Patent ID: 6424839
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: G01S,H04W

Abstract:
A method for determining availability of mobile telephony standards at specific geographical locations for a mobile communication device, said method comprising the steps of:(a) dividing a geographic area into a plurality of geographical zones; (b) mapping said geographical zones into data structures, elements of said data structures including availability indicators indicating whether specific mobile telephony standards are available for specific coverage areas; (c) storing said data structures relating to coverage areas of said mobile telephony standards for said geographical zones into memory of said mobile communication device; (d) acquiring external data relating to the geographical location of said mobile communication device; (e) comparing said acquired external data relating to the geographical location of said mobile communication device to said stored data structures relating to the coverage areas of said mobile telephony standards in order to determine availability of said mobile telephony standard in said geographical location; (f) indicating whether said mobile communication device can be utilized at a specific geographical location based on said acquired external data and said stored coverage area data; (g) selecting a mobile telephony standard; and (h) commencing communication using said mobile communication device according to a selected mobile telephony standard, wherein said storing step includes storing a first table that forms a list of various mobile telephony standards according to which the mobile communication device can operate.