Network selection
First Claim
1. A method for use in access network selection in a telecommunications system comprising at least a mobile telephony radio access network, the method comprising:
- monitoring, by circuitry of a network node of the mobile telephony radio access network, a traffic volume within the mobile telephony radio access network;
determining, by the circuitry, whether the traffic volume exceeds a predetermined threshold;
identifying, by the circuitry and based on the determining, a preference to offload specific internet protocol (IP) flows of data communication in the mobile telephony radio access network to an available local area network;
transmitting, by the circuitry to a user equipment via the mobile telephony radio access network, an indication of the identified preference, the indication including at least one condition that, when satisfied, the user equipment is to offload the data communication; and
offloading, by the user equipment when the at least one condition is satisfied, the specific IP flows of the data communication without offloading other IP flows of the data communication.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments comprise measures, including methods, apparatus and computer program products, for use in access network selection in a telecommunications system. The telecommunications system comprises, at least, a mobile telephony radio access network. At one or more network nodes of the mobile telephony radio access network a preference, to offload at least some data communication in the mobile telephony radio access network to a further radio access network other than the mobile telephony radio access network, is identified. In response to this identification, an indication of the identified offloading preference is caused to be transmitted, via the mobile telephony radio access network, to at least one user equipment.
10 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for use in access network selection in a telecommunications system comprising at least a mobile telephony radio access network, the method comprising:
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monitoring, by circuitry of a network node of the mobile telephony radio access network, a traffic volume within the mobile telephony radio access network; determining, by the circuitry, whether the traffic volume exceeds a predetermined threshold; identifying, by the circuitry and based on the determining, a preference to offload specific internet protocol (IP) flows of data communication in the mobile telephony radio access network to an available local area network; transmitting, by the circuitry to a user equipment via the mobile telephony radio access network, an indication of the identified preference, the indication including at least one condition that, when satisfied, the user equipment is to offload the data communication; and offloading, by the user equipment when the at least one condition is satisfied, the specific IP flows of the data communication without offloading other IP flows of the data communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for use in access network selection in a telecommunications system comprising at least a mobile telephony radio access network, the apparatus configured for use in a network node of the mobile telephony radio access network, the apparatus comprising:
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circuitry configured to monitor a traffic volume within the mobile telephony radio access network; determine whether the traffic volume exceeds a predetermined threshold; identify, based on whether the traffic volume exceeds the predetermined threshold, a preference to offload specific internee protocol (IP) flows of data communication in the mobile telephony radio access network to an available local area network; and transmit, to a user equipment via the mobile telephony radio access network, an indication of the identified preference, the indication including at least one condition that, when satisfied, the user equipment is to offload the data communication, wherein the user equipment offloads, when the at least one condition is satisfied, the specific IP flows of the data communication without offloading other IP flows of the data communication. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An apparatus for use in access network selection in a telecommunications system comprising at least a mobile telephony radio access network, the apparatus configured for use in a user equipment within the mobile telephony radio access network, the apparatus comprising:
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circuitry configured to receive, from a network node of the mobile telephony radio access network, an indication of an identified preference to offload specific Internet protocol (IP) flows of data communication in the mobile telephony radio access network to an available local area network, wherein the network node monitors a traffic volume within the mobile telephony radio access network and determines whether the traffic volume exceeds a predetermined threshold, the indication of the identified preference is identified by the network node based on whether the traffic volume exceeds the predetermined threshold, the indication includes at least one condition that, when satisfied, the user equipment is to offload the data communication, and the circuit is further configured to offload, when the at least one condition is satisfied, the specific IP flows of the data communication without offloading other IP flows of the data communication. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification