Patent ID: 7092716

Claim:
In a mobile wireless telecommunications system, which includes base stations of a first type operating over a first air interface, and base stations of a second type operating over a second air interface, a method for reselection by a mobile station camped on a cell associated with a first base station, which is of the first type, of a second base station, which is of the second type, comprising: receiving signals over the second air interface from the second base station; evaluating a characteristic of the signals; responsive to the characteristic, selecting the second base station in place of the first base station; and camping on a cell associated with the second base station, wherein receiving the signals comprises initiating monitoring of signals over the second air interface responsive to an indication that a predetermined monitoring criterion has been met; and wherein the mobile station attempts to receive signals from a plurality of candidate cells over the first air interface, and wherein initiating the monitoring comprises initiating monitoring over the second air interface when the number of candidate cells over the first interface is less than a predetermined minimum number for a predetermined period of time.