Network edge based access network discovery and selection

• US 9,961,625 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaw, Venson, Dowlatkhah, Sangar
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, CLEMENCE S
• Application Number:
  US15/480,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/14 using user query or user detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

An edge device comprising access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) features is disclosed. An edge device can be a device located at a logical edge of a wireless network. An edge ANDSF component can rank access network resources. The rank can be based on characteristics of an access network resource, a user profile, device resource demands, or a user behavior model. The user profile can comprise information facilitating pre-authentication of a device to an access network resource. Further, the user profile can be considered portable with regard to localized aspects of edge ANDSF components. The user profile provides improved ANDSF feature performance.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

updating user profile data based on an aggregate usage of devices associated with a user profile, wherein the user profile data corresponds to the user profile, and wherein the user profile data comprises a credential facilitating access to an access point device coupled to a network device of a network of a wireless network provider;

determining a score for a resource available via the access point device, wherein a service area of the access point device comprises a location of a mobile device, and wherein the determining the score comprises determining that a parameter of the resource satisfies a rule related to a resource request; and

based on the score, providing access to the credential to facilitate access to the resource by the mobile device via the access point device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user profile data further comprises a service level identifier, and wherein the determining the score is further based on a service level of the access point device being determined to satisfy a rule associated with the service level identifier.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining the score comprises determining the score of the resource where the access point device is a cellular base station device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the determining the score comprises determining the score of the resource where the access point device is a Wi-Fi base station device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein an edge device of the network comprises the memory and the processor.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the edge device is selected from a group comprising a NodeB device, an eNodeB device, a femtocell device, and a picocell device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the aggregate usage of the devices comprises a representation of a period in which a device of the devices is associated with usage.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the updating the user profile data comprises updating the credential.

9. A method, comprising:

in response to receiving, by a device comprising a processor, information relating to an aggregate use of devices associated with a user profile, updating user profile data corresponding to the user profile, wherein the user profile data comprises a credential enabling access to an access point device in accord with an access network discovery and selection function rule;

determining, by the device, a value representing a degree to which a resource available via the access point device satisfies a resource request, wherein the access point device has a service area comprising a location of a mobile device;

selecting, by the device, the access point device based on the value; and

enabling, by the device, the mobile device to access the resource via the access point device by providing access to the credential.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the user profile data further comprises a service level identifier, and wherein the determining the value is further based on a service level of the access point device being determined, by the device, to satisfy a rule associated with the service level identifier.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the access point device is a femtocell base station device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the access point device is a Wi-Fi base station device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein user profile data is stored at an edge device of a network associated with a wireless network provider identity.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the updating the user profile data comprises updating the credential.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

in response to receiving information relating to a use of devices associated with a user profile, updating user profile data corresponding to the user profile based on an aggregate use of the devices, wherein the user profile data comprises a credential associated with accessing an access point device in accord with an access network discovery and selection function rule; and

enabling a mobile device to access a resource via the access point device by facilitating access to the credential in response to determining a degree to which the resource satisfies a resource request, wherein the access point has a service area comprising a location of the mobile device.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the user profile data further comprises a service level identifier, and wherein the determining the degree to which the resource satisfies the resource request is further based on a service level of the access point device being determined to satisfy a rule associated with the service level identifier.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the access point device is a non-macro cellular base station device.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the access point device is a Wi-Fi base station device.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein an edge device of a network associated with a wireless network provider identity comprises the processor.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable of claim 15, wherein the updating the user profile data comprises updating the credential.