METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTI-RAT ACCESS MODE OPERATION

• US 20130016696A1
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Published: 01/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adjakple, Pascal M., Olvera-Hernandez, Ulises, Wang, Peter S., Liu, Kai, Ahmad, Saad
• Granted Patent: US 9,781,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0252 per individual bearer or channel dynamic wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/125 involving different types of service backbones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/28 involving a plurality of connections, e.g. multi-call or multi-bearer connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• 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 method and apparatus for multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) access mode operation for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) are disclosed. A WTRU and a network may enable a multi-RAT access mode of operation based on at least one of WTRU subscription, a service agreement of the WTRU, a roaming status of the WTRU, a selected access point name (APN), an Internet protocol (IP) flow class, a subscriber profile identity for the WTRU, requested quality of service, or a proximity indication indicating proximity to a cell supporting multi-RAT access mode. The WTRU may send a capability indication of support of multi-RAT access to a network, wherein the multi-RAT access mode is enabled based on the capability indication. A partial handover of bearers may be performed. In performing the handover, the target cell is determined based on a priority rule.

Claims

1. A method for multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) access mode operation for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising:

enabling a multi-RAT access mode of operation; and

establishing bearers simultaneously in at least two different RATs,

wherein the multi-RAT access mode is enabled based on at least one of WTRU subscription, a service agreement of the WTRU, a roaming status of the WTRU, a selected access point name (APN), an Internet protocol (IP) flow class, a subscriber profile identity for the WTRU, requested quality of service, or a proximity indication indicating proximity to a cell supporting multi-RAT access mode.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the WTRU sending a capability indication of support of multi-RAT access to a network, wherein the multi-RAT access mode is enabled based on the capability indication.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the proximity indication is included in a tracking area update message, a routing area update message, an attach request message, or a PDN connectivity request message.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling access to a network that supports local IP access (LIPA), selective IP traffic offload (SIPTO), or managed remote access (MRA).

5. The method of claim 4 wherein access to the network supporting LIPA, SIPTO, or MRA is enabled on a condition that a message received from the network indicates that traffic needs to be offloaded to a cell that supports multi-RAT access.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein LIPA, SIPTO, or MRA is enabled based on the subscriber profile identity.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting a target cell for handover that supports the multi-RAT access mode; and

performing a handover of at least one bearer to the target cell.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein a part of bearers of a current serving cell is handed over to the target cell.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the target cell is determined based on a priority rule.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the priority rule is set based on operator policy setting, or based on signaling between network nodes or between a network and the WTRU, or based on the subscriber profile identity.

11. An apparatus for multiple radio access technology (multi-RAT) access mode operation for a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to enable a multi-RAT access mode of operation and establish bearers in at least two different RATs,

wherein the multi-RAT access mode is enabled based on at least one of WTRU subscription, service agreement, roaming status, a selected access point name (APN), Internet protocol (IP) flow class, subscriber profile identity, requested quality of service, or a proximity indication.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor is configured to send a capability indication of support of multi-RAT access to a network and the multi-RAT access mode is enabled based on the capability indication.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the proximity indication is included in a tracking area update message, a routing area update message, an attach request message, or a PDN connectivity request message.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor is configured to enable access to a network that supports local IP access (LIPA), selective IP traffic offload (SIPTO), or managed remote access (MRA).

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein access to the network supporting LIPA, SIPTO, or MRA is enabled on a condition that a message received from the network indicates that traffic needs to be offloaded to a cell that supports multi-RAT access.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein LIPA, SIPTO, or MRA is enabled based on the subscriber profile identity.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the processor is configured to select a target cell for handover that supports the multi-RAT access mode, and perform a handover of at least one bearer to the target cell.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein a part of bearers of a current serving cell is handed over to the target cell.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the target cell is determined based on a priority rule.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the priority rule is set based on operator policy setting, or based on signaling between network nodes or between a network and the WTRU, or based on the subscriber profile identity.