Patent ID: 7664499

Claim:
A method by which a wireless communication device locates a wireless service provider in a multi-service provider environment, comprising: storing a frequency search schedule, the frequency search schedule having a plurality of frequency bands in a predetermined order; ordering at least one or more of the plurality of frequency bands in the frequency search schedule based upon time-weighted counts of previous registrations within each frequency band; and examining the plurality of frequency bands until an acceptable service provider is located by examining the plurality of frequency bands in the order specified by the frequency search schedule, wherein said examining the plurality of frequency bands further comprises: storing a prioritized service provider table including identities of an optimal service provider and a plurality of preferred service providers; comparing with the service provider table any service providers found during the examining; if the examining finds the optimal service provider, then halting the examining and designating the optimal service provider as the acceptable service provider; and if the examining does not find the optimal service provider after examining all the plurality of frequency bands, then designating a best preferred service provider as the acceptable service provider, the best preferred service provider having a highest priority of all preferred service providers found while examining the plurality of frequency bands.