Control of mobile telecommunication devices
A method for operating a mobile telecommunications device connected to a first mobile telecommunications network having a country code identifying a first country includes determining whether the mobile telecommunications device crosses from the first country into a second country. The method also includes, if the mobile telecommunications device crosses from the first country into the second country, scanning, through the mobile telecommunications device, for mobile telecommunications networks discoverable to the mobile communications device, where each discoverable mobile telecommunications network has a country code identifying a service country of that mobile telecommunications network. Additionally, the method includes offering to a user of the mobile telecommunications device to manually connect the mobile telecommunications device to the discoverable mobile telecommunications networks in order of priority on a prioritized roaming list associated with the mobile telecommunications device and having a country code not identifying the first country.
1 . A mobile telecommunications system comprising:
a mobile telecommunications device; and
one or more controllers collectively programmed with the following instructions:
store in memory a first country code for a mobile telecommunications network to which the mobile telecommunications device is attached;
determine that the mobile telecommunications device has crossed a country border;
perform a first search for private land mobile networks detectable by the mobile telecommunications device that have a country code different from the first country code;
determine that no private land mobile network has been detected by the first search;
wait a predetermined time and perform a second search of private land mobile networks detectable by the mobile telecommunications device that have a country code different from the first country code;
determine that at least one private land mobile network has been detected by the second search;
create a list of “n” private land mobile networks detected by the second search;
set a counter “k”, wherein k indexes from 1 to n;
select a kth private land mobile network in the list;
offer to a user to perform manual private land mobile network selection of the kth private land mobile network in the list; and
upon success in attaching to the kth private land mobile network in the list, set the mobile telecommunications device to automatic private land mobile network selection.
2 . The mobile telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein “n” is greater than one.
3 . The mobile telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile telecommunications device is a cellular telecommunications module fixedly mounted in a motor vehicle.
4 . The mobile telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile telecommunications device is a cellular mobile handset.
5 . The mobile telecommunications system of claim 1 , wherein the instruction to determine that the mobile telecommunications device has crossed a country border includes instructions to:
sense a position of the mobile telecommunications device; and
compare the position of the mobile telecommunications device to a position of the country border.
6 . The mobile telecommunications system of claim 5 , wherein the instruction to sense the position of the mobile telecommunications device includes using GPS.
7 . A method for operating a mobile telecommunications system that includes a mobile telecommunications device, the method comprising, through one or more controllers:
storing in memory a first country code for a mobile telecommunications network to which the mobile telecommunications device is attached;
determining that the mobile telecommunications device has crossed a country border;
performing a first search for private land mobile networks detectable by the mobile telecommunications device that have a country code different from the first country code;
determining that no private land mobile network has been detected by the first search;
waiting a predetermined time and performing a second search of private land mobile networks detectable by the mobile telecommunications device that have a country code different from the first country code;
determining that at least one private land mobile network has been detected by the second search;
creating a list of “n” private land mobile networks detected by the second search;
setting a counter “k”, wherein k indexes from 1 to n;
selecting a kth private land mobile network in the list;
offering to a user to perform manual private land mobile network selection of the kth private land mobile network in the list; and
upon success in attaching to the kth private land mobile network in the list, setting the mobile telecommunications device to automatic private land mobile network selection.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein “n” is greater than one.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the mobile telecommunications device is a cellular telecommunications module fixedly mounted in a motor vehicle.
10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the mobile telecommunications device is a cellular mobile handset.
11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein determining that the mobile telecommunications device has crossed a country border further comprises:
sensing a position of the mobile telecommunications device; and
comparing the position of the mobile telecommunications device to a position of the country border.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein sensing the position of the mobile telecommunications device comprises using GPS.