Roaming network access method and apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a roaming network access method and apparatus, where the method includes: obtaining a mobile country code MCC of a roaming area; obtaining a preferential roaming list, where the preferential roaming list is used to indicate information about at least one network that a user preferentially attempts to register with when the user is roaming; selecting a network that matches the MCC from the preferential roaming list and searching for the selected network; and each time a network is found by the searching, attempting to register with the found network. By means of the roaming network access method and apparatus provided in the embodiments of the present invention, duration of network searching performed by user equipment is shortened, time spent by the user equipment on initial network access in the roaming area is reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a non-volatile memory coupled to the at least one processor and configured to store programming instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:   when the apparatus initially accesses a network in a roaming area, camp on an emergency service cell of the roaming area, wherein the emergency service cell is associated with a first public land mobile network (PLMN);   obtain a mobile country code (MCC) of the emergency service cell according to the first public land mobile network (PLMN);   search for a second PLMN that matches the MCC from a preferential roaming list, wherein the preferential roaming list includes PLMNs and radio access technologies (RATs) supported by the PLMNs; and   register and camp on the second PLMN when the second PLMN is found.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the preferential roaming list is stored in the non-volatile memory of the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second PLMN is different from the first PLMN. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to:
 search for a third PLMN that matches the MCC from the preferential roaming list when the second PLMN fails to register, wherein the third PLMN is different from the second PLMN; and   register and camp on the third PLMN when the third PLMN is found.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the search for a second PLMN includes:
 search a first RAT network in the second PLMN;   wherein the register and camp on the second PLMN when the second PLMN is found includes:   register the first RAT network in the second PLMN when the first RAT network in the second PLMN is found.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to:
 search a second RAT network in the second PLMN when the first RAT network fails to register in the second PLMN; and   register the second RAT network in the second PLMN when the second RAT network in the second PLMN is found.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus initially accesses a network in a roaming area occurs when the apparatus initially turns on in the roaming area. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to:
 when the second PLMN registers successfully, stop the search.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the preferential roaming list includes a frequency band associated with each of the RATs. 
     
     
         10 . A chip, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a non- volatile memory coupled to the at least one processor and configured to store programming instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the chip to:   when the chip initially accesses a network in a roaming area, camp on an emergency service cell of the roaming area, wherein the emergency service cell is associated with a first public land mobile network (PLMN);   obtain a mobile country code (MCC) of the emergency service cell according to the first public land mobile network (PLMN);   search for a second PLMN that matches the MCC from a preferential roaming list, wherein the preferential roaming list includes PLMNs and radio access technologies (RATs) supported by the PLMNs; and   register and camp on the second PLMN when the second PLMN is found.   
     
     
         11 . The chip according to  claim 10 , wherein the preferential roaming list is stored in the non-volatile memory of the chip. 
     
     
         12 . The chip according to  claim 10 , wherein the second PLMN is different from the first PLMN. 
     
     
         13 . The chip according to  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the chip to:
 search for a third PLMN that matches the MCC from the preferential roaming list when the second PLMN fails to register, wherein the third PLMN is different from the second PLMN; and   register and camp on the third PLMN when the third PLMN is found.   
     
     
         14 . The chip according to  claim 10 , wherein the search for a second PLMN comprises:
 search a first RAT network in the second PLMN;   wherein the register and camp on the second PLMN when the second PLMN is found includes:   register the first RAT network in the second PLMN when the first RAT network in the second PLMN is found.   
     
     
         15 . The chip according to  claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the chip to:
 search a second RAT network in the second PLMN when the first RAT network fails to register in the second PLMN; and   register the second RAT network in the second PLMN when the second RAT network in the second PLMN is found.   
     
     
         16 . The chip according to  claim 10 , wherein the chip initially accesses a network in a roaming area when the chip is initially turned on in the roaming area. 
     
     
         17 . The chip according to  claim 10 , wherein the instructions further cause the chip to:
 when the second PLMN registers successfully, stop the search.   
     
     
         18 . The chip according to  claim 10 , wherein the preferential roaming list includes a frequency band associated with each of the RATs. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause an apparatus to:
 when the apparatus initially accesses a network in a roaming area, camp on an emergency service cell of the roaming area, wherein the emergency service cell is associated with a first public land mobile network (PLMN);   obtain a mobile country code (MCC) of the emergency service cell according to the first public land mobile network (PLMN);   search for a second PLMN that matches the MCC from a preferential roaming list, wherein the preferential roaming list includes PLMNs and radio access technologies (RATs) supported by the PLMNs; and   register and camp on the second PLMN when the second PLMN is found.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 19 , wherein the preferential roaming list is stored in the non-volatile memory of the apparatus.