Patent ID: 8346250

Claim:
In an access terminal having at least a first antenna and a second antenna, a method comprising: using both the first antenna and the second antenna in combination to engage in a communication on a first air interface operating according to a first air interface protocol; while engaging in the communication, using only one of the first antenna and the second antenna to engage in each of periodic intervals of scanning for one or more messages received on a second air interface operating according to a second air interface protocol; prior to a next periodic interval, determining air interface quality on the second air interface; and using the determined air interface quality as a basis to decide whether or not to switch which one of the first antenna and the second antenna is used to engage in the scanning during the next periodic interval, wherein the first antenna has a higher gain than the second antenna, wherein determining air interface quality on the second air interface comprises making a determination of whether the air interface quality is below a threshold, and wherein using the determined air interface quality as a basis to decide whether or not to switch which one of the first antenna and the second antenna is used to engage in the scanning during the next periodic interval comprises (i) if the determined air interface quality is below the threshold, then selecting the first antenna for the scanning during the next periodic interval, and (ii) if the determined air interface quality is not below the threshold, then selecting the second antenna for the scanning during the next periodic interval.