Patent ID: 8463259

Claim:
A user equipment (UE), comprising: a component comprising a timer, the component so configured that, when the UE loses coverage from a first cell operated as part of a registered public land mobile network (RPLMN), the component searches for a suitable cell before the UE loses a connection to a network, the timer being selected from one or more timers and configured to start when the UE loses coverage, the one or more timers including at least one of an out of service timer or a T 307 timer, wherein the component searches for the suitable cell by: making a first check in time of the first cell; making a first check of other cells provided by the RPLMN; subsequent in time to the first check of the other cells, making a second check in time of the first cell; and subsequent in time to the second check of the first cell, making a further cell check; wherein making the first check of the other cells comprises (a) checking for coverage from at least one of a cell on the same frequency as the first cell, and a cell on one of a plurality of frequencies supported by the RPLMN; and (b) checking for coverage from at least one of a cell using a radio access technology (RAT) supported by the RPLMN, and a serving cell other than the first cell using a RAT supported by the RPLMN and different from the RAT used just prior to losing coverage; wherein the component is further configured to make the first check of the other cells by checking for coverage from a neighbor cell of the first cell about twenty-five seconds before the out of service timer or the T 307 timer expires and about fifteen seconds before the out of service timer or the T 307 timer expires.