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 radio access network using radio access technology that uses a Primary Common Control Physical Channel and uses Master Information Blocks, System Information Blocks or both, the method comprising, at a mobile communications device:

searching for a cell on a 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

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 setting up the Primary Common Control Physical Channel and without reading Master Information Blocks and/or System Information Blocks for the cell.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein after the checking to see if the cell is a barred cell is performed a check is performed to determine whether 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 is performed before attempting to camp on to the cell.

5. 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.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the checking to see if the cell is a barred cell comprises checking stored information.

7. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

conditional on identifying the cell as not being a barred cell attempting to camp on to the cell.

8. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

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

9. A mobile communication device for use in a radio access network covering a geographical area divided into a plurality of cells, the radio access network using radio access technology that uses a Primary Common Control Physical Channel and uses Master Information Blocks, System Information Blocks or both, the mobile communication device 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:

search for a cell on a 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

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 setting up the Primary Common Control Physical Channel and without reading Master Information Blocks and/or System Information Blocks for the cell.

10. A mobile communication device according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are operative to check to see if the cell is a barred cell is performed and subsequently checking that the cell is a suitable cell on criteria other than the cell being barred.

11. A mobile communication device according to claim 9 , 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 checking that the cell is a suitable cell on criteria other than the cell being barred.

12. A mobile communication device according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are operative to checking to see if the cell is a barred cell before attempting to camp on to the cell.

13. A mobile communication device according to claim 9 , 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 are performed, without attempting to camp on to the cell.

14. A mobile communication device according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are further operative to: check to see if the cell is a barred cell by checking stored information.

15. A mobile communication device according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

attempt, conditional on identifying the cell as not being a barred cell, to camp on to the cell.

16. A mobile communication device according to claim 9 , 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.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor perform a method, including, when using a radio access technology that uses a Primary Common Control Physical Channel and uses Master Information Blocks, System Information Blocks or both, to:

search for a cell on a 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

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 setting up the Primary Common Control Physical Channel and without reading Master Information Blocks and/or System Information Blocks for the cell.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17 , further including computer executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor perform a method wherein, after the checking to see if the cell is a barred cell is performed, a check is performed to determine whether the cell is a suitable cell on criteria other than the cell being barred.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17 , further including computer executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor perform a method 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.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17 , further including computer executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor perform a method wherein the checking to see if the cell is a barred cell is performed before attempting to camp on to the cell.