Generic Access Network (GAN) Controller Selection in PLMN Environment

• US 20140341191A1
• Filed: 08/06/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Buckley, Adrian, Bumiller, George Baldwin
• Granted Patent: US 9,998,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0892 by using authentication-authorization-accounting [AAA] servers or protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/162 at the data link layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity
• 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 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/005 Multiple registrations, e.g. multihoming

Abstract

A method for network selection on a user equipment (UE) device and the UE device are shown. The user equipment device registers on a first network in a wide area cellular network (WACN) band and receives, from a wireless local area network (WLAN), a list of WACNs that support generic access network (GAN) capabilities. The user equipment device selects the WLAN if the first network is on the list.

Claims

1. A method, operable on a user equipment device, for network selection, the method comprising:

registering on a first network in a wide area cellular network (WACN) band;

receiving, from a wireless local area network (WLAN), a list of WACNs that support generic access network (GAN) capabilities;

selecting the WLAN if the first network is on the list.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising authenticating with the WLAN.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising handing over a service from the first network to the WLAN.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the service is a telephony service.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the service is a packet-switched data service.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein an indication that the WLAN supports GAN capabilities is stored on the user equipment device.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the GAN capabilities includes handover.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first network appears as an entry in the operator-controlled Preferred PLMN list for GANC access.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first network appears as an entry in the user-controlled Preferred PLMN list for GANC access.

10. A user equipment (UE) device comprising:

a processor operably connected to a transceiver subsystem and to a memory, the memory containing instructions that when executed by the processor perform the method;

registering on a first network in a wide area cellular network (WACN) band;

receiving, from a wireless local area network (WLAN), a list of WACNs that support generic access network (GAN) capabilities;

selecting the WLAN if the first network is on the list.

11. The UE device according to claim 10 wherein the method further comprises authenticating with the WLAN.

12. The UE device according to claim 11 wherein the method further comprises handing over a service from the first network to the WLAN.

13. The UE device according to claim 12 wherein the service is a telephony service.

14. The UE device according to claim 12 wherein the service is a packet-switched data service.

15. The UE device according to claim 10 wherein an indication that the WLAN supports GAN capabilities is stored on the user equipment device.

16. The UE device according to claim 10 wherein the GAN capabilities includes handover.

17. The UE device according to claim 10 wherein the first network appears as an entry in an operator-controlled Preferred PLMN list for GANC access that is stored on the UE device.

18. The UE device according to claim 10 wherein the first network appears as an entry in a user-controlled Preferred PLMN list for GANC access that is stored on the UE device.