Patent ID: 8331930
Filing Date: 2012-12-11
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method in a mobile communication device for use in scanning for wireless communication networks, the method comprising: measuring, on a broadcast control channel, a signal strength level of a radio frequency (RF) signal from a wireless communication network; repeating the act of measuring on the broadcast control channel a plurality of times so that a plurality of signal strength levels of the RF signal on the broadcast control channel are identified; completing an averaging function using the plurality of signal strength levels for calculating an averaged signal strength level for the broadcast control channel; repeating the acts of measuring and completing the averaging function for a plurality of additional broadcast control channels; selecting broadcast control channels that are associated with the strongest averaged signal strength levels for decoding information thereon; receiving and decoding information which is broadcasted on at least one of the broadcast control channels and storing the broadcasted information in memory; wherein the acts of receiving, decoding, and storing for the at least one broadcast control channel are performed after measuring the signal strength level of the RF signal on the at least one broadcast control channel but prior to the completion of the averaging function for calculating the averaged signal strength level for the at least one broadcast control channel.