Patent ID: 7085571

Claim:
A method for determining when to exit an existing coverage network in a wireless communications device, the method comprising the steps of: determining a threshold boundary line; partitioning an area into a first zone and a second zone, the area including at least a portion of a first coverage area for the existing coverage network and at least a portion of a second coverage area for a second coverage network proximate the existing coverage network, the first zone proximate a first side of the threshold boundary line oriented toward a geographical center for the existing coverage network and the second zone proximate a second side of the threshold boundary line; compiling a history of geographical location data of the wireless communications device, comprising the steps of: supplying the wireless communications device a plurality of sample points comprising geographical positions of the wireless communications device; measuring a position of each sample point of the plurality of sample points with respect to the threshold boundary line; and, maintaining a running sum of the measured position of the each sample point, wherein maintaining the running sum comprises the steps of: decrementing the running sum for the measured position of the each sample point in the first zone; and, incrementing the running sum for the measured position of the each sample point in the second zone; and comparing the running sum to a terminal value; and exiting the existing coverage network based upon the compiled history of geographical location data.