Patent ID: 7164912

Claim:
Apparatus for a mobile node to facilitate selection of at least a first selected network of a group of networks with which to attempt, by the mobile node, to communicate data, said apparatus comprising: a first storage entity embodied at the mobile node, said first storage entity for storing a first list of entries identifying a first set of networks of the group of networks; at least a second storage entity embodied at the mobile node, said at least second storage entity for storing at least a second list of entries identifying at least a second set of networks of the group of networks; an available-network-list creator embodied at the mobile node, said available-network-list creator for creating an available-network-list of entries identifying which, if any, networks of the group of networks are within communication range of the mobile node; a selector adapted to receive indications of the first list of entries stored at said first storage entity, to receive indications of the at least the second list of entries stored at said at least second storage entity, and to receive indications of the available list of entries, said selector for selecting which, if any, network to be the at least the first selected network with which to attempt to communicate the data, selection made by said selector first of networks, if any, listed on both the first list and the available list and thereafter, if necessary, of networks, if any, listed on both the second list and the available list.