Patent ID: 8023451

Claim:
Apparatus for facilitating identification of the communication services available via a radio network of a plurality of radio networks, a first radio network of the plurality providing at least a first service type and a second service type and in whose coverage area that a mobile node is positionable and a second radio network of the plurality providing only the first service type and in whose coverage area that the mobile node is simultaneously positionable, wherein a first broadcast control channel is associated with the first radio network and a second broadcast control channel is associated with the second radio network, said apparatus comprising: a detector embodied at the mobile node, said detector for detecting communication on the first broadcast control channel and the second broadcast control channel, respectively of a system information message that includes values representative of the availability of both the first service type and the second service type via the radio network; a service availability identifier adapted to receive indications of the values of the system information message detected by said detector, said service availability identifier for identifying the availability of both the first service type and the second service type via the radio network responsive to the indications of the representative values in the system information message; and a network selector adapted to receive indications from said service availability identifier of identification of the availability of the first service type and the second service type via of the radio network, said network selector for selecting whether the mobile node shall attempt to perform attachment procedures to communicate with the radio network.