Access Network Selection in Multi-Access Network Environment

• US 20110110300A1
• Filed: 06/13/2008
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Rune, Johan, Sachs, Joachim
• Granted Patent: US 8,811,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• 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

Novel techniques of access network selection in multi-access network environment are provided, which allow for avoiding access selection loops for independent access selection processes. The multi-access network environment provides a first access selection function, e.g. a 3GPP access selection function, and a second access selection function, e.g. an ANDSF based access selection function. At least a portion of the first access selection function (565) may be implemented by a network component (560). At least a portion of the second access selection function (110) may be implemented by a user equipment (100), e.g. a mobile terminal. According to the proposed concepts, a selection priority information of the first access selection function (565) is made available to the second access selection function (110).

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method of access network selection in a multi-access network environment with a plurality of access networks, the plurality of access networks comprising a first subgroup of access networks and a second subgroup of access networks which are not part of the first subgroup of access networks,

wherein at least a first access selection function and a second access selection function are provided, the first access selection function being adapted to select an access network from the first subgroup on the basis of a first set of selection rules and the second access selection function being adapted to select at least one access network from both the first subgroup and the second subgroup on the basis of a second set of selection rules,

wherein the method comprises:

making a selection priority information of the first access selection function available to the second access selection function.

18. The method according to claim 17,

wherein in the second access selection function an access network from the first subgroup is only selected if no other access network of the first subgroup having a higher priority according to the first set of selection rules is available.

19. The method according to claim 17,

wherein the selection priority information specifies an access network of the first subgroup which is selected according to the first access selection function, and

wherein in the second access selection function those access networks of the first subgroup which have a lower priority than the selected access network of the first access selection function are filtered out.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

maintaining an availability information indicating which access networks of the first subgroup are available for a particular user equipment.

21. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

generating the selection priority information on the basis of an access network of the first subgroup which is used by a particular user equipment when the user equipment changes to an access network of the second subgroup.

22. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

generating the selection priority information on the basis of those access networks of the first subgroup which are available for a particular user equipment when the user equipment changes to an access network of the second subgroup.

23. The method according to claim 17, further comprising:

generating the selection priority information on the basis of contextual parameters which are valid for a particular user equipment when the user equipment changes to an access network of the second subgroup, the contextual parameters being selected from the group comprising;

an information on active applications of the user equipment, an information on the location of the user equipment, an information on the velocity of the user equipment, an information on the time of day, an information on the day of the week, and an information on a Public Land Mobile Network the user equipment is currently registered at.

24. A network component for use in a multi-access network environment with a plurality of access networks, the plurality of access networks comprising a first subgroup of access networks and a second subgroup of access networks which are not part of the first subgroup of access networks,

wherein the multi-access network environment provides at least a first access selection function and a second access selection function, the first access selection function being adapted to select an access network from the first subgroup on the basis of a first set of selection rules and the second access selection function being adapted to select an access network from both the first subgroup and the second subgroup on the basis of a second set of selection rules, and

wherein the network component is adapted to make a selection priority information of the first access selection function available to the second access selection function.

25. The network component according to claim 24,

wherein the network component is configured to implement at least a portion of the second access selection function in such a way that an access network from the first subgroup is only selected if no other access network of the first subgroup having a higher priority according to the first set of selection rules is available.

26. The network component according to claim 24:

wherein the selection priority information specifies an access network of the first subgroup which is selected according to the first access selection function, and

wherein in the second access selection function those access networks of the first subgroup which have a lower priority than the selected access network of the first access selection function are filtered out.

27. The network component according to claim 24, wherein the network component is configured to maintain an availability information indicating which access networks of the first subgroup are available for a particular user equipment.

28. The network component according to claim 24, wherein the network component is configured to generate the selection priority information on the basis of an access network of the first subgroup which is used by a particular user equipment when the user equipment changes to an access network of the second subgroup.

29. The network component according to claim 24, wherein the network component is configured to generate the selection priority information on the basis of those access networks of the first subgroup which are available for a particular user equipment when the user equipment changes to an access network of the second subgroup.

30. The network component according to claim 24, wherein the network component is configured to generate the selection priority information on the basis of contextual parameters which are valid for a particular user equipment when the user equipment changes to an access network of the second subgroup, the contextual parameters being selected from the group comprising:

an information on active applications of the user equipment, an information on the location of the user equipment, an information on the velocity of the user equipment, an information on the time of day, an information on the day of the week, and an information on a Public Land Mobile Network the user equipment is currently registered at.

31. A user equipment for use in a multi-access network environment with a plurality of access networks, the plurality of access networks comprising a first subgroup of access networks and a second subgroup of access networks which are not part of the first subgroup of access networks,

wherein the multi-access network environment provides at least a first access selection function and a second access selection function, the first access selection function being adapted to select an access network from the first subgroup on the basis of a first set of selection rules and the second access selection function being adapted to select at least one access network from both the first subgroup and the second subgroup on the basis of a second set of selection rules, and

wherein the user equipment is adapted to make a selection priority information of the first access selection function available to the second access selection function.

32. The user equipment according to claim 31,

wherein the user equipment is configured to implement at least a portion of the second access selection function in such a way that an access network from the first subgroup is only selected if no other access network of the first subgroup having a higher priority according to the first set of selection rules is available.

33. The user equipment according to claims 31,

wherein the selection priority information specifies an access network of the first subgroup which is selected according to the first access selection function, and

wherein in the second access selection function those access networks of the first subgroup which have a lower priority than the selected access network of the first access selection function are filtered out.

34. The user equipment according to claim 31, wherein the user equipment is configured to maintain an availability information indicating which access networks of the first subgroup are available for a particular user equipment.

35. The user equipment according to claim 31, wherein the user equipment is configured to generate the selection priority information on the basis of an access network of the first subgroup which is used by a particular user equipment when the user equipment changes to an access network of the second subgroup.

36. The user equipment according to claim 31, wherein the user equipment is configured to generate the selection priority information on the basis of those access networks of the first subgroup which are available for a particular user equipment when the user equipment changes to an access network of the second subgroup.

37. The user equipment according to claim 31, wherein the user equipment is configured to generate the selection priority information on the basis of contextual parameters which are valid for a particular user equipment when the user equipment changes to an access network of the second subgroup, the contextual parameters being selected from the group comprising:

an information on active applications of the user equipment, an information on the location of the user equipment, an information on the velocity of the user equipment, an information on the time of day, an information on the day of the week, and an information on a Public Land Mobile Network the user equipment is currently registered at.

38. A network system for use in a multi-access network environment with a plurality of access networks, the plurality of access networks comprising a first subgroup of access networks and a second subgroup of access networks which are not part of the first subgroup of access networks,

wherein the network system comprises at least one network component which implements at least a portion of a first access selection function, and a user equipment, a further network component, or both which implement at least a portion of a second access selection function,

wherein the first access selection function is adapted to select an access network from the first subgroup on the basis of a first set of selection rules and the second access selection function is adapted to select at least one access network from both the first subgroup and the second subgroup on the basis of second set of selection rules, and

wherein the network system is adapted to make a selection priority information of the first access selection function available to the second access selection function.

39. The network system according to claim 38,

wherein the user equipment, the further network component, or both is configured to implement at least a portion of the second access selection function in such a way that an access network from the first subgroup is only selected if no other access network of the first subgroup having a higher priority according to the first set of selection rules is available.

40. The network system according to claim 38,

wherein the selection priority information specifies an access network of the first subgroup which is selected according to the first access selection function, and

wherein in the second access selection function those access networks of the first subgroup which have a lower priority than the selected access network of the first access selection function are filtered out.

41. The network system according to claim 38, wherein the network system is configured to maintain an availability information indicating which access networks of the first subgroup are available for a particular user equipment.

42. The network system according to claim 38, wherein the network system is configured to generate the selection priority information on the basis of an access network of the first subgroup which is used by a particular user equipment when the user equipment changes to an access network of the second subgroup.

43. The network system according to claim 38, wherein the network system is configured to generate the selection priority information on the basis of those access networks of the first subgroup which are available for a particular user equipment when the user equipment changes to an access network of the second subgroup.

44. The network system according to claim 38, wherein the network system is configured to generate the selection priority information on the basis of contextual parameters which are valid for a particular user equipment when the user equipment changes to an access network of the second subgroup, the contextual parameters being selected from the group comprising:

an information on active applications of the user equipment, an information on the location of the user equipment, an information on the velocity of the user equipment, an information on the time of day, an information on the day of the week, and an information on a Public Land Mobile Network the user equipment is currently registered at.

45. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium and comprising program code that when executed on a computer system controls access network selection in a multi-access network environment with a plurality of access networks, the plurality of access networks comprising a first subgroup of access networks and a second subgroup of access networks which are not part of the first subgroup of access networks,

wherein at least a first access selection function and a second access selection function are provided, the first access selection function being adapted to select an access network from the first subgroup on the basis of a first set of selection rules and the second access selection function being adapted to select at least one access network from both the first subgroup and the second subgroup on the basis of a second set of selection rules,

wherein the program code controls access network selection by making a selection priority information of the first access selection function available to the second access selection function.