a successful scan performed by the UE, the information regarding results of prior cellular scan operations comprises a cellular frequency in which the successful scan succeeded, wherein, for an unsuccessful scan performed by the UE, the information regarding results of prior cellular scan operations comprises a stage at which the unsuccessful scan failed;
• determine a set of cellular frequencies and a type of cellular scan for the cellular scan based at least in part on the first information;
• and
• perform the cellular scan using the determined set of cellular frequencies and the type of cellular scan.

A method for operating a wireless user equipment (UE) device, the method comprising:

• by the UE:
• receiving an indication that a cellular scan is to be performed while the UE is camped in a first cell;
• analyzing a data structure to determine that the data structure comprises first information regarding results of prior cellular scan operations for the first cell, wherein the prior cellular scan operations comprise one or more of higher priority public land mobile network (HP-PLMN) scans, reselection scans, out-of-service (OOS) scans, and better system reselection (BSR) scans, wherein, for a successful scan performed by the UE, the information regarding results of prior cellular scan operations comprises a cellular frequency in which the successful scan succeeded, wherein, for an unsuccessful scan performed by the UE, the information regarding results of prior cellular scan operations comprises a stage at which the unsuccessful scan failed;
• and
• performing a new cellular scan operation while camped in the first cell, wherein at least one of a frequency of the new scan operation and a type of the new cellular scan operation is based at least in part on the first information regarding results of prior cellular scan operations for the first cell.