Patent ID: 8081973

Claim:
A method performed by a wireless communication device comprising a list of frequency bands in an order, each frequency band comprising a plurality of frequencies, the plurality of frequencies being used to transmit a plurality of signals, the method comprising: registering the wireless communication device with a non-optimal service provider associated with one of the plurality of signals transmitted on one of the plurality of frequencies of one of the frequency bands; and searching the frequency bands in accordance with the order of the list until the wireless communication device is registered with an optimal service provider or a last frequency band of the list of frequency bands has been searched, the searching of the frequency bands comprising: selecting a frequency band from the list of frequency bands in accordance with the order in the list; identifying a signal of the plurality of signals transmitted using the plurality of frequencies of the frequency band that is selected, the signal that is identified having a received signal strength that is greater than a respective received signal strength of any other of the plurality of signals transmitted on the plurality of frequencies of the frequency band that is selected; determining a service provider code based on the signal that is identified; determining whether the service provider code is associated with the optimal service provider; and if the service provider code is associated with the optimal service provider, terminating the searching the frequency bands and registering with the optimal service provider.