Patent ID: 8199704

Claim:
A method of connecting a mobile device to a network having associated channels, the method comprising: scanning a selected subset of the associated channels in a predefined frequency band to create a list of potential channels carrying signals having power in excess of a predetermined threshold; identifying channels carrying an encoded signal in the list of potential channels; upon identifying no channel in the list of potential channels as carrying the encoded signal: initializing a timer; upon expiration of the timer, performing the scanning and identifying steps on another subset of associated channels in the predefined frequency band; upon identifying at least one channel in the list of potential channels as carrying the encoded signal: scanning one or more other subsets of the associated channels, which together with the selected subset of the associated channels comprise the predefined frequency band, to assemble a complete list of potential channels having a power in excess of the predetermined threshold; identifying channels in the complete list of potential channels that carry the encoded signal; and establishing a connection between the mobile device and the network associated with a channel carrying a strongest signal within the channels identified as carrying the encoded signal.