WO2003063539A1

WO2003063539A1 - A selection system for enabling a selection of locally registered service provider in mobile telecommunication devices

Info

Publication number: WO2003063539A1
Application number: PCT/SE2003/000050
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mats Moosberg
Original assignee: Accinity Ab
Priority date: 2002-01-17
Filing date: 2003-01-17
Publication date: 2003-07-31
Also published as: SE0200142D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a selection system for selecting a telecommunication network in a setting configuration of a mobile telecommunication device, the system including a first telecommunication service provider SP1 operating within a first geographical area A1, and associated with a System identification Number (SID). one or more network selection devices (NSDs) each arranged in a predetermined key location within the first geographical area A1, and a plurality of mobile telecommunication devices (MTDs), each of which includes a shortrange interaction unit for point to point interaction with external devices. The present invention is characterized in that each network selection device (NSDs) comprises a short-range interaction interface for point to point interaction with the mobile telecommunication devices (MTDs) through the short-range interaction unit, for supplying and instruction signal to a mobile telecommunication device in order to initiate a selection of a telecommunication network operated by the firsttelecommunication service provider SP1.

Description

A selection system for enabling a selection of locally registered service provider in mobile telecommunication devices- Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a system for remotely operating a mobile telecommunication device so as to select a set of control frequencies associated to a predetermined telecommunication service provider, the selection being performed upon short-range, point-to- point interaction between network selection devices arranged at key locations within the coverage area of the service provider, and mobile telecommunication devices equipped with short-range interaction units.

The present invention also relates to a network selection device for performing such a selection, and a method for utilizing the aforementioned system.

Background of the invention

In existing telecommunication systems, mobile telecommunication devices, such as electronic notebooks, portable computers, personal digital assistants (PDA), cellular telephones or any other devices used for communication via digital cellular communication networks, are generally associated with a home public land mobile network HPLMN owned by a network operator with whom the user of the mobile device has a subscription agreement.

Whilst committed to the chosen home network operator by the subscription agreement, a user is not allowed, in general, to utilize any other services than those provided by that operator, at least as long as the user is located within the radio coverage area of his home network operator, in most cases within his own country of residence. Outside that geographical extent, for example as the user is visiting a foreign country where his home network is not longer available, the user is generally able to operate his mobile device on a cellular system other than the home network, provided that the foreign system company and the home network operator cooperate with one another in a manner that permits roaming services, for example when both companies have some kind of reciprocal billing arrangement.

In general, conventional mobile devices are configured so that it automatically selects a foreign service operator as soon as the home network is not longer available. Such a selection of a foreign network is performed in accordance with a predetermined default selection process which is consistent with the home system. Using such a default selection process, the mobile device initiates a search for a connection with a foreign network comprised in a priority list which is pre-established by the home network operator. In the absence of specific contractual considerations between the home network operator and a preferred operator locally registered within the new coverage area, the mobile device attempts to establish a connection with the latest utilized network, or, more currently, the network offering the highest Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) at the actual location.

The default selection process provides efficient network selection without the need for a user to actively take part of the process by manually selecting a foreign network. While default selection processes spare a user the troublesome task of choosing a particular operator among those available, it also tends to limit the benefits that competition between different operators may provide. In fact, even assuming that a user knows exactly which foreign network he wants to utilize, the task of selecting it is perhaps hard enough to discourage him. Conventional mobile telecommunication devices are usually equipped with setting selection units that permit alteration of the default selection process. However, those features are not often utilized because an intelligent nondefault setting selection requires not only an understanding of cellular radiotelephony, but also a comparative information about different services provided, or about different rates charged by every selectable operator. AUthough most of conventional mobile devices can be configurated so that a particular foreign network can be easily selected, a typical user is not prepared to make, or interested in making, a purchasing decision with respect to telecommunication services every time he is leaving the coverage area of his home network. Such a decision would require the user to know the rates charged from time to time by every competing foreign network operator. In other words, a typical user does not possess sufficient information upon which to base the selection of a foreign network that meets his personal needs and requirements, even if his mobile device has the capacity for such a selection.

In order to solve the aforementioned problem, a cellular telephone system has been proposed and disclosed in US Patent Nr 5,613,204. That cellular telephone system is uppgrated by modifying mobile telecommunication devices for selective network operator acquisition during roaming. Priority of acquisition is given to those network operators associated with the home network operator. These preferred network operators are identified by System Identification (SIDs) numbers. A roaming mobile telecommunication device will tune to a single broadcast frequency to identify available network operators operating in a physical area to which the user has roamed. This invention is carried out by a control system having means for broadcasting a SID and an associated control frequency to a plurality of mobile telecommunication devices. A SID for each network operator operating within range of the means for broadcasting is included in the broadcast. The control system also includes means in the mobile telecommunication device for automatically tuning to a frequency on which the means for broadcasting operates when the mobile telecommunication device is in a roaming state. Each of the telecommunication devices includes means for carrying out a communication operation in response with receipt of the SID list for the means for broadcasting.

The system disclosed in US Patent Nr 5,613,204 implies the assignment of priority within a pre-stored preferred SID list in the mobile device. Such priority is obviously based upon roaming agreements reached between the home network operator and different foreign network operators and service providers. In the absence of such contractual considerations, priority can also be based on RSSI or other system characteristics, without giving the user an opportunity to take an active part in the prioritization process. Thus, it is still highly probable that a user will utilize the selected network operator, i.e. the operator having the highest priority assignment, regardless of cost consideration or individual quality requirements.

Another drawback associated with the system disclosed in US Patent Nr 5,613,204 is that it requires each mobile telecommunication device included in the system to be equipped with system-specific means for automatically tuning to a particular frequency when the device is brought in a roaming state, as well as system-specific means for carrying out operations responsive to receipt of a SID list from the broadcating means.

Another invention related to dynamic selection of network operator is disclosed in the International Application Nr PCT/GB01/01813. That invention relates to a communications environment comprising a digital marketplace arrangement which enables user to have dynamic access to a variety of network operators and service providers which are registered with the marketplace. The users can commuriicate with the digital marketplace via a logical market channel enabling users, service providers and network operators to interact in real time and negociate for appropriate communication links and quality of service. However, such a communication environment will still require that every customer is prepared to retrieve sufficient knowledge and information so as to be able to negociate for every single call or other service.

What is still needed, instead, is a selection system that gives locally registered network operators and service providers operating within a geographical area, a direct opportunity to interact with a roaming customer, via an equipment that is compatible with conventionally equipped mobile device, (i.e. without the need of system- specific equipments)

Further, what is still needed is a selection system that allows a roaming customer to select a locally registered network operator upon basis of his own requirements, in a manner that still spares the customer the task of manually modify the selection settings in the configuration of his mobile telecommunication device.

What is even needed is a selection system that exploits all the benefits provided by competition between locally registered service providers operating within a geographical area, and, as a result, offering customers lower roaming costs.

Objects of the invention

A main object of the present invention is to provide a system that meets the aforementioned requirements.

The present invention relates to a selection system that allows a telecommunication service provider to build an infrastructure of network selection devices constructed to remotely interact, on a point- to-point basis, with mobile telecommunication devices (MTDs), such as electronic notebook, portable computers, personal digital assistants (PDA), cellular telephones or any other devices used for communication via digital cellular communication networks.

An advantage of a system in accordance with the present invention is that it does not require the MTDs to be equipped with any system- specific hardware or software features. Most of the MTDs available today include an interfacing unit for wireless, bidirectional short- range interaction with external devices. Generally, such an interfacing unit consists of a transceiver, for example a IR transceiver, for emission and reception of pulsed digital signals which are encoded in accordance with a commonly accepted protocol, or standard. Thus, for enabling an interaction with a network selection device, a user only needs to enable the short-range interaction function of his MTD, for example by turning the IR link on.

An object of the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment, is to provide a system in which the interaction between a MTD and a network selection device is based on IR communication technology. Accordingly, each network selection device includes a short-range interaction unit which mainly consists of a IR transceiver for emission and reception of pulsed IR signals encoded in accordance with a widely utilized protocol, such as for example an IrDA protocol or a Direct IR protocol. In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, a system is provided in which the short-range interaction between a MTD and a network selection device is based on BlueTooth technology, such that each network selection device is equipped with a BlueTooth transceiver for emission and reception of pulsed R/F radiation signals encoded in accordance with a BlueTooth protocol.

Regardless of the manner in which the present invention is implemented, the basic function of a system in accordance with the present invention is to allow a short-range, point-to-point interaction between a network selection device and a MTD, which interaction results in that the MTD is instruct to initiate a selection of a telecommunication network operated by, or a telecommunication service provided by the actual telecommunication service provider. Generally, an instruction signal is sent by the network selection device, which instruction signal typically contains at least the System Identification Number (SID) corresponding to the actual telecommunication service provider, and a set of control frequencies associated therewith, so as to operated the MTD for tuning to the indicated set of control frequencies.

An important feature of the present invention is that the network selection devices do not necessarily have a connection to any telecommunication network, and are solely used for entering necessary instructions into the MTD by means of the short-range interaction unit. As a result, a network selection device for use in a system in accordance with the present invention can be implemented in a form that does not require any broadcasting equipment, radio communication equipment, network interface, complex hardware or software features nor complicated manufacturing arrangements. Therefore, a network selection device can be implemented as a simple, small sized, low cost badge that can be mounted at a huge number of key locations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a selection system which permanently alters the default selection setting of a MTD for a predetermined geographical area covered by the actual service provider, causing the MTD to automatically select the actual System Identification Number (SID) and associated control frequencies every time that the MTD is operated within said geographical area.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a selection system which further includes an information server, preferably operated by the telecommunication service provider. The network selection devices can be advantageously used to instruct a MTD to initiate a communication with the information server, in order to select a WAP configuration in the settings of the MTD so as to give the user access to WAP services provided by the actual service provider. In that case, the communication between the MTD's and the information server is preferably based on short message service (SMS) messaging. That is, the MTD is instructed by the network selection device to send a first SMS message to the information server. That first SMS message is interpreted by the information server as an configuration request. The information server can then reply the configuration request by sending a second SMS message containing the required instruction for selecting the WAP configuration corresponding to the actual service provider. The communication between the MTD's and the information server may also be based on internet applications. For example, the network selection device will instruct the MTD to establish an internet connection and pick up the URL associated with the information server, whereby the requested WAP configuration is made available to the user.

Regardless of the form in which the invention is carried out, it is a basic object of the present invention to provide a system in which a MTD is, preferably on demand of its user, directly brought into cooperation with a telecommunication service provider without active participation from the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a network selection device for remotely enabling a network selection in the setting configuration of a MTD, and a method for utilizing the above- described selection system.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a selection system that gives locally registered telecommunication service providers operating within a geographical area, a direct opportunity to interact with roaming customers entering that geographical area.

The present invention further provides a selection system that allows a roaming customer to select a locally registered network operator upon basis of his own requirements, in a manner that still spares the customer the task of manually modify the selection settings in the configuration of his mobile telecommunication device. The present invention also provides a selection system that exploits all the benefits provided by competition between locally registered network operators operating within a geographical area, and, as a result, offering customers lower roaming costs.

The present invention relates to a selection system for selecting a telecommunication network in a setting configuration of a mobile telecommunication device, the system including a first telecommunication service provider SP1 operating within a first geographical area Al , and associated with a System Identification Number (SID); one or more network selection devices (NSDs) each arranged in a predetermined key location within the first geographical area Al ; and a plurality of mobile telecommunication devices (MTDs), each of which includes a short-range interaction unit for point-to- point interaction with external devices. The present invention is characterized in that each network selection device (NSDs) comprises a short-range interaction interface for point- to-point interaction with the mobile telecommunication devices (MTDs) through the short-range interaction unit, for supplying an instruction signal to a mobile telecommunication device in order to initiate a selection of a telecommunication network operated by the first telecommunication service provider SP1.

The instruction signal includes the System Identification Number (SID) and a set of control frequencies associated with SP1, so as to cause the MTD to tune to those control frequencies.

The MTD is in a roaming state, i.e. it is associated with a home telecommunication network having its coverage area outside the first geographical area Al .

Each network selection device includes detection means for detecting the presence of a MTD when the short-range interaction unit of the MTD is enabled within a predetermined detection range of the network selection device. Typically, the predetermined detection range is not larger than a few meters, preferably not larger than one meter. The detection means are arranged for continuously or intermittently emitting a detection signal, and the short-range interaction unit includes a transceiver which can receive the detection signal from a network selection device when the MTD is located within the predetermined detection range of the network selection device.

Each network selection device includes control means for transmitting the instruction signal to a mobile telecommunication device via the short-range interaction unit, to instruct the MTD to initiate a search for a set of control frequencies associated with the System Identification Number (SID) corresponding to SP1.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the short-range interaction unit included in a MTD consists preferably in a Infrared Linking unit constructed for emission and reception of electromagnetic radiation signals within Infrared frequency range, and the short-range interaction interface included in each network selection device is an Infrared interface constructed for interaction with the Infrared Linking unit. Infrared signals are at least partially encoded in accordance with a predetermined standard, preferably a IrDA standard.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the short-range interaction unit included in a MTD consists in a Radio Frequency (R/F) Linking unit constructed for emission and reception of electromagnetic radiation signals within radio frequency range, and the short-range interaction interface included in each network selection device is an R/F interface constructed for interaction with said R/F linking unit. R/F signals are at least partially encoded in accordance with a predetermined standard, preferably a BlueTooth® standard.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, each network selection device includes both Infrared and R/F interfaces for interaction with different kinds of short-range interaction units commonly available in conventional MTDs.

The objects, features and Advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted by way of an illustrative example.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

An embodiment of the present invention is described herein, in which the interaction between the MTD and a network selection device is based on IR technology, in which pulsed IR light signals are at least partially encoded in accordance with IrDA protocols, which are commonly utilized in conventional mobile phones or electronic notebook today.

However, it will be understood by anyone skilled in the art that a system in accordance with the present invention may be implemented in various manner or in accordance with various standards or protocols, in use today or in the future, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. Hence, the choice of using IR technology and IrDA protocols is made principally due to the built-in IR transceivers widely utilized in many cellular phones or other devices. Future implementations of the system can be adapted to the development or spread of new technologies, such as for example R/F based transmitters encoded in accordance with BlueTooth standards. Accordingly, regardless of the particular technical features upon which it is based, the novel feature of the present invention is to provide a system in which a network selection device interacts with a MTD so as to select a specific setting parameter, preferably to select a specific telecommunication network, in the setting configuration of the MTD.

Similarly, although the following description mainly refers to GSM systems and all basic components thereof, it should be remembered that the scope of the invention is not limited to a particular form of telecommunication system, and can be applicable to any other cellular communication system, such as for example UMTS, or other standards such as CDMA or TDMA mostly used in the US. A selection system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a first telecommunication service provider (SP1) operating within a first geographical area (Al); at least one, but preferably several network selection devices (NSDs), arranged in predetermined key locations within the area Al; and at least one, but preferably a plurality of mobile telecommunication devices (MTDs), such as electronic notebooks, portable computers, personal digital assistants (PDA), cellular telephones or any other devices used for communication via digital cellular communication networks, e.g. the pan-European mobile communication network GSM for which technical specifications have been elaborated by the European Telecommunication Standards Institute ETSI.

A typical MTD is a mobile phone of a kind that is well known in the art and is described here only in sufficient detail to aid understanding the invention.

A mobile phone may constitute a handset having a keypad, a speaker and a microphone. A transceiver, ordinarily built into the phone, exchanges signals via an antenna with a Mobile Telecommunications Switching Office (MTSO) typically via radiotelephone signals relayed by one of several cell sites that are in turn connected with the MTSO via a landline. The MTSO is ordinarily connected with a telephone company switching unit via a high-capacity landline or similar connection. A status display shows the status of the phone. The status display typically includes a <no network> indicator to show that no cellular telephone service is available; and a <roam> indicator to show that the mobile phone is outside the coverage area of its usual network operator. A typical mobile phone has a unique mobile identification number stored in a suitable location such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory. The signal exchange may utilize any of a wide variety of transmission systems that are equivalent for purposes of this description. These include, for example, radio, electrical-type wire (such as telephone landlines), modulation of light beams (e.g., in fiberoptic networks or laser beams), and so forth. The signal exchange may use one or more of these media alone or equivalently in combination. The operation of the mobile phone is controlled by logic circuitry. The logic circuitry may be implemented in the form of a microprocessor which executes program statements stored in a storage device such as a read-only memory, or equivalently by discrete logic components or one or more custom semiconductor chips.

A sequence of numbers to be dialed by the mobile phone is processed by the logic circuitry generally as follows, both in the prior art and in connection with the invention. Under control of the logic circuitry, the transceiver transmits a cellular control signal to a cell over a signalling channel. The control signal includes a request that the MTSO dial a specified telephone number and assign a voice frequency or channel for use by the phone. The mobile phone includes a read-write memory, accessible to the user and whose contents will not be affected by telephone power- downs of ordinary duration. For example, the memory may equivalently comprise an EEPROM programmable by the user, a CMOS memory chip, or a conventional RAM with an independent power supply, any of which may possibly be implemented as part of a custom semiconductor chip.

A conventional mobile phone includes also a built-in Infrared link for emission and reception of pulsed IR signals encoded in accordance with a widely utilized protocol, such as for example an IrDA protocol or a Direct IR protocol, and mainly used for short-range wireless interaction with external devices.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a network selection device (NSD) is owned by the telecommunication service provider (SPl), which is registered within the area Al , e.g. a country or a province, in which several competing telecommunication service providers (SPl, SP2, SP3,...) are operating. Preferably, the service provider SPl builds up an whole infrastructure of network selection devices (NSDs) arranged at predetermined key locations within its coverage area Al, locations where a roaming customer is supposed to be particularly interested in utilizing roaming services. For example, such a key location may be the arrival lounge of an international airport, a railway station or a station located at the boundary of area Al . Preferably, the NSDs have a easily recognizable shape and are arranged in a such manner that they easily draw attention, for example as a part of a notice board on which a company label of SPl, or any other sign that indicates the kind of service that is made available, is clearly disclosed.

A mobile phone in roaming state is associated with a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) owned by a home telecommunication service provider (home SP) whose coverage area does not include the area A 1 , and with whom the user of the MTD has a subscription agreement. When the infrared link of the mobile phone is enabled, the presence of the mobile phone is detected by the NSD. The user of the phone is invited to direct his phone towards the NSD, for example

Each network selection device (NSD) includes a short-range interaction interface which, in this particular example, mainly consists of a IR interface for emission and reception of pulsed IR signals encoded in accordance with a widely utilized protocol, such as for example an IrDA protocol or a Direct IR protocol.

(As mentioned above, the short-range interaction may also be based upon BlueTooth technology, such that each network selection device (NSD) is equipped with a BlueTooth transceiver for emission and reception of pulsed R/F radiation signals encoded in accordance with a BlueTooth protocol.) A NSD in accordance with the present invention includes generally a detection function which is adapted to detect external device equipped with a wireless interface designed in accordance with a particular interaction protocol. A NSD can also include several detection functions, each of which being specifically aimed to detect a particular interaction protocol. For example, a NSD can be provided with several IR detection function for detecting different IR protocols such as IrDA, direct IR or other commonly used protocols. Similarly, a NSD can include both IR and R/F detection functions, for detecting both IrDA- featured devices and BlueTooth-featured devices. A detection function is implemented in accordance with the actual protocol, and comprises generally a periodical emission of a specifically configured detection signal characteristic for that protocol. The detection signal is sent with a predetermined frequency, for example every five or ten seconds, and the emission is repeated until a properly featured device is caused to reply the detection signal in accordance with the actual protocol. That reply includes generally some form of device identification, in which the NSD is made aware of the presence of a device and the type of interaction expected to take place. In order to reduce power consumption, the detection function of a NSD can, in some case, be set in an inactive mode, or sleep mode in the absence of mobile telecommunication device. In that case, the NSD advantageously includes a passive receiver unit that can react when electromagnetic radiation from a MTD is detected in the vicinity of the NSD. For example, the MTD can be a cellular phone continuously or periodically interacting with a base station or a mobile switching center associated with the cellular telecommunication network, which communication generates electromagnetic radiations that can be registered by the receiver unit. As soon as such a radiation is detected by the receiver, the detection function of the NSD is immediately set onto an active mode in order to enable detection of the mobile device.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A selection system for selecting a telecommunication network in a setting configuration of a mobile telecommunication device, said system including a first telecommunication service provider operating within a first geographical area, and associated with a System Identification Number (SID); at least one network selection device each arranged in a predetermined key location within said first geographical area; and a plurality of mobile telecommunication devices, each of which includes a short-range interaction unit for point-to-point interaction with external devices; characterized in that each of said at least one network selection device comprises a short- range interaction interface for point-to-point interaction with one of said plurality of mobile telecommunication devices via said short- range interaction unit, for supplying an instruction signal to said mobile telecommunication device in order to initiate a selection of a telecommunication network operated by said first telecommunication service provider.

2. A selection system as defined in claim 1 , characterized in that said instruction signal includes said System Identification Number (SID).

3. A selection system as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that said mobile telecommunication device is associated with a home telecommunication network having its coverage area outside said first geographical area.

4. A selection system as defined in anyone of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said at least one network selection device includes detection means for detecting the presence of a mobile telecommunication device when said short-range interaction unit of said mobile telecommunication device is enabled within a predetermined detection range of said at least one network selection device.

5. A selection system as defined in claim 4, characterized in that said predetermined detection range is not larger than a few meters, preferably not larger than one meter.

6. A selection system as defined in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said detection means are arranged for continuously or intermittently emitting a detection signal, and said short-range interaction unit includes a transceiver which can receive said detection signal from a network selection device when said mobile telecommunication device is located within said predetermined detection range of said network selection device.

7. A system as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said at least one network selection device includes control means for transmitting said instruction signal to a mobile telecommunication device via said short-range interaction unit, to instruct said mobile telecommunication device to initiate a search for a set of control frequencies associated with said System Identification Number (SID).

8. A system as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said short-range interaction unit included in said at least one mobile telecommunication device consists in Infrared Linking means (IRL) constructed for emission and reception of electromagnetic radiation signals within Infrared frequency range, and said short- range interaction interface included in said at least one network selection device is an Infrared interface constructed for interaction with said IRL.

9. A system as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said short-range interaction unit included in said at least one mobile telecommunication device consists in Radio Frequency (R/F) Linking means constructed for emission and reception of electromagnetic radiation signals within radio frequency range, and said short-range interaction interface included in said at least one network selection device is an R/F interface constructed for interaction with said R/F linking means.

10. A system as defined in claim 8, characterized in that said Infrared electromagnetic radiation signals are at least partially encoded in accordance with a predetermined standard, preferably a IrDA standard.

11. A system as defined in claim 9, characterized in that said R/F electromagnetic radiation signals are at least partially encoded in accordance with a predetermined standard, preferably a BlueTooth standard.

12. A selection system for selecting a telecommunication network in a setting configuration of a mobile telecommunication device, said system including a first telecommunication service provider operating within a first geographical area, and associated with a System Identification Number (SID); at least one network selection device each arranged in a predetermined key location within said first geographical area; and a plurality of mobile telecommunication devices, each of which includes a infrared linking unit for point-to- point interaction with external devices; characterized in that each of said at least one network selection device comprises an infrared interface for point-to-point interaction with said plurality of mobile telecommunication devices via said infrared linking unit, for transmitting an infrared instruction signal to said mobile telecommunication device, so as to operate the mobile telecommunication device in order to select a set of control frequencies associated with said System Identification Number (SID).

13. A method for selecting a telecommunication network in a setting configuration of a mobile telecommunication device, said method including the steps of: providing a network selection device equipped with a short range interaction unit for point-to point interaction with mobile telecommunication devices; and directing a mobile telecommunication device towards said network selection device so as to initiate a point to point interaction, in order to supply said mobile telecommunication device with an instruction signal that operates the mobile telecommunication device so as to select a set of control frequencies associated with a predetermined System Identification Number (SID).

14. A network selection device for use in a system in accordance with anyone of claims 1 to 12.