Access network selection method

• US 20080176552A1
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Noda, Akishige, Hamano, Yuichiro, Aikawa, Shinichiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,238,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/02 Processing of mobility data, e.g. registration information at HLR [Home Location Register] or VLR [Visitor Location Register]; Transfer of mobility data, e.g. between HLR, VLR or external networks
• 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

An access network selection method in a communications network having access networks is disclosed that includes notifying devices in calling-side and called-side networks of the identifiers of currently available access networks and user preferences; making a list of candidates for an access network to be assigned to the called-side terminal, and transmitting the list to the device in the calling-side network; determining an access network to be assigned to the calling-side terminal in response to reception of the list, and notifying the calling-side terminal of the determined access network; notifying the device in the called-side network of the type of the access network assigned to the calling-side terminal; and determining the access network to be assigned to the called-side terminal in response to reception of the signal of the type of the access network assigned to the calling-side terminal, and notifying the called-side terminal of the determined access network.

Claims

1. An access network selection method in a communications network having multiple access networks, comprising the steps of:

notifying a device in a calling-side network of an identifier corresponding to a currently available access network and a user preference from a calling-side terminal making a call originating request;

notifying a device in a called-side network of an identifier corresponding to a currently available access network and a user preference from a called-side terminal having received the call originating request via the device in the calling-side network;

making a list of candidates for an access network to be assigned to the called-side terminal based on a predetermined condition in response to reception of a notification signal from the called-side terminal as a trigger, and transmitting the list from the device in the called-side network to the device in the calling-side network;

determining an access network to be assigned to the calling-side terminal in response to reception of the list of the candidates for the access network to be assigned from the device in the called-side network as a trigger, and notifying the calling-side terminal of the determined access network by the device in the calling-side network;

notifying the device in the called-side network of a type of the access network assigned to the calling-side terminal by one of the calling-side terminal and the device in the calling-side network; and

determining the access network to be assigned to the called-side terminal based on a condition based on which the access network to be assigned to the calling-side terminal has been determined in the device in the calling-side terminal, in response to reception of a signal of the type of the access network assigned to the calling-side terminal as a trigger, and notifying the called-side terminal of the determined access network by the device in the called-side network.

2. The access network selection method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the condition in determining the access network to be assigned to the calling-side terminal by the device in the calling-side network is based on a local home address, a care-of address, a quality of service, and the user preference included in the call originating request by the calling-side terminal.

5. The access network selection method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access networks have identifiers serving as addresses for transferring user data in the access networks.

6. The access network selection method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the access networks have identifiers including information different from addresses for transferring user data in the access networks.

3. An access network selection method in a communications network having multiple access networks, comprising the steps of:

notifying a device in a calling-side network of an identifier corresponding to a currently available access network and a user preference from a calling-side terminal making a call originating request;

transmitting a provisional response signal to the call originating request, from a called-side terminal having received the call originating request via the device in the calling-side network; and

determining an access network to be assigned to the calling-side terminal in response to reception of the provisional response signal from the called-side terminal as a trigger, and notifying the calling-side terminal of the determined access network by the device in the calling-side network.

4. An access network selection method in a communications network having multiple access networks, comprising the steps of:

notifying a device in a calling-side network of an identifier corresponding to a currently available access network and a user preference from a calling-side terminal making a call originating request;

transmitting a response signal to the call originating request, from a called-side terminal having received the call originating request via the device in the calling-side network; and

determining an access network to be assigned to the calling-side terminal in response to reception of the response signal from the called-side terminal as a trigger, and notifying the calling-side terminal of the determined access network by the device in the calling-side network.