PLMN SELECTION AND INTER-SYSTEM MOBILITY POLICY CONFLICT RESOLUTION FOR MULTI-INTERFACE USER

• US 20110085498A1
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Four Batons Wireless LLC (Two Gold Capital LLC)
• Original Assignee: Telcordia Technologies Incorporated (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson), Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Oba, Yoshihiro, Morera, Raquel, Das, Subir
• Granted Patent: US 8,971,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/005 Multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming
• 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

A mobile device includes: multiple interfaces that are configured to support a various access technology such as 3G or Wi-Fi etc. A public land mobile network (PLMN) selector that generates a list for each of the PLMN networks that provide coverage to the mobile device. A PLMN selection policy parameter that is set to True or False to allow or prohibit the selection of PLMN networks by the mobile device based on the generated list where the generated list includes information as to different access technologies and selection priorities supported on the PLMN access networks providing coverage to the mobile device. In particular, when the PLMN selection policy parameter is set to True, multiple PLMN registrations are allowed; and when the A PLMN selection policy parameter is set to False, multiple PLMN registrations are prohibited.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a plurality of interfaces each of which is configured with a different access technology;

a network selector to generate a list for each of a plurality of access networks providing coverage to the mobile device; and

a network selection policy parameter having at least two settings to trigger a selection of the access networks by the mobile device,

wherein said list includes at least different access technologies and selection priorities supported on the access networks providing coverage to the mobile device.

2. The mobile device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a first setting of the two settings of the network selection policy parameter allows for the selection of more than one access network from the plurality of access networks simultaneously when one access network does not provide access to each of said different access technology supported by said plurality of interfaces of said mobile device; and

said selection is based upon the network selector generated list for the access networks within the coverage of the mobile device.

3. The mobile device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a first setting of the two settings of the network selection policy parameter allows for the selection of only one access network when said one access network provides access to each said different access technology supported by said plurality of interfaces of said mobile device.

4. The mobile device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a second setting of the two settings of the network selection policy parameter prohibits the selection of more than one access network from the plurality of access networks simultaneously even when no one access network provides access to each of said different access technology supported by said plurality of interfaces of said mobile device.

5. The mobile device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a second setting of the two settings of the network selection policy parameter allows for selecting an access network when said access network provides access to each of said different access technology supported by said plurality of interfaces of said mobile device.

6. The mobile device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a second setting of the two settings of the network selection policy parameter allows for selecting an access network based upon the network selector generated list when none of the access networks within the coverage of the mobile device provides access to each said different access technology supported by said plurality of interfaces of said mobile device.

7. The mobile device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said mobile device registers with each of said more than one access networks such that each of said plurality of interfaces configured with said different access technologies are provided access on said more than one access networks within the coverage of the mobile device.

8. The mobile device as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said mobile device uses at least a first gateway to act as a mobile Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) home agent and a second gateway to act as a proxy mobile IPv6 local mobility agent; and

said first gateway provides an internet protocol (IP) flow mobility across said more than one access networks selected by the mobile device.

9. The mobile device as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said mobile device performs said IP flow mobility binding with said first gateway so that some of the internet protocol (IP) flows to go through one of the plurality of interfaces supporting a specific access technology and other of the IP flows to go through other of the plurality of interfaces supporting a different specific access technology.

10. The mobile device as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

said mobile device obtains inter-system mobility policies from a functional unit of a home access network as well as functional units corresponding to visited access networks, in which said functional unit of the home access network and said functional units of each of the visited access networks contain data management and control functionality to provide network discovery and selection assistance data that corresponds to each of the aforesaid access networks'"'"' policy.

11. The mobile device as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said functional unit of the home access network and only one of said functional units from the visited access networks provide IP flow mobility policies across said more than one access networks selected by the mobile device.

12. The mobile device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said at least two settings being a first setting and a second setting, in which said first setting being TRUE and said second setting being FALSE.

30. The mobile device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said at least two settings being a first setting and a second setting, in which said first setting being TRUE and said second setting being FALSE.

13. A method by which a mobile device resolves inter-system mobility policy conflict among access networks providing coverage to said mobile device,

comprising:

searching a table containing conflict resolution policies for said access networks providing coverage to said mobile device;

choosing entries from said table that match as to at least a conflict resolution type entry, an access technology entry and an internet protocol (IP) flow entry; and

applying said matched entries having a highest precedence value to a specific combination of said access networks, access technology and IP flow.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said mobile device adopts all policies from one access network when said conflict resolution type entry is a strict conflict resolution (SCR).

15. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said mobile device adopts some policies from one access network and others from other access networks when said conflict resolution type entry is a flexible conflict resolution (FCR).

16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

a tie breaking policy is adopted when two or more said matched networks have the same highest precedence.

17. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein:

said mobile device adopts policies from a function unit on a home access network for said SCR and does not adopt policies on a particular access technology obtained from a functional unit on a visited access network when the access technology to which the mobile device is connected to belongs to a different visited access network.

18. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said mobile device adopts policies from a functional unit on a home access network for said FCR and does not adopt policies on a particular access technology obtained from a functional unit on a visited access network when the access technology to which the mobile device is connected to belongs to a different visited access network.

19. A system, comprising:

a plurality of access networks;

at least a mobile device having a plurality of interfaces each of which is configured with a different access technology;

a network selector to generate a list for each of said plurality of access networks providing coverage to the mobile device; and

a network selection policy parameter having at least two settings to trigger a selection of the access networks by the mobile device,

wherein said list includes at least different access technologies and selection priorities supported on the access networks providing coverage to the mobile device.

20. The system as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

a first setting of the two settings of the network selection policy parameter allows for the selection of more than one access network from the plurality of access networks simultaneously when one access network does not provide access to each of said different access technology supported by said plurality of interfaces of said mobile device; and

said selection is based upon the network selector generated list for the access networks within the coverage of the mobile device.

21. The system as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

a first setting of the two settings of the network selection policy parameter allows for the selection of only one access network when said one access network provides access to each said different access technology supported by said plurality of interfaces of said mobile device.

22. The system as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

a second setting of the two settings of the network selection policy parameter prohibits the selection of more than one access network from the plurality of access networks simultaneously even when no one access network provides access to each of said different access technology supported by said plurality of interfaces of said mobile device.

23. The system as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

a second setting of the two settings of the network selection policy parameter allows for selecting an access network when said access network provides access to each of said different access technology supported by said plurality of interfaces of said mobile device.

24. The system as set forth in claim 19, wherein:

a second setting of the two settings of the network selection policy parameter allows for selecting an access network based upon the network selector generated list when none of the access networks within the coverage of the mobile device provides access to each said different access technology supported by said plurality of interfaces of said mobile device.

25. The system as set forth in claim 20, wherein:

said mobile device registers with each of said more than one access networks such that each of said plurality of interfaces configured with said different access technologies are provided access on said more than one access networks within the coverage of the mobile device.

26. The system as set forth in claim 25, wherein:

said mobile device uses at least a first gateway to act as a mobile Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) home agent and a second gateway to act as a proxy mobile IPv6 local mobility agent; and

said first gateway provides an internet protocol (IP) flow mobility across said more than one access networks selected by the mobile device.

27. The system as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

said mobile device performs said IP flow mobility binding with said first gateway so that some of the internet protocol (IP) flows to go through one of the plurality of interfaces supporting a specific access technology and other of the IP flows to go through other of the plurality of interfaces supporting a different specific access technology.

28. The system as set forth in claim 26, wherein:

said mobile device obtains inter-system mobility policies from a functional unit of a home access network as well as functional units corresponding to visited access networks, in which said functional unit of the home access network and said functional units of each of the visited access networks contain data management and control functionality to provide network discovery and selection assistance data that corresponds to each of the aforesaid access networks'"'"' policy.

29. The system as set forth in claim 28, wherein:

said functional unit of the home access network and only one of said functional units from the visited access networks provide IP flow mobility policies across said more than one access networks selected by the mobile device.