Patent ID: 8335508

Claim:
A method for monitoring and reporting communication network system acquisition and scanning performance, comprising: scanning all communication networks that are available to a vehicle telematics unit whether or not the telematics unit utilizes the communication network; monitoring the scan for service or protocol related changes; during the monitoring, recognizing a predetermined trigger, the predetermined trigger being selected from a change in a cellular system identification number, a loss of a cellular signal, a state of no cellular service, a power transition change, an ignition cycle, entering DRx mode, exiting DRx mode, a background scan on a predetermined network based on a cellular system identification number, a network change, a new network parameter, a change in a network parameter, a pilot channel change, a call failure, and combinations thereof; in response to the predetermined trigger, storing, to a memory buffer in the telematics unit, data associated with at least one of performance or outcome of the scan, the data is selected from a cellular system identification number at a beginning and an end of the scan, a timestamp at a beginning and an end of the scan, a GPS location at a beginning and an end of the scan, a received signal strength at a beginning and an end of the scan, a frame error rate at a beginning and an end of the scan, a pilot strength to interference ratio at a beginning and an end of the scan, a power level at a beginning and an end of the scan, a loss of service, a time at which a network access device is unavailable, a protocol version revision, information related to a registration period, a type of scan, and combinations thereof; and transmitting at least some of the stored data from the telematics unit to a server in selective communication with the telematics unit.