Method, and associated apparatus, for transitioning communications of hybrid access terminal between communication systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus of optimizing transitioning between EVDO and CDMA 1X systems in a hybrid access terminal, the method having the steps of: detecting an EVDO received signal at the hybrid access terminal; and delaying a connection timer at the hybrid access terminal for connecting to the EVDO system. The apparatus being a hybrid access terminal adapted for optimizing transitioning between EVDO and CDMA 1X systems, the hybrid access terminal having a radio subsystem adapted to communicate with a network; a radio processor having a digital signal processor and adapted to interact with the radio subsystem; memory; a user interface; a processor adapted to run user applications and interact with the memory, the radio and the user interface and adapted to run applications, the hybrid access terminal characterized by having means for: detecting an EVDO received signal at the hybrid access terminal; and delaying a connection timer at the hybrid access terminal for connecting to the EVDO system.

1 . Apparatus for an access terminal operable to communicate with a first network that exhibits first data transfer rate capabilities and with a second network that exhibits second data transfer rate capabilities, said apparatus comprising:
 a first mechanism configured to attempt establishment of a communication session between the access terminal and the first network; and   a second mechanism having a table that stores network indicia identifying networks accessed by the access terminal, said second mechanism configured to access the table if the attempt by said first mechanism is unsuccessful in establishing the communication session between the access terminal and the first network, and said second mechanism configured further to block generation of a data call between the access terminal and the second network when an indicium identifying the second network is found in the table.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said second mechanism further stores network indicia identifying networks recently accessed by the access terminal and blocks generation of a data call between the access terminal and the second network when the indicium identifying the second network in the table indicates the second network as being recently acquired. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said second mechanism further stores network indicia identifying networks acquired by the access terminal within a predetermined time period from current time. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first data transfer rate is greater than the second data transfer rate and wherein said first mechanism is further configured to access the second network and store a network indicium identifying the second network. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said stored network indicium identifying the second network is stored before said attempt to establish the communication session between the access terminal and the first network. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first mechanism is further configured to attempt access of said first network and to attempt establishment of a communication session between the access terminal and the first network when said access attempt is successful. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising an avoid timer that avoids a future attempt to access the first data network for a period of time when an access attempt to the first data network is unsuccessful. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said avoid timer period of time comprises a value proportional to a count of prior first network access attempts. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said first mechanism is further configured to periodically search for the first network when said access attempt is unsuccessful. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a fast dormancy applier that applies fast dormancy to the communication session when said first mechanism is successful in establishing the communication session between the access terminal and the first network. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating for an access terminal that is operable to communicate with a first network that exhibits first data transfer rate capabilities and with a second network that exhibits second data transfer rate capabilities, said method comprising:
 attempting establishment of a communication session between the access terminal and the first network;   storing network indicia identifying networks accessed by the access terminal in a table;   accessing said table when said attempt at establishing is unsuccessful in establishing said communication session between the access terminal and the first network; and   blocking generation of a data call between the access terminal and the second network when an indicium identifying the second network is found in the table.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said storing network indicia identifying networks further comprises storing a network indicium of a network recently accessed by the access terminal and said blocking generation of a data call between the access terminal and the second network further comprises blocking generation when an indicium identifying the second network in the table indicates the second network as being recently acquired. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said storing network indicia identifying networks acquired by the access terminal further comprises storing within a predetermined time period from current time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the first data transfer rate is greater than the second data transfer rate, further comprising accessing the second network and storing a network indicium identifying the second network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising storing a network indicium identifying the second network before said attempting to establish the communication session between the access terminal and the first network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising attempting access of said first network and subsequently attempting establishment of a communication session between the access terminal and the first network when said access attempt is successful. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising avoiding a future attempt to access the first data network for a period of time when said access attempt to the first data network is unsuccessful. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said avoiding a future attempt period of time comprises a value proportional to a count of prior first network access attempts. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising periodically searching for the first network when said access attempt is unsuccessful. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising applying fast dormancy to the communication session when said establishing the communication session between the access terminal and the first network is successful.