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SamsungGranted patentNetworks & wirelessInterest 4/10

Samsung patents faster network switching for phones using saved data

This patent describes a method for phones to switch between different cellular networks, such as from 4G to 5G, more efficiently. It works by saving specific network information in the phone's memory so it can quickly find a new signal when it needs to change networks, rather than searching from scratch.

Why it mattersThis could lead to smoother transitions between mobile networks, reducing delays when moving between different types of cell coverage.

In the filing’s own words

Provided is a method for performing a cell search operation that includes: determining whether a User Equipment (UE) is camped on a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) among a plurality of RATs and supports camping on a second RAT; acquiring first information corresponding to a first Public Land Mobile Network Identity (PLMN ID) associated with the first RAT and at least one first inter-RAT (IRAT) frequency, the at least one first IRAT frequency being associated with the first RAT; storing the first information corresponding to the first PLMN ID in a database of the UE; detecting an occurrence of one or more first events indicating that the UE is required to leave the first RAT and camp on another RAT to handle the event; performing the cell search operation corresponding to the first PLMN ID based on the stored first information to camp the UE on the second RAT.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method for performing a cell search operation, comprising: determining whether a User Equipment (UE) is camped on a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) among a plurality of RATs and supports camping on a second RAT different from the first RAT; acquiring, based on determining that the UE is camped on the first RAT and supports camping on the second RAT, first information corresponding to a first Public Land Mobile Network Identity (PLMN ID) associated with the first RAT and at least one first inter-RAT (IRAT) frequency, the at least one first IRAT frequency being associated with the first RAT; storing the first information corresponding to the first PLMN ID in a database of the UE; detecting an occurrence of one or more first events indicating that the UE is required to leave the first RAT and camp on another RAT; based on detecting the occurrence of the one or more first events, triggering a first timer associated with a first frequency of the at least one first IRAT frequency, and performing the cell search operation corresponding to the first PLMN ID based on the stored first information to camp the UE on the second RAT; deleting the first frequency from the database after expiration of the first timer; and based on a corresponding IRAT frequency being stored in the database, triggering a second timer for the corresponding IRAT frequency of the at least one first IRAT frequency corresponding to a PLMN ID among the one or more PLMN IDs.

Facts

Company
Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
Official title
Method and system for performing efficient cell search in cellular networks using IRAT frequencies
Patent number
US12739712B2
Application number
18240179
Filed
Aug 30, 2023
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Inventors
6
Claims
18

Classified under

H04W 36/0061 Electricity & electronicsH04W 36/0072 Electricity & electronicsH04W 36/322 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.