MXPA06007804A - Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating network selection at a mobile node utilizing a network selection list maintained thereat - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating with which network of a group of wireless local area networks that a mobile node attempts to communicate. Network selection utilizes a network selection list. The network selection list is contained at a SIM card, or the like, if the SIM card is constructed in conformity with a 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) specification. Otherwise, if the card is a legacy card, the network selection list that is used is retrieved from an internal memory element of the mobile node.

Description

APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD TO FACILITATE NETWORK SELECTION IN A MOBILE NODE USING A NETWORK SELECTION LIST MAINTAINED IN THE SAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally concerned with the manner by which to facilitate the selection, in a mobile node, of with which the network of a group of available networks with which the mobile node will attempt to communicate. . More particularly, the present invention is concerned with an associated apparatus and method by which to use a network selection list maintained in the mobile node in the selection of the network. When a separable storage element is used, such as a (U) SIM card R-UIM used by a mobile node with WLAN capability, it is able to maintain the selection list of networks, the list created and maintained therein is used according to the selection process. If the separable storage element forms an inheritance element, this is not apt to maintain the selection list of networks, a selection list of networks is created and is maintained in a permanent memory element of the mobile node is used in accordance with the selection process. The appropriate network selection is made in the mobile node regardless of the memory capacities of the removable storage card. If an inheritance storage card, this, a card storage that does not allow storage of the network selection list thereof is used in the mobile node, the list stored in the permanent memory element of the mobile node is maintained and used. In addition, if the storage card allows storage of the selection list of networks in it, that list is maintained and used according to the selection process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of modern communication systems by means of which to communicate is a necessary aspect of modern society. Many different communication services are regularly performed by many different users to perform many different types of communication services. Many essential services, as well as many other services, are predicated on the easy availability of and access to communication systems. As advances in communication technology continue, additional communication services, as well as improvements to existing communication services, will likely become available. In general, advances in communication technologies provide ways by which to communicate data, communicate to perform a communication service, in more efficient ways or at higher data communication speeds or in ways that better provide successful data delivery from a receiving station despite adverse communication communications. For example, the use of digital communication techniques has been made possible as a result of technological advances in communication technologies. Many modern communication systems use digital communication techniques. The use of digital communication techniques provides several advantages. By digitizing the data, redundancies in the data are eliminated more easily, allowing the data to be communicated in a more efficient way, free of redundancies. Improved data throughput rates or reduced bandwidth requirements are necessary to communicate the data. A radio communication system is an exemplary type of communication system. Digital communication techniques are used regularly in many modern radio communication systems. A cellular communication system is an exemplary type of radio communication system. While cellular communication systems are constructed to be operable in accordance with any of several operating standards, cellular communication systems generally include network infrastructures having a plurality of spaced apart base transceiver stations. Each One of the base receiving stations defines cells and portable communication stations, carried by the users, are generally able to communicate with a base transceiver station in whose cell the portable communication station is placed when the communications are made. Several analogous types of wireless communication systems have also been implemented and others have been proposed, to cover limited areas, for example areas covered by a business office or building structure. The so-called micro-cellular networks, private networks and WLAN (wireless local area networks) are representative of radiocommunication systems that are operable, at least in several aspects in ways analogous to the operation of a cellular communication system. Additionally, communication systems that use ad hoc networks, that is, do not use a fixed network, are also used or are in development. The wireless communication systems, such as the aforementioned wireless local area networks are generally constructed to be operable in accordance with the operating protocols of a selected communication standard. While several enacted operating standards have been widely adopted, many wireless local area networks are built to be operable in accordance with an IEEE 802.11 (b) operation specification. or a variant thereof. The IEEE 802.11 (b) standard is promulgated by the IEEE and the operation specification has become a predominant wireless LAN standard belonging to a commercial 2.4GHz wireless LAN (Local Area Network) frequency range also as a band. unregulated in the 5GHz frequency range. The 802.11 (b) standard specifies, among other things, an air interface between a wireless client, such as a mobile node and a base station or access point. Cellular communication systems are generally operable according to other operating specifications. The mobile nodes are incrementally constructed to be operable both in a WLAN system and in a cellular communication system. In addition, groups that create standards, such as 3GPP, are promulgating standards concerning interworking agreements between WLAN and networks of cellular communication systems. Unlike some other communication systems implemented to other frequency bands, the frequency bands assigned for wireless local area networks are relatively unregulated, allowing their rapid deployment and re-deployment as necessary. Mobile nodes operable in wireless local area networks are commonly constructed to verify selected frequencies within the frequency bands assigned to detect a wireless local area network within a communication interval of the mobile node. The access points or other devices of a wireless local area network broadcast signals to alert the mobile nodes of the wireless local area networks from which the access points or other devices form portions. A mobile node could well be placed in a location encompassed by more than one wireless local area network with which the mobile node is able to communicate. It is required that the selection be made with which of the networks with which the mobile node will try to communicate. Proposals have been made to define ways in which the mobile node makes its selection. For example, in proposals for the 3GPP network operation specification (Third Generation Society Project) concerning third-generation radio communications systems, proposals are made that define the way in which the mobile node will select the network with which to communicate. In addition, in particular, the proposals make use of network selection lists that indicate which WLAN networks with which the mobile node must first attempt to communicate. In existing proposals, the network selection list will be formed into a separate storage element, sometimes referred to herein as a smart card, such as a smart card (U) SIM / R-UIM. In so much so that, proposedly, smart cards are apt to store such network selection lists, certain inheritance smart cards are not apt to store and allow storage of the network selection lists in the ways proposed now. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,884,168, discloses a mobile station that uses a SIM card. This requires a way by which to facilitate network selection using network selection lists in the mobile node regardless of whether the mobile node uses a newly constructed smart card or an inheritance smart card. It is in light of this background information concerning the network selection by a mobile node with WLAN capability that significant improvements of the present invention have evolved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Thus, the present invention advantageously provides an apparatus and associated method by which to facilitate the selection in a mobile node, of which network of a group of available networks by means of which the mobile node will attempt to communicate. Through the operation of one embodiment of the present invention, a way is provided by which use a network selection list, maintained in the mobile node, in the selection of the network. The mobile node includes a separable storage element, for example a smart card, such as a (U) SIM / R-UIM card. When the smart card is newly built, that is, it is apt to store the list or list of network selection in it in accordance with the new WLAN interworking proposals, the list created and maintained in it is used for according to the selection process. Conversely, if the smart card is an inheritance card, that is, it does not allow the maintenance of the network selection list in the ways now proposed in the specification promulgation, the permanent memory element of the mobile node is used to maintain the selection list of networks and used according to the procedures of network selection. By this, the selection of networks using a network selection list is made in the mobile node regardless of the type of smart card placed therein. In one aspect of the present invention, a determiner is implemented in the mobile node, capable of accessing the separable storage element, when it is placed in and connected to the mobile node. The determiner determines if the Separable storage element is of capabilities to store a selection list of networks in it. In addition, the determiner is operable to, after determining that the separable storage element is apt to store the network selection list, to determine whether a selection of networks is stored therein. The determination is effected, for example, by means of an interrogation procedure by means of which the separable storage element is interrogated to inquire its content, that is, if the separable storage element contains the network selection list. In one implementation, the separable storage element includes or otherwise defines a flag location that is populated with a flag of a selected flag value when the separable storage element is capable of storing the network selection list. The determinations made by the determiner are made by locating the flag location and investigating the value, if any, of value the flag that populates the flag location. If the determiner determines that the separable storage element contains the selection list. of networks, the entries that form the network selection list are used through which to select which network of available networks the mobile node tries to communicate with. In another aspect of the present invention, the The determiner operates to make the determination after the energization of the mobile node, for example each time in which the mobile node is turned on in response to which, the determiner determines the capabilities of the detachable storage card placed therein. That is, each time in which the mobile node is turned on, the determiner makes access to the separable storage element and determines whether the separable storage element stores the network selection list therein. In a further aspect, the determiner is also operable in response to replacing the removable storage card in the mobile node. For example, if the separable element is removed from its connection to the mobile node and replaced with another separable storage element or the same storage element is re-connected to the mobile node, the determiner takes a determination of the storage element's capabilities separable and if the detachable storage element contains a network selection list. In another aspect of the present invention, a selector is coupled to receive indications of determinations made by the determiner. The selector is selectively operable to select whether to use the network selection list retrieved from the detachable storage element or a network storage list stored in a memory element of the mobile node, i.e. memory that is installed permanently or semi-permanently in the mobile node. If the deteminator determines that the separable storage element is apt to store the selection list of networks and that a selection list of networks is stored therein, the selection with which network by means of which the mobile node tries to communicate it is done using the network selection list retrieved from the separable storage element. Conversely, if the separable storage element is not of characteristics that allow it to be stored therein in the network selection list, a network selection list maintained in the storage element of the mobile node is used to select with which network the mobile node tries to communicate. By this, the network selection list retrieved from the separable storage element is used if possible. Otherwise, a list of network storage maintained on the mobile node is used according to the selection process. In a further aspect of the present invention, a downloader is used to download the selection list of networks, if any, stored in the storage element separable to the storage element of the mobile node. When downloading the network selection list, if the separable storage element is removed and replaced with a separable storage element that does not allow or maintain a list of networks selection, an updated network selection list is available in the storage element of the mobile node from which to make the selection by the selector. In yet a further aspect of the present invention, the downloader further provides for the download of the network selection list to the mobile node of a network by means of an air radio interface in the event that a network selection list is not available either on one or other of the storage elements or an updated network selection list is needed. If a network selection list is downloaded by means of the air radio interface, the network selection list is stored in the mobile node, available for subsequent access to and retrieval of the list to identify a network by means of which the mobile node is going to communicate. The operation of a modality of the present invention facilitates the selection of networks of the network by means of which the mobile node attempts to communicate whether the separable storage element forms an inheritance device or is capable of containing a selection list of networks . The manner of operation is therefore backwards compatible, operable when the separable storage element is the inheritance element also as operable when the separable storage element is of more modern construction for allow the storage in the same of a list of selection of networks. In these and other aspects, therefore, an associated apparatus and method for a radio communication system is provided. The radio communication system has a mobile node selectively operable to communicate data within at least one selected first frequency band within which a group of networks are operable to communicate. The mobile node selectively contains a separable storage element of selected first characteristics and contains a second storage element. The selection of at least one first network selected from the group of networks with which you intend to communicate is facilitated. A determinator is implemented in the mobile node. The determiner determines whether the separable storage element, selectively contained in the mobile node, is one of the first selected features. A selector is adapted to receive indications of determinations made by the determiner. The selector selects the at least the first network selected from the group of networks with which to try to communicate. The selection is made by the detector in response to indications stored in the separable storage element if the determinations made by the determiner indicate that the separable storage element is of the first selected characteristics and otherwise, in response to indications stored in the second storage element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 illustrates a functional block diagram of a radio communication system in which one embodiment of the present invention is operable. Figure 2 illustrates a functional block diagram of a portion of the mobile node operable according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates a partial process, partial message sequence diagram representative of the operation of the communication system shown in Figure 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 illustrates a flow diagram listing of the method of the steps of the method of operation of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to Figure 1, a radio communication system shown in general with the number 10, provides the realization of communication services with mobile nodes, of which the mobile node 12 is representative. The mobile node is provided with mobility, portability, for example by a user of the mobile node, for be placeable at different times in different locations. In the exemplary implementation, the mobile node is operable in accordance with the parameters and operating protocols of an IEEE 802.11 (b) operating standard. Other positions of the communication system also, in the exemplary implementation, are operable to communicate in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 (b) operation specification. In addition, the following description of the exemplary operation of the communication system 10 will be described with respect to its operation in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 (b) operation specification, the radio communication system and the components thereof, are operable analogously in accordance with other operating standards. For example, the communication system is alternatively operable in accordance with IEEE 802.11 (a) or (g) standards or another communication standard. In addition, the operation of the radio communication system can similarly be described with respect to its implementation to be operable to communicate in accordance with such other operating specifications. The communication system includes a network part formed by a plurality of networks 14. A local network 14-1, here a cellular network, is associated with the mobile node. That is, network 14-1 is the local network of the mobile node. Other mobile nodes (not shown) also have a local network associated with them, although not necessarily the local network 14- 1 with which the mobile node 12 is associated. The network part of the communication system, defined herein in terms of the designations of the networks used by the mobile node, is correspondingly altered when defined in terms of another mobile node. The network 14-1 is put into operation by a network operator. In addition, in the present, the network operator also puts into operation the network 14-2, a wireless local area network. The same SSID (service set identifier) is used to identify both of networks 14-1 and 14-2. Three networks visited, networks 14-3, 14-4 and 14-5, are also shown in the figure. Networks 14-3, 14-4 and 14-5 also, for example, form cellular networks. Relationships, for example roaming relations, are maintained by the operators of networks 14-3 and 14-4. Follow-up 16 between the networks visited 14-3 and 14-1 and between networks 14-4, and 14-1 are representative of the relationships. Due to the relations of the operators of these networks with the operator of the local network, networks 14-3 and 14-4 form preferred networks with respect to the local network. When the mobile node 12 is roaming or otherwise not communicating with its local network or network 14-2, the first communication preference is with one of the preferred networks 14-3 and 14-4 or an associated network with them. Because a corresponding relationship is not maintained between the local network operator and the operator of the 14-5 network, the network 14-5 forms a non-preferred network. Relationships are also formed by the operators- of networks 14-3, 14-4 and 14-5 with another network, here for example WLAN. Relations, indicated by segments 18, are maintained by networks 14-3 and 14-4 with network 14-6. In addition, relationships are formed by the network operator 14-5 with networks 14-2 and 14-7. Such relationships are indicated by the segments 20. An eighth network 14-8 is also represented. The 14-8 network is also a wireless local area network. The 14-8 network does not have a relationship with any of the other networks shown in the figure. The mobile node includes radio transceiver circuits capable of transferring data with a network of the network part of the communication system. Here, the circuits of the transceiver are represented by a receiving part 28 and a transmission part 32. Furthermore, it is shown that the mobile node also includes a permanent memory element 34 and a separable smart card 36 or other storage element, such as a (U) SIM / R-UIM. The releasable nature of the smart card allows at different times, that smart cards of different constructions are contained in and form portions of the mobile node. The smart card is in this case alternatively of a construction that allows the storage in the same of network selection lists, such as those proposals in accordance with the third generation society project mentioned above. Now, alternatively, the smart card is of an inheritance construction, that is, of a construction that does not allow its storage from the network selection list. The mobile node further includes an apparatus 38 of one embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus is functionally represented, formed of entities that are implementable in any desired manner, such as by means of algorithms executable by means of processing circuits. It is shown herein that the apparatus includes a determiner 42 and a selector 44. The determiner operates to determine the capacity of the smart card 36. That is, the determiner determines whether the smart card is of an inheritance construction or the storage of network selection lists. Determinations made by the determiner are provided to the selector, indicated herein by means of line 46. In addition, the selector, in response to the determinations made by the determiner, selects a network with which the mobile node tries to communicate on base, in part, to the network selection list, accessed either on the smart card or the permanent memory element. If the smart card is a capacity that allows the storage in the same of the list or network selection lists, in the selector selects the entries contained in such listings. Alternatively, if the smart card is of an inheritance construction, the selection list of networks is maintained in the permanent memory element and the selection is made by the selector of the same. The selections made by the selector are used by the transmission part of the mobile node to try to form a communication link with the selected network. The content of the entries contained in the list or listings are also updatable, updatable by means of traditional methods in the air or by means of a WLAN. The apparatus, in one implementation, determines the capacity of the smart card after the energization of the mobile node. If the smart card, for example (U) SIM / R-UIM is able to store the WLAN information, the information stored on the smart card is used. Conversely, if the smart card is not capable of storing the information, then the information of the memory element of the mobile node. A determination of the value of a hose or an interrogation procedure is used to carry out the determination of the capacity of the smart card. Additionally, since the permanent memory element is potentially used by numerous smart cards, the memory element causes network WLAN preferences to be stored for each card intelligent that is inserted to the mobile node. If after the energization of the mobile node, a determination is made that the smart card is suitable for or contains the list of networks, the list stored in the smart card is copied to the memory element of the mobile node. It is assumed that the list on the smart card is more updated than the list stored in the permanent memory element. Conversely, if the smart card is an inheritance smart card, the selector uses the list stored in the permanent memory element. Furthermore, without any listing being stored therein, once a wireless local area network service is obtained, a list is downloaded to the mobile node and stored in the memory element. Then the network lists will be stored for the sideboard that owns the smart card. When a list is updated, the mobile node requests the latest list version of the network or the network sends updates to the mobile node. Figure 2 shows portions of the mobile node 12 that are part of the radio communication system 10 shown in Figure 1. Herein, the apparatus 38 is again illustrated in conjunction with the smart card 36. The smart card is detachably connectable to the mobile node , in the present by means of a reception platform 54. The The smart card is shown here placed on the receiving platform to electrically interconnect with electrodes 56 implemented on the smart card with corresponding electrodes 58 formed on the receiving platform. The arrow 62 represents the allowed movement of the smart card, alternatively to place the smart card in the receiving platform 54 inside and outside the coupling with the smart card. The manner in which the smart card is placed in coupling with or withdrawal from coupling with the receiving platform is of course dependent on the construction of the receiving platform. The apparatus 38 is again shown to include a determiner 42 and selector, interconnected by means of the line 46 by means of which the determinations made by the determiner are provided to the selector. As indicated previously, the determiner operates to determine if the smart card, when placed on the receiving platform and connected to the mobile node, is of selected feature, ie if the smart card is capable of maintaining a selection list of storage and if it is able to contain the selection lists, contains the list of network selection. Herein, card 36 is able to contain the network selection list. In the present it is shown that to card 36 includes the network selection list 64. Additionally, the card 36 includes a flag location 66 and also contains storage sites 68 for storing other smart card information. In the exemplary implementation, flag location 66 is populated with a flag value to indicate that the card contains a network selection list. The determiner operates to interrogate the flag location to determine the flag value that populates the flag location. In response to the interrogation, the determiner determines whether a network selection list is contained in the smart card that forms the detachable storage element. In the exemplary implementation, the determiner operates on the energization of the mobile node, an indication of which is provided to the determiner, in the present represented by means of arrow 72. In another implementation, the determiner is alternatively or additionally, operable each time wherein the card 36 is removed and another or- the same card is repositioned on the receiving platform. The arrow 72 is also representative of indications provided to the network determiner-positioning of the card in the receiving platform. The determinations made by the determiner are provided to the selector 44, in the present average of the line 46 and also to a discharger 74. The unloader 74 operates to download the content of the network selection list to the storage element of the mobile node 34 when the determiner determines that the selection list of networks is contained in the card 36. Conversely, if a determination is made by the determiner that in The network selection list is not contained in the smart card or the card is not capable of maintaining a network selection list, no attempt is made or no download is made. If the determiner determines that the network selection list is maintained on the card, the downloader downloads the entry or entries contained therein and the sector makes the selection of which network that mobile node will attempt to communicate with. The selection is additionally based on the additional information, represented in the present to be provided to the selector by means of line 76. The selection made by the selector is provided, by means of line 82 to other portions of the mobile node, such as the transmission part and communications are attempted to be carried out with the selected network. Figure 3 illustrates a representation, shown in general with the number 86, representative of the operation of the communication system 10, shown in Figure 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The various wireless local area networks 14 broadcast signals, indicated by the segments 88, at intervals selected that identify the respective networks by their SSID or other identities. When the mobile node is placed within the detection range of the signals, the signals are detected and the mobile node includes such networks as possible networks with which to try to communicate. The mobile node is energized, indicated by the block 90. Furthermore, in response to the energization of the mobile node, the separable storage element placed in the mobile node is interrogated, indicated by the block 94. The interrogation is also carried out when it is carried out. the detection that a smart card is removed and replaced with another card or the original card is re-positioned to be connected to the mobile node. The block 90 is also representative of the repopulation or relocation of a card in the mobile node. A determination is made, indicated by the decision block 96, as to whether the card exhibits selected characteristics, ie, whether a network selection list is maintained in the separable storage element. If not, the card is an inheritance card and the branch is taken not to block 102. Otherwise, branch is taken if block 104. In block 104, the network selection list contained in the storage element separable is downloaded. In addition, as indicated by block 106, the content of the network selection list is stored in the mobile node. When the branch is taken not to block 102, a network selection list is not contained in the separable storage element and is indicated by block 102, a network selection list maintained in the mobile node, in its internal memory, It is the place of this access. The trajectories are taken from block 102, 104 and 106 to block 112. In block 112, a selection is made with which network to attempt to carry out communications. The selection is based on indications of the signals 88 detected by the mobile node and the network selection list, either that downloaded from the storage element or an existing free network selection list stored locally in the internal memory of the mobile node . After the selection, the communications to be performed are attempted, indicated by block 114. After this and as indicated by decision block 118, a determination is made as to whether the communications are made. If not, the branch is not taken and the selection procedures continue to select another network, if available, by means of which to try to communicate. Otherwise, the branch is taken if and a communication session, such as communication of a data message, is effected, indicated in block 120. Figure 4 shown in general with number 124, of the method of operation of a embodiment of the present invention. The method facilitates the selection of at least one first network selected from a group of networks with which to try, through a mobile node, to communicate. First and as indicated by block 126, a determination is made in the mobile node if the separable storage element, selectively contained in the mobile node, is selected first characteristics. Then and as indicated by block 128, a selection of the network is made with which to try to communicate. The selection that is made is made in response to indications stored in the separable storage element if determinations are made to indicate that the separable storage element is of the first selected characteristics. Otherwise, the selection is made in response to indications stored in the second storage element. By this, the network selection is made through the use of a network selection list contained in the separable storage element, if the separable storage element is capable of storing such a list and storing such a list. Otherwise, the selection list of networks from which a selection is made if a network selection list is maintained in the second storage element, for example an internal memory element of the mobile node. By this a way is provided by which to use a smart card that has capabilities of store a selection list of networks or alternatively, to allow the selection of which wireless local area network with which to try to communicate using a network selection list even when the smart card is of an inheritance construction. The foregoing descriptions are of preferred examples for implementing the invention and the scope of the invention should not necessarily be limited by this description. The scope of the present invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for a mobile node operable to communicate data in at least one selected first frequency band within which a group of networks are operable to communicate, the mobile node selectively contains a separable storage element of first selected characteristics and contains a second storage element, the apparatus for facilitating the selection of at least one first network selected from the group of networks with which it will attempt to communicate, the apparatus is characterized in that it comprises: a determinator implemented in the mobile node, the determiner for determining whether the separable storage element selectively contained in the mobile node is of the first selected characteristics; a downloader adapted to receive indications of determinations received by the determiner, the unloader is selectively configured to download indications stored in the storage element separable to the second storage element, subsequently available therein in response to the determination, by the determiner, which the separable storage element is of the first selected characteristics and a selector adapted to receive indications of determinations carried out by the determiner, the selector to select the at least first network selected from the group of networks with which it will attempt to communicate, the selection made by the selector is sensitive to indications stored in the separable storage element if the determinations made by the determiner indicate that the separable storage element it is of the first characteristics selected and in another way, sensitive to indications stored in it. second storage element. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first selected features of the separable storage element comprise the capacity of the storage element in the separable storage element for storing a selection list of networks and wherein the determiner determines whether the removable storage element exhibits the ease of storage element in the separable storage element for storing the network selection list. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the determiner further determines whether the separable storage element contains the network selection list. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the network selection list includes at least one first entry and wherein the indications stored in the separable storage element, sensitive to which the selector selects at least the first selected network if the determiner determines that the separable storage element contains the network selection list, comprises values representative of the minus first entry. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the determiner determines whether the separable storage element is of the first characteristics selected by sending an interrogation message to the separable storage element and analyzing the response to the interrogation message. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the detachable storage element further includes a flag location, the flag location populated with a first selected value when the separable storage element is of the first selected characteristics and where the determiner determines if the flag location is populated with the first selected value. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the second storage element comprises an internal memory that non-releasably forms a portion of the mobile node where the selector selects the at least the first selected network sensitive to indications stored in the internal memory when the determiner determines that the separable storage element is not of the first selected characteristics. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the determiner further determines whether the second storage element contains a network selection list, at least when the determiner determines that the first separable storage element is not one of the first. Selected features. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile node is energized by a power supply connected in a connected manner to the mobile node and wherein the determiner determines whether the separable storage element is of the first characteristics selected after the energization of the mobile node according to the connection of the mobile node to the power supply. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that each network of the group of networks is identified by a service set identifier and wherein the indications stored in the separable storage card, when it is of the first characteristics selected, identify the service set identifier of at least one network of the network group. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an indication updater and wherein the indications, if any, stored in the second storage element are selectively updatable by the indication updater. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the indications, if any, stored in the separable storage element are also selectively updatable by the indication updater. 13. A communication method in a radio communication system having a mobile node selectively operable to communicate data within at least one selected first frequency band within which a group of networks are operable to communicate, the mobile node selectively contains a separable storage element of first selected characteristics and contains a second storage element, the method for facilitating the selection of at least one first network selected from the group of networks with which it will attempt to communicate, the method is characterized in that it comprises: determining in the mobile node, if the separable storage element, selectively contained in the mobile node, is one of the first selected features; download indications stored in the element of storage separable to the second storage element, subsequently available therein, the first selected features and selecting the at least first network selected from the group of networks with which it will attempt to communicate, the selection made during the operation of the selection is sensitive to the indications stored in the separable storage element if the determinations made during the determination operation indicate that the separable storage element is of the first selected characteristics and otherwise sensitive to indications stored in the second storage element. 14. The method according to the claim 13, characterized in that the determination operation comprises interrogating the separable storage element to determine whether the separable storage element is of the first characteristics. 15. The method of compliance with the claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises the operation of adjusting a flag location, formed in the separable storage element within a first selected value when the separable storage element is of the first selected characteristics and wherein the interrogation operation comprises determining whether the flag location is populated with the first selected value. 16. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises the operation of accessing subsequently to the indications downloaded to and stored in the second storage element.