Patent ID: 7283507

Claim:
Apparatus for a mobile node selectably operable to communicate data with a selected network of a first group of first networks operated by first operators, the first networks of the first group of networks operable pursuant to a first communication scheme, and with a second group of second networks operated by second operators, the second networks operable pursuant to at least a second communication scheme, selected ones of the operators of the second network at least maintain associations with selected ones of the operators of the first networks, said apparatus for facilitating selection of the selected network through which to effectuate communication of the data, said apparatus comprising: a second-network detector embodied at the mobile node and adapted to receive indications of second-network signals broadcast by at least selected ones of the second networks, the second-network signals containing second-network indicia identifying geographic positioning of the second networks, respectively, from which the second-network signals are broadcast, said second-network detector configured to detect values of the second network indicia contained in the second-network signals, detection of the second-network indicia indicative also of the geographic positioning of the mobile node; a first-network detector also embodied at the mobile node, said first-network detector adapted to receive indications of first-network signals broadcast by at least selected ones of the first networks, the first-network signals containing first-network identifying indicia identifying the first networks, respectively, from which the first-network signals are broadcast, said first-network detector configured selectably to detect values of the first-network identifying indicia, detection of the first-network identifying indicia indicative also of which of the first-networks are potentially available through which to communicate; at least a first list maintained at the mobile node, the first list identifying first networks of the first group with which the mobile node is permitted to communicated the data; and a selector adapted to receive indications of detections made by said first-network detector and indications of detections made by said second-network detector, said selector configured to select, responsive thereto, the selected network through which to effectuate the communication of the data, selection made by said selector made, further in part, responsive to entries contained in the first list, responsive to the associations, and responsive to associations when entries contained in the first list fail to identify any first networks amenable to form the selected network.