WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK (WLAN) SELECTION RULES

• US 20160050619A1
• Filed: 03/11/2014
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vivek Gupta
• Inventors: GUPTA, Vivek
• Granted Patent: US 10,237,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/00 Orthogonal multiplex systems, e.g. using WALSH codesH04J13/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0023 Interference mitigation or co-ordination direct sequence spread spectrum [DSSS] systems H04B1/7097; frequency hopping H04B1/713; allocation criteria for ingress interference avoidance H04L5/0062; frequency allocation criteria for requirements on out-of-channel emissions H04L5/0066; arrangements for removing intersymbol interference or baseband equalisers H04L25/03006; peak power aspects in multicarrier modulation H04L27/2614; power management H04W52/00; traffic scheduling H04W72/54, H04W72/541
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/005 of intercell interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1671 the supervisory signal being transmitted together with control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1861 Physical mapping arrangements for ACK signaling see also H04L5/0053
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1407 Policy-and-charging control [PCC] architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/12 Avoiding congestion; Recovering from congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0032 Distributed allocation, i.e. involving a plurality of allocating devices, each making partial allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0033 each allocating device acting autonomously, i.e. without negotiation with other allocating devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/005 of common pilots, i.e. pilots destined for multiple users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0055 Physical resource allocation for ACK/NACK for physical mapping arrangements in ARQ protocols H04L1/1861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0073 Allocation arrangements that take into account other cell interferences for intercell interference mitigation or co-ordination in orthogonal multiplex systems H04J11/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1045 Proxies, e.g. for session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1073 : Registration or de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 : Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 : Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 : at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4728 : for selecting a Region Of Interest [ROI], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6437 : Real-time Transport Protocol [RTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 : between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 : Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 : Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/06 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using simulated traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0236 : radio quality, e.g. interference, losses or delay
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0289 : Congestion control load shedding arrangements in network planning H04W16/08; performing reselection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• 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 4/70 : Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• 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 52/0212 : managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 : using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/08 : Closed loop power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 : Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/242 : taking into account path loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/32 : TPC of broadcast or control channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/325 : Power control of control or pilot channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 : Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/00 : User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/02 : Arrangements for increasing efficiency of notification or paging channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 : based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 : Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/21 : in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 : based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 : using measured or perceived quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 : Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 : Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/28 : Discontinuous transmission [DTX]; Discontinuous reception [DRX]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/38 : triggered by timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 : Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/22 : Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• 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

In embodiments, apparatuses, methods, and storage media may be described for identifying a wireless local area network (WLAN) selection preference rule for use by a user equipment (UE) during a re-association procedure of the UE. The UE may use the WLAN selection preference rule to identify a WLAN with which the UE should associate.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a communication module to;

receive a wireless local area network (WLAN) selection preference rule from a public land mobile network (PLMN); and

store the WLAN selection preference rule in a non-transitory storage medium; and

a WLAN selection module to select a WLAN based on the WLAN selection preference rule, during power-up, while the UE has not registered to any PLMN.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the WLAN selection preference rule is a WLAN selection policy (WLANSP) rule of the PLMN.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the WLAN selection module is to select the WLAN based on an indication of priority of the WLANSP rule.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module is to receive the WLAN selection preference rule from an access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) of the PLMN.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module is further to receive an inter-system mobility policy (ISMP) rule or inter-system routing policy (ISRP) rule from a visited PLMN (VPLMN) during power-up.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the WLAN selection module is to select the WLAN based on the WLAN selection preference rule if a configuration flag provides an indication to use the WLAN selection preference rule; and

wherein the WLAN selection module is to select the WLAN based on the ISMP rule of the VPLMN or the ISRP rule of the VPLMN if the configuration flag does not provide an indication to use the WLAN selection preference rule.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the WLAN selection module is to select the WLAN based on the ISMP rule of the VPLMN or the ISRP rule of the VPLMN if the VPLMN is a preferred VPLMN; and

the WLAN selection module is to select the WLAN based on the WLAN selection preference rule if the VPLMN is not a preferred VPLMN.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module is a baseband module and the apparatus further comprises a multi-mode transceiver chip that includes the baseband module, the WLAN selection module, and a power management unit to control power provided to the baseband and WLAN selection modules.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the PLMN is a home PLMN (HPLMN) or visited PLMN (VPLMN) of the UE.

9. A method comprising:

accessing, during a re-association procedure of a user equipment (UE), a wireless local area network (WLAN) selection preference rule with which the UE is provisioned by a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) of the UE;

selecting, during the re-association procedure of the UE, a WLAN based on the WLAN selection preference rule; and

associating, by the UE, with the selected WLAN.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the re-association procedure is a power-up procedure.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the WLAN selection preference rule is a WLAN selection policy (WLANSP) rule, an inter-system mobility policy (ISMP) rule, or an inter-system routing policy (ISRP) rule of the HPLMN.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting the WLAN based on an indication of a priority of the WLANSP rule, the ISMP rule, or the ISRP rule of the HPLMN.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the WLAN selection preference rule is a WLAN selection preference rule of an access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) of the HPLMN.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving, by the UE during the re-association procedure, a WLAN selection policy (WLANSP) rule, an inter-system mobility policy (ISMP) rule, or an inter-system routing policy (ISRP) rule of a visited PLMN (VPLMN).

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

selecting, by the UE, the WLAN based on the WLAN selection preference rule if a configuration flag indicates to use the WLAN selection preference rule; and

selecting, by the UE, the WLAN based on the WLANSP rule, the ISMP rule, or the ISRP rule of the VPLMN if the configuration flag indicates to not use the WLAN selection preference rule.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

selecting, by the UE, the WLAN based on the WLAN selection preference rule if the VPLMN is not a preferred VPLMN of the UE; and

selecting, by the UE, the WLAN based on the WLANSP rule, the ISMP rule, or the ISRP rule of the VPLMN if the VPLMN is a preferred VPLMN.

17. One or more non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions configured to cause a user equipment (UE), upon execution of the instructions by the UE, to:

identify availability of a public land mobile network (PLMN) during a loss-of-signal recovery procedure of the UE;

identify availability of a known wireless local area network (WLAN) of the UE during the loss-of-signal recovery procedure of the UE;

identify, based on the availability of the PLMN and the availability of the known WLAN, a default WLAN selection preference rule of the UE;

select a WLAN based on the default WLAN selection preference rule; and

associate with the WLAN.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the default WLAN selection preference rule is to select the known WLAN if a PLMN is not available and the known WLAN is available.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the default WLAN selection preference rule is to select the WLAN based on a WLAN selection preference rule of a home PLMN (HPLMN) of the UE if the PLMN is not available and the known WLAN is not available.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 19, wherein the WLAN selection preference rule of the home PLMN is a WLAN selection policy (WLANSP) rule, an inter-system mobility policy (ISMP) rule, or an inter-system routing policy (ISRP) rule of an access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) of the HPLMN.

21. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the default WLAN selection preference rule is, if the PLMN is available and the known WLAN is not available, to:

associate with the PLMN;

receive a WLAN selection policy (WLANSP) rule, an inter-system mobility policy (ISMP) rule, or an inter-system routing policy (ISRP) rule from the PLMN; and

select the WLAN based on the WLANSP rule, the ISMP rule, or the ISRP rule.

22. The one or more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the default WLAN selection preference rule is, if the PLMN is available and the known WLAN is available, to:

identify whether the UE is configured to associate with the known WLAN;

select the known WLAN if the UE is configured to associate with the known WLAN; and

if the UE is configured to not associate with the known WLAN, then;

associate with the PLMN;

receive a WLAN selection policy (WLANSP) rule, an inter-system mobility policy (ISMP) rule, or an inter-system routing policy (ISRP) rule from the PLMN; and

select the WLAN based on the WLANSP rule, the ISMP rule, or the ISRP rule.