Patent ID: 8891442

Claim:
A method of operating a dual-mode communications device capable of operating in a first mode corresponding to a first type network or a second mode corresponding to a second type network different from the first type network, the method comprising: receiving, in the dual-mode device, a first base station (BS) location message via the first type network from a first BS, and storing a first BS location in the first BS location message as a current BS location in a memory device operatively coupled to a processor arranged in the dual-mode device; comparing, using the processor, the stored first BS location to a plurality of region coordinates stored in the memory device and corresponding to a plurality of different regions; storing pre-determined geographical coordinates defining locations of one or more markets for the second type network in a region table in a database; using the comparison result to determine a particular region of the plurality of different regions in which the dual-mode device is currently located; comparing, using the processor, the stored pre-determined geographical coordinates of the locations of the one or more markets for the second type network with the region coordinates of the particular region of the plurality of different regions in which the dual-mode device is currently located; if the location of no market of the second type network is geographically located within the particular region, operating the dual-mode device in the first mode; and if the location of at least one of the one or more markets of the second type network is geographically located within the particular region, determining whether the stored first BS location is geographically located within a coverage area of the at least one of the one or more markets for the second type network and, in response to said determination, either placing the dual-mode device in a second mode of operation or placing the dual-mode device in the first mode.