Select band-scanning by a multi-sim user equipment (UE) in a wireless communications system

1. A method of searching for a set of networks upon which to camp at a wireless communications device including a plurality of subscriber identity modules (SIMs), comprising:

determining a first set of bands that is associated with a first of the plurality of SIMs;

determining a second set of bands that is associated with a second of the plurality of SIMs;

generating a combined band that includes at least the first set of bands and the second set of bands; and

scanning the combined band to detect a set of target networks for camping in association with at least the first and second SIMs.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scanning step is performed in response to an initial power-up of the wireless communications device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scanning step is performed in response to an Out-of-Service (OOS) condition at the wireless communications device.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting one of the detected set of target networks for the first SIM based on the scanning step; and

attempting to camp the first SIM on the selected target network.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the selecting step is restricted to selecting the selected target network from among the first set of bands.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting one of the detected set of target networks for the second SIM based on the scanning step; and

attempting to camp the second SIM on the selected target network.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the selecting step is restricted to selecting the selected target network from among the second set of bands.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein, prior to the scanning step, the first and second SIMs are already camped on lower-priority networks.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the lower-priority networks are Visited Public Land Mobile Networks (VPLMNs) of the first and second SIMs.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining whether the detected set of target networks includes one or more higher-priority networks relative to the first SIM and/or the second SIM.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

if the detected set of target networks is determined to include one or more higher-priority networks relative to the first SIM,

selecting one of the one or more higher-priority networks for the first SIM, and

attempting to camp the first SIM on the selected higher-priority network.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the selecting step is restricted to selecting the selected higher-priority network from among the first set of bands.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

if the detected set of target networks is determined to include one or more higher-priority networks relative to the second SIM,

selecting one of the one or more higher-priority networks for the second SIM, and

attempting to camp the second SIM on the selected higher-priority network.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the selecting step is restricted to selecting the selected higher-priority network from among the second set of bands.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detected set of target networks corresponds to one or more Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs).

16. A method of searching for a set of networks upon which to camp at a wireless communications device including a plurality of subscriber identity modules (SIMs), comprising:

determining a first set of bands that is associated with a first of the plurality of SIMs;

scanning the first set of bands to detect a first set of target networks for camping in association with the first SEM;

determining a second set of bands that is associated with a second of the plurality of SIMs;

generating a modified second set of hands by excluding, from the second set of bands, one or more bands that overlap with the first set of hands; and

scanning the modified second set of bands to detect a second set of target networks for camping in association with the second SIM.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the scanning of the first set of bands is performed in response to an initial power-up of the wireless communications device.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the scanning of the first set of bands is performed in response to an Out-of-Service (OOS) condition at the wireless communications device.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

selecting one of the first set of target networks; and

attempting to camp the first SIM on the selected target network.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the selecting step is restricted to selecting the selected target network from among the first set of bands.

21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

storing scan-results based on the scan of the first set of bands;

selecting a target network from among (i) the second set of target networks and (ii) the stored first set of target networks; and

attempting to camp the second SIM on the selected target network.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the selecting step is restricted to selecting the selected target network from among the second set of bands,

23. The method of claim 16 , wherein, prior to the scanning of the first set of bands, the first and second SIMs are already camped on lower-priority networks.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising:

determining whether the first set of target networks includes one or more higher-priority networks relative to the first SIM; and

determining whether the first or second set of target networks includes one or more higher-priority networks relative to the second SIM.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising;

if the first set of target networks is determined to include one or more higher-priority networks relative to the first SIM,

selecting one of the one or more higher-priority networks, and

attempting to camp the first SIM on the selected higher-priority network.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the selecting step is restricted to selecting the selected higher-priority network from among the first set of bands.

27. The method of claim 24 , further comprising:

if the first or second set of target networks is determined to include one or more higher-priority networks relative to the second SIM,

selecting one of the one or more higher-priority networks, and

attempting to camp the second SIM on the selected higher-priority network.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the selecting step is restricted to selecting the selected higher-priority network from among the second set of bands.

29. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

storing scan-results based on the scan of the first set of bands;

storing scan-results based on the scan of the second set of bands;

determining a third set of bands that is associated with a third of the plurality of SIMs;

generating a modified third set of bands by excluding, from the third set of bands, one or more bands that overlap with the first set of bands and/or the second set of bands; and

scanning the modified third set of bands to detect a third set of target networks for camping in association with the third SIM.

30. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first and second detected sets of target networks correspond to one or more Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs).

31. A wireless communications device including a. plurality of subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and configured to search for a set of networks upon which to camp, comprising:

means for determining a first set of bands that is associated with a first of the plurality of SIMs;

means for determining a second set of bands that is associated with a second of the plurality of SIMs;

means for generating a combined band that includes at least the first set of bands and the second set of bands; and

means for scanning the combined band to detect a set of target networks for camping in association with at least the first and second SIMs.

32. A wireless communications device including a plurality of subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and configured to search for a set of networks upon which to camp, comprising:

means for determining a first set of bands that is associated with a first of the plurality of SIMs;

means for scanning the first set of bands to detect a first set of target networks for camping in association with the first SIM;

means for determining a second set of bands that is associated with a second of the plurality of SIMs;

means for generating a modified second set of bands by excluding, from the second set of bands, one or more bands that overlap with the first set of bands; and

means for scanning the modified second set of bands to detect a second set of target networks for camping in association with the second SIM.

33. A wireless communications device including, a plurality of subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and configured to search for a set of networks upon which to camp, comprising:

logic configured to determine a first set of bands that is associated with a first of the plurality of SIMs;

logic configured to determine a second set of bands that is associated with a second of the plurality of SIMs;

logic configured to generate a combined band that includes at least the first set of bands and the second set of bands; and

logic configured to scan the combined band to detect a set of target networks for camping in association with at least the first and second SIMs.

34. A wireless communications device including a plurality of subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and configured to search for a set of networks upon which to camp, comprising:

logic configured to determine a first set of bands that is associated with a first of the plurality of SIMs;

logic configured to scan the first set of bands to detect a first set of target networks for camping in association with the first SIM;

logic configured to determine a second set of bands that is associated with a second of the plurality of SIMs;

logic, configured to generate a modified second set of bands by excluding, from the second set of bands, one or More bands that overlap with the first set of bands; and

logic configured to scan the modified second set of bands to detect a second set of target networks for camping in association with the second SIM.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a wireless communications device including a plurality of subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and configured to search for a set of networks upon which to camp, cause the wireless communications device to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to determine a first set of bands that is associated with a first of the plurality of SIMs;

program code to determine a second set of bands that is associated with a second of the plurality of SIMs;

program code to generate a combined band that includes at least the first set of bands and the second set of bands; and

program code to scan the combined band to detect a set of target networks for camping in association with at least the first and second SIMs.

36. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a wireless communications device including a plurality of subscriber identity modules (SIMs) and configured to search for a set of networks upon which to camp, cause the wireless communications device to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to determine as first set of bands that is associated with a first of the plurality of SIMs:

program code to scan the first set of bands to detect a first set of target networks for camping in association with the first SIM;

program code to determine, a second set of bands that is associated with a second of the plurality of SIMs;

program code to generate a modified second set of bands by excluding, from the second set of bands, one or more bands that overlap with the first set of bands; and

program code to scan the modified second set of bands to detect a second set of target networks for camping in association with the second SIM.