Patent ID: 7519026

Claim:
A method for managing multi-mode operation of a wireless communication device comprising: identifying one or more air interface protocols under which wireless service is available for the device, wherein identifying air interface protocols under which wireless service is available for the device comprises identifying air interface protocols that are supported by the device; determining a type of communication in which the device is currently engaged; and based at least in part on the type of communication, selecting one of the air interface protocols available for the device as an air interface protocol under which the device should operate by: retrieving a required level of network resources for the type of communication in which the device is engaged from a database; for each identified air interface protocol, retrieving a total level of network resources available under the air interface protocol from a database; for each identified air interface protocol, determining an existing level of air interface congestion; for each of the identified air interface protocols, calculating available network resources equal to the total network resources minus the existing level of air interface congestion; and selecting as the air interface protocol under which the device should operate, one of the identified air interface protocols where the available network resources are greater than or equal to the required network resources for the type of communication in which the device is engaged.