STEERING TRAFFIC BETWEEN CELLULAR NETWORKS AND WLAN NETWORKS

• US 20160205592A1
• Filed: 08/20/2013
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Koskinen, Jussi-Pekka, Keskitalo, Ilkka Antero, Kekki, Sami, Mutikainen, Jari
• Granted Patent: US 9,955,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0865 of different Radio Access Technologies [RATs], e.g. LTE or WiFi
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0958 based on metrics or performance parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• 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 and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for steering traffic. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include receiving, at a user equipment, a message provided by a base station serving a radio access network, wherein the message includes an indication representative of a preference by the radio access network for traffic associated with at least one of an application, a destination domain, a service, and a traffic type; and determining whether to steer, based on the preference, the traffic to at least one of the radio access network or a wireless local area network served by a wireless local area network access point. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. A method comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment, a message provided by a base station serving a radio access network, wherein the message includes an indication representative of a preference by the radio access network for traffic associated with at least one of an application, a destination domain, a service, and a traffic type; and

determining whether to steer, based on the preference, the traffic to at least one of the radio access network or a wireless local area network served by a wireless local area network access point.

42. A method of claim 41, wherein the indication identifies a specific type of traffic preferred by the radio access network, wherein the specific type includes at least one of the application, the destination domain, the service, and the traffic type.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the indication includes a threshold defining when the traffic is to be steered to at least one of the radio access network and the wireless local area network.

44. A method of claim 41, wherein the indication includes a bit-mapped indicator decoded using a key to identify a specific type of traffic preferred by the radio access network, wherein the specific type includes at least one of the application, the destination domain, the service, and the traffic type.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the bit-mapped indicator is received via at least one of non-access stratum signaling, open mobile alliance device management, and short message service messaging.

46. A method of claim 41, wherein the indication is valid only in at least one of a tracking area and a public land mobile network.

47. A method of claim 41 further comprising:

applying, by the user equipment, a policy determined from the preference before applying other policy local to the user equipment, wherein the other policy includes at least one of a user preference and an access network discovery and selection function policy.

48. A method of claim 41, wherein a content of the received indication changes as network conditions change.

49. A method of claim 41, wherein when another indication representative of another preference is received from the signaling channel, the user equipment applies the indication received from the broadcasted message.

50. A method of claim 41, wherein the indication is received from the wireless local area network access point.

51. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following;

receive a message provided by a base station serving a radio access network, wherein the message includes an indication representative of a preference by the radio access network for traffic associated with at least one of an application, a destination domain, a service, and a traffic type; and

determine whether to steer, based on the preference, the traffic to at least one of the radio access network or a wireless local area network served by a wireless local area network access point.

52. An apparatus of claim 51, wherein the indication identifies a specific type of traffic preferred by the radio access network, wherein the specific type includes at least one of the application, the destination domain, the service, and the traffic type.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the indication includes a threshold defining when the traffic is to be steered to at least one of the radio access network and the wireless local area network.

54. An apparatus of claim 51, wherein the indication includes a bit-mapped indicator decoded using a key to identify a specific type of traffic preferred by the radio access network, wherein the specific type includes at least one of the application, the destination domain, the service, and the traffic type.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the bit-mapped indicator is received via at least one of non-access stratum signaling, open mobile alliance device management, and short message service messaging.

56. An apparatus of claim 51, wherein the indication is valid only in at least one of a tracking area and a public land mobile network.

57. An apparatus of claim 51, wherein the apparatus is further configured to at least apply a policy determined from the preference before applying other policy local to the apparatus, wherein the other policy includes at least one of a user preference and an access network discovery and selection function policy.

58. An apparatus of claim 51, wherein a content of the received indication changes as network conditions change.

59. An apparatus of claim 51, wherein when another indication representative of another preference is received from the signaling channel, the apparatus applies the indication received from the broadcasted message.

60. An apparatus of claim 51, wherein the indication is received from the wireless local area network access point.