Method and Apparatus for use in a Communications Network

• US 20140113640A1
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Sachs, Joachim, Arvidsson, Petter, Rune, Johan, Turnyi, Zoltn Richrd
• Granted Patent: US 9,060,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 based on regulatory allocation policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/569 of the traffic information
• 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 is provided for use in a communications network in which a plurality of accesses are available to a user entity for accessing a network resource, comprising: determining a set of active rules, each rule specifying respective preferences, at least relatively, for at least some of the plurality of accesses, with potential for conflict between the rules of the set concerning which access is most preferred; deriving from the set of active rules a new rule specifying respective preferences, at least relatively, for at least some of the plurality of accesses; and selecting an access for use by the user entity based on the new rule.

Claims

1. A method operative in a communications network in which a plurality of accesses are available to a user entity for accessing a network resource, comprising:

determining a set of active rules, each rule specifying respective preferences, at least relatively, for at least some of the plurality of accesses, the rules of the set being potentially in conflict between each other concerning which access is most preferred;

deriving from the set of active rules a new rule specifying respective preferences, at least relatively, for at least some of the plurality of accesses; and

selecting an access for use by the user entity based on the new rule.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing the network resource using the selected access.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

scanning for the selected access.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

performing the deriving, selecting and scanning steps for a plurality of sets of active rules.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the preferences are represented by respective preference values, and wherein deriving a new rule comprises combining the preference values from different rules according to a predetermined scheme to generate the new rule.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the active rules are assigned respective priority values, and wherein combining the preference values comprises combining the preference values based on the priority values.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein deriving a new rule comprises selecting as the new rule the active rule having the most preferred associated priority value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the most preferred associated priority value is the highest associated priority value.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein deriving a new rule comprises weighting the preference values of each active rule based on its assigned priority value, and combining the weighted preference values.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising determining the preference values from properties of the respective associated accesses.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein deriving a new rule comprises deriving the new rule based only on those accesses of the plurality that are considered to be acceptable accesses for all of the active rules.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein deriving a new rule comprises deriving the new rule based on modified respective priority values for the active rules, the priority value modification for each active rule compensating for the non-consideration of at least one of the accesses for that active rule.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein deriving a new rule comprises deriving the new rule based only on those accesses of the plurality that are considered to be acceptable accesses for all of the active rules.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the user entity comprises an entity selected from the group consisting of a user terminal;

mobile node;

mobile terminal;

moving network;

personal area network; and

user network.

15. An arrangement operative in a communications network in which a plurality of accesses are available to a user entity for accessing a network resource, comprising:

a rule determining function operative to determine a set of active rules, each rule specifying respective preferences, at least relatively, for at least some of the plurality of accesses, with potential for conflict between the rules of the set concerning which access is most preferred;

a new rule deriving function operative to derive from the set of active rules a new rule specifying respective preferences, at least relatively, for at least some of the plurality of accesses; and

an access selection function operative to select an access for use by the user entity based on the new rule.

16. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the preferences are represented by respective preference values, and wherein the new rule deriving function is operative to combine the preference values from different rules according to a predetermined scheme to generate the new rule.

17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the active rules are assigned respective priority values, and wherein the new rule deriving function is operative to combine the preference values based on the priority values.

18. The arrangement of claim 17, wherein the new rule deriving function is operative to select as the new rule the active rule having the most preferred associated priority value.

19. The arrangement of claim 18, wherein the most preferred associated priority value is the highest associated priority value.

20. The arrangement of claim 17, wherein the new rule deriving function is operative to weight the preference values of each active rule based on its assigned priority value, and is further operative to combine the weighted preference values.

21. A machine readable medium including program instructions operative to cause a processor in a node of a communications network, in which a plurality of accesses are available to a user entity for accessing a network resource, to perform the steps of:

determining a set of active rules, each rule specifying respective preferences, at least relatively, for at least some of the plurality of accesses, the rules of the set being potentially in conflict between each other concerning which access is most preferred;

deriving from the set of active rules a new rule specifying respective preferences, at least relatively, for at least some of the plurality of accesses; and

selecting an access for use by the user entity based on the new rule.