Method and apparatus for selecting wireless local area network to be accessed by a user equipment within a cell in a mobile communication system

• US 9,363,746 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jang, Jae-Hyuk, Kim, Soeng-Hun, Kim, Sang-Bum, Jeong, Kyeong-In
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Anh-Vu
• Application Number:
  US14/166,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20140211776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• 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

A method and apparatus for selecting a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) within a cell to be accessed by a User Equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system are provided. The method includes performing, when a request for information regarding wireless LAN Access Points (APs) within the cell is received, a search for the wireless LAN APs and transmitting a report indicating a search result to a serving Evolved Node B (ENB); receiving, from the serving ENB, updated information on wireless LAN APs based on report indicating the search result; determining whether to perform a re-search for the wireless LAN APs based on the updated information on the wireless LAN APs; and performing, in response to determination to perform the re-search for the wireless LAN APs, the re-search and selecting APs to be accessed based on a result of the re-search.

Claims

1. A method for searching at least one wireless network by a User Equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system, the method comprising:

receiving request information for searching at least one wireless network from an evolved Node B (eNB);

searching the at least one wireless network based on the request information;

transmitting report information including a result of the search to the eNB;

receiving, from the eNB, updated information on the at least one wireless network based on the search result;

determining whether to perform re-searching of the at least one wireless network based on the updated information; and

searching at least one wireless network to be accessed based on the determination,

wherein if mobility information indicates that a moving speed of the UE is less than or equal to a reference value, performing the re-searching.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the re-searching of the at least one wireless network is performed regardless of a search setting for a wireless network within the UE.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to perform re-searching comprises:

if the updated information indicates that a wireless network installed within a service coverage of the eNB does not exist, determining not to perform the re-searching.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to perform re-searching comprises:

if the updated information indicates that a wireless network installed within a service coverage of the eNB does not exist and the re-searching is activated within the UE, determining not to perform the re-searching.

5. A method for supporting selection of at least one wireless network of a User Equipment (UE) by a evolved Node B (eNB) in a mobile communication system, the method comprising:

transmitting request information for searching at least one wireless network to a UE;

receiving report information including a result of a search based on the request information from the UE; and

generating updated information on the at least one wireless network based on the search result, and transmitting the updated information to the UE,

wherein the updated information is used for determining whether to perform re-searching of the at least one wireless network based on the updated information by the UE,

wherein if mobility information indicates that a moving speed of the UE is less than or equal to a reference value, the re-searching is performed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the re-searching of the at least one wireless network is performed regardless of a search setting for a wireless network within the UE.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein if the updated information indicates that a wireless network installed within a service coverage of the eNB does not exist, the re-searching is not performed.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein if the updated information indicates that a wireless network installed within a service coverage of the eNB does not exist and the re-searching is activated within the UE, the re-searching is not performed.

9. A User Equipment (UE) for searching at least one wireless network in a mobile communication system, the UE comprising:

a receiver configured to receive request information for searching at least one wireless network from an evolved Node B (eNB) and receive updated information on the at least one wireless network based on a result of the search from the eNB;

a controller configured to search the at least one wireless network based on the request information, determine whether to perform re-searching of the at least one wireless network based on the updated information, and search at least one wireless network to be accessed based on the determination; and

a transmitter configured to transmit report information including the search result to the eNB,

wherein if mobility information indicates that a moving speed of the UE is less than or equal to a reference value, the controller configured to perform the re-searching.

10. The UE of claim 9, wherein the re-searching of the at least one wireless network is performed regardless of a search setting for a wireless network within the UE.

11. The UE of claim 9, wherein if the updated information indicates that a wireless network installed within a service coverage of the eNB does not exist, the controller is further configured to determine not to perform the re-searching.

12. The UE of claim 9, wherein if the updated information indicates that a wireless network installed within a service coverage of the eNB does not exist and the re-searching is activated within the UE, the controller is further configured to determine not to perform the re-searching.

13. A evolved Node B (eNB) for supporting selection of at least one wireless network of a User Equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system, the method comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit request information for searching at least one wireless network to a UE, and transmit updated information to the UE;

a receiver configured to receive report information including a result of a search based on the request information from the UE; and

a controller configured to generate the updated information on the at least one wireless network based on the search result,

wherein the updated information is used for determining whether to perform re-searching of the at least one wireless network based on the updated information by the UE, and

wherein if mobility information indicates that a moving speed of the UE is less than or equal to a reference value, the re-searching is performed.

14. The eNB of claim 13, wherein the re-searching of the at least one wireless network is performed regardless of a search setting for a wireless network within the UE.

15. The eNB of claim 13, wherein if the updated information indicates that a wireless network installed within a service coverage of the eNB does not exist, the re-searching is not performed.

16. The eNB of claim 13, wherein if the updated information indicates that a wireless network installed within a service coverage of the eNB does not exist and the re-searching is activated within the UE, the re-searching is not performed.