Patent ID: 6868270

Claim:
A method of operating a mobile terminal providing wireless communications, the method comprising: receiving communications service from a first communications network providing service over a first coverage area; while receiving communications service from the first communications network, receiving a first identity code from a second communications network providing service over a plurality of second coverage areas wherein a first one of the second coverage areas includes the first coverage area and wherein the first identity code from the second communications network identifies availability of service with the second communications network in the first one of the second coverage areas; after loss of communications with the first communications network, receiving a second identity code from the second communications network; and when the second identity code from the second communications network is different than the first identity code from the second communications network, performing a registration with the second communications network so that communications service can be received by the mobile terminal from the second communications network in a second one of the second coverage areas corresponding to the second identity code from the second communications network.