Storing Wi-Fi and cellular tower database to assist cellular network system selection

1. A method of selecting a cellular network, the method comprising:

storing a location database in a memory of a user equipment, the location database providing location data for one or more locations each identified by a unique identifier;

determining a last time T off a radio of the user equipment was powered off;

powering up the radio of the user equipment at a time T on ; and

if the time lapsed between T on and T off is greater than a threshold, performing the steps of:

detecting a Wi-Fi signal;

obtaining a MAC address from the Wi-Fi signal;

in response to obtaining the MAC address, determining a current location of the user equipment by looking up the MAC address as the identifier in the location database, wherein the location database comprises Wi-Fi Access Point MAC addresses and corresponding cellular tower identification information including a Mobile Country Code (MCC);

reordering cellular network frequency bands based on the current location of the user equipment to define a band priority, wherein the reordering step comprises modifying the priority order of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) list or a registered PLMN (RPLMN) list in dependence on the location of the user equipment; and

selecting the cellular network frequency band based on the band priority.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein detecting the Wi-Fi signal comprises passively scanning for a Wi-Fi beacon signal broadcast by a Wi-Fi access point.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein detecting the Wi-Fi signal occurs in response to activating a cellular radiofrequency transceiver.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

limiting a total scan time for detecting the Wi-Fi signal.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into a memory and executed by a processor of a user equipment cause the user equipment to:

store a location database in a memory of the user equipment, the location database providing location data for one or more locations each identified by a unique identifier;

determine a last time T off a radio of the user equipment was powered off;

power up the radio of the user equipment at a time T on ;

if the time lapsed between T on and T off is greater than a threshold, perform the steps of:

detecting a Wi-Fi signal;

obtaining a MAC address from the Wi-Fi signal;

in response to obtaining the MAC address, determining a current location of the user equipment by looking up the MAC address in the location database, wherein the location database comprises Wi-Fi Access Point MAC addresses and corresponding cellular tower identification information including Mobile Country Code (MCC);

reordering cellular network frequency bands based on the current location of the user equipment to define a band priority, wherein reordering comprises modifying the priority order of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) list or a registered PLMN (RPLMN) list in dependence on the location of the user equipment; and

selecting the cellular network frequency band based on the band priority.

6. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 5 comprising code to cause the user equipment to passively scan for a Wi-Fi beacon signal broadcast by a Wi-Fi access point.

7. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 5 wherein the code to detect the Wi-Fi signal is executed in response to activating a cellular radiofrequency transceiver.

8. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 5 further comprising code for causing the user equipment to limit a total scan time for detecting the Wi-Fi signal.

9. A user equipment comprising:

a memory for storing a location database that includes location data for one or more locations each identified by a unique identifier;

a Wi-Fi receiver; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory to:

determine a last time T off a radio of the user equipment was powered off;

power up the radio of the user equipment at a time T on ; and

if the time lapsed between T on and T off is greater than a threshold, perform the steps of:

detecting a Wi-Fi signal with the Wi-Fi receiver;

obtaining a MAC address from the Wi-Fi signal;

in response to obtaining the MAC address, determining a current location of the user equipment by looking up the MAC address as the identifier in the location database, the location database comprising Wi-Fi Access Point MAC addresses and corresponding cellular tower information including Mobile Country Code (MCC);

reordering cellular network frequency bands based on the current location of the user equipment to define a band priority by modifying the priority order of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) list or a registered PLMN (RPLMN) list in dependent on the location of the user equipment; and

selecting the cellular network based on the band priority.

10. The user equipment as claimed in claim 9 wherein the Wi-Fi transceiver detects the Wi-Fi signal by scanning for a Wi-Fi beacon signal.

11. The user equipment as claimed in claim 9 wherein the processor initiates detection of the Wi-Fi signal in response to activating a cellular radiofrequency transceiver.

12. The user equipment as claimed in claim 9 wherein the processor is configured to limit a total scan time for detecting the Wi-Fi signal.

13. The user equipment as claimed in claim 9 wherein the location data base also includes prioritized Radio Access Technologies.

14. The user equipment as claimed in claim 9 wherein the location database also includes prioritized absolute radio-frequency channel numbers (ARFCN).