WO2009149761A1 - Target access point selection policies based on access point category tags - Google Patents

Target access point selection policies based on access point category tags Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009149761A1
WO2009149761A1 PCT/EP2008/057445 EP2008057445W WO2009149761A1 WO 2009149761 A1 WO2009149761 A1 WO 2009149761A1 EP 2008057445 W EP2008057445 W EP 2008057445W WO 2009149761 A1 WO2009149761 A1 WO 2009149761A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
access point
network
user equipment
category tag
target
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2008/057445
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Mika Forssell
Jari MUSTAJÄRVI
Original Assignee
Nokia Siemens Networks Oy
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nokia Siemens Networks Oy filed Critical Nokia Siemens Networks Oy
Priority to PCT/EP2008/057445 priority Critical patent/WO2009149761A1/en
Publication of WO2009149761A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009149761A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W48/00—Access restriction; Network selection; Access point selection
    • H04W48/20—Selecting an access point
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W84/00—Network topologies
    • H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
    • H04W84/04—Large scale networks; Deep hierarchical networks
    • H04W84/042—Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
    • H04W84/045—Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of wireless net- works with one or more different radio access technologies, wherein a network element such as a user equipment is adapted for moving in space and for selecting an appropriate target access point in order to connect to the wireless network.
  • a network element such as a user equipment is adapted for moving in space and for selecting an appropriate target access point in order to connect to the wireless network.
  • the present invention relates to a method for se- lecting a target access point for a network element of a lo ⁇ cal network in a scope where third party like cellular opera ⁇ tor provides to the user equipment the network and access point selection rules.
  • the present invention relates to a network element and to a control server, which are adapted for performing the described target access point se ⁇ lection method.
  • the present invention relates to a computer program for controlling a target access point selection for a network element of a local network within and/or outside of an operator network.
  • WLAN Wireless Local Area Networks
  • 3G Home NodeB Femto cells
  • Network operators have started to think about ensuring use of private local area home networks whenever their subscribers are at a vicinity of such a network, like at home or in of ⁇ fice. This may offload macro cellular traffic to local area home network, and provides operators means to provide low cost or even free home zone tariffs.
  • Network discovery and selection function such as for example the function ANDSF currently being defined in the 3GPP 23.402 standard provides tools for a network operator to influence on network selection made by a network element such as a user equipment.
  • ANDSF may further provide policies to device that device uses when selecting target access network to be used. For example operator may say that operator WLAN hot spot has No .1 priority and operator 3G network has No .2 priority for data applications.
  • the network operator ANDSF needs to know technical details about local area home net ⁇ work. For example in case of WLAN, the service set identifier (SSID) and/or the WLAN Access Point Media Access Control
  • WLAN AP MAC Wireless Fidelity
  • Femto cells might on the other hand be identified using 3GPP location area identifier. If none of these technical details are known by a control server executing the ANDSF a home net ⁇ work cannot be addressed for a target selection.
  • the described need to know technical details of the network element being involved in a target access point selection can be met if the operator of the respective local area home net ⁇ work pre-configures and provides local area home network equipment such as form instance a WLAN Access Point to sub ⁇ scribers. Thereby, it can be guaranteed that the operator knows the necessary technical details of the home network. In case the subscriber adds non-operator provided WLAN Access
  • a method for selecting a target access point for con- necting a user equipment to a target network comprises (a) assigning a category tag to a candidate access point, wherein the category tag is indicative for a classifi ⁇ cation of the candidate access point, (b) transmitting a net ⁇ work selection policy information from a control server of an operator network to the user equipment, wherein the network selection policy information is associated with the category tag, and (c) selecting the target access point by the user equipment, wherein the user equipment takes into account the network selection policy information.
  • the described target access point selecting method is based on the idea that by assigning a category tag to the candidate access point the operator is capable of controlling the net ⁇ work respectively the target access point selection of the user equipment.
  • the user equipment which is scan ⁇ ning for an appropriate target access point from a plurality of potential candidate access points in order to connect to a target network, may be located anywhere within or outside the spatial coverage of the operator network.
  • the user equipment may be any type of communication end de ⁇ vice, which is capable of connecting with arbitrary access points by means of a wireless transmission link.
  • the user equipment may be a cellular mobile phone, a Per ⁇ sonal Digital Assistant (PDA) , a notebook computer and/or any other movable communication device.
  • PDA Per ⁇ sonal Digital Assistant
  • the described assignment of the category tag typically does not mean that the candidate access point is physically modi ⁇ fied. In particular no configuration procedure has to be carried out with the candidate access point. With the category tag there is simply given a classification to the candidate access point in the configuration of the user equipment. The described assignment can even be a more broad classification, wherein all users are able to identify from the network se ⁇ lection policy information the currently broadcasting access point. This is known under the catchword "iPass enabled".
  • the category tags may be known by the user equipment and con ⁇ trolling network servers. "HOME” and “OFFICE” could be used as a category tag. Each category tag is associated with realm. If the category tag "HOME” is used in the network se- lection policy information, the user equipment knows it and will be able to identify any access point, that preferably the user itself has configured into the user equipment with the categorization "HOME". The user is advised to do this only for candidate access points that met the realm condi- tions. For “HOME” this could be candidate access points in user's home premises. For “OFFICE” this could be office prem ⁇ ises and would include for example a company private WLAN network .
  • candidate access points can be automatically mapped to spe ⁇ cific category tags based on the information they broadcast and optionally on information locally stored (a) into the user equipment such as for instance a list of SSID' s that are known to be iPass enabled or (b) into a smart card of the user equipment.
  • information locally stored a) into the user equipment such as for instance a list of SSID' s that are known to be iPass enabled or (b) into a smart card of the user equipment.
  • Such a tag and associated realm "IPASS” could be for example "iPass” enabled public hot spots.
  • the user equipment can use the category tag as a replacement for a corresponding candidate access point.
  • the user equipment may simply refer to such a candidate ac- cess point with the corresponding category tag. Thereby, it might be up to the end user to define, which candidate access points should be considered with this category tag.
  • the technical information, which is related to the category tag may be completely hidden from the control server respec ⁇ tively from the operator network. This may mean that it is not necessary however not forbidden that the operator of the operator network knows details about the technical configura ⁇ tion of the candidate access point.
  • the operator of the operator network may be a wireless service provider, with which the user may have a contract. This operator may provide rules for appropriate network selection, which takes into account the plurality of possible target ac- cess networks being visible to the user equipment.
  • association with the category tag has to be understood in a wide manner.
  • “associated with the category tag” may also mean that the network selection policy information is based on the category tag. Further, it may also mean that the network selection policy information, which may also called a network selection policy rule, comprises the category tag.
  • the category tag is selected from a category tag list, which is defined by the operator network or a third party.
  • the term "opera ⁇ tor network” has to be understood in a wide scope.
  • the "operator network” may be run by a network operator, which can be for instance a service provider with which an end user has contract like a 3G network operator.
  • the network operator can also be the office enter ⁇ prise of the end user, if the end user chooses so and the en ⁇ terprise provides such a service.
  • the third party can be any entity providing network selection service.
  • the third party is known to the end user and the user equipment and trusted by the end user to provide the service.
  • an enterprise may have a control server within an enterprise intranet, where network selection policies are sent to employees for controlling use of different networks. Thereby, the communication costs for the enterprise may be lowered significantly.
  • the end user may be allowed to select an appropriate label for the candidate access point according to a framework of allowed category tags, wherein the framework is given by the operator of the operator network.
  • This end user selected labeling of the candidate access point within the operator's framework can not only be carried out with respect to already existing and running access points, it can also be carried out by the end user after the end user has installed and con ⁇ figured a new access point which might represent a candidate target access point.
  • the operator may be capable of specifying, determining and/or dictating network selection policies, which may cause the user equipment to choose predefined tar ⁇ get candidate access points for an appropriate network con ⁇ nection.
  • the operator defines possible category tags and the end user assigns one of these category tags to the candidate access point. Therefore, by using the category tag in the network selection policy information instead of specific net ⁇ work identification information (like SSID), the operator is able to tell to the user equipment it should prioritize can ⁇ didate access points the user itself has categorized accord ⁇ ingly as if the operator would itself define the same candi ⁇ date access point (s) in the policy information instead of the described category tag.
  • control server may provide different selection rules for different end users respec ⁇ tively for different user equipments.
  • the selection rules may be stored in a data storage device which is associated with the control server and/or which is coupled to the control server by means of a direct or an indirect data connection link .
  • the method further comprises assigning the category tag at least to a further candidate access point, wherein the category tag is indicative also for a classification of the further candidate access point.
  • the end user may be able to define a preferred network environment for his user equipment.
  • This preferred network environment can include more than one candidate ac- cess point. Thereby it can be ensured that when obeying the network selection policy provided by the control server the user equipment keeps best connected to a core network or to an IP network such as the internet .
  • the candidate access point and/or the further candidate ac ⁇ cess point may be coupled to a core network or an IP network such as the internet by means of a wired connection.
  • This may provide the advantage that data traffic may be effectively removed from radio communication links of the operator net- work. Thereby, the data load on wireless data transmission links of the operator network can be effectively reduced.
  • the candidate access point and/or the further candidate access point may be privately owned as ⁇ sess points. This may provide the advantage that also pri ⁇ vately owned local networks may be included in the network selection policy provided by the network operator.
  • an end user of the user equipment may define his pre ⁇ ferred network environment by identifying certain candidate access points in the configuration of the user equipment.
  • assigning the category tag to an arbitrary candidate access point the end user may give this candidate access point a priority for a subsequent target network selection procedure respectively target access point selection procedure.
  • the candidate access point in user equipment means actually the configuration information of the access point in the user equipment. Once a candidate access point is configured into the user equipment, the user equipment can start using this candidate access point as a selected target access point.
  • the user equipment shall use this candidate access point according to the prior ⁇ ity given for the category tag in the network selection pol- icy information.
  • the operator may allow a user to add one or more private access points to an operator data ⁇ base with such a category tag. The operator can then have even more control on what candidate access points are ac ⁇ cepted under each category tag. In this case the operator may not anymore send plain category tags in the policy list but would replace the category tag with the specific access point identification information, which has been configured by the user to the operator database.
  • the net- work selection policy information comprises a priority list, wherein a list element of the priority list comprises either the category tag or a specific network identifier and/or a network access point identifier.
  • a list element of the priority list comprises either the category tag or a specific network identifier and/or a network access point identifier.
  • Each list element may also contain other constrains like for instance access network type and signal quality information.
  • each list element may have relative priority amongst the other list elements.
  • the highest priority list element is considered first, then next highest priority and so on. If a current consideration is against a certain category tag, then the user equipment shall find out, if it can detect any can ⁇ didate access points, which are tagged with given category tag in the user equipment configuration. If it can, then such a candidate access point shall be selected. If more than one candidate access point was found, the device can select any of them, preferably one with best signal quality or best by other quality measures.
  • the first list element of the priority list could specify for instance that the highest priority candidate access points are Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access points, which are labeled with the category tag "Home".
  • the second list element of the priority list could specify that the second highest priority candidate access points are WLAN access points having a service set identifier (SSID) such as for instance "OperatorOpenZone" .
  • the third list element of the pri ⁇ ority list could specify that the third highest priority is assigned to the operator network, which might be a 3G cellu- lar telecommunication network.
  • the access points of a 3G cellular telecommunication network are for instance base stations and/or relay nodes. In this respect it is mentioned that it may not be necessary that the operator of the opera- tor network knows if there are candidate access points avail ⁇ able for the given category tag respectively for the first list element and/or for the further list elements.
  • the described priority list comprises at least a second list element, which follows the first list element corresponding to the highest ranking category tag. If the scanning user equipment cannot find a target access point referred to in the highest ranking list element, potentially being tagged with the category tag, the user equipment will connect to a target access point corresponding to the second list element. Accordingly, if the priority list comprises at least three list elements, a target access point being speci ⁇ fied by the third list element will be selected by the user equipment. In this respect it is mentioned that there is no principal upper limit for the number of list elements de ⁇ scribing a ranking order of different types of possible can ⁇ didate access points.
  • ⁇ ments can be associated with the category tag and/or the dif ⁇ ferent list elements of the priority list. For instance it can be ensured that only candidate access points, which oper ⁇ ate with a certain Radio Access Technology such as a Wireless Local Area Network technology are allowed to represent a No. 1 priority, a No .2 priority or an even less preferred target access point.
  • Radio Access Technology such as a Wireless Local Area Network technology
  • the cate- gory tag comprises a keyword and/or an integer value.
  • the integer value may be for instance an enumerated value.
  • An enumerated value may provide the advantage that the shortest amount of data is used and the end user can still easily understand the realm it affects to.
  • the described use of a keyword as the category tag may allow for a network discovery and selection to prioritize use of target access points being assigned to special local networks without assuming that the operator has to provide the corre ⁇ sponding hardware equipment and/or configuration information for these special local networks.
  • the special networks are candidate target local networks.
  • the at least one keyword may describe at least partially the policy information, which is taken into account by the scanning user equipment.
  • the keyword specifying the realm may be a term like "home”, "office” and/or "operator public hot spot". Such terms may be provided by the operator for an end user in order to allow for a classification of a certain candidate target access point .
  • the key ⁇ word is indicative for a preferred usage of the candidate ac- cess point.
  • the preferred usage may be associated with a special spatial region, which is covered by a candidate access point being labeled with the corresponding keyword.
  • the user equip ⁇ ment is supposed to connect preferably to the corresponding candidate target access point.
  • the above described priority list may include a ranking order of list elements like 1st "Home”, 2nd "Home- run” and 3rd "operator cellular". This may effectively con- tribute to an appropriate selection or target access points. Thereby, cheap network connections may be preferred such that the overall expenses for an end user of the user equipment may be reduced significantly.
  • the method further comprises (a) defining at least one service class, and (b) defining at least one specific candidate access point or category tag being associated with the at least one ser ⁇ vice class.
  • the user equipment further takes into account the association between the at least one service class and the at least one specific candidate access point or the category tag.
  • category tags can be used instead of specific candidate access point details in such a service class specific access point list.
  • the operator shall define this candidate access point selection policy information for each service class.
  • the end user shall select a service class for an access point selection manually, when invoking a new applica ⁇ tion in the user equipment, the operator should be able to define the default service class to be offered to the end user .
  • the operator or device manufacturer or even end user may define service classes like operator service, internet service, intranet service and MMS service.
  • the service class may refer to both application type (like MMS) and operating environment (like operator/intranet/internet) . Of course this only holds if these service classes are defined.
  • Each application in the user equipment or user of the application may select to which service class it belongs to and use the associated candidate access points and the network selection policy information when connecting to a network.
  • the operator can be able to define both these can ⁇ didate access points and the policy for a corresponding ser ⁇ vice class.
  • the end user could still be allowed to add own candidate access points to this service class or even modify the service specific selection of candidate access points .
  • the network operator or a third party may provide network selec ⁇ tion service to prioritize service specific networks (a) based on types of applications used in the user equipment or (b) based on operating environment the end user may choose to work with.
  • Such an operating environment may be for instance the intranet, an internet and/or an operator network.
  • Service classification can also done so that the end user leaves one specific class for operator control to provide automatic network selection policies for applications using this class and retains other service class network selection policies on her own control.
  • the target network is a local network or the target network is the op- erator network.
  • the scan ⁇ ning network element may connect to different types of target access points. Thereby, the number of possible candidate ac ⁇ cess points for the scanning user equipment can be increased significantly .
  • the target network is a local network, for instance pri ⁇ vately owned and/or company owned access points might be used as candidate target access points. This holds also for access points being associated with so called public hot spots, which access points are typically also owned by company rep ⁇ resenting a service provider.
  • the target ac ⁇ cess points may be base stations and/or relay nodes of the operator network, which typically is a cellular telecommunication network.
  • the target access point is assigned to a Wireless Local Area Network.
  • This may provide the advantage that the described target ac ⁇ cess point selecting method may be carried out with probably the most widespread type of wireless local networks. Thereby, as has already been mentioned above, it is not necessary to perform any hardware dependent configurations between the scanning user equipment, the control server and/or the candi ⁇ date target access points.
  • the opera ⁇ tor network is a wireless wide area network and in particular a cellular telecommunication network.
  • the telecommunication network may be for instance a 3rd generation mobile telecommunication network (e.g. GSM or UMTS) and/or a 4th generation mobile telecommunication network (e.g. Long Term Evolution) and/or a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi- MAX) network.
  • GSM Global System for Mobile
  • UMTS 3rd generation mobile telecommunication network
  • 4th generation mobile telecommunication network e.g. Long Term Evolution
  • Wi- MAX Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
  • the con- trol server is adapted to perform an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function.
  • an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function is defined for instance in the Technical Specification 3GPP TS 23.402 V8.0.0 (http://www.quintillion.co. jp/ 3GPP /Specs /23402-800.pdf) .
  • the control server may be for instance a stand alone network element being coupled to the operator network. However, the control server may also be implemented as a part of any al- ready existing network element or any other network element being associated with the operator network.
  • the scanning network element connects to a target access point being assigned to an appropriate target local network.
  • the scanning network element can also connect to a target access point of the operator network.
  • the target access point of the operator network may be for in- stance a base station and/or a relay node of a cellular op ⁇ erator network.
  • a user equipment which is adapted for selecting a tar- get access point.
  • the user equipment comprises (a) a unit for receiving a network selection policy information from a control server of an operator network, wherein the network selection policy information is associated with a category tag, which has been assigned to at least one candidate access point, and wherein the category tag is indicative for a clas ⁇ sification of the candidate access point, and (b) a unit for selecting the target access point taking into account the network selection policy information.
  • the described user equipment is based on the idea that when interacting with an appropriate control server any embodiment of the above described target access point selection method can be carried out. Thereby, it may not be necessary to adapt any Hardware of a known user equipment.
  • a comparatively sim- pie software update may be sufficient in order to convert a known user equipment into a user equipment according to the invention described within this application.
  • a control server for initiating a selection of a target access point by a user equipment.
  • the control server com ⁇ prises a unit for transmitting a network selection policy information to the user equipment, wherein (a) the network se- lection policy information is associated with a category tag, which has been assigned to at least one candidate access point, (b) the category tag is indicative for a classifica ⁇ tion of the candidate access point and (c) the network selec- tion policy information is adapted for controlling the user equipment to perform a selection procedure for the target ac ⁇ cess point.
  • the described control server is based on the idea that when interacting with a user equipment as described above any em ⁇ bodiment of the above described target access point selection method may be carried out. Thereby, it may not be necessary to adapt any Hardware of a known control server, which might be for instance an Operator Network Detection Assistance and Selection Control server. A comparatively simple software up ⁇ date may be sufficient in order to convert a known control server into a control server according to the invention described within this application.
  • a computer program for controlling a target access point selection for a user equipment when being executed by a data processor, is adapted for controlling the method as described above.
  • reference to a computer program is intended to be equivalent to a reference to a program element and/or to a computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to coordinate the performance of the above described method.
  • the computer program element may be implemented as a computer readable instruction code in any suitable programming language, such as, for example, JAVA, C++, and may be stored on a computer-readable medium (removable disk, volatile or non ⁇ volatile memory, embedded memory/processor, etc.) .
  • the instruction code is operable to program a computer or other programmable device to carry out the intended functions.
  • the computer program may be available from a network, such as the WorldWideWeb, from which it may be downloaded.
  • the invention may be re- alized by means of a computer program respectively by means of software.
  • the invention may also be realized by means of one or more specific electronic circuits respec ⁇ tively hardware.
  • the invention may also be real ⁇ ized in a hybrid form, i.e. in a combination of software mod- ules and hardware modules.
  • Figure 1 shows a telecommunication network comprising a wireless wide area network, several public Wireless Local Area Networks and a private home Wireless Local Area Network Ac ⁇ cess point.
  • Figure 2 shows a message and transactional flow diagram indi- eating a message flow between different entities of the tele ⁇ communication network shown in Figure 1 in order to carry out a target access point selection method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • WLAN Wireless Local Area Network
  • FIG. 1 shows a telecommunication network 100.
  • the telecom- munication network 100 comprises an operator network representing a wireless wide area network 110.
  • the operator network is a cellular network 110.
  • the telecommunication network 100 further comprises several public Wireless Local Area Networks 120, which are situated within the spatial coverage of one or more cells of the operator network 110.
  • the telecommunication network 100 comprises a private home network.
  • the private home network is also a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) .
  • the private WLAN comprises a private home WLAN Access Point 130 and a network element 135 representing a user equipment 135.
  • the user equipment is a mobile phone 135.
  • the user equipment 135 may connect to different target access points of the telecommunication network.
  • Possible target access points which in the follow ⁇ ing are also called candidate access points, are base sta ⁇ tions and/or relay nodes of the operator network 110, access points of the public Wireless Local Area Networks 120 and/or the private access point 130 of the private WLAN.
  • the user equipment 135 connects to the private ac ⁇ cess point 130. If this is not possible then a connection to one of the public Wireless Local Area Networks 120 is prefer ⁇ able.
  • data traffic can be ef ⁇ fectively removed from radio communication links of the op- erator network, which data traffic would normally involve base stations and/or relay nodes of the operator network 110.
  • Figure 2 shows a message and transactional flow diagram 200 indicating a message flow between different entities of the telecommunication network 100 shown in Figure 1.
  • the message and transactional flow comprises five steps, which are carried out in order to perform a target access point selection method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the target access point selection method starts with a step 1, wherein an end user 250 configures required settings such as a Media Access Control address, a Service Set Identifier (SSID) , Security keys such as a Wireless-Fidelity Protected Access (WPA) , etc to both a wireless user equipment 235 and to a private home Wireless Local Area Network Access Point 230 manually.
  • required settings such as a Media Access Control address, a Service Set Identifier (SSID) , Security keys such as a Wireless-Fidelity Protected Access (WPA) , etc to both a wireless user equipment 235 and to a private home Wireless Local Area Network Access Point 230 manually.
  • WPA Wireless-Fidelity Protected Access
  • the end user 250 may simply push an "easy pairing" button on the WLAN Access Point 230 and the user equipment 235 and the WLAN Access Point 230 exchange automatically the required configuration settings.
  • the described target access point selection method continues with a step 2, in which the wireless user equipment 235 asks for a category tag for the new WLAN network comprising at least the wireless user equipment 235 and the private home Wireless Local Area Network Access Point 230.
  • a category tag for the new WLAN network comprising at least the wireless user equipment 235 and the private home Wireless Local Area Network Access Point 230.
  • “home” or "office” category tags may be chosen by the end user 250. These category tags are given by the operator of the overlapping operator network. One of these category tags is indicative for a classification of the new WLAN network.
  • the end user 250 tags the new private home Wireless Local Area Network Access Point 230 with the category tag "home".
  • the Wireless Local Area Network Ac ⁇ cess Point 230 has been defined as to belong to the category tag "home" for the wireless user equipment 235.
  • a subsequent step 3 the wireless user equipment 235 trans ⁇ mits to a control server 215 a request for assistance infor- mation in network detection.
  • the control server is an Operator Network Detec ⁇ tion Assistance and Selection Control Server 215.
  • a connection between the user equipment 235 and the control server 215 is opened, which connection will be used later for transmitting information in the opposite direction, i.e. from the control server 215 to the user equipment 235.
  • the corresponding request message is called "Request _ Network _ Detection _ Assistance _ Info". It has to be mentioned that although step 3 provides the advantage that the opened connection can later be used without delay the step 3 is optional.
  • the Operator Network Detection Assis- tance and Selection Control Server 215 provides the requested information to the wireless user equipment 235.
  • the corresponding message is called "Network _ Detection _ Assistance _ Info”.
  • step 4 information is transmitted from the control server 215 to the wireless user equipment 235, which information will later be referred to for instance in the following step 5.
  • the Operator Network Detection Assis ⁇ tance and Selection Control Server 215 provides a network se ⁇ lection policy to user equipment 235.
  • this selection policy comprises a priority list, which includes a ranking order for potential target access points.
  • the priority list comprises the following list elements representing a ranking order for potential target access points.
  • the policies provided by the Operator Network De- tection Assistance and Selection Control Server 215 provide a placeholder containing the keyword "home”. Then, the user equipment 235 searches for any configured local networks which have been tagged as "home”. If this is the case, those networks are placed into the corresponding network priority list and are preferred when selecting a local network to be used if such a preferred local network is just available. If there are no networks available, which are tagged with the category tag respectively with the keyword "home”, then the policy No.l is simply ignored.
  • the first list element of the priority list further comprises a condition that the pri ⁇ ority one candidate access points are operating with the Ran ⁇ dom Access Technology (RAT) WLAN.
  • RAT Random Access Technology
  • the second cate- gory tag is called "TeliaSonera public WLAN".
  • TeliaSonera public WLAN This means that if the user equipment 235 cannot find a target access point respectively a target local network being tagged with "home”, the user equipment 235 may connect with a target access point being tagged with "TeliaSonera public WLAN".
  • the term "TeliaSonera public WLAN” is used as a category tag for public WLAN hot spots, which are operated by the company TeliaSonera (see e.g. http://www.homerun.telia.com) .
  • Such preferred hot spots which are al so cal led HomeRun hot spot s , provide a cheap and powerful wireless link between (a) the user equipment 235 and (b) the internet and/or the local network being associated with the private home Wireless Local Area Network Access Point 230.
  • generic hot spots for an effective network connection it is necessary that the user equipment is able to recognize such hot spots.
  • the second list element specifies that (a) also the priority two candidate access points are operating with the RAT WLAN and (b) the SSID of potential candidate access points is ⁇ AP1>.
  • the ⁇ AP1> is an abbreviation for all "TeliaSonera public WLAN" access points.
  • the wireless user equipment 235 uses the above defined priority list when selecting a target network to be used. Thereby, details about the target network selection may be hidden from the end user 250. Further, it is not necessary that the operator pre-configures WLAN Access Points at homes. A further advantage is that ease of use is provided to the end user 250. It has to be mentioned that the end user 250 further may be able to add new WLAN Access Points which are supported auto ⁇ matically by the network discovery and selection function, which is implemented in the Operator Network Detection Assis- tance and Selection Control Server 215.
  • control server / Operator Network Detection Assistance and Selection Control Server

Abstract

It is described a method for selecting a target access point for connecting a user equipment (135, 235) to a target network. The method comprises (a) assigning a category tag to a candidate access point (130, 230), wherein the category tag is indicative for a classification of the candidate access point (130, 230), (b) transmitting a network selection policy information from a control server (215) of an operator network (110) to the user equipment (135, 235), wherein the network selection policy information is associated with the category tag, and (c) selecting the target access point (130, 230) by the user equipment (135, 235), wherein the user equipment (135, 235) takes into account the network selection policy information. In case the user equipment uses an access point selection based on application type, operating environment or by other classification, commonly called as service class in this report, then the above applies also for each such a class. It is further described a user equipment (135, 235) and a control server (215), which are adapted for performing the described target access point selection method. Furthermore, it is described a computer program for controlling a target access point selection for a user equipment (135, 235).

Description

DESCRIPTION
Target access point selection policies based on access point category tags
Field of invention
The present invention relates to the field of wireless net- works with one or more different radio access technologies, wherein a network element such as a user equipment is adapted for moving in space and for selecting an appropriate target access point in order to connect to the wireless network. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for se- lecting a target access point for a network element of a lo¬ cal network in a scope where third party like cellular opera¬ tor provides to the user equipment the network and access point selection rules. Further, the present invention relates to a network element and to a control server, which are adapted for performing the described target access point se¬ lection method. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer program for controlling a target access point selection for a network element of a local network within and/or outside of an operator network.
Art Background
Local area networks, like Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) and 3G Home NodeB (Femto) cells, are increasing their impor¬ tance for home appliances. This is due to for example (a) significantly increasing bit rate requirements, (b) improving indoor signal strengths of wireless applications and (c) the capability of home network elements for connecting home ap- pliances together.
Network operators have started to think about ensuring use of private local area home networks whenever their subscribers are at a vicinity of such a network, like at home or in of¬ fice. This may offload macro cellular traffic to local area home network, and provides operators means to provide low cost or even free home zone tariffs.
Network discovery and selection function such as for example the function ANDSF currently being defined in the 3GPP 23.402 standard provides tools for a network operator to influence on network selection made by a network element such as a user equipment. ANDSF may further provide policies to device that device uses when selecting target access network to be used. For example operator may say that operator WLAN hot spot has No .1 priority and operator 3G network has No .2 priority for data applications.
To be able to prioritize local area home networks in a net¬ work discovery and selection, the network operator ANDSF needs to know technical details about local area home net¬ work. For example in case of WLAN, the service set identifier (SSID) and/or the WLAN Access Point Media Access Control
(WLAN AP MAC) address is/are needed in order to be able to prefer use of home network for target access point selection. Femto cells might on the other hand be identified using 3GPP location area identifier. If none of these technical details are known by a control server executing the ANDSF a home net¬ work cannot be addressed for a target selection.
The described need to know technical details of the network element being involved in a target access point selection can be met if the operator of the respective local area home net¬ work pre-configures and provides local area home network equipment such as form instance a WLAN Access Point to sub¬ scribers. Thereby, it can be guaranteed that the operator knows the necessary technical details of the home network. In case the subscriber adds non-operator provided WLAN Access
Points or changes a WLAN Access Point configuration, the net¬ work discovery and selection provided settings will typically not apply anymore. There may be a need for allowing a network operator to prioritize use of local area home network, like WLAN, without pre-configuring home WLAN Access Points.
Summary of the Invention
This need may be met by the subject matter according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described by the dependent claims.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is pro¬ vided a method for selecting a target access point for con- necting a user equipment to a target network. The described comprises (a) assigning a category tag to a candidate access point, wherein the category tag is indicative for a classifi¬ cation of the candidate access point, (b) transmitting a net¬ work selection policy information from a control server of an operator network to the user equipment, wherein the network selection policy information is associated with the category tag, and (c) selecting the target access point by the user equipment, wherein the user equipment takes into account the network selection policy information.
The described target access point selecting method is based on the idea that by assigning a category tag to the candidate access point the operator is capable of controlling the net¬ work respectively the target access point selection of the user equipment. Thereby, the user equipment, which is scan¬ ning for an appropriate target access point from a plurality of potential candidate access points in order to connect to a target network, may be located anywhere within or outside the spatial coverage of the operator network.
The user equipment may be any type of communication end de¬ vice, which is capable of connecting with arbitrary access points by means of a wireless transmission link. In particu- lar the user equipment may be a cellular mobile phone, a Per¬ sonal Digital Assistant (PDA) , a notebook computer and/or any other movable communication device.
The described assignment of the category tag typically does not mean that the candidate access point is physically modi¬ fied. In particular no configuration procedure has to be carried out with the candidate access point. With the category tag there is simply given a classification to the candidate access point in the configuration of the user equipment. The described assignment can even be a more broad classification, wherein all users are able to identify from the network se¬ lection policy information the currently broadcasting access point. This is known under the catchword "iPass enabled".
The category tags may be known by the user equipment and con¬ trolling network servers. "HOME" and "OFFICE" could be used as a category tag. Each category tag is associated with realm. If the category tag "HOME" is used in the network se- lection policy information, the user equipment knows it and will be able to identify any access point, that preferably the user itself has configured into the user equipment with the categorization "HOME". The user is advised to do this only for candidate access points that met the realm condi- tions. For "HOME" this could be candidate access points in user's home premises. For "OFFICE" this could be office prem¬ ises and would include for example a company private WLAN network .
In this respect it is pointed out that not the candidate ac¬ cess point itself is tagged but the access point configura¬ tion information in the user equipment is tagged. Also some candidate access points can be automatically mapped to spe¬ cific category tags based on the information they broadcast and optionally on information locally stored (a) into the user equipment such as for instance a list of SSID' s that are known to be iPass enabled or (b) into a smart card of the user equipment. Such a tag and associated realm "IPASS" could be for example "iPass" enabled public hot spots.
When the control server of the operator network provides the network selection policy information to the user equipment, the user equipment can use the category tag as a replacement for a corresponding candidate access point. Instead of defin¬ ing specific technical details of the candidate access point, the user equipment may simply refer to such a candidate ac- cess point with the corresponding category tag. Thereby, it might be up to the end user to define, which candidate access points should be considered with this category tag.
The technical information, which is related to the category tag may be completely hidden from the control server respec¬ tively from the operator network. This may mean that it is not necessary however not forbidden that the operator of the operator network knows details about the technical configura¬ tion of the candidate access point.
The operator of the operator network may be a wireless service provider, with which the user may have a contract. This operator may provide rules for appropriate network selection, which takes into account the plurality of possible target ac- cess networks being visible to the user equipment.
It has to be mentioned that the term "associated with the category tag" has to be understood in a wide manner. In par¬ ticular, "associated with the category tag" may also mean that the network selection policy information is based on the category tag. Further, it may also mean that the network selection policy information, which may also called a network selection policy rule, comprises the category tag.
According to an embodiment of the invention the category tag is selected from a category tag list, which is defined by the operator network or a third party. In this context it has to be mentioned that the term "opera¬ tor network" has to be understood in a wide scope. In par¬ ticular, the "operator network" may be run by a network operator, which can be for instance a service provider with which an end user has contract like a 3G network operator. In some cases the network operator can also be the office enter¬ prise of the end user, if the end user chooses so and the en¬ terprise provides such a service.
The third party can be any entity providing network selection service. Thereby, preferably the third party is known to the end user and the user equipment and trusted by the end user to provide the service. For example an enterprise may have a control server within an enterprise intranet, where network selection policies are sent to employees for controlling use of different networks. Thereby, the communication costs for the enterprise may be lowered significantly.
The end user may be allowed to select an appropriate label for the candidate access point according to a framework of allowed category tags, wherein the framework is given by the operator of the operator network. This end user selected labeling of the candidate access point within the operator's framework can not only be carried out with respect to already existing and running access points, it can also be carried out by the end user after the end user has installed and con¬ figured a new access point which might represent a candidate target access point.
In other words, the operator may be capable of specifying, determining and/or dictating network selection policies, which may cause the user equipment to choose predefined tar¬ get candidate access points for an appropriate network con¬ nection. The operator defines possible category tags and the end user assigns one of these category tags to the candidate access point. Therefore, by using the category tag in the network selection policy information instead of specific net¬ work identification information (like SSID), the operator is able to tell to the user equipment it should prioritize can¬ didate access points the user itself has categorized accord¬ ingly as if the operator would itself define the same candi¬ date access point (s) in the policy information instead of the described category tag.
It has to be mentioned that the control server may provide different selection rules for different end users respec¬ tively for different user equipments. The selection rules may be stored in a data storage device which is associated with the control server and/or which is coupled to the control server by means of a direct or an indirect data connection link .
According to a further embodiment of the invention the method further comprises assigning the category tag at least to a further candidate access point, wherein the category tag is indicative also for a classification of the further candidate access point.
By assigning a plurality of candidate access points with the category tag the end user may be able to define a preferred network environment for his user equipment. This preferred network environment can include more than one candidate ac- cess point. Thereby it can be ensured that when obeying the network selection policy provided by the control server the user equipment keeps best connected to a core network or to an IP network such as the internet .
The candidate access point and/or the further candidate ac¬ cess point may be coupled to a core network or an IP network such as the internet by means of a wired connection. This may provide the advantage that data traffic may be effectively removed from radio communication links of the operator net- work. Thereby, the data load on wireless data transmission links of the operator network can be effectively reduced. It has to be mentioned that the candidate access point and/or the further candidate access point may be privately owned as¬ sess points. This may provide the advantage that also pri¬ vately owned local networks may be included in the network selection policy provided by the network operator.
By assigning the category tag to different candidate access points an end user of the user equipment may define his pre¬ ferred network environment by identifying certain candidate access points in the configuration of the user equipment. By assigning the category tag to an arbitrary candidate access point the end user may give this candidate access point a priority for a subsequent target network selection procedure respectively target access point selection procedure.
It is pointed out that the user is not physically assigning category tags to candidate access points. The candidate ac¬ cess points are totally unaware of any category tags, the tag exist only in the user equipment, where specific candidate access point (s) is (are) associated with the tag. Therefore, the candidate access point in user equipment means actually the configuration information of the access point in the user equipment. Once a candidate access point is configured into the user equipment, the user equipment can start using this candidate access point as a selected target access point.
Therefore, if the user assigns a category tag for this con¬ figuration information, it means that the user equipment shall use this candidate access point according to the prior¬ ity given for the category tag in the network selection pol- icy information.
It is further pointed out that the operator may allow a user to add one or more private access points to an operator data¬ base with such a category tag. The operator can then have even more control on what candidate access points are ac¬ cepted under each category tag. In this case the operator may not anymore send plain category tags in the policy list but would replace the category tag with the specific access point identification information, which has been configured by the user to the operator database.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the net- work selection policy information comprises a priority list, wherein a list element of the priority list comprises either the category tag or a specific network identifier and/or a network access point identifier. Each list element may also contain other constrains like for instance access network type and signal quality information.
In particular, each list element may have relative priority amongst the other list elements. When selecting the access point to connect to, the highest priority list element is considered first, then next highest priority and so on. If a current consideration is against a certain category tag, then the user equipment shall find out, if it can detect any can¬ didate access points, which are tagged with given category tag in the user equipment configuration. If it can, then such a candidate access point shall be selected. If more than one candidate access point was found, the device can select any of them, preferably one with best signal quality or best by other quality measures.
The first list element of the priority list could specify for instance that the highest priority candidate access points are Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access points, which are labeled with the category tag "Home". The second list element of the priority list could specify that the second highest priority candidate access points are WLAN access points having a service set identifier (SSID) such as for instance "OperatorOpenZone" . The third list element of the pri¬ ority list could specify that the third highest priority is assigned to the operator network, which might be a 3G cellu- lar telecommunication network. The access points of a 3G cellular telecommunication network are for instance base stations and/or relay nodes. In this respect it is mentioned that it may not be necessary that the operator of the opera- tor network knows if there are candidate access points avail¬ able for the given category tag respectively for the first list element and/or for the further list elements.
In other words, the described priority list comprises at least a second list element, which follows the first list element corresponding to the highest ranking category tag. If the scanning user equipment cannot find a target access point referred to in the highest ranking list element, potentially being tagged with the category tag, the user equipment will connect to a target access point corresponding to the second list element. Accordingly, if the priority list comprises at least three list elements, a target access point being speci¬ fied by the third list element will be selected by the user equipment. In this respect it is mentioned that there is no principal upper limit for the number of list elements de¬ scribing a ranking order of different types of possible can¬ didate access points.
It has to be mentioned that of course also technical require¬ ments can be associated with the category tag and/or the dif¬ ferent list elements of the priority list. For instance it can be ensured that only candidate access points, which oper¬ ate with a certain Radio Access Technology such as a Wireless Local Area Network technology are allowed to represent a No. 1 priority, a No .2 priority or an even less preferred target access point.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the cate- gory tag comprises a keyword and/or an integer value. This may provide the advantage that an easy recognition of the candidate target access point respectively the corresponding candidate target network can be realized. The integer value may be for instance an enumerated value. An enumerated value may provide the advantage that the shortest amount of data is used and the end user can still easily understand the realm it affects to. There may be no need for transmitting extensive configuration parameters of the candidate access point to the control server and/or to the user equipment, which is scanning for an appropriate candidate target access point. In particular it may not be necessary to transmit Hardware specific configura¬ tions in order to find an appropriate target access point for the scanning network element.
The described use of a keyword as the category tag may allow for a network discovery and selection to prioritize use of target access points being assigned to special local networks without assuming that the operator has to provide the corre¬ sponding hardware equipment and/or configuration information for these special local networks. In this respect the special networks are candidate target local networks. For example, on the operator network side instead of using detailed network identities like a service set identifier (SSID) simply the at least one keyword may describe at least partially the policy information, which is taken into account by the scanning user equipment.
The keyword specifying the realm may be a term like "home", "office" and/or "operator public hot spot". Such terms may be provided by the operator for an end user in order to allow for a classification of a certain candidate target access point .
According to a further embodiment of the invention the key¬ word is indicative for a preferred usage of the candidate ac- cess point.
The preferred usage may be associated with a special spatial region, which is covered by a candidate access point being labeled with the corresponding keyword. When the user equip- ment is situated within this spatial region, the user equip¬ ment is supposed to connect preferably to the corresponding candidate target access point. For instance if the candidate access point is tagged with the keyword "home", the above described priority list may include a ranking order of list elements like 1st "Home", 2nd "Home- run" and 3rd "operator cellular". This may effectively con- tribute to an appropriate selection or target access points. Thereby, cheap network connections may be preferred such that the overall expenses for an end user of the user equipment may be reduced significantly.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the method further comprises (a) defining at least one service class, and (b) defining at least one specific candidate access point or category tag being associated with the at least one ser¬ vice class. Thereby, for selecting the target access point the user equipment further takes into account the association between the at least one service class and the at least one specific candidate access point or the category tag. Thereby, it has to be understood that also category tags can be used instead of specific candidate access point details in such a service class specific access point list.
Preferably, the operator shall define this candidate access point selection policy information for each service class. However, if the end user shall select a service class for an access point selection manually, when invoking a new applica¬ tion in the user equipment, the operator should be able to define the default service class to be offered to the end user .
Thereby, the operator or device manufacturer or even end user may define service classes like operator service, internet service, intranet service and MMS service. The service class may refer to both application type (like MMS) and operating environment (like operator/intranet/internet) . Of course this only holds if these service classes are defined. Then the end user defines specific candidate access points for each of these service classes. This is defined like a policy repre¬ senting a prioritized list of candidate access points to use for a given service class. For example for internet service, the end user could define to prioritize WLAN SSID=X and then 3G. Each application in the user equipment or user of the application may select to which service class it belongs to and use the associated candidate access points and the network selection policy information when connecting to a network. Therefore, the operator can be able to define both these can¬ didate access points and the policy for a corresponding ser¬ vice class. Of course, the end user could still be allowed to add own candidate access points to this service class or even modify the service specific selection of candidate access points .
Generally speaking, by using different service classes the network operator or a third party may provide network selec¬ tion service to prioritize service specific networks (a) based on types of applications used in the user equipment or (b) based on operating environment the end user may choose to work with. Such an operating environment may be for instance the intranet, an internet and/or an operator network.
Service classification can also done so that the end user leaves one specific class for operator control to provide automatic network selection policies for applications using this class and retains other service class network selection policies on her own control.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the target network is a local network or the target network is the op- erator network. This may provide the advantage that the scan¬ ning network element may connect to different types of target access points. Thereby, the number of possible candidate ac¬ cess points for the scanning user equipment can be increased significantly .
If the target network is a local network, for instance pri¬ vately owned and/or company owned access points might be used as candidate target access points. This holds also for access points being associated with so called public hot spots, which access points are typically also owned by company rep¬ resenting a service provider.
If the target network is the operator network, the target ac¬ cess points may be base stations and/or relay nodes of the operator network, which typically is a cellular telecommunication network.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the target access point is assigned to a Wireless Local Area Network. This may provide the advantage that the described target ac¬ cess point selecting method may be carried out with probably the most widespread type of wireless local networks. Thereby, as has already been mentioned above, it is not necessary to perform any hardware dependent configurations between the scanning user equipment, the control server and/or the candi¬ date target access points.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the opera¬ tor network is a wireless wide area network and in particular a cellular telecommunication network. The telecommunication network may be for instance a 3rd generation mobile telecommunication network (e.g. GSM or UMTS) and/or a 4th generation mobile telecommunication network (e.g. Long Term Evolution) and/or a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi- MAX) network.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the con- trol server is adapted to perform an Access Network Discovery and Selection Function. Such a function is defined for instance in the Technical Specification 3GPP TS 23.402 V8.0.0 (http://www.quintillion.co. jp/ 3GPP /Specs /23402-800.pdf) .
The control server may be for instance a stand alone network element being coupled to the operator network. However, the control server may also be implemented as a part of any al- ready existing network element or any other network element being associated with the operator network.
Preferably, the scanning network element connects to a target access point being assigned to an appropriate target local network. However, if there are no such target access points accessible, the scanning network element can also connect to a target access point of the operator network. Thereby, the target access point of the operator network may be for in- stance a base station and/or a relay node of a cellular op¬ erator network.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is pro¬ vided a user equipment, which is adapted for selecting a tar- get access point. The user equipment comprises (a) a unit for receiving a network selection policy information from a control server of an operator network, wherein the network selection policy information is associated with a category tag, which has been assigned to at least one candidate access point, and wherein the category tag is indicative for a clas¬ sification of the candidate access point, and (b) a unit for selecting the target access point taking into account the network selection policy information.
The described user equipment is based on the idea that when interacting with an appropriate control server any embodiment of the above described target access point selection method can be carried out. Thereby, it may not be necessary to adapt any Hardware of a known user equipment. A comparatively sim- pie software update may be sufficient in order to convert a known user equipment into a user equipment according to the invention described within this application.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is pro- vided a control server for initiating a selection of a target access point by a user equipment. The control server com¬ prises a unit for transmitting a network selection policy information to the user equipment, wherein (a) the network se- lection policy information is associated with a category tag, which has been assigned to at least one candidate access point, (b) the category tag is indicative for a classifica¬ tion of the candidate access point and (c) the network selec- tion policy information is adapted for controlling the user equipment to perform a selection procedure for the target ac¬ cess point.
The described control server is based on the idea that when interacting with a user equipment as described above any em¬ bodiment of the above described target access point selection method may be carried out. Thereby, it may not be necessary to adapt any Hardware of a known control server, which might be for instance an Operator Network Detection Assistance and Selection Control server. A comparatively simple software up¬ date may be sufficient in order to convert a known control server into a control server according to the invention described within this application.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is pro¬ vided a computer program for controlling a target access point selection for a user equipment. The computer program, when being executed by a data processor, is adapted for controlling the method as described above.
As used herein, reference to a computer program is intended to be equivalent to a reference to a program element and/or to a computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to coordinate the performance of the above described method.
The computer program element may be implemented as a computer readable instruction code in any suitable programming language, such as, for example, JAVA, C++, and may be stored on a computer-readable medium (removable disk, volatile or non¬ volatile memory, embedded memory/processor, etc.) . The instruction code is operable to program a computer or other programmable device to carry out the intended functions. The computer program may be available from a network, such as the WorldWideWeb, from which it may be downloaded.
As has already been mentioned above, the invention may be re- alized by means of a computer program respectively by means of software. However, the invention may also be realized by means of one or more specific electronic circuits respec¬ tively hardware. Furthermore, the invention may also be real¬ ized in a hybrid form, i.e. in a combination of software mod- ules and hardware modules.
It has to be noted that embodiments of the invention have been described with reference to different subject matters. In particular, some embodiments have been described with ref- erence to method type claims whereas other embodiments have been described with reference to apparatus type claims. How¬ ever, a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and the following description that, unless other notified, in addition to any combination of features belonging to one type of subject matter also any combination between features relating to different subject matters, in particular between features of the method type claims and features of the appa¬ ratus type claims is considered as to be disclosed with this application .
The aspects defined above and further aspects of the present invention are apparent from the examples of embodiment to be described hereinafter and are explained with reference to the examples of embodiment. The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to examples of embodi¬ ment but to which the invention is not limited.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 shows a telecommunication network comprising a wireless wide area network, several public Wireless Local Area Networks and a private home Wireless Local Area Network Ac¬ cess point.
Figure 2 shows a message and transactional flow diagram indi- eating a message flow between different entities of the tele¬ communication network shown in Figure 1 in order to carry out a target access point selection method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed Description
The illustration in the drawing is schematically. It is noted that in different figures, similar or identical elements are provided with reference signs, which are different from the corresponding reference signs only within the first digit.
In the following an embodiment of the invention is described with reference to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) . How- ever, it has to be mentioned that the invention also applies to other local network technologies as well.
Figure 1 shows a telecommunication network 100. The telecom- munication network 100 comprises an operator network representing a wireless wide area network 110. According to the embodiment described here the operator network is a cellular network 110. The telecommunication network 100 further comprises several public Wireless Local Area Networks 120, which are situated within the spatial coverage of one or more cells of the operator network 110. Further, the telecommunication network 100 comprises a private home network. According to the embodiment described here the private home network is also a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) . The private WLAN comprises a private home WLAN Access Point 130 and a network element 135 representing a user equipment 135. According to the embodiment described here the user equipment is a mobile phone 135. When the user equipment 135 respectively a user of the user equipment 135 moves within the spatial coverage of the tele¬ communication network 100, the user equipment 135 may connect to different target access points of the telecommunication network. Possible target access points, which in the follow¬ ing are also called candidate access points, are base sta¬ tions and/or relay nodes of the operator network 110, access points of the public Wireless Local Area Networks 120 and/or the private access point 130 of the private WLAN.
In order to provide for efficient connections it is prefer¬ able, that the user equipment 135 connects to the private ac¬ cess point 130. If this is not possible then a connection to one of the public Wireless Local Area Networks 120 is prefer¬ able. By connecting the user equipment 135 to the access points of one of the public Wireless Local Area Networks 120 and/or the private access point 130, data traffic can be ef¬ fectively removed from radio communication links of the op- erator network, which data traffic would normally involve base stations and/or relay nodes of the operator network 110.
Figure 2 shows a message and transactional flow diagram 200 indicating a message flow between different entities of the telecommunication network 100 shown in Figure 1.
The message and transactional flow comprises five steps, which are carried out in order to perform a target access point selection method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
The target access point selection method starts with a step 1, wherein an end user 250 configures required settings such as a Media Access Control address, a Service Set Identifier (SSID) , Security keys such as a Wireless-Fidelity Protected Access (WPA) , etc to both a wireless user equipment 235 and to a private home Wireless Local Area Network Access Point 230 manually. Thereby, the user equipment 235 and the Access Point 230 represent entities of a private WLAN.
It has to be mentioned that if the WLAN Access Point 230 and/or the user equipment 235 do support an "easy pairing" function, instead of a manual configuration the end user 250 may simply push an "easy pairing" button on the WLAN Access Point 230 and the user equipment 235 and the WLAN Access Point 230 exchange automatically the required configuration settings.
It has to be further mentioned that if the WLAN Access Point 230 is already running before starting the procedure shown in figure 2, it is not necessary that the end user 250 config- ures the WLAN Access Point 230. If the procedure starts with a running WLAN Access Point 230 the end user 250 will only have to configure its user equipment 235 in order to be able to contact the WLAN Access Point 230.
The described target access point selection method continues with a step 2, in which the wireless user equipment 235 asks for a category tag for the new WLAN network comprising at least the wireless user equipment 235 and the private home Wireless Local Area Network Access Point 230. For example "home" or "office" category tags may be chosen by the end user 250. These category tags are given by the operator of the overlapping operator network. One of these category tags is indicative for a classification of the new WLAN network. According to the embodiment described here the end user 250 tags the new private home Wireless Local Area Network Access Point 230 with the category tag "home".
With completing step 2, the Wireless Local Area Network Ac¬ cess Point 230 has been defined as to belong to the category tag "home" for the wireless user equipment 235.
In a subsequent step 3 the wireless user equipment 235 trans¬ mits to a control server 215 a request for assistance infor- mation in network detection. According to the embodiment described here the control server is an Operator Network Detec¬ tion Assistance and Selection Control Server 215. Thereby, a connection between the user equipment 235 and the control server 215 is opened, which connection will be used later for transmitting information in the opposite direction, i.e. from the control server 215 to the user equipment 235. According to the embodiment described here the corresponding request message is called "Request _ Network _ Detection _ Assistance _ Info". It has to be mentioned that although step 3 provides the advantage that the opened connection can later be used without delay the step 3 is optional.
In a subsequent step 4 the Operator Network Detection Assis- tance and Selection Control Server 215 provides the requested information to the wireless user equipment 235. According to the embodiment described here the corresponding message is called "Network _ Detection _ Assistance _ Info".
It has to be mentioned that it is also possible that in step 4 information is transmitted from the control server 215 to the wireless user equipment 235, which information will later be referred to for instance in the following step 5.
Finally, in this step 5 the Operator Network Detection Assis¬ tance and Selection Control Server 215 provides a network se¬ lection policy to user equipment 235. According to the em¬ bodiment described here this selection policy comprises a priority list, which includes a ranking order for potential target access points.
It is pointed out that in order to carry out step 5 the above described steps 3 and 4 are not mandatory. Step 5 can be car¬ ried out in a standalone operation which has been initiated by the policy rule provider. Further, step 4 and step 5 could even be combined into a single step, depending on the proto¬ col used to carry out these steps. According to the embodiment described here the priority list comprises the following list elements representing a ranking order for potential target access points.
No .1 : Home
No.2: TeliaSonera public WLAN No .3 : Operator cellular
In the following the purpose of the three described category tag entries is explained in detail:
No.l:
Instead of defining configuration details (like SSID) for the home WLAN, the policies provided by the Operator Network De- tection Assistance and Selection Control Server 215 provide a placeholder containing the keyword "home". Then, the user equipment 235 searches for any configured local networks which have been tagged as "home". If this is the case, those networks are placed into the corresponding network priority list and are preferred when selecting a local network to be used if such a preferred local network is just available. If there are no networks available, which are tagged with the category tag respectively with the keyword "home", then the policy No.l is simply ignored.
As can been derived from Figure 2, the first list element of the priority list further comprises a condition that the pri¬ ority one candidate access points are operating with the Ran¬ dom Access Technology (RAT) WLAN.
No.2:
With the entry No .2 the operator defines a second category tag which succeeds the highest ranking category tag "home". According to the embodiment described here the second cate- gory tag is called "TeliaSonera public WLAN". This means that if the user equipment 235 cannot find a target access point respectively a target local network being tagged with "home", the user equipment 235 may connect with a target access point being tagged with "TeliaSonera public WLAN". According to the embodiment described here, the term "TeliaSonera public WLAN" is used as a category tag for public WLAN hot spots, which are operated by the company TeliaSonera (see e.g. http://www.homerun.telia.com) . Such preferred hot spots, which are al so cal led HomeRun hot spot s , provide a cheap and powerful wireless link between (a) the user equipment 235 and (b) the internet and/or the local network being associated with the private home Wireless Local Area Network Access Point 230. The operator could also use the network identifier "SSID=HomeRun" to such preferred hot spots. This means, that it is also possible that the operator can assign such a cate¬ gory tag to generic hot spots. Of course, in order to use such generic hot spots for an effective network connection it is necessary that the user equipment is able to recognize such hot spots.
As can been derived from Figure 2, the second list element specifies that (a) also the priority two candidate access points are operating with the RAT WLAN and (b) the SSID of potential candidate access points is <AP1>. According to the embodiment described here the <AP1> is an abbreviation for all "TeliaSonera public WLAN" access points.
No.3: With the entry No .3 the operator defines that the operator cellular network has third priority when selecting target network to be used by the user equipment.
Generally speaking, when the user 250 launches an applica¬ tion, the wireless user equipment 235 uses the above defined priority list when selecting a target network to be used. Thereby, details about the target network selection may be hidden from the end user 250. Further, it is not necessary that the operator pre-configures WLAN Access Points at homes. A further advantage is that ease of use is provided to the end user 250. It has to be mentioned that the end user 250 further may be able to add new WLAN Access Points which are supported auto¬ matically by the network discovery and selection function, which is implemented in the Operator Network Detection Assis- tance and Selection Control Server 215.
It has to be further mentioned that as an alternative, there are some service providers enabling communication via a num¬ ber of WLAN hot spots. At present for instance the companies Boingo (see http://www.boingo.com) and iPass (see http://www.ipass.com) offer such services. If the operator of the wireless wide area network 110 depicted in Figure 1 has made a deal with such a company, network discovery and selection could provide "Boingo" and/or "iPass" keywords allowing use of networks identified by these companies.
It should be noted that the term "comprising" does not ex¬ clude other elements or steps and "a" or "an" does not ex¬ clude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims should not be con¬ strued as limiting the scope of the claims.
List of reference signs:
100 telecommunication network
110 operator network / wireless wide area network / cel- lular network
120 public Wireless Local Area Network
130 private home Wireless Local Area Network Access Point
135 network element / user equipment / mobile phone
200 message and transactional flow diagram
215 control server / Operator Network Detection Assistance and Selection Control Server
230 private home Wireless Local Area Network Access Point
235 user equipment / wireless user equipment
250 user / end user

Claims

CLAIMS :
1. Method for selecting a target access point for connecting a user equipment (135, 235) to a target network, the method comprising
• assigning a category tag to a candidate access point (130, 230), wherein the category tag is indicative for a classification of the candidate access point (130, 230), • transmitting a network selection policy information from a control server (215) of an operator network (110) to the user equipment (135, 235), wherein the network selection policy information is associated with the category tag, and
• selecting the target access point (130, 230) by the user equipment (135, 235), wherein the user equipment (135, 235) takes into account the network selection policy informa¬ tion .
2. The method as set forth in the preceding claim, wherein the category tag is selected from a category tag list, which is defined by the operator network (110) or a third party.
3. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising • assigning the category tag at least to a further candidate access point, wherein the category tag is indicative also for a classifi¬ cation of the further candidate access point.
4. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the network selection policy information comprises a priority list, wherein a list element of the priority list comprises either the category tag or a specific network identifier and/or a network access point identifier.
5. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the category tag comprises a keyword and/or an integer value.
6. The method as set forth in the preceding claim, wherein the keyword is indicative for a preferred usage of the candi- date access point (130, 230) .
7. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising
• defining at least one service class, and • defining at least one specific candidate access point (130, 230) or category tag being associated with the at least one service class, wherein for selecting the target access point (130, 230) the user equipment (135, 235) further takes into account the associa- tion between the at least one service class and the at least one specific candidate access point (130, 230) or the cate¬ gory tag.
8. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the target network is a local network (130, 120) or the target network is the operator network (110) .
9. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the target access point (130, 230) is assigned to a Wireless Local Area Network.
10. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operator network (110) is a wireless wide area network and in particular a cellular telecommunication network.
11. The method as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control server (215) is adapted to perform an Access Net¬ work Discovery and Selection Function.
12. A user equipment (135, 235) adapted for selecting a tar¬ get access point (130, 230), the user equipment (135, 235) comprising
• a unit for receiving a network selection policy information from a control server (215) of an operator network (110),
- wherein the network selection policy information is associated with a category tag, which has been assigned to at least one candidate access point (130, 230), and
- wherein the category tag is indicative for a classifica- tion of the candidate access point (130, 230), and
• a unit for selecting the target access point (130, 230) taking into account the network selection policy informa¬ tion .
13. A control server for initiating a selection of a target access point by a user equipment (135, 235), the control server comprising
• a unit for transmitting a network selection policy information to the user equipment (135, 235), - wherein the network selection policy information is associated with a category tag, which has been assigned to at least one candidate access point (130, 230),
- wherein the category tag is indicative for a classifica¬ tion of the candidate access point (130, 230) and - wherein the network selection policy information is adapted for controlling the user equipment (135, 235) to perform a selection procedure for the target access point (130, 230) .
14. A computer program for controlling a target access point selection for a user equipment (135, 235), the computer pro¬ gram, when being executed by a data processor, is adapted for controlling the method as set forth in any one of the claims 1 to 11.
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