Method and device for network selection in multiple access technologies

• US 8,818,449 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Buckley, Adrian, Carpenter, Paul Marcus, Alfano, Nicholas Patrick, Allen, Andrew Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hai V
• Application Number:
  US13/282,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20120039325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 370/338, 709/223
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A method and wireless user equipment (UE) device provide the capability to store network information in a database structure on the wireless user equipment device, with the network information containing network entries arranged by radio access technology. Each network entry contains a radio access network (RAN) identification code and a core network (CN) identification code and has a priority within the radio access technology. The UE device determines a currently preferred order of access technologies and selects a network entry according to the currently preferred order of radio access technologies and the priority of network entries within the radio access technologies.

Claims

1. A method operable on a wireless user equipment (UE) device, comprising:

storing network information in a database structure on said wireless user equipment device, said network information containing a plurality of network entries arranged by radio access technology, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of the network entries comprise both a radio access network (RAN) identification code and a core network (CN) identification code associated therewith and having a priority within the radio access technology and further wherein a first network entry of the plurality of network entries comprises a CN identification code associated with two or more RAN identification codes and RANs represented by the two or more RAN identification codes operate in at least two different radio access technologies;

determining a currently preferred order of access technologies; and

selecting a network entry according to the currently preferred order of radio access technologies and the priority of network entries within the radio access technologies.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a first network entry of the plurality of network entries comprises a RAN identification code associated with two or more CN identification codes.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of network entries comprises prohibited networks.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of network entries comprises both preferred networks and prohibited networks.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the database structure is enterprise-controlled.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising determining an order of priority for use of the plurality of structures.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising applying a policy in determining the currently preferred order of access technologies.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein an enterprise policy prohibits use of a given WLAN near enterprise premises.

9. A wireless user equipment (UE) device, comprising:

a processor operably coupled to a memory and a transceiver;

a logic module for storing network information in a database structure on said wireless user equipment device, said network information containing a plurality of network entries arranged by radio access technology, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of the network entries comprise both a radio access network (RAN) identification code and a core network (CN) identification code associated therewith and having a priority within the radio access technology and further wherein a first network entry of the plurality of network entries comprises a CN identification code associated with two or more RAN identification codes and RANs represented by the two or more RAN identification codes operate in at least two different radio access technologies;

a logic module for determining a currently preferred order of access technologies; and

a logic module for selecting a network entry according to the currently preferred order of radio access technologies and the priority of network entries within the radio access technologies;

wherein the logic modules are embodied in any of hardware, firmware and software stored in the memory.

10. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 9, wherein a first network entry of the plurality of network entries comprises a RAN identification code associated with two or more CN identification codes.

11. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of network entries comprises prohibited networks.

12. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of network entries comprises both preferred networks and prohibited networks.

13. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 9, wherein the database structure is enterprise-controlled.

14. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 9, further comprising a logic module for determining an order of priority for use of the plurality of structures.

15. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 9, further comprising a logic module for applying a policy in determining the currently preferred order of access technologies.

16. The wireless UE device as recited in claim 9, wherein an enterprise policy prohibits use of a given WLAN near enterprise premises.