System and method for improved band-channel scanning and network switching

1. A client device configured to access a plurality of networks via one or more base stations, the client device comprising:

a radio access interface configured to access the one or more base stations;

a memory storing instructions; and

a processor, coupled to the radio access interface and the memory, that executes the instructions to:

connect to a first network of the plurality of networks;

scan for one or more other available networks;

determine that at least one other network is available;

receive a set of candidate bands or channels for connection to the at least one other network, the set of candidate bands or channels being identified based on a location of the client device and connectivity information from a plurality of client devices;

programmatically analyze one or more characteristics of the at least one other network using the set of candidate bands or channels to determine if the at least one other network provides improved service over the first network; and

responsive to determining that the at least one other network provides improved service, switch to the at least one other network.

2. The client device of claim 1 , wherein the scanning for one or more other available networks is performed periodically as a background process of the client device.

3. The client device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics of the at least one other network include carrier, radio access technology, or radio signal strength.

4. The client device of claim 1 , wherein switching to the at least one other network includes switching to a preferred channel or band based on a set of candidate channels or bands received from a server.

5. The client device of claim 1 , wherein the radio access interface includes one or more of a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) interface, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network interface, or a Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) network interface.

6. The client device of claim 1 , wherein the improved service includes one or more of a tier of service higher than a tier of service of the first network, or a signal strength higher than a signal strength of the first network.

7. A method comprising:

connecting a client device to a first network using a radio access interface of the client device;

after the connecting, scanning for one or more other available networks;

determining that at least one other network is available;

receiving a set of candidate bands or channels for connection to the at least one other network, the set of candidate bands or channels being identified based on a location of the client device and connectivity information from a plurality of client devices;

programmatically analyzing one or more characteristics of the at least one other network using the set of candidate bands or channels to determine if the at least one other network provides improved service over the first network; and

responsive to determining that the at least one other network provides improved service, switching to the at least one other network.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the scanning for one or more other available networks is performed periodically as a background process of the client device.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more characteristics of the at least one other network include carrier, radio access technology, or radio signal strength.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein switching to the at least one other network includes switching to a preferred channel or band based on a set of candidate channels or bands received from a server.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the radio access interface includes one or more of a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) interface, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network interface, or a Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) network interface.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the improved service includes one or more of a tier of service higher than a tier of service of the first network, or a signal strength higher than a signal strength of the first network.

13. A nontransitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

connecting a client device to a first network using a radio access interface of the client device;

scanning for one or more other available networks;

determining that at least one other network is available;

receiving a set of candidate bands or channels for connection to the at least one other network, the set of candidate bands or channels identified based on a location of the client device and connectivity information from a plurality of client devices;

programmatically analyzing one or more characteristics of the at least one other network using the set of candidate bands or channels to determine if the at least one other network provides improved service over the first network; and

responsive to determining that the at least one other network provides improved service, switching to the at least one other network.

14. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions for the operation of scanning include instructions to perform the scanning as a background process.

15. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the one or more characteristics of the at least one other network include carrier, radio access technology, or radio signal strength.

16. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein switching to the at least one other network includes switching to a preferred channel or band based on a set of candidate channels or bands received from a server.

17. The nontransitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the improved service includes one or more of a tier of service higher than a tier of service of the first network, or a signal strength higher than a signal strength of the first network.