Patent ID: 9258754
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: H04W

Claim Text:
1. A method to operate a multimode third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) communications device capable of operating in either a 4G network or a 3G network when in an area with overlapping 3G and 4G coverage, the method comprising: based on an assessment that a number associated with temporarily-disabled sectors of an available sector set of the multimode device is at least equal to a threshold number, scanning, using a processor, for a new available sector in the 3G network; if, upon scanning, the new available sector is identified, reassessing, using the processor, whether the number is at least equal to the threshold number; and if, upon scanning, the new available sector is not identified initiating, using the processor, a scan for a sector in the 4G network to transfer communications operational at the multimode device from a 3G base station associated to a 4G base station wherein the available sector set of the multimode device is stored in a memory operatively coupled to the processor, while the multimode device is operational with the 3G base station.