Prioritization of users for switching between co-existence wireless systems

• US 9,232,531 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhou, Yan, Radulescu, Andrei Dragos, Tinnakornsrisuphap, Peerapol, Sundararajan, Jay Kumar, Meylan, Arnaud, Yavuz, Mehmet
• Primary Examiner(s): ROSE, KERRI M
• Application Number:
  US13/779,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20140112306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/028 Dynamic adaptation of the update intervals, e.g. event-triggered updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0066 of control information between different types of networks in order to establish a new radio link in the target network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/06 based on traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria

Abstract

Techniques for prioritizing user equipments (UEs) for switching between wireless systems are disclosed. The wireless systems may be part of a small cell and may include a WLAN system and a cellular system. In one design, a network entity (e.g., the small cell) may identify a plurality of UEs communicating with a first wireless system. The first wireless system may be one of a plurality of wireless systems providing communication coverage for the UEs. The network entity may determine priorities of the UEs for switching from the first wireless system to a second wireless system. The network entity may then select at least one UE among the plurality of UEs to switch from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on the priorities of the UEs.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

identifying a plurality of user equipments (UEs) communicating with a first wireless system, the first wireless system being one of a plurality of wireless systems providing communication coverage for the plurality of UEs;

determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to a second wireless system; and

selecting at least one UE among the plurality of UEs to switch from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on the priorities of the plurality of UEs,

wherein the plurality of wireless systems is part of a small cell designated to perform at least one control function for the plurality of wireless systems, and wherein the identifying the plurality of UEs, the determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching, and the selecting the at least one UE to switch are performed by the small cell.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises determining a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on whether said each UE can receive service on the second wireless system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises determining a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on whether said each UE has an active application that is supported on only the first wireless system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises determining a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on an amount of resources of the first wireless system utilized by said each UE.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises determining a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on a transmit buffer size, or a receive buffer size, or both the transmit buffer size and the receive buffer size of said each UE.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises determining a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on whether said each UE has an active real-time application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises determining a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on service charge to said each UE for the first wireless system, or the second wireless system, or both.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises determining a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on capability of said each UE on the first wireless system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises determining a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on capability of said each UE on the second wireless system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises determining a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on whether said each UE has traffic on downlink, or uplink, or both downlink and uplink.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises determining a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on data requirements of said each UE, or data performance of said each UE on the first wireless system, or channel quality of said each UE for the first or second wireless system, or a combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises determining a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on a function of at least one factor.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a set of factors arranged based on an order of importance;

determining the priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching by considering one factor in the set of factors at a time, starting with a factor in the set of factors of a highest importance, until the priorities of the plurality of UEs are unique; and

selecting at least one UE to switch based on the priorities of the plurality of UEs.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless systems comprises a wireless local area network (WLAN) system and a cellular system.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless systems includes the first and second wireless systems.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless systems includes the first wireless system, and wherein the second wireless system is external to the small cell.

17. A small cell designated to perform at least one control function for a plurality of wireless systems, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

identify a plurality of user equipments (UEs) communicating with a first wireless system, the first wireless system being one of the plurality of wireless systems providing communication coverage for the plurality of UEs;

determine priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to a second wireless system of the plurality of wireless systems; and

select at least one UE among the plurality of UEs to switch from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on the priorities of the plurality of UEs.

18. The small cell of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on a function of at least one factor.

19. The small cell of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is configured to evaluate at least one factor, one factor at a time, to determine the priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching and to select the at least one UE to switch from the first wireless system to the second wireless system.

20. A small cell designated to perform at least one control function for a plurality of wireless systems, comprising:

means for identifying a plurality of user equipments (UEs) communicating with a first wireless system, the first wireless system being one of the plurality of wireless systems providing communication coverage for the plurality of UEs;

means for determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to a second wireless system of the plurality of wireless systems; and

means for selecting at least one UE among the plurality of UEs to switch from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on the priorities of the plurality of UEs.

21. The small cell of claim 20, wherein the means for determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises means for determining a priority of each UE of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on a function of at least one factor.

22. The small cell of claim 20, wherein the means for determining priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching comprises means for evaluating at least one factor, one factor at a time, to determine the priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for causing at least one processor to identify a plurality of user equipments (UEs) communicating with a first wireless system, the first wireless system being one of a plurality of wireless systems forming part of a small cell designated to perform at least one control function for the plurality of wireless systems and providing communication coverage for the plurality of UEs;

code for causing the at least one processor to determine priorities of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to a second wireless system of the plurality of wireless systems; and

code for causing the at least one processor to select at least one UE among the plurality of UEs to switch from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on the priorities of the plurality of UEs.

24. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

communicating with a first wireless system among a plurality of wireless systems, forming part of a small cell designated to perform at least one control function for the plurality of wireless systems, by a user equipment (UE);

receiving signaling to switch the UE from the first wireless system to a second wireless system of the plurality of wireless systems, the UE being one of a plurality of UEs considered for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system and being assigned a priority for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system; and

communicating with the second wireless system by the UE after receiving the signaling to switch to the second wireless system.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the UE is assigned the priority for switching based on at least one of whether the UE can receive service on the second wireless system, whether the UE has an active application supported on only the first wireless system, an amount of resources of the first wireless system utilized by the UE, a transmit buffer size of the UE, a receive buffer size of the UE, whether the UE has an active real-time application, service charge to the UE on the first or second wireless system, capability of the UE on the second wireless system, whether the UE has traffic on downlink or uplink or both, amount of traffic for the UE in each of the downlink and uplink, data requirements of the UE, data performance of the UE on the first wireless system, or channel conditions observed by the UE for the first or second wireless system.

26. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

communicate with a first wireless system among a plurality of wireless systems, forming part of a small cell designated to perform at least one control function for the plurality of wireless systems, by a user equipment (UE);

receive signaling to switch the UE from the first wireless system to a second wireless system of the plurality of wireless systems, the UE being one of a plurality of UEs considered for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system and being assigned a priority for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system; and

communicate with the second wireless system by the UE after receiving the signaling to switch to the second wireless system.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the UE is assigned the priority for switching based on at least one of whether the UE can receive service on the second wireless system, whether the UE has an active application supported on only the first wireless system, an amount of resources of the first wireless system utilized by the UE, a transmit buffer size of the UE, a receive buffer size of the UE, whether the UE has an active real-time application, service charge to the UE on the first or second wireless system, capability of the UE on the second wireless system, whether the UE has traffic on downlink or uplink or both, amount of traffic for the UE in each of the downlink and uplink, data requirements of the UE, data performance of the UE on the first wireless system, or channel conditions observed by the UE for the first or second wireless system.

28. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for communicating with a first wireless system among a plurality of wireless systems, forming part of a small cell designated to perform at least one control function for the plurality of wireless systems, by a user equipment (UE);

means for receiving signaling to switch the UE from the first wireless system to a second wireless system of the plurality of wireless systems, the UE being one of a plurality of UEs considered for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system and being assigned a priority for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system; and

means for communicating with the second wireless system by the UE after receiving the signaling to switch to the second wireless system.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the UE is assigned the priority for switching based on at least one of whether the UE can receive service on the second wireless system, whether the UE has an active application supported on only the first wireless system, an amount of resources of the first wireless system utilized by the UE, transmit buffer size of the UE, receive buffer size of the UE, whether the UE has an active real-time application, service charge to the UE on the first or second wireless system, capability of the UE on the second wireless system, whether the UE has traffic on downlink or uplink or both, amount of traffic for the UE in each of the downlink and uplink, data requirements of the UE, data performance of the UE on the first wireless system, or channel conditions for the first or second wireless system.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for causing at least one processor to communicate with a first wireless system among a plurality of wireless systems, forming part of a small cell designated to perform at least one control function for the plurality of wireless systems, by a user equipment (UE);

code for causing the at least one processor to receive signaling to switch the UE from the first wireless system to a second wireless system of the plurality of wireless systems, the UE being one of a plurality of UEs considered for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system and being assigned a priority for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system; and

code for causing the at least one processor to communicate with the second wireless system by the UE after receiving the signaling to switch to the second wireless system.

31. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

identifying a plurality of user equipments (UEs) communicating with a first wireless system within a communication coverage area served by the first wireless system and at least a second wireless system;

determining a respective priority for each of two or more UEs of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to the second wireless system, wherein the respective priority for a UE of the two or more UEs is determined differently for switching the UE from the first wireless system to the second wireless system than for switching the UE from the second wireless system to the first wireless system; and

selecting at least one UE of the two or more UEs to switch from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on the respective priorities of the two or more UEs.

32. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

identifying a plurality of user equipments (UEs) communicating with a first wireless system, the first wireless system being one of a plurality of wireless systems providing communication coverage for the plurality of UEs;

determining a respective priority for each of two or more UEs of the plurality of UEs for switching from the first wireless system to a second wireless system, wherein the respective priority for each UE of the two or more UEs is determined using one or more factors applicable to switching the UE from the first wireless system to the second wireless system which is not applicable to switching the UE from the second wireless system to the first wireless system; and

selecting at least one UE among the plurality of UEs to switch from the first wireless system to the second wireless system based on the priorities of the plurality of UEs.