Patent ID: 6625451
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A mobile communication station, comprising:a wireless transceiver for two-way communication via a selected one of a plurality of public wireless communication systems and for signaling with the public wireless communication systems; a programmable controller coupled to the wireless transceiver for controlling operation thereof; a memory coupled to the controller; a user interface coupled to the programmable controller to enable a user of the mobile station to provide a selection input to the programmable controller; and a program for execution by the programmable controller, execution of the program causing the mobile station to operate in at least two modes in response to the selection input by the user as follows: in a first one of the modes, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to scan an air-interface only for a system identification matching an identifier stored in the memory and register for communication through a system broadcasting the matching system identification; and if a user selects a second one of the modes, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to first scan the air-interface for a system identification matching an identifier stored in the memory of the mobile station and register for communication through a system broadcasting the matching system identification, and if the mobile station fails to detect a match for a stored identifier on the air interface, the programmable controller causes the transceiver to perform an alternate scan of an air-interface to find an identifier for another system not identified in the memory of the mobile station and to register for communication with said another system if an identifier for said another system is found during the alternate scan.