System and method for optimized use of a dual mode wireless communication device

Abstract

Systems and methods for the operation of a dual mode wireless communication device are provided. A wireless communication device includes a scan module, a registration module and a learning module that cooperate to allow the device to identify available radio access technologies, select a radio interface, manage the radio interface, and learn behavioral patterns that optimize operation of the dual mode device. The dual mode device maximizes the overall time it is operational on the better radio access technology while not performing unnecessary scans. This helps in improving performance, preserving battery life and enhancing the overall user experience. In operation, the dual mode device scans for available voice or data networks upon identification of a trigger event, for example, a manual instruction, a drop in signal strength, a loss of signal, a time of usage on a particular network, a battery condition, an application preference, a state of the wireless communication device, or a geographic location. Various trigger events may be stored in a data storage area on the device and new trigger events such as geographic locations where manual scans are frequently requested by the user or geographic locations where signal strength is low or the network signal is typically lost can be stored for future reference by the device in order to improve performance.