Network selection architecture

• US 9,380,646 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cui, Zhi, Blackburn, Alan, Fahmy, Hany
• Primary Examiner(s): Skripnikov, Alex
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANSARI, RAZA M
• Application Number:
  US14/035,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20150085650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/00 Access restriction access security to prevent unauthorised access H04W12/08; Network selection; Access point selection
• 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 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A user equipment device intelligent network selection architecture is provided that enables service provider policy driven dynamic intelligent network selection of a radio technology for user traffic delivery. The network selection is based on radio network conditions, user subscription profile, and device mobility state, including speed and movement pattern. Also provided are application program interfaces that allow access network discovery and selection function carrier clients decision as to communication with a connection manager or other lower layer functions. The architecture and associated application program interface enable automatic network selection and connection, which provides a consistent implementation across different device original equipment manufacturers and operating systems.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

comparing, by a mobile device comprising a processor, a first network congestion condition and a first network parameter condition received from a first set of network devices of a first network, and a second network congestion condition and a second network parameter condition received from a second set of network devices of a second network, to a usage parameter and a movement parameter of the mobile device;

determining, by the mobile device, a radio technology to select for use in routing network traffic of the mobile device, wherein determining the radio technology comprises;

based on a first result of the comparing, determining, by the mobile device, to route at least a portion of the network traffic of the mobile device to the first set of network devices associated with a first radio technology, or

based on a second result of the comparing, determining, by the mobile device, to route at least the portion of the network traffic of the mobile device to the second set of network devices associated with a second radio technology,

wherein determining the radio technology further comprises complying with a network selection policy received from a network device that provides a service to the mobile device; and

initiating, by the mobile device, routing of the network traffic of the mobile device either to the first set of network devices or to the second set of network devices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing comprises analyzing relative movement of the mobile device with respect to the first set of network devices and the second set of network devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the analyzing comprises detecting a speed and a direction of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the analyzing comprises detecting a vibration pattern of the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of network devices is a set of cellular network enabled devices and the second set of network devices is a set of Wi-Fi network enabled devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the complying with the network selection policy comprises analyzing a traffic routing rule of the network device that provides the service to the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving an access network discovery and selection policy from an access network discovery and selection function server of a serving network, wherein the access network discovery and selection policy comprises logic used by the mobile device to select the network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing comprises analyzing a user preference associated with selection of the first set of network devices or the second set of network devices.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing comprises analyzing respective basic service set load conditions of the first set of network devices and the second set of network devices.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing comprises evaluating data representative of a battery usage level of the mobile device.

11. A computer-readable storage device storing executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a system comprising a processor to perform operations, comprising:

comparing a first network congestion condition and a first network parameter condition received from a first set of network devices of a first network, and a second network congestion condition and a second network parameter condition received from a second set of network devices of a second network, to a usage parameter and a movement parameter of a mobile device;

determining a radio technology to select for use in routing network traffic of the mobile device, wherein determining the radio technology comprises;

based on a first result of the comparing, determining to route the network traffic to the first set of network devices associated with a first radio technology, or

based on a second result of the comparing, determining to route the network traffic of the mobile device to the second set of network devices associated with a second radio technology,

wherein determining the radio technology further comprises complying with a network selection policy received from a network device that provides a service to the mobile device; and

facilitating routing of the network traffic of the mobile device either to the first set of network devices or to the second set of network devices.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise analyzing relative movement of the mobile device with respect to the first set of network devices and the second set of network devices.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise determining speed data representing a substantially current speed of the mobile device and direction data representing a substantially current direction of the mobile device.

14. A mobile device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores instructions that, in response to execution, cause the processor to perform operations, comprising

comparing a first network congestion condition and a first network parameter condition received from a first set of network devices of a first network, and a second network congestion condition and a second network parameter condition received from a second set of network devices of a second network, to a usage parameter and a movement parameter of a mobile device,

determining a radio technology to select for use in routing network traffic of the mobile device, wherein determining the radio technology comprises

based on a first result of the comparing, determining to route the network traffic to the first set of network devices associated with a first radio technology, or

based on a second result of the comparing, determining to route the network traffic of the mobile device to the second set of network devices associated with a second radio technology,

wherein determining the set of network devices further comprises complying with a network selection policy received from a network device that provides a service to the mobile device; and

facilitating routing of the network traffic of the mobile device either to the first set of network devices or to the second set of network devices.

15. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the comparing comprises analyzing relative movement of the mobile device with respect to the first set of network devices and the second set of network devices.

16. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the analyzing comprises detecting a speed and a direction of the mobile device.

17. The mobile device of claim 15, wherein the analyzing comprises detecting a vibration pattern of the mobile device.

18. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the complying with the network selection policy comprises analyzing a traffic routing rule of the network device that provides the service to the mobile device.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise receiving an access network discovery and selection policy from an access network discovery and selection function server of a serving network, wherein the access network discovery and selection policy comprises logic used by the mobile device to select the network.

20. The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the comparing comprises analyzing respective basic service set load conditions of the first set of network devices and the second set of network devices.