Operator configurable preferred network and radio access technology selection for roaming multi-rat capable devices
View Patent ↗A multi-RAT capable wireless device and a method for execution in a multi-RAT capable wireless device are provided. The wireless device maintains a registration history of all wireless network,RAT combinations through which the wireless device has previously attempted to register with data communication service registration point. Upon an event triggering network registration, the wireless device identifies a set of available wireless network,RAT combinations, selects an available wireless network,RAT combination from the set of available wireless network,RAT combinations having regard to the registration history and a preferred network,RAT combination list stored at the wireless device and attempts to register with the data communication service registration point through the available wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected. If the attempt is successful, the wireless device receives an update to the preferred network,RAT combination list and updates the preferred network,RAT combination list stored at the wireless device.
1. A method for execution in a multi-RAT (multi-Radio Access Technology) capable wireless device, the method comprising:
maintaining a registration history of all wireless network,RAT combinations through which the wireless device has previously attempted to register with a data communication service registration point;
upon an event triggering network registration, identifying a set of available wireless network,RAT combinations;
selecting an available wireless network,RAT combination from the set of available wireless network,RAT combinations having regard to the registration history and a preferred network,RAT combination list stored at the wireless device;
attempting to register with the data communication service registration point through the available wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected;
if the attempt to register with the data communication service registration point through the available wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected is successful, receiving an update to the preferred network,RAT combination list stored at the wireless device; and
updating the preferred network,RAT combination list stored at the wireless device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
updating the registration history based on the attempt to register with the data communication service registration point through the available wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
if the attempt to register with the data communication service registration point through the available wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected is unsuccessful, selecting an available wireless network,RAT combination from the set of available wireless network,RAT combinations having regard to the preferred network,RAT combination list and the updated registration history.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein maintaining a registration history comprises at least one of:
maintaining an identification of network,RAT combinations through which the wireless device has previously attempted and failed to register with the data communication service registration point; and
maintaining an identification of network,RAT combinations through which the wireless device has previously attempted and succeeded in registering with the data communication service registration point.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein:
maintaining an identification of network,RAT combinations through which the wireless device has previously attempted and failed to register with the data communication service registration point comprises maintaining a blacklist identifying such network,RAT combinations; and
maintaining an identification of network,RAT combinations through which the wireless device has previously attempted and succeeded in registering with the data communication service registration point comprises maintaining a registration list identifying such network,RAT combinations.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein selecting an available wireless network,RAT combination from the set of available wireless network,RAT combinations comprises at least one of:
avoiding selecting an available wireless network,RAT combination from the set of available wireless network,RAT combinations that is included in the blacklist; and
preferentially selecting an available wireless network,RAT combination from the set of available wireless network,RAT combinations that is included in both the preferred network,RAT combination list and the registration list.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
receiving an update to the preferred network,RAT combination list stored at the wireless device comprises receiving a MCC-dependent (Mobile Country Code-dependent) update to the preferred network,RAT combination list that is dependent on a MCC of the network,RAT combination that has been selected; and
the MCC-dependent update identifies preferred wireless network,RAT combinations having the same MCC as the network,RAT combination that has been selected.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the MCC-dependent update further identifies at least one preferred wireless network,RAT combination having a different MCC than the MCC of the wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected, wherein the MCC of the network,RAT combination that has been selected and the at least one different MCC are associated with a defined region.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the update to the preferred network,RAT combination list is included as part of a registration response from the data communication service registration point; and
receiving the update comprises receiving the registration response.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preferred network,RAT combination list stored at the wireless device identifies preferred wireless network,RAT combinations by MCC (Mobile Country Code), MNC (Mobile Network Code), RAT type and at least one of a LAI (Location Area Indicator) and a RAI (Routing Area Indicator).
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the registration history identifies wireless network,RAT combinations by MCC (Mobile Country Code), MNC (Mobile Network Code) and RAT type.
12. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for execution on a wireless device so as to implement the method of claim 1 .
13. A multi-RAT (multi-Radio Access Technology) capable wireless device comprising:
at least one antenna;
a memory for storing a preferred network,RAT combination list and a registration history of wireless network,RAT combinations through which the wireless device has previously attempted to register with a data communication service registration point;
a multi-RAT capable wireless access radio functionally connected to the at least one antenna that, upon an event triggering network registration, identifies available wireless network,RAT combinations;
a network,RAT combination selector that:
selects an available wireless network,RAT combination from the set of available wireless network,RAT combinations having regard to the registration history and the preferred network,RAT combination list;
attempts to register the wireless device with the data communication service registration point through the available wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected; and
if the attempt to register with the data communication service registration point through the available wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected is successful:
receives an update to the preferred network,RAT combination list; and
updates the preferred network,RAT list.
14. The wireless device of claim 13 , wherein the network,RAT combination selector updates the registration history based on the attempt to register with the data communication service registration point through the available wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected.
15. The wireless device of claim 14 , wherein if the attempt to register with the data communication service registration point through the available wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected is unsuccessful, the network,RAT combination selector selects an available wireless network,RAT combination from the set of available wireless network,RAT combinations having regard to the preferred network,RAT combination list and the updated registration history.
16. The wireless device of claim 13 , wherein the registration history comprises at least one of:
a blacklist of network,RAT combinations through which the wireless device has previously attempted and failed to register with the data communication service registration point; and
a registration list of network,RAT combinations through which the wireless device has previously attempted and succeeded in registering with the data communication service registration point.
17. The wireless device of claim 16 , wherein the network,RAT combination selector is configured to at least one of:
avoid selecting an available wireless network,RAT combination from the set of available wireless network,RAT combinations that is included in the blacklist; and
preferentially select an available wireless network,RAT combination from the set of available wireless network,RAT combinations that is included in both the preferred network,RAT combination list and the registration list.
18. The wireless device of claim 13 , wherein:
the network,RAT combination selector attempts to register with the data communication service registration point by generating a registration request that identifies a MCC (Mobile Country Code) of the wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected.
19. The wireless device of claim 13 , wherein the preferred network,RAT combination list stored at the wireless device identifies preferred wireless network,RAT combinations by MCC (Mobile Country Code), MNC (Mobile Network Code), RAT type and at least one of a LAI (Location Area Indicator) and a RAI (Routing Area Indicator).
20. The wireless device of claim 13 , wherein the registration history identifies wireless network,RAT combinations by MCC (Mobile Country Code), MNC (Mobile Network Code) and RAT type.