Methods and apparatus for use in controlling scanning operations in a mobile communication device

1. A method for use in a mobile communication device for controlling scanning operations, the method comprising:

storing a calendar application in memory of the mobile communication device, the calendar application being configured to receive and store calendar appointment data corresponding to one or more stored calendar appointments, at least some of the stored calendar appointments being associated with a stored indicator data comprising a telephone number which indicate that the stored calendar appointment involves a communication session with a terminal which may be contacted at the telephone number; and

in response to identifying when one of the stored calendar appointments is associated with a stored indicator data indication for a communication session that is imminent, and detecting that the mobile communication device is out-of-coverage and therefore fails to have a wireless network connection, triggering a scanning operation for identifying a wireless communication network for communications.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

refraining from triggering the scanning operation when none of the stored calendar appointments is imminent.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, via a user interface, the calendar appointment data; and

storing the calendar appointment data in the memory, the calendar information including a date and time of the call appointment.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile communication device comprises a cellular telephone and the wireless communication network cellular telecommunication network.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing scanning operations at a scan rate;

varying the scan rate to vary based on a duration of time over which repeated scanning operations fail to identify a suitable wireless communication network for communication.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing scanning operations at a scan rate;

varying the scan rate based on a predefined relationship with a duration of time over which repeated scanning operations fail to identify a suitable wireless communication network for communication, the predefined relationship being such that, as the duration of time increases, the scan rate decreases.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting an out-of-coverage condition where the mobile communication device fails to have the wireless network connection.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

leaving the scan rate unchanged despite triggering the scanning operation.

9. The method of claim 1 , which is performed in accordance with computer instructions stored in a non transitory computer readable medium and executable by one or more processors of the mobile communication device.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

searching for, within the stored calendar appointment data, a stored data indication comprising a predetermined alphanumeric string.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

searching for, within the stored calendar appointment data, a stored data indication comprising a telephone number.

12. A mobile communication device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver coupled to the one or more processors;

memory coupled to the one or more processors;

the memory being for storing a calendar application, the calendar application being configured to receive and store calendar appointment data corresponding to one or more stored calendar appointments, at least some of the stored calendar appointments being associated with a stored indicator data comprising a telephone number which indicates that the stored calendar appointment involves a communication session with a terminal which may be contacted at the telephone number; and

the one or more processors being configured to trigger a scanning operation with use of the RF transceiver for identifying a wireless communication network for communications in response to identifying when one of the stored calendar appointments is associated with the stored indicator data for a communication session that is imminent and detecting that the mobile communication device is out-of-coverage and therefore fails to have a wireless network connection.

13. The mobile communication device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

refrain from triggering the scanning operation when none of the stored calendar appointments is associated with a stored indicator data.

14. The mobile communication device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive, via a user interface, the calendar appointment data; and

store the calendar appointment data in the memory, the calendar information including a date and time of the call appointment.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 12 , comprising a cellular telephone and the wireless communication network comprises a cellular telephone network.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

cause scanning operations to be performed at a scan rate; and

varying the scan rate based on a duration of time over which repeated scanning operations fail to identify a suitable wireless communication network for communication.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

cause scanning operations to be performed at a scan rate; and

varying the scan rate based on a predefined relationship with a duration of time over which repeated scanning operations fail to identify a suitable wireless communication network for communication, the predefined relationship being such that, as the duration of time increases, the scan rate decreases.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

detect an out-of-coverage condition where the mobile communication device fails to have the wireless network connection.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

leave the scan rate unchanged despite performing the scanning operation.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

search for, within the stored calendar appointment data, a stored data indication comprising a predetermined alphanumeric string.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

search for, within the stored calendar appointment data, a stored data indication comprising a telephone number.

22. A method for use in a mobile communication device for controlling scanning operations, the method comprising:

storing a calendar application in memory of the mobile communication device, the calendar application being configured to receive and store calendar appointment data corresponding to one or more stored calendar appointments, at least some of the stored calendar appointments being associated with stored indicator data comprising a telephone number which indicates that the stored calendar appointment involves a communication session with a terminal which may be contacted at the telephone number; and

identifying when one of the stored calendar appointments is associated with stored indicator data for a communication session that is imminent; and

detecting an out-of-coverage condition; and

in response to identifying when the stored calendar appointment is associated with stored indicator data for the communication session that is imminent and detecting that the mobile communication device has the out-of-coverage condition, initiating a scanning operation for identifying a wireless communication network for communications.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

performing scanning operations at a scan rate; and

varying the scan rate based on a predefined relationship with a duration of time over which repeated scanning operations fail to identify a suitable wireless communication network for communication,

the predefined relationship being such that, as the duration of time increases, the scan rate decreases.

24. The method of claim 22 , leaving the scan rate unchanged despite initiating the scanning operation.