Method and apparatus for multi-rat access mode operation

• US 10,433,359 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2017
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adjakple, Pascal M., Olvera-Hernandez, Ulises, Wang, Peter S., Liu, Kai, Ahmad, Saad
• Primary Examiner(s): Duong, Frank
• Application Number:
  US15/649,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20170332272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0252 per individual bearer or channel dynamic wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00692 using simultaneous multiple data streams, e.g. cooperative multipoint [CoMP], carrier aggregation [CA] or multiple input multiple output [MIMO] allocation of physical resources in CoMP or in CA H04L5/0035
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/125 involving different types of service backbones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method and apparatus for multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) access mode operation for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are disclosed. A WTRU and a network may enable a multi-RAT access mode of operation based on at least one of WTRU subscription, a service agreement of the WTRU, a roaming status of the WTRU, a selected access point name (APN), an Internet protocol (IP) flow class, a subscriber profile identity for the WTRU, requested quality of service, or a proximity indication indicating proximity to a cell supporting multi-RAT access mode. The WTRU may send a capability indication of support of multi-RAT access to a network, wherein the multi-RAT access mode is enabled based on the capability indication. A partial handover of bearers may be performed. In performing the handover, the target cell is determined based on a priority rule.

Claims

1. A method for multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) access mode operation implemented in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) the method comprising:

registering using a first radio access technology (RAT), wherein an indication for multi-RAT access is received from a network during the registration using the first RAT;

establishing a bearer in a second RAT based on the indication of multi-RAT access; and

initiating a transfer of a data flow from the first RAT to the second RAT.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a bearer in the second RAT is further based on a state of the WTRU.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is received from a node in a radio access network, RAN.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the establishing a bearer in the second RAT is further based on at least one of a radio condition and a load condition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first RAT and the second RAT are in a first network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the bearer in the second RAT is triggered by a network attachment procedure or a session management procedure.

7. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) access mode operation, comprising:

a processor operatively coupled to a transceiver, the processor and transceiver configured to register using a first radio access technology (RAT), wherein an indication for multi-RAT access is received from a network during the registration using the first RAT;

the processor and transceiver further configured to establish a bearer in a second RAT based on the indication of multi-RAT access; and

the processor and transceiver further configured to initiate at least a partial handover from the first RAT to the second RAT.

8. The WTRU of claim 7, wherein the indication is received from a node in a radio access network, RAN.

9. The WTRU of claim 7, wherein the establishing a bearer in the second RAT is further based on at least one of a radio condition and a load condition.

10. The WTRU of claim 7, wherein the first RAT and the second RAT are both in a first network.

11. The WTRU claim 7, wherein establishing a bearer in the second RAT is further based on a state of the WTRU.

12. The WTRU of claim 7, wherein establishing the bearer in the second RAT is triggered by a network attachment procedure or a session management procedure.