Load Sharing in Multi-Access Systems
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Abstract
In a multi-access system, an access selection principle is achieved by selecting a signal strength threshold level based on a determined load level (ULOCAL) in a first access network. A new user in an area commonly covered by more than one access network attempts to allocate to the first access network if an experienced signal strength exceeds the signal strength threshold level. Communication utility can preferably be maximised or at least be taken into account by using suitable load level dependencies. By increasing the threshold when the load level approaches the capacity limit, a completely filled first access network is avoided. This gives an opportunity to let particularly well-suited users still have access to the first access network. At the same time, since the preferred access is decided before the actual access attempt, control signalling can be significantly reduced, even at very high traffic loads.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1-21. -21. (canceled)
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22. Method for access control in a multi-access communications system having at least two access networks covering at least a common area, comprising the steps of:
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determining a quantity related to a load level in a first access network covering said common area;
selecting a first threshold level of a radio link quality based on said determined quantity related to a load level;
allocating a new user in said common area to said first access network if a first network radio link quality experienced by said new user exceeds said first threshold level; and
allocating said new user in said common area to a second access network covering said common area if said first network radio link quality experienced by said new user is lower than said first threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. Access control node for use in a multi-access communications system having at least two access networks covering at least a common area, said access control node comprising:
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means for determining a quantity related to a load level in a first access network covering said common area;
means for selecting a first threshold level of a radio link quality based on said determined quantity related to a load level;
means for allocating a new user in said common area to said first access network if a first network radio link quality experienced by said new user exceeds said first threshold level; and
means for requesting allocation of said new user in said common area to a second access network covering said common area if said first network radio link quality experienced by said new user is lower than said first threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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33. Access control node for use in a multi-access communications system having at least two access networks covering at least a common area, said access control node comprising:
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means for determining a quantity related to a load level in a first access network covering said common area;
means for selecting a first threshold level of a radio link quality based on said determined quantity related to a load level;
means for requesting allocation of a new user in said common area to said first access network if a first network radio link quality experienced by said new user exceeds said first threshold level; and
means for allocating said new user in said common area to a second access network covering said common area if said first network radio link quality experienced by said new user is lower than said first threshold level.
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Specification