Pre-emptive access network switching

• US 8,605,683 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Martinez De La Cruz, Pablo, Garcia Martin, Miguel-Angel
• Primary Examiner(s): Phung, Luat
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, KAI J
• Application Number:
  US13/702,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20130208696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 370/236, 370/331, 370/352, 455/436, 455/450
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

An access network connection controller is disclosed for ordering a mobile terminal to switch from a connection to a first access network to a connection to a second access network in order to ensure that a good connection to the mobile terminal is maintained when the mobile terminal enters an area in which connection to the first access network may be restricted and the second access network may be beneficial. The access network connection controller is operable to receive movement information representative of the movement of the mobile terminal connected to a first access network; to determine from the movement information whether the mobile terminal is approaching a restricted area wherein connection to a second access network may be beneficial and to generate a command ordering the switching of the connection mobile terminal from the first access network to the second access network before the mobile terminal enters the restricted area. By ordering a mobile terminal to switch its connection to another access network in advance of the mobile terminal entering an area in which connection to the mobile terminal from its current access network may be restricted, good connection to the mobile terminal is ensured at all times and the user of the mobile terminal does not experience any degradation in performance.

Claims

1. An access network connection controller operable to control the switching of a connection between a mobile terminal to a first access network and the mobile terminal to a second access network, the access network connection controller comprising:

a receiver operable to receive movement information representative of the movement of the mobile terminal connected to the first access network;

a data store configured to store data defining a boundary of a restricted area and data defining a threshold in advance of the boundary;

an approach detector operable to determine from the movement information whether the mobile terminal is approaching the restricted area wherein service of the first access network may be restricted and connection to a second access network may be beneficial, wherein the approach detector comprises;

a predicted trajectory generator operable to generate data defining a predicted trajectory of the mobile terminal in dependence upon the movement information, wherein the predicted trajectory generator is further operable to determine a time at which the mobile terminal is expected to cross the threshold of the boundary; and

a comparer operable to compare the data defining the predicted trajectory with data defining the restricted area to determine whether the mobile terminal is approaching the restricted area; and

a switching controller operable, in response to a determination by the approach detector that the mobile terminal is approaching the restricted area, to select the second access network and to generate a command ordering the switching of the connection of the mobile terminal from the first access network to the second access network before the mobile terminal enters the restricted area, wherein the switching controller is arranged to generate the command at the determined time, or at a time in advance of the determined time, to enable the mobile terminal to switch networks before reaching the boundary of the restricted area.

2. The access network connection controller according to claim 1, wherein the access network connection controller is operable to send the generated command to an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function network element.

3. The access network connection controller according to claim 1, wherein the switching controller is operable to generate the command so that the command identifies the mobile terminal and the second access network to which the mobile terminal should switch.

4. The access network connection controller according to claim 1, wherein the access network connection controller is operable to communicate with at least one node in a mobile communications network to obtain therefrom the movement information representative of the movement of the mobile terminal.

5. The access network connection controller according to claim 4, wherein the access network connection controller is operable to communicate with at least one of a Gateway Mobile Location Center, a Presence Server, and an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function network element to obtain the movement information therefrom.

6. A method of controlling the switching of a connection between a mobile terminal to a first access network and the mobile terminal to a second access network, the method comprising:

receiving movement information representative of the movement of the mobile terminal connected to the first access network;

storing data defining a boundary of a restricted area and data defining a threshold in advance of the boundary;

determining from the movement information whether the mobile terminal is approaching a restricted area wherein service of the first access network may be restricted and connection to a second access network may be beneficial, wherein the determining from the movement information whether the mobile terminal is approaching the restricted area comprises;

generating data defining a predicted trajectory of the mobile terminal in dependence upon the movement information, wherein the generating data defining the predicted trajectory of the mobile terminal further determines a time at which the mobile terminal is expected to cross the threshold of the boundary; and

comparing the data defining the predicted trajectory with data defining the restricted area to determine whether the mobile terminal is approaching the restricted area; and

in response to a determination that the mobile terminal is approaching a restricted area, selecting a second access network and generating a command ordering the switching of the connection of the mobile terminal from the first access network to the second access network, wherein the generating the command generates the command at the determined time, or at a time in advance of the determined time, to enable the mobile terminal to switch networks before reaching the boundary of the restricted area.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the process of sending the generated command to an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function network element.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the process of generating a command generates the command so that the command identifies the mobile terminal and the second access network to which the mobile terminal should switch.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the process of communicating with at least one node in a mobile communications network to obtain therefrom the movement information representative of the movement of the mobile terminal.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one node comprising one of a Gateway Mobile Location Center, a Presence Server, and an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function network element.