System, Method, and Computer-Readable Medium for User Equipment Decision-Making Criteria for Connectivity and Handover

• US 20150065123A1
• Filed: 10/04/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seven Networks LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Seven Networks Inc
• Inventors: Sengupta, Chaitali, Lee, Yuan Kang
• Granted Patent: US 9,648,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/24 Reselection being triggered by specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0264 by selectively disabling software applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0277 according to available power supply, e.g. switching off when a low battery condition is detected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of selecting a network from a plurality of available access networks is provided. The method includes identifying, by using a wireless user equipment, the plurality of access networks and identifying, by using a wireless user equipment, an invoked application. The method includes selecting, by using a wireless user equipment, a first access network from the plurality of access networks based, at least in part, on the application. A connection is established to the first access network in response to an application requirement. A handover procedure is invoked from the first access network to a second access network of the plurality of access networks in response to application requirements.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a network from a plurality of available access networks, comprising:

identifying, by using a wireless user equipment, the plurality of access networks;

selecting, by using a wireless user equipment, a first access network from the plurality of access networks based, at least in part, on an application operating on a mobile device; and

wherein a connection is established to the first access network in response to application requirements;

wherein a handover procedure is invoked from the first access network to a second access network of the plurality of access networks in response to application requirements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of access networks include one or more of a wireless network and wired network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of access networks each comprise one of a circuit-switched network and a packet-switched network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

invoking a handover procedure from the first access network to a second access network of the plurality of access networks, wherein the second access network is selected from the plurality of access networks based on a second application determined to be invoked.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of access networks include one or more of a WLAN and a cellular network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of access networks are each packet switched networks.

7. A communication system, comprising:

a first access network operating in conjunction with a first radio access technology;

a second access network operating in conjunction with a second radio access technology; and

a wireless user equipment adapted to terminate a first communication link with the first access network and a second communication link with the second access network, wherein the wireless user equipment includes a convergence manager adapted to select one of the first access network and the second access network for service access based at least in part on an application hosted by the user equipment;

wherein the convergence manager selects an access network based at least in part on application requirements.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first access network and the second access network each respectively comprise one of a circuit-switched access network and a packet-switched access network.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the user equipment is attached with the first access network, wherein the convergence manager invokes a handover procedure from the first access network to the second access network in response to determining a second application has been invoked by the user equipment.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising invoking a handover procedure from the first access network to the second access network in response to the application requirements.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the application requirement is an application event.

12. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for execution by a processing system, the computer-executable instructions for selecting a network from a plurality of available access networks, comprising:

instructions that identify the plurality of access networks;

instructions that determine an application expected to be used by a user equipment;

instructions that select a first access network from the plurality of access networks based, at least in part, on the application; and

instructions that connect the user equipment to the first access network in response to a set of application requirements;

instructions that invoke wherein a handover procedure is invoked from the first access network to a second access network of the plurality of access networks in response to a set of application requirements.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the plurality of access networks include one or more of a wireless network and wired network.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the plurality of access networks each comprise one of a circuit-switched network and a packet-switched network.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions that invoke a handover procedure from the first access network to a second access network of the plurality of access networks, wherein the second access network is selected from the plurality of access networks based on requirements of a second application by the user equipment.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising instructions that invoke the handover procedure from the first access network to a second access network of the plurality of access networks in response to application requirements.