Method and apparatus for providing system selection using dynamic parameters

• US 8,032,139 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Oommen, Paul, Hsu, Liangchi Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US11/941,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20100022243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.2, 455/456, 455/552.1, 455/503, 455/436, 455/421, 455/450, 455/509, 455/456.1, 455/432.1, 455/456.3, 370/331, 370/401, 370/473, 370/475, 370/312, 370/432, 370/338, 370/328
• US Class Current: 455/435.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

An approach is provided for selecting, by a multi-mode device, one among multiple networks. A plurality of overlay parameters associated with a plurality of networks are acquired, wherein the networks are different from one another. Each of the networks is rated using the overlay parameters according to one or more selection criteria. One of the networks is selected based on the rating.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining to acquire a plurality of overlay parameters associated with a plurality of networks, wherein the networks are different from one another;

determining to rate, at a multi-mode mobile station, each of the networks using the overlay parameters according to one or more selection criteria; and

determining to select one of the networks based on the rating.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the overlay parameters include a static parameter and a dynamic parameter, wherein the dynamic parameter is provided in real-time.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

receiving update of the static parameter over an air interface.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting one of a power-on state, a system loss state, or a reselection state to initiate selection of one of the networks.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the networks are specified in a priority list, the dynamic parameter including duration between scanning for a next one of the networks in the priority list.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the networks include a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network;

a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network; and

a wireless local area network (LAN) compliant with an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 architecture or a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) compliant with an IEEE 802.16 architecture.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the overlay parameters include measurements relating to transmission power, link quality, service quality, or service availability.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring includes measuring link quality for each of the networks, the measured link quality being included as part of the overlay parameters.

9. An apparatus comprising:

selection logic configured to acquire a plurality of overlay parameters associated with a plurality of networks, wherein the networks are different from one another,

wherein the selection logic is further configured to rate each of the networks using the overlay parameters according to one or more selection criteria, and to select one of the networks based on the rating.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the overlay parameters include a static parameter and a dynamic parameter, wherein the dynamic parameter is provided in real-time.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the selection logic is further configured to receive update of the static parameter that is transmitted over an air interface.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein one of a power-on state, a system loss state, or a reselection state is detected to initiate selection of one of the networks.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the networks are specified in a priority list, the dynamic parameter including duration between scanning for a next one of the networks in the priority list.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the networks include a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network;

a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network; and

a wireless local area network (LAN) compliant with an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 architecture or a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) compliant with an IEEE 802.16 architecture.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the overlay parameters include measurements relating to transmission power, link quality, service quality, or service availability.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a measurement unit configured to measure link quality for each of the networks, the measured link quality being included as part of the overlay parameters.

17. A system comprising:

a server configured to store a plurality of overlay parameters associated with one of a plurality of networks, wherein the networks are different from one another; and

a base station configured to communicate with the server and to transmit the overlay parameters over the one network to a multi-mode mobile station that is configured to operate with each of the networks,

wherein the multi-mode mobile station is within an overlapping coverage area of the networks, the multi-mode mobile station being further configured to rate each of the networks using the overlay parameters according to one or more selection criteria, and to select one of the networks based on the rating.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the overlay parameters include a static parameter and a dynamic parameter, wherein the dynamic parameter is provided in real-time.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the selection logic is further configured to receive update of the static parameter over an air interface.

20. The system according to claim 17, wherein one of a power-on state, a system loss state, or a reselection state is detected to initiate selection of one of the networks.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein the networks are specified in a priority list, the dynamic parameter including duration between scanning for a next one of the networks in the priority list.

22. The system according to claim 17, wherein the networks include a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network;

a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network; and

a wireless local area network (LAN) compliant with an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 architecture or a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) compliant with an IEEE 802.16 architecture.

23. The system according to claim 17, wherein the overlay parameters include measurements relating to transmission power, link quality, service quality, or service availability.

24. The system according to claim 17, wherein the mobile station includes a measurement unit configured to measure link quality for each of the networks, the measured link quality being included as part of the overlay parameters.

25. A method comprising:

determining to store an overlay parameter for a network, wherein the overlay parameter includes a dynamic parameter that is provided in real-time, and a static parameter; and

determining to transmit, using a base station, the overlay parameter to a mobile station configured to acquire a plurality of overlay parameters from a plurality of networks, wherein the networks are different from one another, the mobile station being further configured to rate each of the networks using the overlay parameters to select one of the networks based on the rating.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the networks are specified in a priority list, the dynamic parameter including duration between scanning for a next one of the networks in the priority list.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the networks include a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network;

a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network; and

a wireless local area network (LAN) compliant with an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 architecture or a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) compliant with an IEEE 802.16 architecture.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein the overlay parameter include measurements relating to transmission power, link quality, service quality, or service availability of the network.

29. An apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store an overlay parameter for a network, wherein the overlay parameter includes a dynamic parameter that is provided in real-time, and a static parameter; and

a communication interface configured to transmit the overlay parameter via a base station to a mobile station, the mobile station being configured to acquire a plurality of overlay parameters from a plurality of networks, wherein the networks are different from one another, the mobile station being further configured to rate each of the networks using the overlay parameters to select one of the networks based on the rating.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the networks are specified in a priority list, the dynamic parameter including duration between scanning for a next one of the networks in the priority list.

31. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the networks include a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network;

a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network; and

a wireless local area network (LAN) compliant with an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 architecture or a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) compliant with an IEEE 802.16 architecture.

32. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the overlay parameter include measurements relating to transmission power, link quality, service quality, or service availability of the network.

33. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the apparatus is a server associated with the network.