Patent ID: 6330447
Filing Date: 2001-12-11
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A method of maintaining a wireless communications link between a mobile and a host comprising the steps of:(a) identifying a list of possible channels over which communication can occur wherein each channel is associated with a roaming marker identifying mutually exclusive tried and untried channels,(b) selecting one of said possible and untried channels to be a selected channel,(c) requesting a connection identifier for the selected channel,(d) determining whether there is an operational connection between the mobile and the host over the selected channel through a value assigned to the connection identifier,(e) if the connection identifier is not received and valid, marking the selected channel as a tried channel and determining whether there is an untried channel among the possible channels, and if so, repeating the process beginning at the step of selecting the channel, and if not, selecting an alternate channel and ending, and(f) if the connection identifier value is received, resetting all of the possible channels as untried channels;(g) wherein the step of determining an ability of the mobile to communicate with the central office over an existing channel comprises the step of the mobile attempting to establish a session with the central office by receiving a temporary equipment identifier in response to a registration request.