Network selection methods and apparatus with home network prioritization in country border regions

1. A method of selecting a communication network by a mobile station associated with a home communication network having a home mobile country code (MCC), the method comprising:

selecting and operating with a communication network having a visiting MCC different from the home MCC of the home communication network;

setting and running a periodic home public land mobile network (HPLMN) timer in response to operating with the communication network having the visiting MCC;

in response to each expiration of the periodic HPLMN timer while operating with the communication network having the visiting MCC:

scanning to identify a plurality of communication networks in a coverage area within which the mobile station is operating;

receiving, from the step of scanning, a plurality of mobile network code (MNC) and MCC pairs associated with the plurality of communication networks;

if the home communication network having the home MCC is identified as being available by the scanning, selecting and operating with the home communication network; and

otherwise, if the communication network having the visiting MCC is identified as being available by the scanning, continuing operation with the communication network having the visiting MCC.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the home MCC is associated with a first country and the visiting MCC is associated with a second country which shares a border with the first country.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is based on European Technical Standards Institute (ETSI) specification 23.122.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication networks comprise Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication networks are operative in accordance with Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM).

6. A mobile station associated with a home communication network having a home Mobile Country Code (MCC), the mobile station comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

an antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver;

one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver;

said one or more processors being configured to select a communication network through which to communicate by:

selecting and operating with a communication network having a visiting MCC different from the home MCC of the home communication network;

setting and running a periodic home public land mobile network (HPLMN) timer in response to operating with the second communication network;

in response to each expiration of the periodic HPLMN timer while operating with the second communication network:

scanning to identify a plurality of communication networks in a coverage area within which the mobile station is operating;

receiving, from the step of scanning, a plurality of mobile network code (MNC) and MCC pairs associated with the plurality of communication networks;

if the home communication network having the home MCC is identified as being available by the scanning, selecting and operating with the home communication network; and

otherwise, if the communication network having the visiting MCC is identified as being available by the scanning, continuing operation with the communication network having the visiting MCC.

7. The mobile station of claim 6 , wherein the home MCC is associated with a first country and the visiting MCC is associated with a second country which shares a border with the first country.

8. The mobile station of claim 6 , wherein the configuration of the one or more processors to select a communication network is based on European Technical Standards Institute (ETSI) specification 23.122.

9. The mobile station of claim 6 , wherein the communication networks comprise Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs).

10. The mobile station of claim 6 , wherein the communication networks are operative in accordance with Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM).

11. A communication system, comprising:

a first communication network having a first Mobile Country Code (MCC) associated with a first country;

a second communication network having a second MCC associated with a second country;

one or more mobile stations which are operable with the first and the second communication networks;

the one or more mobile stations having the first communication network designated as its home communication network;

the one or more mobile stations being operative to:

select and operate with the second communication network having the second MCC;

set and run a periodic home public land mobile network HPLMN timer in response to operating with the second communication network;

in response to each expiration of the periodic home network timer while operating with the second communication network:

scan to identify a plurality of communication networks in a coverage area within which the mobile station is operating;

receive, from the step of scanning, a plurality of mobile network code (MNC) and MCC pairs associated with the plurality of communication networks;

if the first communication network having the first MCC is identified as being available by the scan, select and operate with the first communication network; and

otherwise, if the second communication network having the second MCC is identified as being available by the scan, continuing operation with the second communication network having the second MCC.

12. The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the first country shares a common border with the second country.

13. The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the operation of the one or more mobile stations for network selection is based on European Technical Standards Institute (ETSI) specification 23.122.

14. The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the communication networks comprise Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs).

15. The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the communication networks are operative in accordance with Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM).

16. A method of selecting a communication network by a mobile station associated with a home communication network having a home mobile country code (MCC) associated with a first country, the method comprising:

selecting and operating with a communication network having a visiting MCC associated with a second country which shares a border with the first country;

setting and running a periodic Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) timer in response to operating with the communication network having the visiting MCC;

in response to each expiration of the periodic HPLMN tinier while operating with the communication network having the visiting MCC:

scanning to identify a plurality of communication networks in a coverage area within which the mobile station is operating;

receiving, from the step of scanning, a plurality of mobile network code (MNC) and MCC pairs associated with the plurality of communication networks;

if the home communication network having the home MCC is identified as being available by the scanning, selecting and operating with the home communication network; and

otherwise, if the communication network having the visiting MCC is identified as being available by the scanning, continuing operation with the communication network having the visiting MCC.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the communication networks comprise Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs).

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the method is based on European Technical Standards Institute (ETSI) specification 23.122.