Patent ID: 7904083

Claim:
A method of efficient frequency band scanning of multiple supported bands to obtain service for a mobile device, wherein the mobile device includes a stored list of frequency bands identified as being active during a previous scan, the mobile device communicating on a current band, the method comprising the steps of: scanning to identify which bands are active; establishing a connection with a wireless network on one of the identified bands, wherein the one of the identified bands is a member of a first pair of frequencies in a first national network frequency plan; storing a list of the bands identified as being active but on which the device did not establish the connection, wherein the list includes a candidate band that is a member of a second pair of frequencies in a second national network frequency plan and wherein the list excludes another band within the first national network frequency plan; selecting the candidate band from the stored list of bands in response to a loss of coverage on the one of the identified bands; and scanning said candidate band to locate a wireless network and, if the wireless network is located, obtaining service on said candidate band, wherein scanning said candidate band occurs before scanning said another band.