Patent ID: 6016427
Filing Date: 2000-01-18
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method for selecting a cellular carrier for accessing cellular airtime services, said method comprising steps of:defining at least one home system identification code (SID) and at least one preferred SID;monitoring cellular carrier signals to detect SIDs corresponding to cellular carriers;selecting a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID matching the home SID if the SID matching the home SID is detected;selecting a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID matching the preferred SID ifthe SID matching the preferred SID is detected andno SID matching the home SID is detected; andselecting a cellular carrier corresponding to a SID not matching the home SID and not matching the preferred SID ifthe SID not matching the home SID and not matching the preferred SID is detected andno SID matching the home SID or the preferred SID is detected,wherein each of said selecting steps includes selecting cellular carriers for processing calls to emergency and non-emergency destination telephone numbers.