Method for Scanning Services with a Multimode Communication Device

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a group of preferences of service attributes is established based on a determination of a user behavior. A group is generated of user preferences of the group of preferences of service attributes according to a user profile. First and second service attributes from the group of preferences of service attributes are adjusted for each service according to the group of user preferences to achieve a desired balance of service offerings. Available services are identified operating in the television spectrum, and one of the services operating is selected responsive to the adjusting of the first and second service attributes according to the group of user preferences. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 determining, by a base station comprising a processor, a plurality of service attributes of a plurality of services operating in a television spectrum, wherein the plurality of service attributes comprise cost of service, quality of service, radio frequency signal strength, communication range relative to a location of a device, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, or any combination thereof;   identifying, by the base station, currently available services of the plurality of services operating in the television spectrum; and   determining, by the base station, a service of the currently available services based on an attribute of the plurality of service attributes of the service.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the base station, a group of user preferences based on the plurality of service attributes of the service; and   adjusting, by the base station, first and second service attributes of the plurality of service attributes according to the group of user preferences to achieve a desired balance of service offerings,   wherein the determining of the service further comprises selecting the service responsive to the adjusting of the first and second service attributes according to a data rate to cost of service ratio determined for the plurality of services operating in the television spectrum.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 scanning, by the base station, for services of the plurality of services operating in a television spectrum, in a spectrum selected from a group of spectra comprising one of a cellular spectrum, an ultra-wideband spectrum, a wireless fidelity spectrum, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access spectrum, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying of the currently available services comprises scanning, by the base station, the television spectrum for services according to a preference selected from a group of preferences comprising one of a cost of service, a quality of service, a radio frequency signal strength, a communication range, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, or any combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the base station, control channel information indicating available services in the television spectrum, wherein the identifying of the available services comprises scanning the television spectrum for services operating in the television spectrum according to the control channel information.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 establishing, by the base station, a communication identifier list of other communication devices;   detecting, by the base station, a presence of one of the other communication devices operating in the television spectrum; and   facilitating, by the base station, establishment of communications with the one of the other communication devices according to an entry in the communication identifier list.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising preventing, by the base station, other communication devices operating in the television spectrum from detecting a presence of the device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the base station facilitates access to the service of the currently available services by a portable communication device. 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 a memory to store instructions; and   a processing system including a processor coupled to the memory, wherein responsive to execution of the instructions, the processing system facilitates performance of operations comprising:
 determining a plurality of service attributes of a service of a plurality of services operating in a television spectrum, wherein the plurality of service attributes of the service are based on an evaluation of a behavior of a user, wherein the plurality of service attributes of the service comprise cost of service, quality of service, radio frequency signal strength of, communication range relative to a location of a device, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, or any combination thereof; 
 identifying available services operating in the television spectrum; and 
 determining a service of the plurality of services according to an attribute of the plurality of service attributes of the service. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the determining of the service of the plurality of services is based on a comparison between a quality of service offering and cost of service offering of a communication network operating in the television spectrum. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving control channel information indicating available services operating in the television spectrum, and wherein the identifying of the available services comprises scanning for services operating in the television spectrum according to the control channel information.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 monitoring a use behavior of services by an end user to obtain a monitored use behavior; and   identifying a service preference from the monitored use behavior, wherein the identifying of the available services comprises scanning for services operating in the television spectrum according to the service preference.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 establishing a contact list of other devices;   detecting from the one of the plurality of services a presence of one of the other devices utilizing the one of the plurality of services; and   facilitating establishment of communications with the one of the other devices according to an identifier in the contact list.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one of the plurality of services is one of a group of services comprising one of full-duplex voice service, a half-duplex voice service, a location service, a video service, a text messaging service, an instant messaging service, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising facilitating access to the service of the available services by a portable communication device. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the identifying of the available services comprises scanning for services according to preferences selected from a group of service attributes comprising one of a cost of service, a quality of service, a radio frequency signal strength, a communication range, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A machine-readable storage medium, comprising machine-readable instructions that, responsive to being executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:
 determining a plurality of service attributes of a service of a plurality of services operating in a television spectrum, wherein the plurality of service attributes of the service are based on a determining of a behavior of a user, wherein the plurality of service attributes of the service comprise cost of service, quality of service, radio frequency signal strength, communication range, hand-off capabilities of neighboring base stations, or any combination thereof;   identifying a plurality of available services operating in a television spectrum; and   selecting one of the plurality of available services operating in the television spectrum as a selected service based on a service attribute of the plurality of the service attributes.   
     
     
         18 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein a communication device receives a selection of a service of the available services operating in the television spectrum. 
     
     
         19 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein the communication device selects the service operating in the television spectrum according to a comparison between a quality of service offering and a cost of service offering of each service of the plurality of services. 
     
     
         20 . The machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving from a user interface, a selection of a service in operating the television spectrum; and   facilitating enablement of the selected service.