Method for cell selection in a radio access network

1. A method for cell selection in a radio access network covering a geographical area divided into a plurality of cells, the method comprising at a mobile communications device:

performing frequency scanning of all bands supported by the mobile communications device to obtain a signal strength indicator value for each frequency;

sorting the frequencies according to the signal strength by sorting them by their respective signal strength indicator values;

starting with the frequency with the highest signal strength indicator value, searching for a cell on the frequency;

when a cell is found on the frequency, checking to see if the cell is a barred cell; and

conditional on identifying the cell as a barred cell performing a search for a cell on another frequency, if there is one;

when the cell is not a barred cell, checking whether the cell is a suitable cell and, when the cell is a suitable cell, attempt to camp on the cell and, when the cell is not a suitable cell, performing a search for a cell on another frequency, if there is one.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the checking to see if the cell is a barred cell is performed before checking that the cell is a suitable cell on criteria other than the cell being barred.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the checking to see if the cell is a barred cell and the conditional on identifying the cell as a barred cell performing a search for a cell on another frequency are performed without checking that the cell is a suitable cell on criteria other than the cell being barred.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the checking to see if the cell is a barred cell and the conditional on identifying the cell as a barred cell performing a search for a cell on another frequency are performed without attempting to camp on to the cell.

5. A mobile communication device for use in a radio access network covering a geographical area divided into a plurality of cells, comprising:

one or more processors;

a wireless transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

the one or more processors being operative to:

perform frequency scanning of all bands supported by the mobile communications device to obtain a signal strength indicator value for each frequency;

sort the frequencies according to the signal strength by sorting them by their respective signal strength indicator values;

starting with the frequency with the highest signal strength indicator value, search for a cell on the frequency;

when a cell is found on the frequency, check to see if the cell is a barred cell; and

conditional on identifying the cell as a barred cell perform a search for a cell on another frequency, if there is one;

when the cell is not a barred cell, checking whether the cell is a suitable cell and, when the cell is a suitable cell, attempt to camp on the cell and, when the cell is not a suitable cell, perform a search for a cell on another frequency, if there is one.

6. A mobile communication device according to claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are operative to (i) check to see if the cell is a barred cell and (ii) conditional on identifying the cell as a barred cell perform a search for a cell on another frequency, without attempting to camp on to the cell.

7. A mobile communication device according to claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

check, conditional on identifying the cell as not being a barred cell, that the cell is a suitable cell on criteria other than the cell being barred.

8. A non-transitory computer program product comprising program code stored on a computer readable medium, the program code arranged, in use, to:

perform frequency scanning of all bands supported by a mobile communications device to obtain a signal strength indicator value for each frequency;

sort the frequencies according to the signal strength by sorting them by their respective signal strength indicator values;

starting with the frequency with the highest signal strength indicator value, search for a cell on the frequency;

when a cell is found on the frequency, check to see if the cell is a barred cell; and

conditional on identifying the cell as a barred cell perform a search for a cell on another frequency, if there is one;

when the cell is not a barred cell, checking whether the cell is a suitable cell and, when the cell is a suitable cell, attempt to camp on the cell and, when the cell is not a suitable cell, perform a search for a cell on another frequency, if there is one.