Access Node Selection in a Network

• US 20080250142A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optis Cellular Technology LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Optis Cellular Technology LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Inventors: Sachs, Joachim, Magnusson, Per, Lundsjo, Johan, Prytz, Mikael
• Granted Patent: US 8,938,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

The invention is directed towards determining an access node (14, 16) for a terminal (18) in a network (10) having one or more access nodes capable of providing access to the terminal based on one or more access technologies. Access node is selected through determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node (12, 14, 16) is required as input for the access node selection for the terminal. If it is determined that the at least one network parameter is required as input, the network parameter is obtained and an access node possibly together with access type for the terminal is selected at least based on said network parameter.

Claims

1-43. -43. (canceled)

44. A method of access selection for a terminal communicating with a network having one or more access nodes capable of providing access to the terminal according to one or more access technologies, the method comprising:

determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for access selection for the terminal;

obtaining a network parameter if it is determined that at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for access selection for the terminal; and

selecting an access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter each time the determination is made.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising selecting an access type together with the access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter.

46. The method of claim 44 further comprising initiating or continuing terminal-based access selection if it is determined that no network parameter is required as input for the access selection.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for access selection for a terminal comprises periodically determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for access selection for a terminal.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein determining whether the at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for the access selection for the terminal comprises:

obtaining a set of network conditions;

testing each network condition with at least one corresponding network condition criterion; and

selecting the access node for the terminal if at least one of the network conditions passes the corresponding test.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising redefining one or more of the network condition criteria at least once.

50. The method of claim 44 wherein a single controlling network entity controls the selection of the access node for the terminal.

51. The method of claim 44 wherein a plurality of controlling network entities jointly control the selection of the access node for the terminal.

52. The method of claim 44 further comprising selecting an alternative control location where access node selection is to be performed from a set of available alternative control locations, wherein selecting an alternative control location comprises:

evaluating an efficiency of each alternative control location in the set of available alternative control locations; and

selecting the alternative control location to perform the access selection for the terminal based at least in part on the evaluated efficiencies.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the set of available alternative control locations comprises a centralized alternative control location and a distributed alternative control location, and wherein selecting the alternative control location comprises:

establishing a set of control location factors; and

testing each control location factor in the set of control location factors with at least one corresponding control location factor criterion.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein selecting an alternative control location to perform the access selection from the set of available alternative control locations further comprises:

selecting the centralized alternative control location to perform the access selection if at least one control location factor in the set of control location factors passes the test; and

selecting the distributed alternative control location to perform the access selection if none of the control location factors in the set of control location factors passes the test.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein selecting an alternative control location to perform the access selection further comprises:

determining whether the control location factor being tested may be refined if the control location factor passes the test;

selecting the centralized alternative control location to perform the access selection if the control location factor cannot be refined; and

changing the control location factor and re-testing the set of available alternative control locations if the control location factor can be refined.

56. A method of aiding access selection for a terminal communicating with a network having one or more access nodes capable of providing access to the terminal according to one or more access technologies, the method comprising:

determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for access selection for a terminal;

obtaining a network parameter if it is determined that at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for access selection for a terminal; and

generating a command to select an access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter each time the determination is made.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising generating a command to select an access type together with the access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for access selection for a terminal comprises periodically determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for access selection for a terminal.

59. The method of claim 56 wherein determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for the access selection for the terminal comprises:

obtaining a set of network conditions;

testing each network condition in the set of network conditions with at least one corresponding network condition criterion; and

selecting the access node if at least one network condition passes the corresponding test.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein one or more of the network condition criteria have been redefined at least once.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein at least one network condition is based on link quality between the terminal and at least one access node.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the testing of a network condition comprises testing a link quality of a first link between a first access node and the terminal and a link quality of a second link between a second access node and the terminal.

63. A communication device for handling access selection for a terminal communicating with a network having one or more access nodes capable of providing access to the terminal based on one or more access technologies, the communication device comprising:

a resource management unit configured to;

obtain a network parameter each time a determination is made that at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for access selection for the terminal; and

select an access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter each time the determination is made.

64. The device of claim 63 wherein the resource management unit is further configured to select an access type together with the access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter.

65. The device of claim 63 wherein the resource management unit is further configured to initiate or continue terminal-based access selection if it is determined that no network parameter is required as input for the access selection.

66. The device of claim 63 wherein the resource management unit is further configured to re-determine whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for the access selection for the terminal.

67. The device of claim 63 wherein the resource management unit, when determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for the access selection for the terminal, is further configured to:

obtain a set of network conditions;

test each network condition in the set of network conditions with at least one corresponding network condition criterion; and

select the access node for the terminal if at least one network condition passes the corresponding test.

68. The device of claim 67 wherein the resource management unit is further configured to redefine one or more of the network condition criteria at least once.

69. The device of claim 63 wherein the communication device comprises a mobile terminal.

70. The device of claim 63 wherein the communication device comprises a network node entity.

71. The device of claim 70 wherein the network node entity is assisted by other controlling entities in the network when selecting the access node for the terminal.

72. A communication device for aiding access selection for a terminal communicating with a network having one or more access nodes capable of providing access to the terminal based on one or more access technologies, the device comprising:

a resource management unit configured to;

determine whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for the access selection for the terminal;

obtain the network parameter if it is determined that at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for the access selection for the terminal; and

generate a command to select an access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter each time the determination is made.

73. The device of claim 72 wherein the resource management unit is further configured to select an access type together with the access node for the terminal.

74. The device of claim 72 wherein the resource management unit is further configured to re-determine whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for the access selection for the terminal at least once.

75. The device of claim 72 wherein the resource management unit, when determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for the access selection for the terminal, is configured to:

obtain a set of network conditions;

test each network condition in the set of network conditions with at least one corresponding network condition criterion; and

select the access node for the terminal if at least one network condition passes the corresponding test.

76. The device of claim 75 wherein one or more of the network condition criteria have been redefined at least once.

77. The device of claim 75 wherein at least one of the network conditions is based on a link quality between the terminal and at least one access node.

78. The device of claim 77 wherein the testing of a network condition comprises testing a link quality of a first link between a first access node and the terminal, and a link quality of a second link between a second access node and the terminal.

79. The device of claim 72 wherein the device communication comprises a mobile terminal.

80. A network node in a network having one or more access nodes capable of providing access to terminals according to one or more access technologies, the network comprising a plurality of alternative control locations where access selection for a terminal communicating with the network may be performed by determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for an access selection for a terminal, obtaining the network parameter at least once, and selecting an access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter if it is determined that the at least one network parameter is required as input, the network node comprising:

a resource management unit configured to;

evaluate an efficiency of each alternative control location in a set of available alternative control locations; and

select the alternative control location to perform an access selection for a terminal based at least in part on the evaluated efficiencies.

81. The network node of claim 80 wherein the set of available alternative control locations includes a centralized alternative control location and a distributed alternative control location, and wherein the resource management unit, when selecting an alternative control location, is further configured to:

establish a set of control location factors; and

test each control location factor in the set of control location factors with at least one corresponding control location factor criterion.

82. The network node of claim 81 wherein the resource management unit, when selecting an alternative control location, is further configured to:

select the centralized alternative control location to perform the access selection for the terminal if at least one control location factor passes the test; and

select the distributed alternative control location to perform the access selection for the terminal if none of the control location factors passes the test.

83. The network node of claim 82 wherein the resource management unit, when selecting an alternative control location, is further configured to:

determine whether the control location factor being tested may be refined if the control location factor passes the test;

select the centralized alternative control location to perform the access selection for the terminal if the control location factor cannot be refined; and

refine the control location factor being tested and re-test the set of available alternative control locations if the control location factor can be refined.

84. A computer readable medium for a communication device that performs access selection for a terminal communicating with a network having one or more access nodes capable of providing access to the terminal according to one or more access technologies, the computer readable medium having logic stored thereon configured to control the communication device to:

obtain a network parameter each time a determination is made that at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for access selection for the terminal; and

select an access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter each time the determination is made.

85. The computer readable medium of claim 84 wherein the logic stored thereon is further configured to control the communication device to select an access type together with the access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter.

86. A computer readable medium for a communication device that aids access selection for a terminal communicating with a network having one or more access nodes capable of providing access to the terminal according to one or more access technologies, the computer readable medium having logic stored thereon configured to control the communication device to:

determine whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for the access selection for the terminal;

obtain the network parameter; and

generate a command to select an access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter each time the determination is made.

87. The computer readable medium of claim 86 wherein the logic is further configured to control the communication device to select an access type together with the access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter.

88. A computer readable medium for a network node in a network having one or more access nodes capable of providing access to terminals according to one or more access technologies, and a plurality of alternative control locations where access selection for a terminal communicating with the network may be performed by determining whether at least one network parameter provided by a network node is required as input for an access selection for a terminal, obtain the network parameter at least once, and select an access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter if it is determined that the at least one network parameter is required as input, wherein the computer readable medium comprises logic stored thereon configured to control the network node to:

evaluate an efficiency of each alternative control location for each alternative control location in a set of available alternative control locations; and

select an alternative control location for the access selection for the terminal from the set of available control location alternatives based at least in part on the evaluated efficiencies.

89. The computer readable medium of claim 88 wherein the logic is further configured to control the network node to select an access type together with the access node for the terminal based at least in part on the network parameter.