WO2013078666A1

WO2013078666A1 - Method and apparatus for enabling change of connection for a user equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2013078666A1
Application number: PCT/CN2011/083320
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peng Li; Tao Wang; Yun Zhang; Chun ZHU
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolagent L M Ericsson (Publ)
Priority date: 2011-12-01
Filing date: 2011-12-01
Publication date: 2013-06-06

Abstract

A method and evaluation node (204) for enabling a user equipment (200) in wireless communication to change from a currently used first connection (C1) to a target second connection (C2). The evaluation node measures (2:2) a data amount communicated by the user equipment when in a certain location area and using the first connection (C1) over a measuring period, and a change condition is evaluated (2:3) based on the measured data amount. The evaluation node then sends (2:5) a recommendation to the user equipment for changing from the first connection to the target second connection when the change condition is fulfilled. Thereby, the user of the user equipment is informed that the target second connection is available and would provide a better communication, e.g. in terms of data rate and/or costs. The change condition may be that a certain data amount must be reached within the measuring period to warrant a recommendation.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING CHANGE OF CONNECTION FOR

A USER EQUIPMENT

Technical field

[0001 ] The present disclosure relates generally to a method and an evaluation node for enabling a user equipment in wireless communication to change from a current connection to a target connection that can provide improved data rate and/or lower cost.

Background

[0002] Today, many mobile terminals and devices in the field of wireless communication are capable of using different protocols and access techniques for communicating data and messages. Mobile user equipments are getting more and more advanced with increasing capacity and enhanced functionality, while the access networks are currently being developed to fulfill the concept of "mobile broadband". Another current development is also increasing availability of different access techniques and data rates in the networks. In this description, the term "user equipment" will be used to represent any type of terminals and devices capable of wireless communication, examples of which include mobile phones, laptops, smart-phones, tablets, and so forth.

[0003] Different networks for radio access may thus offer different data rates and/or prices for communicating data and may also have overlapping coverage areas such that any user equipment located in such an overlapping area covered by two different networks can potentially select which one of the networks to connect with, as controlled by a user. Connections with different data rates and/or prices can in some cases also be made available within the same network. In this description, "connection" is used as a generic term for any access points, network types, communication nodes, etc., that provide differentiated communication services in terms of availability, data rates, latency, and/or prices.

[0004] Fig. 1 illustrates a typical communication scenario with two cells A and B having overlapping radio coverage areas served by base stations 100A and 100B, respectively, such that a user equipment 100 located in the vicinity is able to be technically connected to either of the two base stations. For example, cell A may belong to a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) network typically offering a limited data rate at a relatively high price. On the other hand, cell B with base station 100B may be a so-called hot spot access point offering a much higher data rate at a lower price per communicated amount of data. Cells A and B may be managed by two different operators or by the same operator.

[0005] In this scenario, the user equipment 100 in wireless communication is currently using a connection C1 with base station 100A of cell A. It is thus possible for the user of user equipment 100 to change from connection C1 to use another connection with base station 100B of cell B instead, e.g. in order to get the higher data rate and/or lower price. However, the user may not be aware that such a connection is available in the current location area and that this possibility exists at all. In another example, the user may know that an alternative connection is available although without knowing what that connection can provide in terms of data rate and costs, or whether the user equipment 100 can be technically connected thereto at all. As a result, the user will, knowingly or not, refrain from changing from the current connection C1 with base station 100A of cell A to a connection with base station 100B of cell B, even if it would provide better data rate and/or lower costs.

Summary

[0006] It is an object of the invention to address at least some of the problems and issues outlined above. It is possible to achieve these objects and others by using a method and an apparatus as defined in the attached independent claims.

[0007] According to one aspect, a method is provided in an evaluation node for enabling a user equipment in wireless communication to change from a currently used first connection to a target second connection. In this method, the evaluation node measures a data amount communicated by the user equipment in a certain location area and using the first connection over a measuring period, and evaluates a change condition based on the measured data amount. The evaluated change condition dictates that a certain data amount must be reached within the measuring period to warrant a recommendation for changing connection.

[0008] When the change condition is found to be fulfilled, the evaluation node sends the recommendation to the user equipment for changing from the first connection to the target second connection which is potentially better than the first connection e.g. in terms of data rate and/or costs. This solution can thus be used to improve the user experience and/or reduce the costs by guiding the user and his/her user equipment to a better connection, especially when the user is not aware that this connection is available. Further benefits of this solution will be evident from the description below.

[0009] According to another aspect, an evaluation node is configured to enable a user equipment to change from a currently used first connection to a target second connection. The evaluation node comprises a measuring unit adapted to measure a data amount communicated by the user equipment in a certain location area and using the first connection over a measuring period. The evaluation node further comprises an evaluating unit adapted to evaluate a change condition based on the measured data amount, where the change condition dictates that a certain data amount must be reached within the measuring period to warrant a

recommendation for changing connection. The evaluation node also comprises a sending unit adapted to send the recommendation to the user equipment for changing from the first connection to the second connection when the change condition is fulfilled.

[00010] The above method and apparatus may be configured and implemented according to different optional embodiments. In some possible embodiments, the target second connection may be determined based on the current location of the user equipment, and may also be determined based on capabilities of the user equipment. Thereby, the recommended target second connection can be selected to specifically suit the user equipment. In the latter case, the capabilities may be fetched from a user equipment database based on an identification of the user of the user equipment. [0001 1 ] In another possible embodiment, the evaluation node maintains a quaternion during the measuring period, which quaternion comprises 1 ) a user identification, 2) a start time of the measuring period, 3) the current location of the user equipment, and 4) the measured data amount. This quaternion can thus be a convenient tool for monitoring activities of the user equipment.

[00012] In further possible embodiments, the evaluation node measure the data amount by intercepting control messages over a Gn interface between a Serving GPRS Support Node, SGSN and a Gateway GPRS Support Node GGSN. In that case, the control messages may include a GPRS Tunnelling Protocol-User, 'GTP- U' message accumulating the communicated data amount, and a 'Create PDP Context Request' comprising a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number, MSISDN as user identification, and a Routing Area Identity field

indicating current location of the user equipment.

[00013] The data amount may also be measured by intercepting charging messages over a Gy interface between a GGSN and a charging system. In that case, the charging messages may include a 'Credit Control Request, CCR' comprising an Event Timestamp field, a Subscription Identity field indicating a user identification, a Used-Service-Unit field indicating communicated data amount, and a User-Location-Info field indicating the current location of the user equipment.

[00014] The data amount may further be measured by intercepting messages over a Gi interface between a GGSN and the Internet, or over a Gx interface between a GGSN and a Policy Charging and Rule Function, PCRF. By

intercepting any of the above proposed existing messages over different interfaces, the solution can be implemented without affecting the regular network operation, thus without introducing any new messages in the network to indicate the

communicated data amount.

[00015] In further possible embodiments, the evaluation node may select the change condition based on the current location of the user equipment. Thereby, different location-specific change conditions can be used which are adapted to the situation and available resources in the respective locations. Furthermore, the measuring period may be re-started whenever the user equipment makes a handover or switch to a new connection or cell.

[0001 6] Further possible features and benefits of this solution will become apparent from the detailed description below.

Brief description of drawings

[00017] The solution will now be described in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[00018] Fig. 1 is a communication scenario illustrating that a user equipment is able to use either of two alternative connections, according to the prior art.

[00019] Fig. 2 is a communication scenario illustrating how a user equipment is recommended to change its connection, according to some possible embodiments.

[00020] Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a procedure in an evaluation node, according to further possible embodiments.

[00021 ] Fig. 4 is a network scenario illustrating some examples of how the solution can be implemented in practice, according to further possible

embodiments.

[00022] Fig. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a more detailed example of a procedure in an evaluation node, according to further possible embodiments.

[00023] Fig. 6 is a table illustrating an exemplifying quaternion that can be used in this solution, according another possible embodiment.

[00024] Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating how an evaluation node may be configured in more detail, according to further possible embodiments.

Detailed description

[00025] Briefly described, a solution is provided to enable a user equipment to change from a currently used first connection to a target second connection that may be "better" in some sense for the communication than the first connection, e.g. in terms of data rate and/or costs. For example, it is well-known that a high data rate can generally provide faster communication of data and less delays. In this solution, an evaluation node is introduced which is coupled to a network of the first connection. The evaluation node and its functions, to be described below, may in practice be implemented as an additional network node or in any suitable existing network node, e.g. a Serving GPRS Support Node, SGSN a Gateway GPRS Support Node, GGSN, a Policy Charging and Rule Function, PCRF, or an Online Charging System, OCS, and the solution is not limited in this respect. The evaluation node may alternatively be termed "recommender node" or "connection manager".

[00026] The evaluation node measures an amount of data that is communicated by the user equipment in a certain location area when using the first connection over a prescribed measuring period. For example, when the measured data amount exceeds a certain predefined limit within the measuring period, indicating that the user is involved in a data transaction that would likely benefit from better data rate and/or lower costs, the evaluation node sends a recommendation to the user equipment to change from the first connection to the second connection, e.g. after deciding that the second connection is available and would be better for the communication.

[00027] The decision to send the recommendation to the user equipment is taken by evaluating a change condition, which may in one example just involve the above predefined limit for communicated data amount in a certain location area. In other examples, the change condition may involve further criteria such as what type of application or service is used in the ongoing communication, what type of data is communicated, what type of second connection is currently available, and so forth. Further, a set of location-specific change conditions may be pre- configured such that the change condition to use for a certain user equipment is selected based on the current location of the user equipment, e.g. a current cell or location area, or based on what data rate the current first connection can provide, and so forth. Thereby, different location-specific change conditions can be used which are adapted to the situation and available resources in the respective locations.

[00028] An example of how the solution can be used for enabling a user equipment in wireless communication to change from a currently used connection to a new potentially better connection, will now be described with reference to the communication scenario in Fig. 2. Initially, the user equipment 200 uses a first radio connection C1 with a base station 202A belonging to a network 202 for radio access, as shown by a first action 2:1. Without limitation to this solution, the wireless communication may comprise a mode of streaming or downloading of data in a more or less continuous manner, e.g. from a media content server or the like, or a mode of exchanging of data and messages in a more discontinuous manner, or a combination of both continuous and discontinuous communication modes.

[00029] During the wireless communication over connection C1 , an evaluation node 204 measures in network 202 how much data is communicated by the user equipment 200 over a measuring period, or "window", as shown by another action 2:2. The length of the measuring period may be prescribed in advance, e.g. in the range of a few seconds to several minutes, to provide an indication of the intensity of the current communication over connection C1 . It can be generally assumed that the need for better data rate and/or lower price increases when the

communication intensity increases. In this action, the evaluation node 204 may measure the amount of communicated data in different ways. It is thus possible to read and accumulate this data amount by intercepting various messages sent on different existing interfaces used by the network 202, such as any of the interfaces Gn, Gy, Gi and Gx commonly used for radio access networks, which will be described in more detail later below when referring to Fig. 4.

[00030] When the measuring period expires, the evaluation node 204 evaluates a prescribed change condition in a next action 2:3, based on the measured and accumulated data amount, to determine whether the change condition is fulfilled or not. If not, no recommendation is warranted and the measuring period may be restarted, provided that connection C1 is still being used by the user equipment 200, and the accumulated amount of data is reset to zero for accumulating the communicated data amount during the next measuring period, and so forth. In this description, "re-starting" the measuring period is equivalent to starting a new measuring period counting from zero. Some examples of possible change conditions that may be used in this context have been mentioned above.

[00031 ] It is also possible to monitor the change condition during the measuring period, i.e. before it has expired. In that case, it can be detected that the change condition becomes fulfilled well before expiry of the measuring period, e.g. at high communication intensity, and the recommendation can be sent at once to the user equipment without waiting for it to expire. The measuring period may also be restarted before expiry whenever the user equipment 200 makes a handover to a new connection or cell.

[00032] In this example, the user equipment 200 has communicated enough data during the measuring period such that the change condition is fulfilled, i.e. a data amount limit or the like has been reached or exceeded, and the evaluation node 204 further determines a target second connection C2 with another base station 206, in a next action 2:4. The base station 206 may belong to network 202 or to another network, not shown. In practice, for at least some connections with low data rate in network 202, one or more potentially better connections with higher data rate may have been predetermined as alternative target connections to select and recommend to any user equipments using the low data rate connections and fulfilling the change condition. Other communication related factors such as costs and latency, may also be considered in this regard. To mention a few examples, the first radio connection C1 could use GSM or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), while the potentially better target second connection C2 could use Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE) or WIFI.

[00033] The target second connection C2 may also be determined based on capabilities of the user equipment 200, e.g. to make sure that it can technically use the second connection C2 otherwise a recommendation would of course be useless. The evaluation node 204 may fetch the capabilities of user equipment 200 from a user equipment database based on an identification of the user, such as the Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number, MSISDN, which may e.g. be obtained from the intercepted messages. Alternatively, the evaluation node 204 may obtain these capabilities in a dialogue, not shown, with a user equipment database where such capability information is maintained for user equipments in the network 202.

[00034] Having determined that user equipment 200 has fulfilled the change condition at some point during or after the latest measuring period, and that the determined second connection C2 is available, the evaluation node 204 sends a recommendation of the second connection C2 to the user equipment 200, in a further action 2:5. This recommendation may be sent in any suitable manner, e.g. depending on abilities of the user equipment 200 or preference settings made by the user. Some non-limiting possible examples of conveying the recommendation to the user equipment 200 include: Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), e-mail and Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD). A final action 2:6 illustrates that the user of user equipment 200 changes from connection C1 to the new proposed connection C2, thus following the received recommendation. Of course, the user is free to follow the

recommendation or not which lies outside this solution.

[00035] An advantage with this solution is that the user is automatically made aware that he/she communicates a sufficient amount of data to warrant a change to a better connection, in an area where the second connection C2 is available and possible to use instead of the first connection C1 , and that the recommended connection C2 would potentially be better to use in terms of data rate and/or costs. This can thus improve the user experience and/or reduce the costs by guiding the user and his/her user equipment to a better connection, especially when the user is not aware that it is available. Another potential advantage is that the base station 202A and network 202 providing the first connection C1 will be off-loaded by the connection change, particularly if their resources and bandwidth are scarce and heavily used, e.g. during high traffic load. Thus, the solution can support more efficient use of network resources and bandwidth. Moreover, this solution is quite easy to implement without impacting the communication and normal operation of the network 202 and the user equipment 200 since the evaluation node 204 can just intercept existing messages in the network 202.

[00036] A procedure in an evaluation node for enabling a user equipment in wireless communication to change from a currently used first connection to a target second connection, will now be described with reference to the flow chart in Fig. 3, illustrating actions executed in the evaluation node. The procedure illustrated in Fig. 3 is thus directed to how the user equipment is handled by the evaluation node, and the evaluation node 204 described for Fig. 2 may be used also in the procedure of Fig. 3.

[00037] A first action 300 illustrates that the evaluation node measures a data amount communicated by the user equipment in a certain location area and using the first connection over a measuring period, basically corresponding to action 2:2 in Fig. 2. In this action, it is possible to measure either downlink or uplink communications, or both, and the solution is not limited in this respect. In a next action 302, the evaluation node evaluates a change condition based on the measured data amount, basically corresponding to action 2:3 in Fig. 2. The change condition dictates that a certain data amount must be reached within the measuring period to warrant a recommendation for changing connection. As described above, the change condition may have been preconfigured and may be selected based on the current location of the user equipment, e.g. when employing a plurality of location-specific or even cell-specific change conditions.

[00038] As part of the evaluation, the evaluation node determines whether the change condition is fulfilled or not, preferably once the measuring period has expired, in an action 304 which action could just as well be incorporated together with action 302. When the change condition is fulfilled, the evaluation node sends the recommendation to the user equipment for changing from the first connection to the target second connection, in another action 306, basically corresponding to action 2:5 in Fig. 2. In this process, the target second connection may be determined based on the current location of the user equipment, and/or based on capabilities of the user equipment which may be fetched from a user equipment database that may reside in a Device Management (DM) node or the like, as described above. On the other hand, if the change condition is not fulfilled in action 304, the process may be repeated from action 300 by measuring communicated data amount during another measuring period.

[00039] Some examples of how the solution can be implemented in a practical network scenario will now be outlined with reference to Fig. 4. This figure illustrates a user equipment 400, a connection point 402 in the form of a base station and a radio access network, and an evaluation node 404 which basically acts according to any of the examples described above. The radio access network is connected to a SGSN 406 and a GGSN 408 which are commonly used nodes in the wireless communication networks of today. This figure illustrates specifically how the evaluation node 404 can measure the data amount communicated by user equipment 400 during prescribed measuring periods in this solution, according to some possible options.

[00040] In a first option, the evaluation node 404 can measure the data amount by intercepting existing control messages for the user equipment 400 over a Gn interface between the SGSN 406 and the GGSN 408, typically using the protocol called "GPRS Tunnelling Protocol, GTP" on the Gn interface. The control messages in this option may include the well-known message called "GPRS Tunnelling Protocol-User, GTP-U" containing an indication of data amount which can be used to accumulate the communicated data amount during the measuring period. The control messages in this option may also include another well-known message in this field called "Create PDP Context Request" comprising an

MSISDN of the user equipment 400 as user identification, and a Routing Area Identity field indicating current location of the user equipment 400. The latter field normally comprises a Location Area Code, LAC indicated by octets 5-6 and containing a cell identity which thus specifies the current location of user equipment 400.

[00041 ] In a second option, the evaluation node 404 can measure the data amount by intercepting existing charging messages over a Gy interface between the GGSN 408 and a charging system 410 denoted OCS, typically using the protocol called Diameter on the Gy interface. The charging messages in this option may include the well-known message called "Credit Control Request, CCR" which comprises a Used-Service-Unit field indicating communicated data amount, an Event Timestamp field, a User-Location-Info field, and a Subscription Identity field. From these fields, the evaluation node 404 can deduce accumulated data amount, elapsed time, current location of the user equipment, and user

identification, respectively, of which the latter can be used for fetching equipment capabilities from a user equipment database 412, as described above.

[00042] There are further possible options of how the evaluation node 404 can measure the data amount by interception of existing messages in the network. In a third option, existing messages , e.g. various Radius messages, can be

intercepted on a Gi interface between the GGSN 408 and the Internet 414 for measuring the data amount. In a fourth option, the evaluation node 404 can measure the data amount by intercepting existing messages, e.g. the above CCR message, over a Gx interface between the GGSN 408 and a PCRF 416.

[00043] A more detailed example of a procedure in an evaluation node for enabling a user equipment in wireless communication to change from a currently used first connection to a target second connection, will now be described with reference to the flow chart in Fig. 5, illustrating actions executed in the evaluation node. The evaluation node 204 described for Fig. 2 may likewise be used also in the procedure of Fig. 5 which can be seen as a more detailed version of Fig. 3.

[00044] First, the table in Fig. 6 illustrating an exemplifying quaternion 600 that can be used in this solution, will be briefly explained. When implementing the solution in practice, the quaternion of Fig. 6 may be maintained for the user equipment during the measuring period. The quaternion 600 comprises

information on 1 ) user identification e.g. MSISDN, 2) start time T1 of the

measuring period or window, 3) current location of the user equipment which may be a cell identity C1 , and 4) measured and accumulated data amount X which may be measured in Bytes, Megabits, or similar although the solution is not limited in this respect. By maintaining and updating the quaternion 600, a suitable selected change condition can be evaluated based on the information therein at least when the measuring period time counted from T1 has expired. As implied above, the change condition can also be evaluated any number of times during the measuring period by means of the quaternion 600, and the solution is not limited in this respect.

[00045] In the example of Fig. 5, the quaternion of Fig. 6 will be used and a first action 500 illustrates that the evaluation node starts a measuring period by setting the start time T1 = 0 in quaternion 600. The evaluation node then measures the communicated data amount in an action 502, e.g. by intercepting messages in the network in the manner described for Fig. 4 above to register accumulated data amount X and incrementing the time T1 .

[00046] If an intercepted message indicates that the user equipment has changed its connection, e.g. by making a handover to a new cell, which is checked in an action 504, the measuring period is re-started by returning to action 500. Otherwise, the evaluation node evaluates a selected change condition when the measuring period expires, in an action 506, which change condition dictates that a certain data amount must be reached within the measuring period to warrant a recommendation for changing connection. The evaluation node then determines if the change condition is fulfilled in action 508 such that the user equipment should be recommended a new connection with potentially better data rate and/or lower costs than the first connection. It has been described above how a suitable change condition can be selected, which will therefore not be repeated here.

[00047] If the change condition is not fulfilled in action 508 even though the current measuring period has expired, the measuring period is re-started by returning to action 500 for repeating actions 500-508 in a new time window. It should be noted that if the user equipment leaves the first connection without establishing a new connection, e.g. when being powered off or when entering an area with no radio coverage, the process may end and the quaternion 600 can be deleted in the evaluation node.

[00048] On the other hand, if the change condition is indeed found to be fulfilled in action 508, the evaluation node determines capabilities and current location of the user equipment, in another action 510. In this example, the current location can be found in the quaternion 600, i.e. C1 , which is updated whenever an intercepted message indicates that the user equipment has changed its location. Further, the capabilities can be retrieved from a user equipment database, such as database 412 in Fig. 4, based on the user identification e.g. MSISDN in the quaternion 600.

[00049] Having determined capabilities and location, the evaluation node determines a potentially better target second connection that can be

recommended to the user equipment, based on the above determined capabilities and location, in a further action 512. The user equipment's location basically indicates whether the target connection can provide sufficient radio coverage for the user equipment or not. Further, the capabilities can be used to confirm that the user equipment is technically able to use the target connection in a way that would provide a better communication. For example, the user equipment may be technically able to use the target connection but not in a way that would provide any better data rate and/or costs, e.g. depending on the circumstances such as channel quality, interference situation or current load in the cell of the target connection. In that case, no recommendation is warranted for this connection since it would not provide sufficient improvement.

[00050] Finally, the recommendation for the target second connection is sent to the user equipment in a last shown action 514. As in the previous examples, it is up to the user to decide whether to follow the recommendation or not, which is however somewhat outside the scope of the solution described herein.

[00051 ] A detailed but non-limiting example of how an evaluation node can be configured to accomplish the above-described solution, is illustrated by the block diagram in Fig. 7. The evaluation node 704 is configured to enable a user equipment 700 to change from a currently used first connection C1 , e.g. with a base station 702, to a potentially better target second connection C2, e.g.

according to the procedures described above for any of Figs 2 - 6, respectively. The second connection C2 may be served by the same network as connection C1 or by another network, not shown. The evaluation node 704 will now be described in terms of a possible example of employing the solution.

[00052] The evaluation node 704 comprises a measuring unit 704a adapted to measure a data amount communicated by the user equipment 700 in a certain location area and using the first connection C1 over a measuring period. The evaluation node 704 also comprises an evaluating unit 704b adapted to evaluate a change condition "CC" 704d based on the measured data amount. The change condition CC dictates that a certain data amount must be reached within the measuring period to warrant a recommendation for changing connection. The figure indicates that a plurality of change conditions 704d may be configured in evaluation node 704 to be selected and applied for different connections and user equipments, e.g. depending on the current situation as described above. Among other things, the change conditions 704d may be location-specific and further depending on the current network load.

[00053] The evaluation node 704 also comprises a sending unit 704c adapted to send a recommendation "R" to the user equipment 700 for changing from the first connection C1 to the second connection C2 when the change condition is fulfilled.

[00054] The above evaluation node 704 and its functional units 704a-c may be configured or adapted to operate according to various optional embodiments. In one possible embodiment, the evaluating unit 704b is further adapted to determine the target second connection C2 based on the current location of the user equipment. In this regard, the second connection C2 should be selected to provide sufficient radio coverage and channel quality for the user equipment such that improved data rate and/or costs can be obtained by the connection change.

[00055] In another possible embodiment, the evaluating unit 704b is further adapted to determine the target second connection C2 based on capabilities of the user equipment, e.g. to ensure that it can use connection C2 with the above improvement. The evaluating unit 704b may also be further adapted to fetch the capabilities from a user equipment database 706 based on an identification of the user of the user equipment. The measuring unit 704a may further be adapted to maintain a quaternion "Q" during the measuring period, , e.g. as described for Fig. 6 above. The quaternion comprises 1 ) a user identification, 2) a start time of the measuring period, 3) the current location of the user equipment, and 4) the measured data amount.

[00056] In another possible embodiment, the measuring unit 704a is further adapted to measure the data amount by intercepting control messages over a Gn interface between a Serving GPRS Support Node, SGSN and a Gateway GPRS Support Node GGSN, as illustrated in Fig. 4. In that case, the control messages may include a GPRS Tunnelling Protocol-User, 'GTP-U' message accumulating the communicated data amount, and a 'Create PDP Context Request' comprising a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number, MSISDN as user identification, and a Routing Area Identity field indicating current location of the user equipment.

[00057] In another possible embodiment, the measuring unit 704a is further adapted to measure the data amount by intercepting charging messages over a Gy interface between a GGSN and a charging system, likewise illustrated in Fig. 4. In that case, the charging messages may include a CCR comprising an Event Timestamp field, a Subscription Identity field indicating a user identification, a Used-Service-Unit field indicating communicated data amount, and a User- Location-Info field indicating the current location of the user equipment.

[00058] In further possible embodiments, the measuring unit 704a may be further adapted to measure the data amount by intercepting messages over a Gi interface between a GGSN and the Internet, or over a Gx interface between a GGSN and a Policy Charging and Rule Function, PCRF, likewise illustrated in Fig. 4. In the latter examples, the above-mentioned CCR message can be intercepted on the Gx interface and various existing Radius messages indicating the data amount can be intercepted on the Gi interface, respectively.

[00059] The evaluating unit 704b may further be adapted to select the change condition CC based on the current location of the user equipment. The measuring unit 704a may further be adapted to re-start the measuring period whenever the user equipment makes a handover to a new connection or cell.

[00060] It should be noted that Fig. 7 illustrates various functional units in the evaluation node 704 and the skilled person is able to implement these functional units in practice using suitable software and hardware means. Thus, this aspect of the solution is generally not limited to the shown structures of the evaluation node 704, and the functional units 704a-c may be configured to operate according to any of the features described in this disclosure, where appropriate.

[00061 ] The functional units 704a-c described above can be implemented in the evaluation node 704 by means of program modules of a respective computer program comprising code means which, when run by processors "P" causes the evaluation node 704 to perform the above-described actions. Each processor P may comprise a single Central Processing Unit (CPU), or could comprise two or more processing units. For example, each processor P may include general purpose microprocessors, instruction set processors and/or related chips sets and/or special purpose microprocessors such as Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). Each processor P may also comprise a storage for caching purposes.

[00062] Each computer program may be carried by a computer program product "M" in the evaluation node 704 in the form of a memory having a computer readable medium and being connected to the processor P. Each computer program product M or memory thus comprises a computer readable medium on which the computer program is stored e.g. in the form of computer program modules "m". For example, the memory M may be a flash memory, a Random- Access Memory (RAM), a Read-Only Memory (ROM) or an Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), and the program modules m could in alternative embodiments be distributed on different computer program products in the form of memories within the evaluation node 704.

[00063] While the solution has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, the description is generally only intended to illustrate the inventive concept and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the solution. For example, the terms "evaluation node", "connection", "data amount" and "change condition" have been used throughout this description, although any other corresponding nodes, functions, and/or parameters could also be used having the features and characteristics described here. The solution is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1 . A method in an evaluation node (204) for enabling a user equipment (200) in wireless communication to change from a currently used first connection (C1 ) to a target second connection (C2), the method comprising:

- measuring (2:2, 300) a data amount communicated by the user equipment in a certain location area and using the first connection (C1 ) over a measuring period,

- evaluating (2:3, 302) a change condition based on the measured data amount, the change condition dictating that a certain data amount must be reached within the measuring period to warrant a recommendation for changing connection, and

- sending (2:5, 306) the recommendation to the user equipment for changing from the first connection to the target second connection when the change condition is fulfilled.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the target second connection (C2) is determined based on the current location of the user equipment.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the target second

connection (C2) is determined based on capabilities of the user equipment.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said capabilities are fetched from a user equipment database (412) based on an identification of the user of said user equipment.

5. A method according to any of claims 1 -4, wherein a quaternion is maintained during the measuring period, said quaternion comprising 1 ) a user identification, 2) a start time of the measuring period, 3) the current location of the user equipment, and 4) the measured data amount.

6. A method according to any of claims 1 -5, wherein said data amount is measured by intercepting control messages over a Gn interface between a

Serving GPRS Support Node, SGSN (406) and a Gateway GPRS Support Node GGSN (408).

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the control messages include a GPRS Tunnelling Protocol-User, 'GTP-U' message accumulating said

communicated data amount, and a 'Create PDP Context Request' comprising a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number, MSISDN as user identification, and a Routing Area Identity field indicating current location of the user equipment.

8. A method according to any of claims 1 -5, wherein said data amount is measured by intercepting charging messages over a Gy interface between a GGSN (408) and a charging system (410).

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the charging messages include a 'Credit Control Request, CCR' comprising an Event Timestamp field, a

Subscription Identity field indicating a user identification, a Used-Service-Unit field indicating communicated data amount, and a User-Location-Info field indicating the current location of the user equipment.

10. A method according to any of claims 1 -5, wherein said data amount is measured by intercepting messages over a Gi interface between a GGSN (408) and the Internet (412), or over a Gx interface between a GGSN (408) and a Policy Charging and Rule Function, PCRF (414).

1 1 . A method according to any of claims 1 -10, wherein the change condition is selected based on the current location of the user equipment.

12. A method according to any of claims 1 -1 1 , wherein the measuring period is re-started whenever the user equipment makes a handover to a new connection or cell.

13. An evaluation node (704) configured to enable a user equipment (700) to change from a currently used first connection (C1 ) to a target second connection (C2), comprising: - a measuring unit (704a) adapted to measure a data amount communicated by the user equipment in a certain location area and using the first connection (C1 ) over a measuring period,

- an evaluating unit (704b) adapted to evaluate a change condition (CC) based on the measured data amount, the change condition dictating that a certain data amount must be reached within the measuring period to warrant a

recommendation for changing connection, and

- a sending unit (704c) adapted to send the recommendation (R) to the user equipment for changing from the first connection to the second connection when the change condition is fulfilled.

14. An evaluation node according to claim 13, wherein the evaluating unit (704b) is further adapted to determine the target second connection (C2) based on the current location of the user equipment.

15. An evaluation node according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the evaluating unit (704b) is further adapted to determine the target second connection (C2) based on capabilities of the user equipment.

16. An evaluation node according to claim 15, wherein the evaluating unit (704b) is further adapted to fetch said capabilities from a user equipment database (706) based on an identification of the user of said user equipment.

17. An evaluation node according to any of claims 13-16, wherein the measuring unit (704a) is further adapted to maintain a quaternion (Q) during the measuring period, said quaternion comprising 1 ) a user identification, 2) a start time of the measuring period, 3) the current location of the user equipment, and 4) the measured data amount.

18. An evaluation node according to any of claims 13-17, wherein the measuring unit (704a) is further adapted to measure said data amount by intercepting control messages over a Gn interface between a Serving GPRS Support Node, SGSN (406) and a Gateway GPRS Support Node GGSN (408).

19. An evaluation node according to claim 18, wherein the control messages include a GPRS Tunnelling Protocol-User, 'GTP-U' message accumulating said communicated data amount, and a 'Create PDP Context Request' comprising a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number, MSISDN as user identification, and a Routing Area Identity field indicating current location of the user equipment.

20. An evaluation node according to any of claims 13-17, wherein the measuring unit (704a) is further adapted to measure said data amount by intercepting charging messages over a Gy interface between a GGSN (408) and a charging system (410).

21 . An evaluation node according to claim 20, wherein the charging messages include a 'Credit Control Request, CCR' comprising an Event

Timestamp field, a Subscription Identity field indicating a user identification, a Used-Service-Unit field indicating communicated data amount, and a User- Location-Info field indicating the current location of the user equipment.

22. An evaluation node according to any of claims 13-17, wherein the measuring unit (704a) is further adapted to measure said data amount by intercepting messages over a Gi interface between a GGSN (408) and the Internet (412), or over a Gx interface between a GGSN (408) and a Policy Charging and Rule Function, PCRF (414).

23. An evaluation node according to any of claims 13-22, wherein the evaluating unit (704b) is further adapted to select the change condition (CC) based on the current location of the user equipment.

24. An evaluation node according to any of claims 13-23, wherein the measuring unit (704a) is further adapted to re-start the measuring period whenever the user equipment makes a handover to a new connection or cell.