Scheme for Providing Regulatory Compliance in Performing Network Selection in a Foreign Country

Abstract

In one embodiment, a scheme is disclosed for network selection in a user equipment (UE) device. A determination is made that a network identified by a received network identity code is an equivalent home network with respect to a subscriber identity associated with the UE device. Responsive to that determination, a further determination is made that the equivalent home network is in a geographic region of a home country associated with the subscriber identity, whereupon a scanning of all equivalent home networks is performed in accordance with the scanning procedures specified for the geographic region.

1 . A network selection method in a user equipment (UE) device, said method comprising:
 determining that a network identified by a received network identity code is an equivalent home network with respect to a subscriber identity associated with said UE device; and   responsive to said determining, further determining that said equivalent home network is in a geographic region of a home country associated with said subscriber identity, whereupon performing network scanning of all equivalent home networks in accordance with scanning procedures specified for said geographic region.   
   
   
       2 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said received network identity code identifies a network that comprises one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) network, a 3 rd  Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-compliant network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, and a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network. 
   
   
       3 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said received network identity code comprises a combination of a Mobile Country Code (MCC) and a Mobile Network Code (MNC). 
   
   
       4 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said subscriber identity comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) parameter. 
   
   
       5 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said received network identity code identifies a network that comprises a wireless access network operable with one of IEEE 802.11b standard, IEEE 802.11a standard, IEEE 802.11g standard, HiperLan standard, HiperLan II standard, Wi-Max standard, OpenAir standard, and Bluetooth standard. 
   
   
       6 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said network identity code comprises a System Identification (SID) parameter. 
   
   
       7 . A user equipment (UE) device, comprising:
 a component configured to determine that a network identified by a received network identity code is an equivalent home network with respect to a subscriber identity associated with said UE device;   a component, operable responsive to said determining, configured to further determine that said equivalent home network is in a geographic region of a home country associated with said subscriber identity; and   a component configured to perform network scanning of all equivalent home networks in accordance with scanning procedures specified for said geographic region.   
   
   
       8 . The UE device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said received network identity code identifies a network that comprises one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) network, a 3 rd  Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-compliant network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, and a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network. 
   
   
       9 . The UE device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said received network identity code comprises a combination of a Mobile Country Code (MCC) and a Mobile Network Code (MNC). 
   
   
       10 . The UE device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said subscriber identity comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) parameter. 
   
   
       11 . The UE device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said received network identity code identifies a network that comprises a wireless access network operable with one of IEEE 802.11b standard, IEEE 802.11a standard, IEEE 802.11g standard, HiperLan standard, HiperLan II standard, Wi-Max standard, OpenAir standard, and Bluetooth standard. 
   
   
       12 . The UE device as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said network identity code comprises a System Identification (SID) parameter. 
   
   
       13 . A network selection method in a user equipment (UE) device, said method comprising:
 determining that a network identified by a received network identity code is an equivalent home network with respect to a subscriber identity associated with said UE device; and   responsive to said determining, further determining that said equivalent home network is in a geographic region different from a home country associated with said subscriber identity, whereupon performing network scanning in accordance with scanning procedures specified for said geographic region.   
   
   
       14 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said received network identity code identifies a network that comprises one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) network, a 3 rd  Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-compliant network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, and a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network. 
   
   
       15 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said received network identity code comprises a combination of a Mobile Country Code (MCC) and a Mobile Network Code (MNC). 
   
   
       16 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said subscriber identity comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) parameter. 
   
   
       17 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said received network identity code identifies a network that comprises a wireless access network operable with one of IEEE 802.11b standard, IEEE 802.11a standard, IEEE 802.11g standard, HiperLan standard, HiperLan II standard, Wi-Max standard, OpenAir standard, and Bluetooth standard. 
   
   
       18 . The network selection method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said network identity code comprises a System Identification (SID) parameter. 
   
   
       19 . A user equipment (UE) device, comprising:
 a component configured to determine that a network identified by a received network identity code is an equivalent home network with respect to a subscriber identity associated with said UE device;   a component, operable responsive to said determining, configured to further determine that said equivalent home network is in a geographic region different from a home country associated with said subscriber identity; and   a component configured to perform network scanning in accordance with scanning procedures specified for said geographic region, provided said geographic region is determined to be different from said home country.   
   
   
       20 . The UE device as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said received network identity code identifies a network that comprises one of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, an Enhanced Data Rates for Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Evolution (EDGE) network, a 3 rd  Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-compliant network, an Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (IDEN), a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, and a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network. 
   
   
       21 . The UE device as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said received network identity code comprises a combination of a Mobile Country Code (MCC) and a Mobile Network Code (MNC). 
   
   
       22 . The UE device as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said subscriber identity comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) parameter. 
   
   
       23 . The UE device as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said received network identity code identifies a network that comprises a wireless access network operable with one of IEEE 802.11b standard, IEEE 802.11a standard, IEEE 802.11g standard, HiperLan standard, HiperLan II standard, Wi-Max standard, OpenAir standard, and Bluetooth standard. 
   
   
       24 . The UE device as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said network identity code comprises a System Identification (SID) parameter.