Method of Selecting A Network by a Mobile Apparatus

Abstract

A method is provided for selecting an available network ( 10 ) by a mobile apparatus ( 20 ), such as a mobile phone. As a subscriber moves from country to country he needs to switch from network to network, with limited control over the network chosen and the services provided by the network. The mobile phone ( 20 ) is provided with more than parameter sets ( 50 ), providing connection parameters ( 52 ) for more than one network based upon the geographic location ( 70,80,90 ) that the mobile phone ( 20 ) is in. The mobile phone ( 20 ) may provide for automatic selection of the available network ( 10 ).

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method for a mobile apparatus to select a wireless network, the method comprising:
 the mobile apparatus receiving a plurality of parameter data sets, wherein each parameter data set comprises a geographic tag and connection parameters for a wireless network in the geographic location corresponding to the geographic tag;   the mobile apparatus searching for an available wireless network;   the mobile apparatus determining a geographic location associated with the available wireless network;   the mobile apparatus selecting a parameter data set of the plurality that includes the geographic tag corresponding to the geographic location; and   the mobile apparatus registering with the available wireless network using the connection parameters of the selected parameter data set.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the receiving comprises accepting an identification module that includes the plurality of parameter data sets, and enabling data access between the mobile apparatus and the identification module. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the geographic tag corresponds to at least one geographic area selected from the group consisting of a country, a state, a region, a continent, an island, a geographic coordinate, and a political region. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the determining comprises identifying the geographic location from at least one of a transmission of the available wireless network, and a manual input provided by a user of the mobile apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the searching comprises searching for a first available wireless network and searching for a second available wireless network, wherein the determining comprises identifying the geographic location from a transmission of the second available wireless network, and wherein the registering comprises registering with the first available wireless network. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein more than one parameter data set of the plurality comprises a given geographic tag, the method further comprising:
 the mobile apparatus identifying parameter data sets of the plurality that contain the given geographic tag corresponding to the geographic location; and   the mobile apparatus selecting one of the parameter data sets of the plurality that contains the given geographic tag.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein selecting one of the parameter data sets of the plurality that contains the geographic tag comprises using at least one selection criterion chosen from the group consisting of:
 a quality of a wireless connection between the available wireless network and the mobile apparatus,   a signal strength of the wireless connection between the available wireless network and the mobile apparatus,   a preference provided by a user of the mobile apparatus,   a preference provided by a service provider of the available wireless network,   a preference provided by an issuer of the mobile apparatus,   a type of connection permitted by the available wireless network,   one or more connection parameters in the parameter data sets of the plurality,   a type of agreement governing the wireless connection, and   the available wireless network offering a predetermined type of connection.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each parameter data set of the plurality includes configuration parameters, the method further comprising:
 the mobile apparatus configuring features of the mobile apparatus using the configuration parameters of the selected parameter data set.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving at least one of a first portion of the parameter data sets from the available network, and a second portion of the parameter data sets from a manual input by a user of the mobile apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . A mobile apparatus for selecting a wireless network, the mobile apparatus comprising:
 a memory module containing a plurality of parameter data sets, wherein each parameter data set includes a geographic tag and connection parameters for a wireless network in a geographic location corresponding to the geographic tag; and   a wireless interface enabling the mobile apparatus to communicate via an available wireless network, wherein the mobile apparatus is arranged to (i) search to detect the available wireless network, (ii) determine a geographic location associated with the available wireless network, (iii) select a parameter data set of the plurality that includes a geographic tag corresponding to the geographic location, and (iv) register with the available wireless network using the connection parameters of the selected parameter data set.   
     
     
         25 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein searching to detect the available wireless network comprises searching to detect a first available network and a second available radio network, wherein determining the geographic location comprises determining the geographic location from a transmission of the second available network, and wherein registering with the available wireless network comprises registering with the first available network. 
     
     
         26 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 24 , further arranged to receive the memory module containing the plurality of parameter data sets and then enable data access between the mobile apparatus and the memory module. 
     
     
         27 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the geographic tag corresponds to at least one geographic area selected from the group consisting of a country, a state, a region, a continent, an island, a geographic coordinate, and a political region. 
     
     
         28 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the determining comprises identifying the geographic location from at least one of a transmission of the available wireless network, and a manual input provided by a user of the mobile apparatus. 
     
     
         29 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein more than one parameter data set of the plurality comprises a given geographic tag, wherein the mobile apparatus is further arranged to (i) identify parameter data sets of the plurality that contain the given geographic tag corresponding to the geographic location, (ii) select one of the parameter data sets of the plurality that contains the given geographic tag. 
     
     
         30 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein selecting one of the parameter data set that includes the given geographic tag comprises using at least one selection criterion chosen from the group consisting of:
 a quality of a wireless connection between the available wireless network and the mobile apparatus,   a signal strength of the wireless connection between the available wireless network and the mobile apparatus,   a preference provided by a user of the mobile apparatus,   a preference provided by a service provider of the available wireless network,   a preference provided by an issuer of the mobile apparatus,   a type of connection permitted by the available wireless network,   one or more connection parameters in the parameter data sets of the plurality,   a type of agreement governing the wireless connection, and   the available wireless network offering a predetermined type of connection.   
     
     
         31 . The mobile apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein each parameter data set of the plurality includes configuration parameters, wherein the mobile apparatus is further arranged to configure features of the mobile apparatus using the configuration parameters of the selected parameter data set. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving at least one of a first portion of the parameter data sets from the available network, and a second portion of the parameter data sets from a manual input by the user of the mobile apparatus. 
     
     
         33 . A communication system, comprising:
 at least one wireless network configured to communicate with mobile apparatuses;   a mobile apparatus including a memory module containing a plurality of parameter data sets, wherein each parameter data set includes a geographic tag and connection parameters for an available wireless network of the at least one wireless network in a geographic location corresponding to the geographic tag, wherein the mobile apparatus is arranged to (i) search to detect the available wireless network, (ii) determine the geographic location associated with the available wireless network, (iii) select a parameter data set that includes the geographic tag corresponding to the geographic location, and (iv) register with the available wireless network using the connection parameters of the selected parameter data set.   
     
     
         34 . The communication system of  claim 33 , wherein the searching comprises searching for a first available wireless network and searching for a second available wireless network, wherein the determining comprises identifying the geographic location from a transmission of the second available wireless network, and wherein the registering comprises registering with the first available wireless network.