Generic Access Performance Abstraction for Access Selection

• US 20090268750A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Sachs, Joachim, Rinta-Aho, Teemu, Magnusson, Per, Prytz, Mikael
• Granted Patent: US 8,867,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/431
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5032 Generating service level reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416

Abstract

The invention provides methods method for access selection in a Multi-Access Network offering a plurality of Access Technologies (AT). The device may comprises a Multi Access Management entity (MAM) and a plurality of Generic Link Layer Entities (GLL) associated to a plurality of Accesses (A) according to said plurality of Access Technologies (AT). The access selection comprises an Access determination and an Access configuration. In a first step a Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL) determines one or more Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to one or more configurations of the Access (A). The Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL) sends the determined one or more Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to one or more configurations of the access (A) to the Multi Access Management entity (MAM). The Multi Access Management entity (MAM) determines from received Generic Performance Metrics (GPM), which Access (A) offers a configuration (GPM), which is suited for an application/bearer requirements. Then, said Multi Access Management entity (MAM) sends the determined configuration to the Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL) associated to the determined Access (A). The determined Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL) configures the Access (A) based on the determined configuration received from the Multi Access Management entity (MAM). Furthermore, the invention relates to corresponding devices, modules and software.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method for access selection in a Multi-Access Network offering a plurality of Access Technologies (T), the Multi-Access Network comprising a Multi-access Management Entity (MAM) and a plurality of Generic Link Layer Entities (GLL) associated with a plurality of Accesses (A) according to said plurality of Access Technologies (AT), the access selection comprising an Access Determination and an Access configuration, the method comprising the steps of:

one of the plurality of GLL determining Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to configurations of the Access (A);

the one of the plurality of GLL sending the determined GPM to the MAM, said MAM determining from the determined GPM which one of the plurality of Accesses offers a configuration suited for application and bearer requirements;

said MAM sending the determined configuration to the one of the plurality of GLL associated to the one of the plurality of Accesses; and

said determined GLL configuring the one of the plurality of Accesses based on the determined configuration received from the MAM.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of said GLL associated with the determined Access (A) sends the Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) for the determined configuration.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

the Multi Access Management entity sending bearer requirements to the GLL before the GLL determines the Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to the configurations of the Access (A), and

a Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL) having received bearer requirements determining the Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) on the basis of the received bearer requirements, whereby the Generic Performance Metrics (GPM), which do not meet the received bearer requirements, will not be reported.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising said Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL) determining the Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to the configurations of the Access (A) by analytical derivation.

22. A method for a Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL) for providing Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) for access selection in a Multi-Access Network offering a plurality of Access Technologies (AT), the method comprising the steps of:

determining Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to a configuration of an Access (A),

sending the determined Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to the configuration of the access (A) to a Multi Access Management entity (MAM),

receiving from said Multi Access Management entity (MAM) a determined configuration, and

configuring the Access (A) based on the determined configuration received from the Multi Access Management entity (MAM).

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of sending the generic performance metrics (GPM) for the determined configuration.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of:

receiving from the Multi Access Management entity (MAM) bearer requirements, whereby the determination of the Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) is based on the received bearer requirements, and whereby Generic Performance Metrics (GPM), which do not meet the received bearer requirements, will later-on not be reported.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein said determination of the Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to the configuration of the Access (A) is based on an analytical derivation.

26. The method according to claim 22, wherein said determination of the Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to the configuration of the Access (A) is based on mapping tables.

27. A method for a Multi Access Management entity (MAM) for access selection in a Multi-Access Network offering a plurality of Access Technologies (AT), the method comprising the steps of:

receiving determined Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to a configuration of an Access (A) from a Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL), whereby an Access (A) is associated to the Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL),

determining from said received Generic Performance Metrics (GPM), which Access (A) offers a configuration suited for application and bearer requirements, and

sending the determined configuration to the Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL) associated to the determined Access (A) for provoking the determined Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL) to configure the Access (A) based on the determined configuration received from the Multi Access Management entity (MAM).

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of sending bearer requirements to the Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL).

29. A device for access selection in a Multi-Access Network offering a plurality of Access Technologies (AT), the device comprising:

a plurality of Accesses (A) according to said plurality of Access Technologies (AT);

means for determining Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to a configuration of the Access (A), whereby the determined Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) correspond to a configuration of the access (A), and

means for access selection adapted for determining from the Generic Performance Metrics (GPM), which Access (A) offers a configuration, which is suited for application and bearer requirements, whereby said means for determining Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) are adapted to configure an Access (A) based on the determined configuration.

30. A module for providing Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) for access selection in a Multi-Access Network offering a plurality of Access Technologies (AT), the module comprising:

means for determining Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to a configuration of the Access (A);

means for sending the determined Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to the configuration of the access (A) to a Multi Access Management entity (MAM),

means for receiving from said Multi Access Management entity (MAM) a determined configuration, whereby the means for determining Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) are further adapted to configure the Access (A) based on the determined configuration received by the Multi Access Management entity (MAM).

31. A module for access selection in a Multi-Access Network offering a plurality of Access Technologies (AT), the module comprising:

means for receiving determined Generic Performance Metrics (GPM) corresponding to a configuration of the access (A) from Generic Link Layer Entities (GLL);

means for determining from said received Generic Performance Metrics (GPM), which Access (A) offers a configuration (GPM), which is suited for application and bearer requirements, and

means for sending the determined configuration to the determined Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL) for provoking the determined Generic Link Layer Entity (GLL) to configure the Access (A) based on the determined configuration reported by the Multi Access Management entity (MAM).