Patent ID: 9578584
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: H04L,H04W,Y02D

Claim:
1. A method for controlling a user equipment device (UE), wherein the UE is served by a serving base station, wherein the UE is configured to tune away from the serving base station at scheduled tune-away times to scan for target coverage, the method comprising: between a first one of the scheduled tune-away times and a next, second one of the scheduled tune-away times, (a) determining that the UE has threshold weak signal strength from the serving base station, and (b) responsive to determining that the UE has threshold weak signal strength from the serving base station, performing an early tune-away process, the early tune-away process including (i) determining that a remaining battery energy level of the UE is above a threshold energy level, (ii) determining that an amount of bearer data buffered for transmission between the UE and the serving base station is below a threshold data amount, and (iii) based on both the remaining battery energy level of the UE being above the threshold energy level and the amount of buffered bearer data being below the threshold data amount, causing the UE to tune away from the serving base station before the second scheduled tune-away time to scan for target coverage.