Patent ID: 6119003
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: H04W,Y02D

Abstract:
A method for operating a wireless user terminal of a type that is capable of communicating with a plurality of networks that do not support internetwork roaming, comprising the steps of:scanning for a first network having a highest assigned priority;registering in the first network if the first network is available for use;if the highest priority network is not found, or becomes unavailable for use, automatically scanning for a second network having a second highest assigned priority;registering in the second network if the second network is available for use;automatically scanning for the first network while registered in the second network; andregistering in the first network if the first network is available for use; whereinif the terminal is granted only limited service when registering into the first network, or is switched from a full service state to a limited service state, wherein the limited service is a subset of the full service that is available to the terminal from the first network, the method includes a further step of periodically scanning for the second network while still registered in the first network.