System and method for accelerating network selection by a wireless user equipment (ue) device

Abstract

A system and method for accelerating network selection by a wireless user equipment (UE) device without having to perform a full band scan (FBS). In one exemplary embodiment, the wireless UE device is operable to determine its location using a satellite-based positioning system such as GPS. Based on determining that the wireless UE device is in a particular area defined by a set of corners, a subset of appropriate frequency data is determined for selective scanning by the wireless UE device. Using the subset of appropriate frequency data, a selective scanning is performed for locating a network by the wireless UE device.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method performed by a wireless user equipment (UE) device, comprising:
 determining if said wireless UE device's location is within a particular area defined by a plurality of corners, each corner being defined as a longitude coordinate and a latitude coordinate, wherein said wireless UE's location is determined by using a satellite-based positioning system; and   receiving a particular frequency data item from a network node to said wireless UE device;   based on determining that said wireless UE device's location is within the particular area, applying said particular frequency data item for selective scanning by said wireless UE device, thereby avoiding a full band scan for locating a network.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said selective scanning is performed as one of an initial scan procedure and a background scan procedure. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said selective scanning is performed upon power-up of said wireless UE device or upon losing coverage of a network with which said wireless UE device was previously registered. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: if multiple networks are located by said wireless UE device via selective scanning, applying a prioritization scheme for choosing a particular network for service. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: if multiple networks are located by said wireless UE device via selective scanning, manually choosing a particular network for service. 
     
     
         26 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable instructions adaptable to cause a device to perform a method in a wireless user equipment (UE), comprising, comprising:
 determining if said wireless UE device's location is within a particular area defined by a plurality of corners, each corner being defined as a longitude coordinate and a latitude coordinate, wherein said wireless UE's location is determined by using a satellite-based positioning system; and   receiving a particular frequency data item from a network node to said wireless UE device;   based on determining that said wireless UE device's location is within the particular area, applying said particular frequency data item for selective scanning by said wireless UE device, thereby avoiding a full band scan for locating a network.   
     
     
         27 . The computer readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein said selective scanning is performed as one of an initial scan procedure and a background scan procedure. 
     
     
         28 . The computer readable medium of  claim 26 , wherein said selective scanning is performed upon power-up of said wireless UE device or upon losing coverage of a network with which said wireless UE device was previously registered. 
     
     
         29 . The computer readable medium of  claim 26 , further comprising: applying a prioritization scheme to facilitate selection of a particular network for service if multiple networks are located by said wireless UE device via selective scanning. 
     
     
         30 . The computer readable medium of  claim 26 , further comprising: manually choosing a particular network for service if multiple networks are located by said wireless UE device via selective scanning. 
     
     
         31 . A wireless user equipment (UE) device comprising a processor configured to execute instructions to cause the wireless telecommunications device to:
 determine if said wireless UE device's location is within a particular area defined by a plurality of corners, each corner being defined as a longitude coordinate and a latitude coordinate, wherein said wireless UE's location is determined by using a satellite-based positioning system; and   receiving a particular frequency data item from a network node to said wireless UE device; and   based on determining that said wireless UE device's location is within the particular area, apply said particular frequency data item for selective scanning by said wireless UE device.   
     
     
         32 . The wireless UE device of  claim 31 , wherein said selective scanning is performed as one of an initial scan procedure and a background scan procedure. 
     
     
         33 . The wireless UE device of  claim 31 , wherein said selective scanning is performed upon power-up of said wireless UE device or upon losing coverage of a network with which said wireless UE device was previously registered. 
     
     
         34 . The wireless UE device of  claim 31  further comprising: if multiple networks are located by said wireless UE device via selective scanning, applying a prioritization scheme for choosing a particular network for service. 
     
     
         35 . The wireless UE device of  claim 31  further comprising: if multiple networks are located by said wireless UE device via selective scanning, manually choosing a particular network for service. 
     
     
         36 . A wireless user equipment (UE) device comprising a processor configured to execute instructions to cause the wireless UE to:
 determine if said wireless UE device's location is within a particular area defined by a plurality of corners, each corner being defined as a longitude coordinate and a latitude coordinate, wherein said wireless UE's location is determined by using a satellite-based positioning system; and   based on determining that said wireless UE device's location is within the particular area, apply a subset of appropriate frequency data for selective scanning by said wireless UE device, thereby avoiding a full band scan for locating a network.   
     
     
         37 . The wireless UE of  claim 36 , the processor further configured to execute instructions to cause the wireless UE to: if multiple networks are located by said wireless UE device via selective scanning, apply a prioritization scheme for choosing a particular network for service. 
     
     
         38 . A method performed by a wireless user equipment (UE) device, comprising:
 determining if said wireless UE device's location is within a particular area defined by a plurality of corners, each corner being defined as a longitude coordinate and a latitude coordinate, wherein said wireless UE's location is determined by using a satellite-based positioning system; and   based on determining that said wireless UE device's location is within the particular area, applying a subset of appropriate frequency data for selective scanning by said wireless UE device, thereby avoiding a full band scan for locating a network.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising: if multiple networks are located by said wireless UE device via selective scanning, applying a prioritization scheme for choosing a particular network for service.