WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK OFFLOADING THROUGH RADIO ACCESS NETWORK RULES

• US 20150327129A1
• Filed: 05/07/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Faccin, Stefano, Zisimopoulos, Haris, Horn, Gavin Bernard, Pica, Francesco
• Granted Patent: US 9,936,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0055 Transmission or use of information for re-establishing the radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/00837 Determination of triggering parameters for hand-off
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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

Methods, systems, and devices are described for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) offloading through radio access network rules. In one embodiment of a method of wireless communication, a mobile device may determine that Radio Access Network (RAN) assistance information is unavailable, the RAN assistance information including a first set of thresholds for switching a Packet Data Network (PDN) connection of the mobile device from a WLAN to a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN). The mobile device may further access a second set of thresholds based at least in part on the determining, and the mobile device may determine to switch the PDN connection from the WLAN to the WWAN based at least in part on the second set of thresholds.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

determining, by a mobile device, that Radio Access Network (RAN) assistance information is unavailable, the RAN assistance information comprising a first set of thresholds for switching a packet data network (PDN) connection of the mobile device from a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a wireless wide area network (WWAN);

accessing a second set of thresholds based at least in part on the determining; and

switching the PDN connection of the mobile device from the WLAN to the WWAN based at least in part on the second set of thresholds.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing a previous set of RAN assistance information received by the mobile device upon determining that the RAN assistance information is unavailable.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises one or more of a connection quality indication (CQI) associated with the WLAN and/or the WWAN, an Internet accessibility indication associated with the WLAN and/or the WWAN, a signal strength indication associated with the WLAN and/or the WWAN, and/or a power level associated with the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises a mobile device specific set of thresholds that was previously received by the mobile device from the WWAN.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the mobile device specific set of thresholds is used in said determining if the mobile device specific set of thresholds has not expired.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises a default set of thresholds preconfigured in the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the default set of thresholds is set to values sufficiently high in order to reduce a likelihood that the mobile device will switch the PDN connection back to the WLAN within a predetermined time period after switching to the WWAN.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises a broadcast set of thresholds provided by the WWAN, the broadcast set of thresholds being unspecific to the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving the broadcast set of thresholds via a system information block (SIB) from the WWAN.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication instructing the mobile device to camp on a Radio Access Technology (RAT) associated with the WWAN if all PDN connections are offloaded to the WLAN and a cellular radio of the mobile device is in idle mode.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the indication comprises a RAT/Frequency Selection Priority (RFSP) index value prioritizing connection of the mobile device to the RAT.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the RAT is one of GERAN or UTRAN in order to reduce a probability of missing a circuit switched (CS) call at the mobile device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the RAT is UTRAN in order to allow the mobile device to continue receiving RAN assistance information related to the WWAN.

14. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining that Radio Access Network (RAN) assistance information is unavailable, the RAN assistance information comprising a first set of thresholds for switching a packet data network (PDN) connection of the apparatus from a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a wireless wide area network (WWAN);

means for accessing a second set of thresholds based at least in part on the determining; and

means for switching the PDN connection of the apparatus from the WLAN to the WWAN based at least in part on the second set of thresholds.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises one or more of a connection quality indication (CQI) associated with the WLAN and/or the WWAN, an Internet accessibility indication associated with the WLAN and/or the WWAN, a signal strength indication associated with the WLAN and/or the WWAN, and/or a power level associated with the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises an apparatus specific set of thresholds that was previously received by the apparatus from the WWAN.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus specific set of thresholds is used in said determining if the apparatus specific set of thresholds has not expired.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises a default set of thresholds preconfigured in the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the default set of thresholds is set to values sufficiently high in order to reduce a likelihood that the apparatus will switch the PDN connection back to the WLAN within a predetermined time period after switching to the WWAN.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises a broadcast set of thresholds provided by the WWAN, the broadcast set of thresholds being unspecific to the apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

means for receiving the broadcast set of thresholds via a system information block (SIB) from the WWAN.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for receiving an indication instructing the apparatus to camp on a Radio Access Technology (RAT) associated with the WWAN if all PDN connections are offloaded to the WLAN and a cellular radio of the apparatus is in idle mode.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the indication comprises a RAT/Frequency Selection Priority (RFSP) index value prioritizing connection of the apparatus to the RAT.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the RAT is one of GERAN or UTRAN in order to reduce a probability of missing a circuit switched (CS) call at the apparatus.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the RAT is UTRAN in order to allow the apparatus to continue receiving RAN assistance information related to the WWAN.

26. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor, the memory embodying instructions, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

determine that Radio Access Network (RAN) assistance information is unavailable, the RAN assistance information comprising a first set of thresholds for switching a packet data network (PDN) connection of the apparatus from a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a wireless wide area network (WWAN);

access a second set of thresholds based at least in part on the determining; and

switch the PDN connection of the apparatus from the WLAN to the WWAN based at least in part on the second set of thresholds.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises one or more of a connection quality indication (CQI) associated with the WLAN and/or the WWAN, an Internet accessibility indication associated with the WLAN and/or the WWAN, a signal strength indication associated with the WLAN and/or the WWAN, and/or a power level associated with the apparatus.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises an apparatus specific set of thresholds that was previously received by the apparatus from the WWAN.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the apparatus specific set of thresholds is used in said determining if the apparatus specific set of thresholds has not expired.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises a default set of thresholds preconfigured in the apparatus.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the default set of thresholds is set to values sufficiently high in order to reduce a likelihood that the apparatus will switch the PDN connection back to the WLAN within a predetermined time period after switching to the WWAN.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises a broadcast set of thresholds provided by the WWAN, the broadcast set of thresholds being unspecific to the apparatus.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

receive the broadcast set of thresholds via a system information block (SIB) from the WWAN.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to cause a wireless communication apparatus to:

determine that Radio Access Network (RAN) assistance information is unavailable, the RAN assistance information comprising a first set of thresholds for switching a packet data network (PDN) connection of the apparatus from a wireless local area network (WLAN) to a wireless wide area network (WWAN);

access a second set of thresholds based at least in part on the determining; and

switch the PDN connection of the apparatus from the WLAN to the WWAN based at least in part on the second set of thresholds.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises one or more of a connection quality indication (CQI) associated with the WLAN and/or the WWAN, an Internet accessibility indication associated with the WLAN and/or the WWAN, a signal strength indication associated with the WLAN and/or the WWAN, and/or a power level associated with the apparatus.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the second set of thresholds comprises an apparatus specific set of thresholds that was previously received by the apparatus from the WWAN.

37. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, at a mobile device, an offloadability indicator corresponding to a packet data network (PDN) connection of the mobile device, the offloadability indicator being received irrespective of a mode of operation of the mobile device;

utilizing the offloadability indicator to determine whether to offload the PDN connection from a wireless wide area network (WWAN) to a wireless local area network (WLAN), the offloadability indicator being utilized when the mobile device receives radio access network (RAN) assistance information or when the mobile device has access to a set of thresholds related to offloading the PDN connection from the WWAN to the WLAN; and

disregarding the offloadability indicator when the mobile device is not receiving RAN assistance information or when the mobile device does not have access to a set of thresholds for use in making an offloading determination.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

storing the offloadability indicator for later use even if the mobile device is not receiving RAN assistance information and/or does not have access to any thresholds for use in making the offloading determination.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

utilizing the offloadability indicator to determine whether to offload the PDN connection to the WLAN when the mobile device switches to a new RAT associated with the WWAN that does provide RAN assistance information to the mobile device.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the offloadability indicator is specific to a RAT over which the offloadability indicator was received.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving an updated offloadability indicator corresponding to a different RAT when the mobile device switches to the different RAT.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the offloadability indicator is generic to a plurality of RATs and is received over a first RAT of the plurality of RATs.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the mobile device does not receive a new offloadability indicator upon switching to a second RAT of the plurality of RATs.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

storing the offloadability indicator for later use, even if the first RAT does not provide RAN assistance information.

45. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving an offloadability indicator corresponding to a packet data network (PDN) connection of the apparatus, the offloadability indicator being received irrespective of a mode of operation of the apparatus;

means for utilizing the offloadability indicator to determine whether to offload the PDN connection from a wireless wide area network (WWAN) to a wireless local area network (WLAN), the offloadability indicator being utilized when the apparatus receives radio access network (RAN) assistance information or when the apparatus has access to a set of thresholds related to offloading the PDN connection from the WWAN to the WLAN; and

means for disregarding the offloadability indicator when the apparatus is not receiving RAN assistance information or when the apparatus does not have access to a set of thresholds for use in making an offloading determination.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

means for storing the offloadability indicator for later use even if the apparatus is not receiving RAN assistance information and/or does not have access to any thresholds for use in making the offloading determination.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, further comprising:

means for utilizing the offloadability indicator to determine whether to offload the PDN connection to the WLAN when the apparatus switches to a new RAT associated with the WWAN that does provide RAN assistance information to the apparatus.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the offloadability indicator is specific to a RAT over which the offloadability indicator was received.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising:

means for receiving an updated offloadability indicator corresponding to a different RAT when the apparatus switches to the different RAT.

50. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the offloadability indicator is generic to a plurality of RATs and is received over a first RAT of the plurality of RATs.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the apparatus does not receive a new offloadability indicator upon switching to a second RAT of the plurality of RATs.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising:

means for storing the offloadability indicator for later use, even if the first RAT does not provide RAN assistance information.

53. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor, the memory embodying instructions, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive an offloadability indicator corresponding to a packet data network (PDN) connection of the apparatus, the offloadability indicator being received irrespective of a mode of operation of the apparatus;

utilize the offloadability indicator to determine whether to offload the PDN connection from a wireless wide area network (WWAN) to a wireless local area network (WLAN), the offloadability indicator being utilized when the apparatus receives radio access network (RAN) assistance information or when the apparatus has access to a set of thresholds related to offloading the PDN connection from the WWAN to the WLAN; and

disregard the offloadability indicator when the apparatus is not receiving RAN assistance information or when the apparatus does not have access to a set of thresholds for use in making an offloading determination.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

store the offloadability indicator for later use even if the apparatus is not receiving RAN assistance information and/or does not have access to any thresholds for use in making the offloading determination.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

utilize the offloadability indicator to determine whether to offload the PDN connection to the WLAN when the apparatus switches to a new RAT associated with the WWAN that does provide RAN assistance information to the apparatus.

56. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the offloadability indicator is specific to a RAT over which the offloadability indicator was received.

57. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to cause a wireless communication apparatus to:

receive an offloadability indicator corresponding to a packet data network (PDN) connection of the apparatus, the offloadability indicator being received irrespective of a mode of operation of the apparatus;

utilize the offloadability indicator to determine whether to offload the PDN connection from a wireless wide area network (WWAN) to a wireless local area network (WLAN), the offloadability indicator being utilized when the apparatus receives radio access network (RAN) assistance information or when the apparatus has access to a set of thresholds related to offloading the PDN connection from the WWAN to the WLAN; and

disregard the offloadability indicator when the apparatus is not receiving RAN assistance information or when the apparatus does not have access to a set of thresholds for use in making an offloading determination.

58. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

determining a mode of operation of a mobile device; and

sending an offloadability indicator corresponding to a packet data network (PDN) connection based at least in part on the determination.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the offloadability indicator is sent to the mobile device when the mobile device is in a mode in which WLAN offloading is permitted.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the offloadability indicator is selectively sent to a Radio Network Controller (RNC) when the mobile device is in an Iu mode of operation.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein the sending of the offloadability indicator is bypassed when the mobile device is in a mode in which WLAN offloading is not permitted.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the mobile device is in an A/Gb mode of operation.

63. The method of claim 58, wherein said determining is performed by a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN).

64. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining a mode of operation of a mobile device; and

means for sending an offloadability indicator corresponding to a packet data network (PDN) connection based at least in part on the determination.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the offloadability indicator is sent to the mobile device when the mobile device is in a mode in which WLAN offloading is permitted.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the offloadability indicator is selectively sent to a Radio Network Controller (RNC) when the mobile device is in an Iu mode of operation.

67. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the sending of the offloadability indicator is bypassed when the mobile device is in a mode in which WLAN offloading is not permitted.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the mobile device is in an A/Gb mode of operation.

69. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein said determining is performed by a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN).

70. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a processor; and

memory in electronic communication with the processor, the memory embodying instructions executable by the processor to;

determine a mode of operation of a mobile device; and

send an offloadability indicator corresponding to a packet data network (PDN) connection based at least in part on the determination.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the offloadability indicator is sent to the mobile device when the mobile device is in a mode in which WLAN offloading is permitted.

72. The apparatus of claim 71, wherein the offloadability indicator is selectively sent to a Radio Network Controller (RNC) when the mobile device is in an Iu mode of operation.

73. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein the sending of the offloadability indicator is bypassed when the mobile device is in a mode in which WLAN offloading is not permitted.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the mobile device is in an A/Gb mode of operation.

75. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein said determining is performed by a Serving General Packet Radio Service Support Node (SGSN).

76. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to cause a wireless communication apparatus to:

determine a mode of operation of a mobile device; and

send an offloadability indicator corresponding to a packet data network (PDN) connection based at least in part on the determination.