Apparatus and method for making measurements in universal mobile telecommunications system user equipment

1. A method for taking measurements in a user equipment device (UE), the UE configured for use in a mobile telecommunications system comprising a network of a plurality of cells, the method comprising:

scanning one or more frequency bands to generate measurement data for signals received from cells of the network prior to cell selection, when the UE is not camped on a cell; and

identifying from the measurement data a first cell which best meets a cell selection criterion;

determining whether the first cell is suitable; and

when the first cell is deemed unsuitable, re-initiating scanning of the one of more frequency bands while omitting to scan the first cell to generate measurement data for signals received from the cells other than the first cell;

identifying form the measurement data a second cell which best meets a cell selection criteria; and

determining whether the second cell is suitable.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising when the first cell is deemed unsuitable, and when the one or more frequency bands are a plurality of frequency bands, re-initiating the scanning with the omission from the scan of the frequency band in which the first cell was received by the UE.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first cell is deemed unsuitable when the first cell is barred with the “intra-frequency cell-reselection indicator” set to “not allowed”.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising determining whether the measurement data meets a predetermined criterion and storing the measurement data in an order relative to the meeting of the criterion.

5. A method according to claim 1 claim 4 further comprising:

identifying from the stored measurement data the first cell; and

when the first cell is deemed unsuitable, identifying from the stored measurement data a next cell, the next cell having the next strongest signal at any of the one or more frequencies and determining whether the next cell is suitable.

6. An apparatus for taking measurements in a user equipment device (UE), the UE configured for use in a mobile telecommunications system, comprising a network of a plurality of cells, the apparatus comprising:

a micro-processor;

memory operably connected to the micro-processor, the memory having software thereon configured to be executable by the micro-processor, and further configured such that when executed the software has the ability to:

scan one or more frequency bands prior to cell selection, when the UE is not camped on a cell;

generate measurement data for signals received on the frequency bands;

identify, from the generated measurement data, a first cell which best meets a cell selection criterion;

determine whether the first cell is suitable or unsuitable, and if the first cell is unsuitable to re-initiate a scan of the one or more frequency bands step further omitting from the scan the first cell to generate measurement data for signals received from cells other than the first cell;

identifying from the measurement data a second cell which best meets a cell selection criteria; and

determining whether the second cell is suitable.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 further arranged, when the first cell is deemed unsuitable, and when the one or more frequency bands are a plurality of frequency bands, re-initiating the scanning with the omission from the scan of the frequency band in which the first cell was received by the UE.