WO2008151830A1

WO2008151830A1 - Technique for controlling a user network in a multi-access network environment

Info

Publication number: WO2008151830A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/004794
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joachim Sachs
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2007-06-13
Filing date: 2008-06-13
Publication date: 2008-12-18

Abstract

For controlling a user network in a multi-access network environment, it is proposed to define a context profile and to determine a current context of a user network (100). The context of the user network (100) is compared to the context profile. According to the comparison, a controller (120) selects at least one from a plurality of access networks (200) and configures an interface (110) of the user network (100) according to parameters of the selected access network (200). The parameters may be retrieved from a connectivity profile associated with the context profile.

Description

Technique for controlling a user network in a multi-access network environment

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to techniques for controlling a user network in a multiaccess network environment. In particular, the invention relates to techniques allowing for context-based discovery and attachment for preferred access networks.

Background of the invention

In a multi-access system or multi-access network environment, a user network (e.g. a single terminal or a number of inter-connected devices) supports multiple interfaces to access networks and can connect to corresponding access networks. Examples for access networks are second generation networks (2G) such as GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) networks or GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) networks, third generation networks (3G) like UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) / WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access) networks, long term evolution (LTE) networks of the third generation partnership project (3GPP) radio technology, WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) networks, WLANs (Wireless Local Area Networks) etc. Accordingly, each access network corresponds to a particular access technology.

In a multi-access system, the detection of usable access networks is a major issue. For cellular access networks, parameters for network discovery and/or detection and evaluation are less problematic because the frequency band is known, the networks operate in a licensed band with wide-area (e.g. national) coverage, and the parameters change in the order of years.

However, a problem is to detect and evaluate local or regional area networks (based for example on WiMAX, WLAN, etc.), in particular if they are operated in unlicensed frequency bands, e.g. Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band. Since these networks have only a local or regional scope, there is no general configuration (with parameters like frequency band, network identity, etc.) for detecting these networks. It is a matter of the location of the user network, which networks are available. Further, this information changes constantly, as networks are often operated in unlicensed frequency bands, and any person can install such a network. For example, in a typical urban area, it is not unlikely that a plurality of networks, e.g. some 10-20 WLAN networks, can be detected at a certain location. Most of them are operated by private persons, organisations or companies, and are only usable by a closed user group. On the other hand, some of these networks are usable by the user, e.g. because it is his own private network, because it is the corporate network, or another network, where the user is part of the closed user group, or a public network, e.g. a public WLAN network.

The general problem in such a situation is that a user network has to scan constantly for the available surrounding networks. This has the problem that the scanning procedure requires a high amount of energy, e.g. it drains significantly the battery power. A study has shown that constantly scanning and evaluating WLAN access networks consumes roughly the same amount of energy as constantly receiving data via WLAN at approximately 600 kb/s.

Another problem is that a user needs typically to manually select the network that the terminal connects to. A user walking through a city centre would thus be notified about detected networks every few seconds and would need to respond to those requests.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide improved techniques for controlling a user network in a multi-access network environment.

Summary of the Invention

According to an embodiment, the invention provides a method for controlling a user network, e.g. a single-device mobile terminal or a multi-device mobile network, with at least one interface for receiving signals from a plurality of access networks. According to the method, a context profile is specified with at least one condition for enabling the reception of signals from at least one of the access networks. A context of the user network is determined. The context profile and the determined context are compared. According to the comparison, the at least one of the access networks is selected for the reception of signals and the interface is configured according to parameters of the selected access network or the selected access networks. In the selection process, the reception of signals by the user network from the at least one of the access networks is typically enabled or disabled according to the comparison. Typically, the result of the selection process will be a single preferred access network. However, it is also possible that the selection process results in a group of preferred access networks.

The interface may be implemented by a receiver unit or a transceiver unit which may be disabled according to the comparison. The access networks may be radio networks. According to an embodiment, the access networks are selected from the group comprising WLAN networks, e.g. WLAN.Ha networks, WLAN.11bg networks or WLAN.H n networks, WiMAX networks, LTE networks, Bluetooth networks, UMTS/HSPA networks, CDMA2000 networks, and/or GSM/GPRS networks.

As mentioned above, the interfaces may be receiver units or transceiver units. Both in the case of transceivers and in the case of separate receivers and transmitters, also transmission of signals to the respective radio networks is enabled or disabled together with the reception. It is possible that a receiver or transceiver unit is adapted to a specific radio access technology, e.g. LTE or Bluetooth. Receiver or transceiver units can also be reconfigured between different access technologies. For example, the same transceiver can be used for WLAN.11a, WLAN.11bg and WiMAX or a

UMTS/HSPA transceiver may also be configured for GSM/GPRS reception.

The context, i.e. the context profile and the determined context, can comprise for example a location of the user network, the present time of the user network or a velocity of the user network. Further, the context can comprise the availability of at least one access network, and/or connectivity parameters of at least one access network. The method may further comprise associating with the context profile a connectivity profile of the at least one of the access networks and configuring the interface according to connectivity parameters of the connectivity profile.

The above-mentioned connectivity parameters may be selected from the group comprising: type of radio access technology (RAT), network id, cell id, frequency band, channel number, schemes and parameters for Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA), Domain Name System (DNS) address, Internet Protocol (IP) version, type of auto-configuration, and/or network capabilities. The network capabilities may define if there is a private network access, an external packet data network (PDN) access, a public key of the network, or the like.

Further, there may be additional priority parameters concerning the selection of an access network from the plurality of access networks. For example, the priority parameters may be defined within an access selection function. The selection of the at least one access network may then additionally be accomplished on the basis of these priority parameters.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a user network is provided. The user network comprises at least one interface adapted to receive signals from a plurality of access networks. For example, the user network may comprise one or more receiver units adapted to receive the signals from the plurality of access networks.

The user network comprises a memory which comprises a context profile which specifies at least one condition for enabling the reception of signals from the at least one of the access networks, and at least one context determining unit which is adapted to determine a context of the user network. The user networks further comprises a logic unit which compares the context profile and the determined context, e.g. for specifying the controller to enable or disable of the reception of signals from the at least one of the access networks according to the context profile and the determined context. According to the embodiment, the user network further comprises a controller adapted to select the at least one of the access networks according to the comparison and to configure the at least one interface according to parameters of the selected access network or the selected access networks.

The user network can be a mobile terminal and one or more of the access networks can be radio networks.

Preferably, the user network is adapted to implement the methods according to the above embodiments.

According to a further embodiment, a network component is provided. The network component is adapted for use in a multi-access network environment in which a user network comprises at least one interface for receiving signals from a plurality of access networks. For example, the network component may be used within one of the access networks. The network component comprises a memory comprising a context profile defining at least one condition for enabling the reception of signals from at least one of the access networks, and at least one context determining unit for determining a context of the user network. Here, determining the context of the user network may comprise that the user network itself determines its context and reports it to the network component or that detection of the context is accomplished within the network component, e.g. based on information received from the user network, from one or more other user networks, and/or from one or more other network components. For example, the network component may receive information concerning capabilities of the user network, e.g. the type of supported radio standards, or information concerning the position of the user network, e.g. from a Mobile Location Center, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) or a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN).

Preferably, the network component is adapted to implement the methods according to the above embodiments. According to a further embodiment, a telecommunication system with a user network and an access network is provided. The access network can be adapted to perform one or more steps of the methods according to the above embodiments. Other method steps may be performed by the user network.

In particular, the telecommunication system may comprise a user network having at least one interface for receiving signals from a plurality of access networks. The user network may be configured according to the above embodiment. Further, the telecommunication system may comprise a memory comprising a context profile specifying at least one condition for enabling the reception of signals from at least one of the access networks and at least one context determining unit for determining a context of the user network. Here, the context determining unit may be located either in the access network or in the user network. In addition, it is also possible to have a context determining unit in each of the access network and the user network.

The telecommunication system further comprises a logic for comparing the context profile and the determined context. Again, it is possible that the logic is located in the access network or that the logic is located in the user network.

The telecommunication system is adapted to select the at least one of the access networks according to the comparison and to configure the at least one interface according to parameters of the selected access network or the selected access networks. The actual selection process may be accomplished within the user network or within the access network, e.g. in a network component. In the latter case, the selection result would be transmitted from the access network to the user network and be used within the user network for controlling enabling or disabling of interfaces, receiver units, or transceiver units.

Preferably, the telecommunication system is adapted to implement the methods according to the above embodiments.

One advantageous application of the above concepts according to the present invention, which is also used as an example in the detailed description below, is a scenario of only radio access technologies and wireless access networks. However, it can also be used if some or all of the access networks are based on fixed access technologies, like DSL, fibre, Ethernet, cable modem, or power line access networks.

Steps of the method and the corresponding units of the user network or access network can be performed in a processing system of a user equipment or a network node. Correspondingly, the invention can also be embodied in a software program which can be loaded into a processing system. Accordingly, according to an embodiment of the invention, a computer program product is provided, which comprises a program code for performing the method according to the above embodiments when the program code is executed on a computer-implemented component of a telecommunication system.

According to the concepts of the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention, it becomes possible to automatically switch on or off access technology transceivers, to quickly discover one or more preferred access networks, to automatically connect to preferred access networks and to automatically configure the interface of the user network for the reception of signals from one or more preferred access networks. This in turn allows for energy saving by disabling interfaces, receivers or transceivers when they are not in use. It is no longer necessary for a user of the user network to manually select and configure the interface for reception of signals from one of the access networks. This is particularly advantageous in case of a very large number of available access networks.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a user network with a plurality of interfaces for receiving and transmitting signals with respect to a plurality of access networks as used in an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates structures and functions of the user network according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a multi-access telecommunication system according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a user network according to an embodiment of the invention, which is connected to a preferred access network.

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates the process of context matching during regular operation of a user network according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 schematically illustrates a multi-access telecommunication system according to a further embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of embodiments

In the following, the concepts of the present invention will be explained in more detail by referring to exemplary embodiments which relate to a user network in a typical multi-access network environment. The term user network is intended to cover single-device mobile terminals or mobile nodes, multi-device mobile networks, or similar types of user equipment. The multi-access network environment comprises a plurality of radio access networks, which may correspond to different types of radio access technologies (RATs), such as 3GPP access technologies and WLAN access technologies. Nonetheless, it is be understood that some or even all of the access networks may also use fixed access technologies. In the following description, the access networks are sometimes simply referred to as "network". A user network which is capable of connecting to access networks corresponding to different RAT types is also referred to as multi-radio user network.

An example of a multi-radio user network 100 is shown in Fig. 1. Interfaces 111-118 for different access technologies are indicated in the figure. In particular, the multi- radio user network comprises an interface for Zigbee networks 111 , an interface for Bluetooth networks 112, interfaces for WLAN networks, in particular an interface for WLAN.11a networks 113 and an interface for WLAN.11bg networks 114, an interface for GSM/EGPRS networks 115 (EGPRS: Enhanced GPRS), an interface for UMTS/HSPA networks 116 (HSPA: High Speed Packet Access), an interface for LTE networks 117, and an interface for WiMAX networks 118.

Each of the interfaces 111-118 is typically implemented by a corresponding receiver or transceiver. It is possible that a single transceiver can be reconfigured for different access technologies, as indicated by broken boxes. For example, a transceiver can be reconfigured to a WLAN.11a or a WLAN.11bg network and possibly also to a WiMAX network. The transceiver for an access technology can be tuned to different networks using this access technology. It should be noted that the illustrated interfaces are merely exemplary and that the user network 100 could be implemented with only some if the illustrated interface types and/or with other interface types, e.g. an interface for CDMA2000 networks. (CDMA2000 is a cellular network standard based on Code Division Multiple Access.) The user network 100 may be a single device mobile terminal or a multi-device mobile network. Further, it is to be understood that the interface types of the user network 100 are not necessarily limited to radio access technologies, but may also comprise interfaces for fixed access technologies, such as DSL networks, fibre networks, Ethernet networks, cable modem networks, and/or power line access networks.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates internal functions and structures of the user network 100. As illustrated, the user network 100 comprises a plurality of receiver units 110, in the illustrated example a total number of four receiver units. It is to be understood that the receiver units may actually be responsible also for transmitting signals with respect to a connected access network and may therefore be termed as transceiver units. The receiver units 110 implement the different interface types as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The user network 100 further comprises a controller 120 which is capable of selectively enabling or disabling the receiver units 110 on the basis of an input signal received from a logic unit 130. In particular, the controller 120 may select one ore more of the interfaces as illustrated in Fig. 1 for the reception of signals from the respective access network. This is accomplished on the basis of a comparison between a stored context profile and a current context of the user network 100. The context profile is related to a preferred access network. There may be more than one context profile so as to define different preferred access networks for different context parameters of the user network 100.

The context profile of the user network 100 is stored in a memory 140. Further, a connectivity profile may be associated with the context profile and stored in the memory 140.

A context profile can comprise parameters relating to the following information:

- Location: While a terminal is connected to a preferred network, the location profile, i.e. parameters specifying where connectivity exists, is determined. The location information can be based on positioning information, e.g. via a positioning system like GPS (Global Positioning System) or Galileo, or via cellular location based services. Alternatively, it can be based on information about other access networks. For example, it is expected that in addition to local access networks, also wide-area cellular networks exist. A user network is typically always connected to a cellular network. At the moment that the preferred network is reachable, the cell ID of the cellular network is determined as parameter in the location profile. A higher precision can be achieved, if information of multiple cells is considered. In WCDMA this can e.g. be the "Active Set", which contains the set of active cells. The parameters can also relate to measurements and possibly signal quality levels of other cells that are occasionally measured. Also location/routeing/tracking areas can be considered as parameters in addition to cells, e.g. in idle mode.

- Time: A time profile can be determined with parameters relating, e.g., to time of day, day in week, week-end, working day when an access network is a preferred network.

- Velocity: For example, the velocity may be directly measured or indirectly as a cell change rate, for which an access network is a preferred one. - Other context-related information.

The current context of the user network 100 is determined by context determining units 150. Generally, the context determining units may comprise different components or functional units of the user network 100, e.g. a clock unit, a positioning unit, radio access technology interface units or various types of sensors.

If the comparison of the current context as determined by the context determining units 150 with the stored context profile indicates that the current context matches with the context profile, a corresponding signal is supplied to the controller 120 and the preferred access network of the context profile is selected by the controller 120. Further, the controller 120 configures the interface as provided by the receiver units 110 according to parameters of the selected preferred access network. These parameters are taken from the connectivity profile stored together with the context profile.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a telecommunication system comprising a plurality of access networks 200 and a user network 100 of the above-mentioned type. In Fig. 3, components corresponding to those of Figs. 1 and 2 have been designated with the same reference signs.

As shown in Fig. 3, the user network (UN) 100 is capable of selecting between various access networks 200, in particular a first access network AN1 , a second access network AN2, and a third access network AN3. Each of the access networks may comprise one or more network components (NC) 210 which can communicate with the user network 100 if a connection is established between the user network 100 and the respective access network 200. The communication is established via the respective interfaces, collectively illustrated as interface block 110. As explained above, the interfaces may be implemented by various receiver units or transceiver units. In Fig. 3, the memory 140 is illustrated as having a first memory portion 140A storing the context profile and a second memory portion 140B storing the associated connectivity profile. It is to be understood, that the memory 140 may store more than one context profile and more than one connectivity profile. Further, although the parameters of the connectivity profile are illustrated to be transmitted directly to the controller 120, it is to be understood that the parameters of the connectivity profile may actually be also part of the context profile and may be used in the comparison as performed by the logic 130.

Fig. 4 shows a flow chart for schematically illustrating a method 300 of controlling the user network 100 in the illustrated multi-access network environment.

In step 310, a context profile is specified. This may be accomplished manually via a user interface of the user network and/or by means of an auto-learning function of the user network 100. Further details of this process are given below.

In step 320, the current context of the user network 100 is determined. This may involve receiving information from various functional units of the user network 100, such as radio access technology interface units, a positioning unit, or a clock unit, depending on the type of context parameters as specified in the context profile.

In step 330, the context profile and the determined context are compared. The comparison may require that there is an exact matching between the determined context and the context profile, but may also allow a certain deviation between the determined context and the context profile. The allowed deviation may be specified in the context profile as well. That is to say, the context profile may define ranges of context parameters.

In step 340, an access network from the plurality of access networks is selected. This selected access network corresponds to the preferred access network of the context profile. The selection process may involve enabling or disabling the signal reception of access networks according to the comparison. Further, in step 340 the interface 110 of the user networks 100 is configured according to parameters of the selected access network.

In the following, the operation of the user network will be explained in more detail by referring to an exemplary scenario. According to the exemplary scenario, the following situation is assumed as desirable: A user has a number of preferred local area networks as access networks. The user further wants to have his user network to connect automatically to one or more preferred networks but preferably not to other networks. For energy saving reasons it should switch off local/regional area RAT transceiver(s) when corresponding preferred networks are not available. If one transceiver can be reconfigured to different RATs, e.g. WLAN and WiMAX₁ and only selected ones of these shall be enabled or disabled it is also possible to enable or disable the reconfiguration to the respective RAT. For usage of non-preferred access networks, user interaction is preferably required (i.e. manually switch on the modem and detect networks; manually select networks).

In order to enable or disable a radio transceiver automatically and discover and attach to a preferred network, a context profile is created. The context profile comprises parameters relating to conditions for enabling or disabling a radio transceiver for at least one preferred network. Optionally, a context profile exists for each preferred network. A common context profile for different networks is also possible.

When the context, e.g. the location and/or present time of the user terminal, is determined to be matching the context profile relating to a preferred network, the radio transceiver is enabled and configured according to parameters of the preferred network. Priorities can be assigned to a context profile to prioritize between access networks and/or access networks configurations.

Fig. 5 shows a user network 100 (or user terminal) which is connected to a preferred network A 200, as indicated by the double arrow. The user network 100 may have a configuration as explained in connection with Fig. 2. Components and functions which are similar to those of Fig. 2 have been designated with the same reference signs. As illustrated, the user network 100 comprises various functional units, including RAT interface units 110, in particular the first RAT interface unit (RAT 1) which may be a GSM interface, a second RAT interface unit (RAT 2) which may be an UMTS interface unit, a third RAT interface unit (RAT 3) which may be a WiMAX interface unit, and a fourth RAT interface unit (RAT 4) which may be a LTE interface unit. A further RAT interface unit (RAT x), e.g. a WLAN interface unit, is illustrated as establishing the connection to the preferred network A.

Other functional units comprise a clock unit 171 , a positioning unit 172, e.g. a GPS positioning unit, and other sensors 173, e.g. temperature sensors.

Some or all of these functional units may be used for determining context parameters.

As illustrated, in memory 140, a context profile with the corresponding parameters is created. For simplicity, only those elements are shown which are used in the following description. On the left side of the figure, the different units for determining context parameters are indicated. Some or all of the units for determining the context can also be used to connect to a particular access network. On the right side of the figure, a user interface 180, e.g. a screen and a keyboard, is indicated over which the user can enter information.

Via the user interface 180, the user can indicate that the network A is a preferred network among all detected networks of the RAT x. A context profile for the preferred network A is then created with information obtained from one or more of the different units 110, 171 , 172, 173. A pattern, i.e. the parameters relating to a particular aspect of the context profile like for example the location, is stored in the profile and can later be compared to information from different units 110, 171 , 172, 173, as indicated by the straight arrows. Over the user interface 180, the user can select which parameters of the context profile are relevant. For example, network A can be specified to be always the preferred network in a particular location. Then only a location pattern needs not to be stored or checked later. Alternatively, the user can specify over the user interface that network A is a preferred network at a particular time, e.g. during working hours. Then also a time pattern is stored. Any combination of such patterns is possible.

When the context matches the context profile during later operation of the user network 100, the corresponding interface 110 or transceiver for the preferred network A is activated and selected for the reception and transmission of signals. If network A is detected by the transceiver, further conditions will usually be checked, e.g. signal quality or access parameters, i.e. a connectivity profile for the network is compared to information received from the respective transceiver.

An exemplary operation of a user network of the above-mentioned type can be as follows:

A local/regional access technology is by default disabled. It is only enabled by active interaction of the user. Once a network has been detected and connectivity has been established, the user has the choice to mark the network as a "preferred network".

This can be achieved by a user interface, e.g. the user interface 180 as illustrated in

Fig. 5. Once a network is marked as preferred, automatically a context profile is created for this network. The context profile is associated with a connectivity profile of the preferred network consisting of parameters, also referred to as connectivity parameters, like: type of RAT; network id, e.g. ESSID (Extended Service Set

Identifier), cell id, e.g. BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier); frequency band; channel number; schemes and parameters relating to Authentication, Authorization and

Accounting (AAA); special connectivity parameters, e.g. DNS address, AAA address, IP version, type of auto-configuration); network capabilities, e.g. private network access, external PDN access, public key of network, or the like.

When the user network looses connectivity to a preferred network, the radio transceiver is disabled. Optionally, the radio transceiver can remain active for a certain time and/or for a certain margin with respect to the context profile after loosing connectivity. The user network constantly senses context parameters. When the context parameters fit, optionally with a certain margin, to a context profile, the corresponding preferred network is identified and the corresponding parameters are retrieved, e.g., from the connectivity profile. The radio transceiver is enabled and tuned to the network parameters (frequency band, channel, etc.). The user network autoattaches to the preferred network when it is detected.

Optionally, prior to enabling the transceiver, an access selection function can be triggered, to determine if connectivity to the preferred network is desirable. Also there may be multiple preferred networks with overlapping context profile. Some priority parameters (possibly dependent on the context as for example: location; time of day; type of service; quality of service requirements of a service; if services are active; or the network identification, e.g. PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) id, at which the user network is registered) are then taken into account to select which of the one or more preferred networks to connect to. It is also possible to have simultaneous connections to different preferred networks.

The above mechanism may be auto-learning. That is to say, the context profile may be automatically updated according to detected context parameters. For example, whenever the preferred network is detected or attached, the context profile can be updated. In addition or alternatively the user can also manually configure the context profile. The network function can also determine that a network is a preferred network by detecting that the user frequently connects to a particular network.

When a context profile is falsely enabled, i.e. the preferred network is selected without being available or without connectivity to the preferred network being desirable, and the user network indicates that it starts searching for the preferred network (e.g. with a pop-up window telling: "searching for network xxx"), the user can preferably manually enter that the network is not available. The context profile is then updated.

In some embodiments, the user can associate certain applications with a preferred network. When connectivity with the preferred network is established, these applications are auto-started. Examples for such applications are Skype, FileSharing programs, corporate applications (Sametime, messaging, firewall, Virtual private Network (VPN)₁ etc.)

In some embodiments, a time-validity can be assigned to a network, which defines when this network is preferred. For example, if a network provider has a certain low- cost tariff that is valid only during certain time periods (e.g. outside busy hours) then a network can be defined as a "preferred network" only during these periods. Another example is an agreement and a access network provider that is valid for e.g. one month. Then the access network is a "preferred network" only during the time period of the agreement. The time validity is then included in the context profile and defines the validity of the context profile.

Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a context matching process during regular operation of the user network 100. Fig. 6 illustrates the user network 100 in a similar way as Fig. 5, and components corresponding to those of Fig. 5 have been designated with the same reference signs.

In Fig. 6, also a context determining unit 150 which gathers and evaluates information from the units 110, 171, 172, 173 is denoted by reference numeral 150 and the logic for accomplishing the actual context matching by comparing the current context with context profiles is denoted by 130, which corresponds to the labelling in Figs. 2 and 3.

The different units 110, 171 , 172, 173, 150 determine the current context of the user network 100. When the current context matches to the context profile of a particular network, e.g. network A, the interface 110 for the corresponding RAT is enabled and configured according to the connectivity profile of the network so that a connection can be established. Optionally, the user may determine via the user interface 180 whether the connection is to be established.

As mentioned above, the user network 100 may support 3GPP access technologies, e.g. UMTS/HSPA and GSM, and one or more additional radio access technologies, e.g. WLAN and WiMAX. Accordingly, the user network may be implemented as a 3GPP terminal supporting one or more additional radio technologies. An exemplary operation of such a 3GPP terminal is described in the following.

The user can determine preference lists of access networks. A preference order according to priorities can also be provided by a network control function or node in an access or core network. The preference order is depending on subscriptions or other agreements of the user with the access networks, e.g. a home network and other networks. That is to say, the access networks may not necessarily be operated by a home operator of the user - the home operator may not even know about them. Examples are:

- private WLAN networks (e.g., your own WLAN network, the one of your brother/friends, ...),

- corporate WLAN networks, - public (often regional) WLAN/WiMAX networks, e.g. the municipality WLANΛΛ/iMAX network in your city, the public WLAN network in your preferred city area, shopping mall, cafe, or airport.

For those networks the user has multiple subscriptions or other agreements (including free access to public networks). These subscriptions and agreements can have a mid- or long-term validity, the duration often being unlimited.

In addition there may be short-term subscriptions for a specific time, e.g. 2h or 24h access, like in a hotel, foreign airport, or a train station.

The terminal has multiple radio units, e.g. receivers or transceivers. That means that the non-3GPP radio unit can be active, while at the same time the 3GPP radio is either idle or active connected to a 3GPP network (via a 3GPP RAT).

The general objective is to determine when to have the non-3GPP radio unit or units on at all.

They should not be on all the time, as they would quickly drain the battery. They should not be on when only non-preferred non-3GPP networks are there. For example, the user should not get a pop-up window to react to for every of the thousands of WLAN networks in a city that the terminal detects. If a user wants to use a non-3GPP non-preferred network, e.g. in a train station, the radio transceiver can be manually enabled from the user and not automatically.

They should only be automatically on when preferred non-3GPP networks are expected to be present. In this case the non-3GPP radio is enabled and available non-3GPP networks are detected. According to a preference list a non-3GPP network is selected among the available ones. It is then also decided if active sessions are moved from 3GPP to non-3GPP networks.

The above-mentioned functions of selecting, enabling or disabling non-3GPP interfaces, receivers or transceivers can be implemented using the above-explained concepts of comparing a detected or determined context of the user network with a correspondingly configured context profile.

The previous description is based on the assumption that the context detection, interface or access transceiver activation and context profile creation is based in the user network. However, it is also possible that these functions are performed within another network, e.g. the access network. For example, the preferred networks can be indicated from the user network to the network function in the other network, which in the following creates an associated context profile.

When the network function determines that the context profile is met, it can send a request to the user network to activate an access. A person skilled in the art can easily see that functionality according to this invention, or parts thereof, can be either located in a function located in the network, or a function located in the user network. Also a distribution of some functionality being located in the user network and some other functionality in the network is possible. A corresponding implementation of a telecommunication system in which a part of the context-based control functionality is located in the network is illustrated in Fig. 7. The telecommunication system of Fig. 7 generally corresponds to that of Fig. 3, and similar components have been designated with the same reference signs.

As illustrated, the telecommunication system comprises a user network (UN) 100' and a plurality of access networks 200. The user network 100' comprises a controller 120 which has similar functions as the controller 120 of the user network 100. Further, the user network 100' comprises an interface block 110 which is similar to the interface block 110 of the user network 100. As illustrated, the user network 100' is not necessarily provided with the memory 140 for storing the context profile and connectivity profile, the context determining unit 150 for determining a current context of the user network 100' and a logic for comparing the context profile and the current context. Rather, the user network 100" is provided with a receiver 160 for receiving requests from the network to select at least one of the access networks 200 and to configure the interface 110 according to parameters of the selected access network 200.

As further illustrated, one of the access networks, in the illustrated example the second access network AN2 comprises a network component 210 which is adapted to accomplish functions of context-based selection, enabling or disabling of access networks according to similar principles as explained in connection with Figs. 1-6.

In particular, the network component 210 comprises memory 240 which stores at least one context profile for a preferred access network and an associated connectivity profile. The context profile is stored in a first memory portion 240A, and the connectivity profile is stored in a second memory portion 240B.

The network component 210 further comprises at least one context determining unit 250 which determines the current context of the user network 100'. This may be accomplished in the following way: The user network 100' may determine its context and report it to the network component 210 by sending a respective message. For this purpose, the network component 100' could be provided with at least one context determining unit as explained in connection with Figs. 2-6. As an alternative or in addition, the network component 210 can determine the context of the user network 100'. This may be accomplished on the basis of information received from the user network 100', from other user networks, and/or from other network components 210. For example, the context determining unit 250 of the network component 210 may retrieve information concerning the capabilities of the user network 100', e.g. an information on supported radio standards, or an information concerning the position of the user network 200', e.g. from a mobile location center or from an MME/SGSN.

The network component 210 further comprises a logic 230 which compares the determined current context of the user network 100' with the stored context profile. On the basis of the comparison, a control signal is supplied to a transmitter (TX) 220, which sends a request to the user network 100' to select the preferred access network of the context profile and to configure the interface 110 according to the parameters of the selected access network. For this purpose, the transmitter 220 is further coupled to the memory 240 so as to receive connectivity parameters from the connectivity profile. In this case, the request which is transmitted from the transmitter 220 to the receiver 160 of the user network 100' may comprise connectivity parameters on the basis of which the interface 110 is to be configured. Similar as in the case of the communication system of Fig. 3, it is to be understood that the parameters of the connectivity profile may actually also be transmitted to the logic 230 so as to be taken into account in the comparison between the context profile and the current context.

As can be taken from the above, different embodiments and aspects of the present invention facilitate for example:

- automatically switching on/off access technology transceivers,

- quickly discovering the preferred access networks,

- automatically connecting to preferred access networks, or - auto-configuring and detecting parameters of preferred access networks.

Further, using the above concepts of the present invention in a multi-access network environment allows for: - energy saving by disabling radio transceivers - in particular radio transceivers of local/regional access technologies (WLAN, ZigBee, WiMAX₁ etc.) - when not useful, or

- self/learning auto-connection management in a multi-access environment with a plethora of available access networks.

It is to be understood that the specific features of the above-explained embodiments of the present invention may be combined with each other as appropriate. For example, functions of the context-based control process could be distributed in a different manner between a user network and the access network or a network component. Further, functions could be distributed between different network components. It is also possible that functions are distributed between different access networks, e.g. between a network component of a first access network and a network component of a second access network.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a user network (100; 100') with at least one interface (110) for receiving signals from a plurality of access networks (200), the method comprising:

- specifying a context profile defining at least one condition for enabling the reception of signals from at least one of the access networks (200),

- determining a context of the user network (100; 100'),

- comparing the context profile and the determined context, - according to the comparison, selecting the at least one of the access networks (200) for the reception of signals, and

- configuring the interface (110) according to parameters of the selected access network(s) (200).

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the context profile and the determined context comprise at least one item selected from a group comprising: a location of the user network, a velocity of the user network, the present time of the user network, availability of at least one access network, and/or connectivity parameters of at least one access network.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

- associating with the context profile a connectivity profile of the at least one of the access networks, and

- configuring the interface according to connectivity parameters of the connectivity profile.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the connectivity parameters are selected from a group comprising: type of radio access technology, network identification, cell identification, frequency band, channel number, schemes and parameters of authentication, authorization and accounting, DNS address, IP version, type of auto-configuration, and/or network capabilities.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the user network (100; 100') is a mobile terminal.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the access networks (200) are selected from a group comprising WLAN networks, WiMAX networks, LTE networks, Bluetooth networks, UMTS/HSPA networks, CDMA2000 networks, and/or GSM/GPRS networks.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface (110) is a receiver unit or a transceiver unit.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising: disabling a receiver unit or transceiver unit according to the comparison.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein priority parameters exist, and the selection of the at least one access network (200) is additionally accomplished on the basis of the priority parameters.

10. A user network (100), the user network comprising:

- at least one interface (110) for receiving signals from a plurality of access networks (200),

- a memory (140) comprising a context profile defining at least one condition for enabling the reception of signals from at least one of the access networks (200), - at least one context determining unit (150) for determining a context of the user network (100),

- a logic (130) for comparing the context profile and the determined context, and

- a controller (120) adapted to select the at least one of the access networks (200) according to the comparison and to configure the at least one interface for according to parameters of the selected access network(s) (200).

11. The user network according to claim 10, wherein the user network (100) is adapted to implement the method as defined in any one of claims 1-9.

12. A network component (210) for use in a multi-access network environment in which a user network (100') comprises at least one interface (110) for receiving signals from a plurality of access networks (200), the network component (210) comprising:

- a memory (240) comprising a context profile defining at least one condition for enabling the reception of signals from at least one of the access networks (200), and - at least one context determining unit (250) for determining a context of the user network (100¹),

- a logic (230) for comparing the context profile and the detected context, and

- a transmitter (220) for sending a request to the user network (100¹) to select the at least one of the access networks (200) according to the comparison and to configure the at least one interface (110) according to parameters of the selected access network(s) (200).

13. The network component according to claim 12, wherein the network component (210) is adapted to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-9.

14. A telecommunication system with an access network (200) and a user network (100; 100') having at least one interface (110) for receiving signals from a plurality of access networks (200), the telecommunication system comprising: - a memory (140) comprising a context profile specifying at least one condition for enabling the reception of signals from at least one of the access networks (200), and

- at least one context determining unit (150; 250) for determining a context of the user network (100; 100'), and

- a logic (130; 230) for comparing the context profile and the determined context, wherein the telecommunication system is adapted to select the at least one of the access networks (200) according to the comparison and to configure the at least one interface (110) according to parameters of the selected access network(s) (200).

15. The telecommunication system according to claim 14, wherein the telecommunication system is adapted to implement a method as defined in any one of claims 1-9.

16. A computer program product comprising a program code for performing the method according to any one of claims 1-9 when the program code is executed on a computer-implemented component of a telecommunication system.