Apparatus and method for handling a connection reject message

1. A method, in a wireless communications device, the method comprising:

receiving from a first radio access technology (RAT) a reject message, the reject message indicating a period of time;

camping on a cell of a second RAT;

disallowing camping on a cell of the first RAT until the period of time has elapsed, and in response to the period of time elapsing: allowing camping on the cell of the first RAT;

unless in the period of time the wireless communications device receives a further message indicating that the first RAT has confirmed it will accept a connection from the wireless communication device, when in response to receipt of the message: allowing camping on the cell of the first RAT;

wherein the method further comprising determining whether the further message is valid; and

wherein the reject message includes a pointer to the value of the period of time, the value of the period of time previously stored in the wireless communications device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein disallowing camping on a cell of the first RAT comprises:

rejecting a cell change order to the first RAT;

disallowing rove-out to first RAT; and

disabling cell-reselection to the first RAT.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the further message is at least one of:

a handover complete message; and

a handover request message.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the period of time indicated by the reject message is a period of time during which the wireless communications device should wait before attempting to connect to the first RAT.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reject message includes the value of the period of time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first RAT is Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and the reject message is an RRC Connection Reject Message.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second RAT is one of a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network and a Generic Access Network (GAN).

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reject message indicates the second RAT.

9. A wireless communications device comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals;

a processor; and

a memory having stored therein: one or more routines executable by the processor, the one or more routines being adapted to:

receive from a first RAT a reject message, the reject message indicating a period of time;

camp on a cell of a second RAT;

disallow camping on a cell of the first RAT until the period of time has elapsed, and in response to the period of time elapsing: allow camping on the cell of the first RAT;

unless in the period of time the wireless communications device receives a further message indicating that the first RAT has confirmed it will accept a connection from the wireless communication device, when in response to receipt of the further message: allow camping on the cell of the first RAT;

determine whether the further message is valid; and

wherein the reject message includes a pointer to the value of the period of time, the value of the period of time previously stored in the wireless communications device.

10. The wireless communications device of claim 9 , wherein disallowing camping on a cell of the first RAT comprises:

rejecting a cell change order to the first RAT;

disallowing rove-out to first RAT; and

disabling cell-reselection to the first RAT.

11. The wireless communications device of claim 9 , wherein the further message is at least one of:

a handover complete message; and

a handover request message.

12. The wireless communications device of claim 9 , wherein the period of time indicated by the reject message is a period of time during which the wireless communications device should wait before attempting to connect to the first RAT.

13. The wireless communications device of claim 9 , wherein the reject message includes the value of the period of time.

14. The wireless communications device of claim 9 , wherein the first RAT is UMTS and the reject message is an Radio Resource Control (RRC) Connection Reject Message.

15. The wireless communications device of claim 9 , wherein the second RAT is one of a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network and a Generic Access Network (GAN).

16. The wireless communications device of claim 9 , wherein the reject message indicates the second RAT.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions encoded thereon, the computer-executable instructions adapted to cause a wireless communications device to:

receive from a first RAT a reject message, a reject message indicating a period of time;

camp on a cell of a second RAT;

disallow camping on a cell of the first RAT until the period of time has elapsed, and in response to the period of time elapsing: allow camping on the cell of the first RAT;

unless in the period of time the wireless communications device receives a further message indicating that the first RAT has confirmed it will accept a connection from the wireless communication device, when in response to receipt of the further message: allow camping on the cell of the first RAT;

determine whether the further message is valid; and

wherein the reject message includes a pointer to the value of the period of time, the value of the period of time previously stored in the wireless communications device.