Method for access selection

• US 20040218605A1
• Filed: 12/01/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Sauermann, Jurgen, Kato, Ryoji, Oyama, Johnson, Gustafsson, Eva
• Granted Patent: US 7,436,843 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control

Abstract

A method for selecting the best access for terminals (210) in IP-based multi-access communication systems (200) is provided. The access selection is performed on the network side by an access wizard (261) that communicates with a profile server (262) associated with a number of databases (263). Via the profile server, the access wizard collects database information related to user, terminal, access networks and/or operator. It determines a “best” access network based on this information and preferably also on terminal specific information, e.g. terminal location and available access networks, from an access wizard agent (213) in the terminal. The best access is signaled from the access wizard, via the access wizard agent, and to an access manager (214) in the terminal, which has means for executing the actions necessary to use the best access.

Claims

1. A method for selecting access network (120;

420) for a mobile multi-access terminal (110;

210;

310;

410) in an Internet Protocol (IP)-based communication system (100;

200;

300;

400), comprising the steps of requesting, at a network-based access selection unit (261;

361;

461;

561), database information from a network-based profile server (262;

362;

462;

562) associated with a plurality of databases (263;

363;

463);

transmitting the database information from the profile server to the access selection unit;

selecting, at the access selection unit, a current best access network for the mobile terminal based on the database information; and

communicating an access network recommendation comprising an indication of the current best access network from the access selection unit to an access agent (213;

313;

413;

513) in the mobile terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving, at the access selection unit (261;

361;

461;

561), terminal-specific information from the access agent (213;

313;

413;

513), the terminal-specific information being used for selecting the current best access network in the selecting step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting step involves executing an access selection algorithm based on predefined prioritization criteria.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of

forwarding the access network recommendation from the access agent (213;

313;

413;

513) to an access manager (214;

314;

414) in the mobile terminal (110;

210;

310;

410); and

determining, at the access manager, which access network (120;

420) to use based on the access network recommendation and input user preferences and/or priority information in the mobile terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of

collecting, at the profile server (262;

362;

462;

562), the database information from at least a subset of its associated databases (263;

363;

463); and

adapting, at the profile server, at least some of the database information such that it can be read by the access selection unit (261;

361;

461;

561).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the database information comprises information related to an item selected from the group of:

access network, user device, end user and operator.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the terminal-specific information comprises information related to an item selected from the group of:

available access networks, currently used applications, location, speed, direction and route.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal (110;

210;

310;

410) resides in a vehicle (418;

618) and the terminal-specific information from the access agent (213;

313;

413;

513) comprises measurements from a device selected from the group of;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, a route sensor and a velocity sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of

predicting, at the access selection unit (261;

361;

461;

561), a future best access network for the mobile terminal (110;

210;

310;

410) based on the database information from the profile server (262;

362;

462;

562); and

communicating the future best access network prediction from the access selection unit to the access agent (213;

313, 413;

513).

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the terminal-specific information comprises an indication of a current terminal route, further comprising the steps of

determining, at the access selection unit (261;

361;

461;

561), which access networks (120;

420) that will be possible access candidates after a predetermined period of time; and

suggesting, from the access selection unit, if there is no access candidate for at least a portion of the current terminal route, an alternative terminal route to the access agent (213;

313;

413;

513).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the access selection unit (261;

361;

461;

561) and the profile server (262;

362;

462;

562) are parts of an overall service network (260;

360;

460) for services related to mobility, security and access handling.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the service network (260;

360;

460) further comprises a security server unit (264;

364;

464) to which the profile server (262;

362;

462;

562) transfers database information for authentication, authorization and accounting purposes.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of

sending a triggering message from the access selection unit (261;

361;

461;

561) to a security server unit (264;

364;

464) in the service network (260;

360;

460) when the mobile terminal (110;

210;

310;

410) is about to change from a first to a second access network; and

transferring, via the security server unit, security information between security domains associated with the first and second access networks in response to the triggering message.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of

sending terminal-related database information from the profile server (262;

362;

462;

562) to an application server (366) in the service network (260;

360;

460); and

adapting, at the application server, an application (317) for the mobile terminal (110;

210;

310;

410) based on the terminal-related database information.

15. A network-based server device (261;

361;

461;

561) in an IP-based communication system (100;

200;

300;

400) with means for selecting access network (120;

420) for a mobile terminal (110;

210;

310;

410), comprising

means for requesting database information from a network-based profile server (262;

362;

462;

562) associated with a plurality of databases (263;

363;

463);

means for receiving the database information from the profile server;

means for selecting a current best access network for the mobile terminal based on the database information; and

means for communicating an access network recommendation comprising an indication of the current best access network to the mobile terminal.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising means for receiving terminal-specific information from the mobile terminal and means for using the terminal-specific information for selecting the current best access network in the selecting step.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the means for selecting comprises means for executing an access selection algorithm based on predefined prioritization criteria.

18. The device of claim 15, further comprising

means for predicting a future best access network for the mobile terminal (110;

210;

310;

410) based on the database information from the profile server (262;

362;

462;

562); and

means for communicating the future best access network prediction to the mobile terminal.

19. The device of claim 16 further comprising

means for determining which access networks (120;

420) that will be possible access candidates after a predetermined period of time; and

means for suggesting, if there is no access candidate for at least a portion of the current terminal route, an alternative terminal route to the mobile terminal.

20. The device of claim 15, belonging to an overall service network (260;

360;

460) for services related to mobility, security and access handling.

21. The device of claim 20, further comprising means for sending a triggering message to a security server unit (264;

364;

464) in the service network (260;

360;

460) when the mobile terminal (110;

210;

310;

410) is about to change from a first to a second access network, whereby security information is transferred between security domains associated with the first and second access networks via the security server unit in response to the triggering message.

22. An IP-based communication system (100;

200;

300;

400) with means for selecting access network (120;

420) for a mobile multi-access terminal (110;

210;

310;

410), comprising

means for requesting, at a network-based access selection unit (261;

361;

461;

561), database information from a network-based profile server (262;

362;

462;

562) associated with a plurality of databases (263;

363;

463);

means for transmitting the database information from the profile server to the access selection unit;

means for selecting, at the access selection unit, a current best access network for the mobile terminal based on the database information; and

means for communicating an access network recommendation comprising an indication of the current best access network from the access selection unit to an access agent (213;

313;

413;

513) in the mobile terminal.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for transmitting terminal-specific information from the access agent (213;

313;

413;

513) to the access selection unit (261;

361;

461;

561), the terminal-specific information being used for selecting the current best access network in the selecting step.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the profile server (262;

362;

462;

562), provides a unified interface towards its associated databases (263;

363;

463).

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the access selection unit (261;

361;

461;

561) and the profile server (262;

362;

462;

562) are parts of an overall service network (260;

360;

460) for services related to mobility, security and access handling.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the service network (260;

360;

460) further comprises a security server unit (264;

364;

464) with means for communicating with the profile server (262;

362;

462;

562) for authentication, authorization and accounting purposes.

27. The system of claim 22, further comprising

means for sending terminal-related database information from the profile server (262;

362;

462;

562) to an application server (366) in the service network (260;

360;

460); and

means for adapting, at the application server, an application (317) for the mobile terminal (110;

210;

310;

410) based on the terminal-related database information.

28. A mobile terminal (110;

210;

310;

410) associated with at least two access possibilities in an IP-based communication system (100;

200;

300;

400) with means for selecting access network (120;

420) for the mobile terminal, comprising

means for transmitting terminal-specific information from an access agent (213;

313;

413;

513) in the mobile terminal to a unit for access selection (261;

361;

461;

561) in the network;

means for receiving, at the access agent, an access network recommendation comprising an indication of the current best access network from the access selection unit; and

means for forwarding the access network recommendation from the access agent to an access manager (214;

314;

414) in the mobile terminal.

29. The mobile terminal of claim 28, further comprising

means for determining, at the access manager (214;

314;

414), which access network (120;

420) to use based on the access network recommendation and input user preferences and/or priority information in the mobile terminal.