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The method and apparatus as described are directed toward techniques and mechanisms to improve access terminal battery life through search rate control. Controlling the rate at which access terminals search for alternate networks in a cell, and more particularly reducing unnecessary attempts, signif

The method and apparatus as described are directed toward techniques and mechanisms to improve access terminal battery life through search rate control. Controlling the rate at which access terminals search for alternate networks in a cell, and more particularly reducing unnecessary attempts, significantly increases the battery life of the access terminal.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method, comprising: communicating with a first network using a communication device;determining information related to a second network from the first network;searching for the second network at a search rate, wherein the search rate corresponds to a time interval between two or more successive

1. A method, comprising: communicating with a first network using a communication device;determining information related to a second network from the first network;searching for the second network at a search rate, wherein the search rate corresponds to a time interval between two or more successive searches for the second network;determining whether information detected at the communication device indicates movement of the communication device;when the information detected at the communication device indicates movement of the communication device, performing a second search for the second network at the search rate; andwhen the information detected at the communication device does not indicate movement of the communication device, implementing a back-off scheme at the communication device to determine an adjusted search rate. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network is a 2G network, and the second network is a 3G network. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the back-off scheme comprises at least one of an exponential back-off scheme or a linear back-off scheme. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information detected at the communication device comprises at least one of: variance of a signal strength beyond a threshold signal strength, a number of reselections over a time period, a number of new neighbors detected over a time period, a variation in a receiver automatic gain control (Rx AGC) above a threshold Rx AGC, or a variation in Rx AGC of neighbor cells above the threshold Rx AGC. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second network utilizes a plurality of frequencies, further comprising searching each of the frequencies for the second network and determining the adjusted search rate for each frequency. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising automating, via artificial intelligence, at least one of: searching for the second network, determining the adjusted search rate, or determining whether the information detected at the communication device indicates movement of the communication device. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to the second network comprises a cell list for the second network. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusted search rate is applied to a plurality of searches before a second adjusted search rate is determined. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two or more successive searches fails to detect the second network. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the back-off scheme determines the adjusted search rate based on a number of successive failed searches. 11. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising: a memory that retains instructions related to: searching, at a search rate, for a network based on determined information related to the network, wherein the search rate corresponds to a time interval between two or more successive searches for the network;determining whether detected information indicates movement of the wireless communication apparatus;when the detected information indicates movement of the wireless communication apparatus, performing a second search for the network at the search rate; andwhen the detected information does not indicate movement of the wireless communication apparatus, implementing a back-off scheme to adjust the search rate; anda processor coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory. 12. An apparatus, comprising: means for communicating with a first network;means for determining information related to a second network from the first network;means for searching for the second network at a search rate, wherein the search rate corresponds to a time interval between two or more successive searches for the second network;means for implementing a back-off scheme to adjust the search rate; andmeans for determining whether information detected indicates movement of the apparatus,wherein when the information detected indicates movement of the apparatus, a second search for the second network at the search rate is performed, and when the information detected does not indicate movement of the apparatus, the means for implementing a back-off scheme adjusts the search rate based on the back-off scheme. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the back-off scheme comprises at least one of a non-exponential back-off scheme or a non-linear back-off scheme. 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the information detected comprises at least one of: variance of a signal strength beyond a threshold signal strength, a number of reselections over a time period, a number of new neighbors detected over a time period, a variation in a receiver automatic gain control (Rx AGC) above a threshold Rx AGC, or a variation in Rx AGC of neighbor cells above the threshold Rx AGC. 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second network utilizes a plurality of frequencies, and further comprising means for adjusting the search rate for each frequency over which the second network is transmitted. 16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising means for automating at least one of: searching for the network, adjusting the search rate, or determining whether the information detected indicates movement of the apparatus. 17. A computer-readable device storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to: communicate with a first network using a communication device;determine information related to a second network from the first network;search for the second network at a search rate, wherein the search rate corresponds to a time interval between two or more successive searches for the second network;determine whether information detected at the communication device indicates movement of the communication device;when the information detected at the communication device indicates movement of the communication device, perform a second search for the second network at the search rate; andwhen the information detected at the communication device does not indicate movement of the communication device, implement a back-off scheme to adjust the search rate. 18. The computer-readable device of claim 17, wherein the first network is a 2G network, and the second network is a 3G network. 19. The computer-readable device of claim 17, wherein the back-off scheme includes at least one of an exponential back-off scheme or a linear back-off scheme. 20. The computer-readable device of claim 17, wherein the information detected at the communication device comprises at least one of: variance of a signal strength beyond a threshold signal strength, a number of reselections over a time period, a number of new neighbors detected over a time period, a variation in a receiver automatic gain control (Rx AGC) above a threshold Rx AGC, or a variation in Rx AGC of neighbor cells above a the threshold Rx AGC. 21. The computer-readable device of claim 17, wherein the second network utilizes a plurality of frequencies, further comprising instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to search each of the frequencies of the second network and to adjust the search rate for each frequency. 22. The computer-readable device of claim 17, further comprising instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to automate, via artificial intelligence, at least one of: searching for the second network, adjusting the search rate, or determining whether the information detected at the communication device indicates movement of the communication device. 23. The computer-readable device of claim 17, wherein the information related to the second network comprises a cell list for the second network. 24. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising: a processor configured to: communicate with a first network;determine information related to a second network from the first network;search for the second network at a search rate, wherein the search rate corresponds to a time interval between two or more successive searches for the second network;determine whether information detected at the wireless communications apparatus indicates movement of the wireless communications apparatus;when the information detected at the wireless communications apparatus indicates movement of the wireless communications apparatus, perform a second search for the second network at the search rate; andwhen the information detected at the wireless communications apparatus does not indicate movement of the wireless communications apparatus, implement a back-off scheme at the wireless communications apparatus to adjust the search rate. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the information related to the second network comprises a cell list for the second network. 26. A wireless communication apparatus, comprising: a connection component to facilitate communication with a first network;a determination component to determine information related to a second network from the first network;a search component to search for a second network at a search rate, wherein the search rate corresponds to a time interval between two or more successive searches for the second network;a criteria component to determine whether information detected indicates movement of the wireless communication apparatus; anda back-off component to implement a back-off scheme to adjust the search rate;wherein, when the information detected indicates movement of the wireless communication apparatus, the search component performs a second search for the second network at the search rate, andwhen the information detected does not indicate movement of the wireless communication apparatus, the back-off component implements the back-off scheme to adjust the search rate. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first network is a 2G network, and the second network is a 3G network. 28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the back-off scheme comprises at least one of a linear back-off scheme or an exponential back-off scheme. 29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the information detected comprises at least one of: variance of a signal strength beyond a threshold signal strength, a number of reselections over a time period, a number of new neighbors detected over a time period, a variation in a receiver automatic gain control (Rx AGC) above the threshold Rx AGC, or a variation in Rx AGC of neighbor cells above the threshold Rx AGC. 30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the information related to the second network comprises a cell list for the second network.