WO2014184347A1

WO2014184347A1 - Quality of service / load based user equipment selection of radio access technology

Info

Publication number: WO2014184347A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/060091
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniela Laselva; Istvan Zsolt Kovacs
Original assignee: Nokia Solutions And Networks Oy
Priority date: 2013-05-17
Filing date: 2014-05-16
Publication date: 2014-11-20

Abstract

Various communication systems, such as wireless communication systems may benefit from load balancing techniques. For example, quality of service/load-based user equipment selection between wireless local area network and cellular while in idle mode may be beneficial to a variety of communication systems. A method can include receiving, by a user equipment, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology. The method can also include selecting, by the user equipment, a radio access technology of a plurality of radio access technologies while the user equipment is in, for example, idle mode based on the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria.

Description

DESCRIPTION

TITLE

Quality of Service / Load Based User Equipment Selection of Radio Access Technology

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION:

[0001] This application is related to, and claims the benefit and priority of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/824,548, filed May 17, 2013, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND:

Field:

[0002] Various communication systems, such as wireless communication systems may benefit from load balancing techniques. For example, quality of service/load-based user equipment selection between wireless local area network and cellular while in idle mode may be beneficial to a variety of communication systems.

Description of the Related Art:

[0003] Cellular offloading to carrier or third party wireless local area, for example Wi-Fi, networks can be done for capacity and coverage purposes. Moreover, Wi-Fi networks may be inexpensive both in terms of licensing for spectrum and for cost deployment and may offer good network performance in high-traffic urban environments. Furthermore, even without any operator control, today's subscribers may simply disappear from cellular networks to connect to the user's preferred access points whenever these are available, for example at home or in the work place. Wi-Fi network discovery, selection and access are today typically user-controlled via a connection manager utility installed at the client side, which can be referred to as ad-hoc connectivity.

[0004] Whenever a user equipment (UE) is offloaded to a wireless local area network (WLAN), currently there is no controlled way for allowing on-loading back to cellular access, such as third generation partnership project (3 GPP). This unavailability of network-guided on-loading may lead to degraded user experience, in terms of quality of service (QoS) and/or quality of experience (QoE), when Wi-Fi experiences high load and poor coverage conditions.

[0005] There are traffic steering mechanisms between WLAN and 3GPP. HotSpot 2.0, for example, permits the automatic discovery of Wi-Fi networks but addresses mainly Wi-Fi players. In addition to the 3GPP non-seamless offload, features such as Sa2 based mobility over general packet radio system (GPRS) tunneling protocol (GTP) (SaMOG), multiple connections via 3 GPP and non-3GPP access (MAPCON), and internet protocol (IP) flow mobility (IFOM), as well as advanced policy control with access network discovery and selection function (ANDSF) exist and allow enhanced offloading control at a packet data network (PDN) granularity, for MAPCON, or even at an IP flow granularity, for IFOM and non-seamless offload.

[0006] There may be interworking approaches covering offloading support for connected mode. Connected mode can be a case where a UE is likely to transmit large amount of data and may benefit from offload to WLAN, such as a Traffic Steering (TS) command "Go to WLAN" / redirection. More specifically, connected mode can refer to a case in which a user equipment has an ongoing radio resource control (RRC) connection, as opposed to an die mode in which the user equipment has no RRC connection running.

[0007] For example, according to one approach 3GPP radio access network (RAN) can configure the UE in connected mode with certain conditions (see examples below) and thresholds (X, Y, and Z) which the UE shall monitor while in connected mode. The conditions can be received signal strength indicator (RSSI) > X dBm; reference signal received power (RSRP) < Y dBm; and WLAN basic service set (BSS) load (as advertised by WLAN) < Z. The RSSI can be a UE measurement of WLAN signal strength. Similarly, the RSRP can be a UE measurement valid for LTE. Another example may be the use of common pilot channel (CPICH) received signal code power (RSCP) measurement by the UE for wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA)/ high-speed packet access (HSPA). Moreover, the UE in connected mode can send a measurement report to 3 GPP RAN when the above conditions are met. Furthermore, the 3GPP RAN may send a traffic steering command to the UE in connected mode, for example, redirecting the UE to WLAN.

[0008] However, there are few conventional approaches addressing idle mode, for example, to control whether/when for instance the UE moves traffic back to 3 GPP after have been directed to WLAN as when accessing WLAN, the UE may not maintain the RRC connection.

[0009] For example, in an approach for idle mode access selection the 3 GPP RAN advertises "processed information" about the network status as network assistance for a UE to perform access selection decision in line with the existing 3GPP principles for idle mode cell reselection.

[0010] Figure 1 illustrates offsets to be provided by the 3GPP RAN reflecting own load and other conditions. As shown in Figure 1, at 110, offseti can be a green offset. Likewise, offset₂ can be a yellow offset and offset₃ can be a red offset. The UE in idle mode may steer traffic to WLAN if RSSI > Threshold + offset.

SUMMARY:

[0011] According to certain embodiments, a method can include preparing, in a network element, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology. The method can also include transmitting the one or more thresholds to one or more user equipments, wherein the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria can be configured to determine behavior of the user equipment with respect to radio access technology selection when, for example, the user equipment is in idle mode.

[0012] In a variation, the selection can be between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

[0013] In certain embodiments, a method can include receiving, by a user equipment, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology. The method can also include selecting, by the user equipment, a radio access technology of a plurality of radio access technologies while the user equipment is in, for example, idle mode based on the one or more thresholds.

[0014] In a variation, the plurality of radio access technologies can include a plurality of non-cellular radio access technologies.

[0015] In a variation, the selecting can be between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

[0016] In a variation, the method can include monitoring load-based information on a plurality of radio access technologies, wherein the selecting can include selecting from the radio access technologies.

[0017] In a variation, the method can include determining whether to initiate a mobile initiated call in a first radio access technology or in a second radio access technology of the plurality of radio access technologies based on the one or more thresholds, wherein the selecting comprises selecting the first radio access technology or the second radio access technology. The method can also include initiating the mobile initiated call in the radio access technology.

[0018] In a variation, the method can include determining whether to initiate handover of an on-going non-cellular connection to a cellular radio access technology based on the one or more thresholds, wherein the selecting comprises selecting a non-cellular radio access technology of the on-going non-cellular connection or the cellular radio access technology. The method can also include initiating the handover when determined based on the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria.

[0019] An apparatus, according to certain embodiments, can include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code can be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to prepare, in a network element, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology. The at least one memory and the computer program code can also be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to transmit the one or more thresholds to one or more user equipments, wherein the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria can be configured to determine behavior of the user equipment with respect to radio access technology selection, for example, when the user equipment is in idle mode.

[0020] In a variation, the selection can be between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

[0021] An apparatus, in certain embodiments, can include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code can be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive, by a user equipment, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology. The at least one memory and the computer program code can also be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to select, by the user equipment, a radio access technology of a plurality of radio access technologies while the user equipment is in, for example, idle mode based on the one or more thresholds.

[0022] In a variation, the plurality of radio access technologies can include a plurality of non-cellular radio access technologies.

[0023] In a variation, the at least one memory and the computer program code can be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to select between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

[0024] In a variation, the at least one memory and the computer program code can be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to monitor load-based information on a plurality of radio access technologies. The at least one memory and the computer program code can also be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to select the radio access technology by selecting from the radio access technologies.

[0025] In a variation, the at least one memory and the computer program code can be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to determine whether to initiate a mobile initiated call in a first radio access technology or in a second radio access technology of the plurality of radio access technologies based on the one or more thresholds. The at least one memory and the computer program code can also be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to select the radio access technology by selecting the first radio access technology or the second radio access technology. The at least one memory and the computer program code can further be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to initiate the mobile initiated call in the radio access technology. [0026] In a variation, the at least one memory and the computer program code can be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to determine whether to initiate handover of an on-going non-cellular connection to a cellular radio access technology based on the one or more thresholds. The at least one memory and the computer program code can also be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to select the radio access technology by selecting a non- cellular radio access technology of the on-going non-cellular connection or the cellular radio access technology. The at least one memory and the computer program code can further be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to initiate the handover when determined based on the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria.

[0027] According to certain embodiments, an apparatus can include means for preparing, in a network element, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology. The apparatus can also include means for transmitting the one or more thresholds to one or more user equipments, wherein the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria can be configured to determine behavior of the user equipment with respect to radio access technology selection, for example, when the user equipment is in idle mode.

[0028] In a variation, the selection can be between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

[0029] In certain embodiments, an apparatus can include means for receiving, by a user equipment, one or more quality of service, system load- based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology. The apparatus can also include means for selecting, by the user equipment, a radio access technology of a plurality of radio access technologies while the user equipment is in, for example, idle mode based on the one or more thresholds.

[0030] The selecting can be between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

[0031] In a variation, the plurality of radio access technologies can include a plurality of non-cellular radio access technologies.

[0032] In a variation, the apparatus can also include means for monitoring load-based information on a plurality of radio access technologies, wherein the selecting comprises selecting from the radio access technologies.

[0033] In a variation, the apparatus can also include means for determining whether to initiate a mobile initiated call in a first radio access technology or in a second radio access technology of the plurality of radio access technologies based on the one or more thresholds, wherein the selecting comprises selecting the first radio access technology or the second radio access technology. The apparatus can further include means for initiating the mobile initiated call in the radio access technology.

[0034] In a variation, the apparatus can include means for determining whether to initiate handover of an on-going non-cellular connection to a cellular radio access technology based on the one or more thresholds, wherein the selecting comprises selecting a non-cellular radio access technology of the on-going non-cellular connection or the cellular radio access technology. The apparatus can also include means for initiating the handover when determined based on the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria.

[0035] A computer-readable medium (for example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a signal) can, in certain embodiments, be encoded with instructions that, when executed in hardware, perform a process. The process can include preparing, in a network element, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology. The process can also include transmitting the one or more thresholds to one or more user equipments, wherein the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria can be configured to determine behavior of the user equipment with respect to radio access technology selection, for example, when the user equipment is in idle mode.

[0036] In a variation, the selection can be between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

[0037] A computer-readable medium (for example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a signal) can, according to certain embodiments, be encoded with instructions that, when executed in hardware, perform a process. The process can include receiving, by a user equipment, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology. The process can also include selecting, by the user equipment, a radio access technology of a plurality of radio access technologies while the user equipment is in, for example, idle mode based on the one or more thresholds.

[0038] In a variation, the plurality of radio access technologies can include a plurality of non-cellular radio access technologies.

[0039] In a variation, the selecting can be between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

[0040] In a variation, the process can include monitoring load-based information on a plurality of radio access technologies, wherein the selecting comprises selecting from the radio access technologies.

[0041] In a variation, the process can include determining whether to initiate a mobile initiated call in a first radio access technology or in a second radio access technology of the plurality of radio access technologies based on the one or more thresholds, wherein the selecting comprises selecting the first radio access technology or the second radio access technology. The process can also include initiating the mobile initiated call in the radio access technology.

[0042] In a variation, the process can include determining whether to initiate handover of an on-going non-cellular connection to a cellular radio access technology based on the one or more thresholds, wherein the selecting comprises selecting a non-cellular radio access technology of the on-going non-cellular connection or the cellular radio access technology. The process can also include initiating the handover when determined based on the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0043] For proper understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0044] Figure 1 illustrates offsets to be provided by the 3GPP RAN reflecting own load and other conditions.

[0045] Figure 2 illustrates additional conditions and thresholds, according to certain embodiments.

[0046] Figure 3 illustrates methods according to certain embodiments.

[0047] Figure 4 illustrates a system according to certain embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

[0048] Certain embodiments provide offloading procedures for idle mode, taking into account factors such as wireless local area network (WLAN) load and quality of service (QoS), which may make some WLAN access or node less desirable than 3GPP in a given geographical area or circumstance. Although WLAN is used as an example of a non-3GPP network or a non- cellular network, other non-3 GPP and/or non-cellular networks can be addressed in life fashion, and thus the follow discussion should not be limited to WLAN.

[0049] Thus, in certain embodiments 3GPP cell reselection procedures can also include WLAN selection (3GPP radio access technologies (RATs) as opposed to WLAN) and to base such procedures on (WLAN and 3GPP) QoS / load aspects as well, in addition to (WLAN and 3GPP) signal strength / quality. In other words, as discussed herein QoS and load are distinct from signal strength/quality. For instance, a UE may move back to 3GPP if WLAN access results in degraded QoS/QoE due to, for example, congestion. Furthermore, a UE in idle mode may attempt to start data transmission immediately in the network, for example WLAN or 3 GPP, which may provide better QoS. This may be done without establishing for example a radio resource control (RRC) connection first to a 3GPP network before being redirected towards WLAN due to, for example, high load.

[0050] Various mechanisms can be used in certain embodiments. According to a first mechanism, a 3 GPP RAN entity, such as a node B (NB), evolved Node B (eNB), or radio network controller (RNC), can advertise the indication of the configured set of additional conditions and their relative thresholds for usage by UEs in idle mode for RAT selection 3GPP vs. WLAN. This advertisement may, for example, be broadcast. That is, this information may be sent in addition to cell reselection information sent according to 3 GPP technical report (TR) 36.304 and 3 GPP TR 25.304, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Examples of the additional conditions and thresholds are provided in Figure 2.

[0051] As shown in Figure 2, there can be separate conditions for a UE to initiate a mobile initiated call in WLAN, for a UE to initiate a mobile initiated call in 3GPP, and for a UE to initiate a handover of an ongoing WLAN connection from WLAN to 3 GPP. In this particular embodiment, a first set of requirements corresponding to these respective cases is designated as required (Req.), although other embodiments may be differently configured and thus these requirements are of this particular embodiment and not of all embodiments. Moreover, the other conditions for each set are designated as options (Opt), although in certain embodiments these may be the requirements.

[0052] The thresholds could also be broadcasted per 3GPP QoS class. For example, the QoS class could be guaranteed bit rate (GBR) or non-GBR, real time (RT) or non-RT, or could be indicated by scheduling priority index (SPI) or QoS Class Indicator (QCI). As the UE may have no knowledge of the kind of service requested nor of its QoS, the 3 GPP RAN could provide via dedicated messages when a UE is in connected mode and / or upon RRC connection release a bit indicating which set of thresholds a certain UE should use based on collected user history.

[0053] The thresholds could be also advertised as deltas to the thresholds provided for usage in connected mode, for example as described in 3GPP R2-131389, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0054] UE specific thresholds or deltas to the broadcasted ones may be sent via dedicated messages, for example when a UE is in connected mode or upon RRC connection release. The UE specific information could reflect, for example, UE subscription and/or 3GPP radio access technology frequency selection priority (RFSP) index.

[0055] According to a second mechanism, in certain embodiments in addition to the cell reselection conditions according to 3 GPP TR 36.304 and 3GPP TR 25.304, the UE in idle mode can evaluate the additional conditions related to WLAN and 3GPP QoS / load / signal strength aspects for selection of the most suitable RAT 3GPP or WLAN as configured by RAN. Examples of the additional conditions that a UE may evaluate are given in the table shown in Figure 2.

[0056] According to a third mechanism, the 3 GPP RAN entity can assist UEs in idle mode to perform the network / cell (re-) selection with broadcasting 3GPP load information according to 3GPP R2-131390, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The UE in idle mode can acquire 3 GPP load information from the 3 GPP cell upon which the UE is camping.

[0057] According to a fourth mechanism, and similarly to the third mechanism, the UE in idle mode can acquire WLAN QoS and load information, or can eventually partially estimate it if the information is not available, on the WLAN networks from one or multiple WiFi access points within its coverage area. Examples of the possible information currently available are provided below.

[0058] The following information included in the Wi-Fi beacon and/or probe response frames of an access point (AP) could be used by a UE as measure of the WLAN access point load and QoS. BSS average access delay information element (IE) can represent an average medium access delay for any transmitted frame measured from the time the frame is ready for until the actual frame transmission start time. BSS access category (AC) access delay can, in QoS enabled APs (QAPs), indicate average medium access delay for each of the indicated access categories defined by the IEEE 802. l ie, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. A BSS Load / QoS Basic Service Set (QBSS) load element IE can include the following fields: station Count, which may be the number of stations currently associated with the AP; channel utilization, which may be the percentage of time that the AP senses the medium is busy; and available admission capacity (AAC), which may be the remaining amount of medium time available in units of 32 μ$.

[0059] The channel status information such as the BSS load element can be reported to the UE in an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) query information element (for example, using Hotspot 2.0 and/or IEEE 802.1 lu) as well.

[0060] Some randomization and hysteresis to the network selection decision may be used, as discussed in 3GPP R2-131348, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This randomization and/or hysteresis may limit simultaneous WLAN offload initiation/termination of a large number of UEs and ping-pong effect between WLAN-3GPP

[0061] Certain embodiments may have various benefits and/or advantages. For example, certain embodiments may allow flexible and optimal offloading and on-loading decisions, with respect to 3GPP and WLAN networks, for UEs in idle mode accounting for system dynamics, such as dynamic behavior of 3GPP and WLAN networks including target QoS and load/congestion conditions. Thus, for instance, a UE may move back to 3GPP if WLAN access results in degraded QoS/QoE due to, for example, congestion. Furthermore, a UE may attempt to start data transmission immediately in the network (e.g. WLAN or 3GPP) which may provide better QoS, without establishing for example an R C connection first to a 3GPP network before being redirected towards WLAN due to, for example, high load. Thus, certain embodiments may reduce signaling overhead and extra latency.

[0062] Figure 3 illustrates methods according to certain embodiments. Thus, Figure 3 may be a flowchart for certain UE idle mode cell reselection mechanisms between 3 GPP and WLAN. As shown in Figure 3, at a network element, such as 3 GPP RAN, can send threshold information, such as by broadcasting the information. The information can be for usage by UEs in idle mode, for RAT selection, such as, for example, selection between 3 GPP and WLAN.

[0063] At 320, UEs in idle mode can monitor load information related to a cellular RAT, such as 3GPP RAN. Moreover, at 330, UEs in idle mode can monitor load information related to a non-cellular RAT, such as WLAN. At 340, the threshold information can received and the UE can determine whether the UE has an on-going WLAN connection

[0064] If there is no on-going connection, at 350 the UE can determine whether conditions are met to initiate a mobile call in WLAN or 3 GPP. If WLAN is selected, at 360 the UE can initiate a WLAN connection. If 3GPP is selected, at 370 the UE can initiate a 3GPP call.

[0065] Likewise, if at 380 it is determined that conditions are met to initiate handover from WLAN to 3GPP, then at 370 a 3GPP call can be initiated. Alternatively, at 380, if it is determined that such handover conditions are not met, the UE can stay on the WLAN connection, at 390.

[0066] Figure 4 illustrates a system according to certain embodiments of the invention. It should be understood that each block of the flowchart of Figure 3 and any combination thereof may be implemented by various means or their combinations, such as hardware, software, firmware, one or more processors and/or circuitry. In one embodiment, a system may comprise several devices, such as, for example, network element 410 and user equipment (UE) or user device 420. The system may comprise more than one UE 420 and more than one network element 410, although only one of each is shown in Figure 4 for the purposes of illustration. A network element can be an access point, a base station, an eNode B (eNB), or any of the network elements discussed herein. Each of these devices may include at least one processor or control unit or module, respectively indicated as 414 and 424. At least one memory may be provided in each device, and indicated as 415 and 425, respectively. The memory may include computer program instructions or computer code contained therein. One or more transceiver 416 and 426 may be provided, and each device may also include an antenna, respectively illustrated as 417 and 427. Although only one antenna each is shown, many antennas and multiple antenna elements may be provided to each of the devices. Other configurations of these devices may be provided. For example, network element 410 and UE 420 may be additionally configured for wired communication, in addition to wireless communication, and in such a case antennas 417 and 427 may illustrate any form of communication hardware, without being limited to merely an antenna. Likewise, some network elements 410 may be solely configured for wired communication, and such cases antenna 417 may illustrate any form of wired communication hardware, such as a network interface card.

[0067] Transceivers 416 and 426 may each, independently, be a transmitter, a receiver, or both a transmitter and a receiver, or a unit or device that may be configured both for transmission and reception. The transmitter and/or receiver may also be implemented as a remote radio head which is not located in the device itself, but in a mast, for example. It should also be appreciated that according to a liquid or flexible radio concept, the operations and functionalities may be performed in different entities, such as nodes, hosts or servers, in a flexible manner. In other words, division of labor may vary case by case. One possible use is to make a network element to deliver local content. One or more functionalities may also be implemented as a virtual application that is configured as software that can run on a server.

[0068] A user device or user equipment may be a mobile station (MS) such as a mobile phone or smart phone or multimedia device, a computer, such as a tablet, provided with wireless communication capabilities, personal data or digital assistant (PDA) provided with wireless communication capabilities, portable media player, digital camera, pocket video camera, navigation unit provided with wireless communication capabilities or any combinations thereof.

[0069] Processors 414 and 424 may be embodied by any computational or data processing device, such as a central processing unit (CPU), digital signal processor (DSP), application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), digitally enhanced circuits, or comparable device or a combination thereof. The processors may be implemented as a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or processors.

[0070] For firmware or software, the implementation may include modules or unit of at least one chip set, for example, procedures, functions, and the like. Memories 415 and 425 may independently be any suitable storage device, such as a non-transitory computer-readable medium. A hard disk drive (HDD), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, or other suitable memory may be used. The memories may be combined on a single integrated circuit as the processor, or may be separate therefrom. Furthermore, the computer program instructions may be stored in the memory and which may be processed by the processors can be any suitable form of computer program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted computer program written in any suitable programming language. The memory or data storage entity may be internal but may also be external or a combination thereof, such as in the case when additional memory capacity is obtained from a service provider. The memory may be fixed or removable.

[0071] The memory and the computer program instructions may be configured, with the processor for the particular device, to cause a hardware apparatus such as network element 410 and/or UE 420, to perform any of the processes described above (see, for example, Figure 3). Therefore, in certain embodiments, a computer-readable medium (for example, a signal or a non-transitory computer-readable medium) may be encoded with computer instructions or one or more computer program (such as added or updated software routine, applet or macro) that, when executed in hardware, may perform a process such as one of the processes described herein. Computer programs may be coded by a programming language, which may be a high- level programming language, such as objective-C, C, C++, C#, Java, or the like, or a low-level programming language, such as a machine language, or assembler. Another option is that the computer program or computer program code is loadable into the device or a memory the device has access to. Alternatively, certain embodiments of the invention may be performed entirely in hardware. Yet another option is that apparatus, such as a network element, is implemented at least partially by undedicated and programmable hardware which uses programmable resources.

[0072] It should be appreciated that embodiments may also be carried out at least partially by using cloud services or other software resources which do not necessarily locate in the device itself, but are otherwise available, such as transmittable from a server or host. In certain embodiments, many of the functions may be performed in distributed locations using a virtualization approach to computing.

[0073] Furthermore, although Figure 4 illustrates a system including a network element 410 and a UE 420, embodiments of the invention may be applicable to other configurations, and configurations involving additional elements, as illustrated and discussed herein. For example, multiple user equipment devices and multiple network elements may be present, or other nodes providing similar functionality, such as nodes that combine the functionality of a user equipment and an access point, such as a relay node.

[0074] One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the invention as discussed above may be practiced with steps in a different order, and/or with hardware elements in configurations which are different than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although the invention has been described based upon these preferred embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, while the user equipment is in idle mode in certain embodiments, in other embodiments the user equipment may be in connected mode.

[0075] Glossary

[0076] 3 GPP Third Generation Partnership Project

[0077] AAC Available Admission Capacity

[0078] AC Access Category

[0079] ANDSF Access Network Discoveiy and Selection Function

[0080] ANQP Access Network Query Protocol

[0081] AP Access Point

[0082] BSS Basic Service Set

[0083] CPICH Common Pilot Channel

[0084] HSPA High-Speed Packet Access

[0085] GBR Guaranteed Bit Rate

[0086] GTP GPRS Tunneling Protocol

[0087] GPRS General Packet Radio System

[0088] IE Information Element

[0089] IFOM IP Flow Mobility

[0090] IP Internet Protocol

[0091] MAPCON Multiple Connections via 3 GPP and non-3 GPP access

[0092] PDN Packet Data Network

[0093] QAPs QoS enabled APs

[0094] QBSS QoS Basic Service Set

[0095] QCI QoS Class Indicator

[0096] QoS Quality of Service

[0097] QoE Quality of Experience

[0098] RAN Radio Access Network

[0099] RAT Radio Access Technology

[0100] RFSP RAT Frequency Selection Priority

[0101] RRC Radio Resource Control

[0102] RSSI Received Signal Strength Indication [0103] RSCP Received Signal Code Power

[0104] RSRP Reference Signal Received Power

[0105] RT Real Time

[0106] SaMOG Sa2 based Mobility over GTP

[0107] SPI Scheduling Priority Index

[0108] SSID Service Set ID; defines a logical network operatin the physical infrastructure

[0109] TS Traffic Steering

[0110] UE User Equipment

[0111] WCDMA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access

[0112] WLAN Wireless Local Area Networks

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A method, comprising:

preparing, in a network element, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology; and

transmitting the one or more thresholds to one or more user equipments, wherein the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria are configured to determine behavior of the user equipment with respect to radio access technology selection when the user equipment is in idle mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection is between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

3. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a user equipment, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology; and

selecting, by the user equipment, a radio access technology of a plurality of radio access technologies based on the one or more thresholds while the user equipment is in idle mode.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of radio access technologies comprise a plurality of non-cellular radio access technologies.

5. The method of claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the selecting is between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

6. The method of any of claims 3-5, further comprising: monitoring load-based information on a plurality of radio access technologies, wherein the selecting comprises selecting from the radio access technologies.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining whether to initiate a mobile initiated call in a first radio access technology or in a second radio access technology of the plurality of radio access technologies based on the one or more thresholds, wherein the selecting comprises selecting the first radio access technology or the second radio access technology; and

initiating the mobile initiated call in the radio access technology.

8. The method of any of claims 1-7, the method further comprising: determining whether to initiate handover of an on-going non-cellular connection to a cellular radio access technology based on the one or more thresholds, wherein the selecting comprises selecting a non-cellular radio access technology of the on-going non-cellular connection or the cellular radio access technology; and

initiating the handover when determined based on the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to prepare, in a network element, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology; and transmit the one or more thresholds to one or more user equipments, wherein the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria are configured to determine behavior of the user equipment with respect to radio access technology selection when the user equipment is in idle mode.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the selection is between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive, by a user equipment, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology; and

select, by the user equipment, a radio access technology of a plurality of radio access technologies based on the one or more thresholds while the user equipment is in idle mode.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of radio access technologies comprise a plurality of non-cellular radio access technologies.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to select between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

14. The apparatus of any of claims 11-13, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to

monitor load-based information on a plurality of radio access technologies; and

select the radio access technology by selecting from the radio access technologies.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to

determine whether to initiate a mobile initiated call in a first radio access technology or in a second radio access technology of the plurality of radio access technologies based on the one or more thresholds;

select the radio access technology by selecting the first radio access technology or the second radio access technology; and

initiate the mobile initiated call in the radio access technology.

16. The apparatus of any of claims 11-15, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to

determine whether to initiate handover of an on-going non-cellular connection to a cellular radio access technology based on the one or more thresholds;

select the radio access technology by selecting a non-cellular radio access technology of the on-going non-cellular connection or the cellular radio access technology; and

initiate the handover when determined based on the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

means for preparing, in a network element, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology; and

means for transmitting the one or more thresholds to one or more user equipments, wherein the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria are configured to determine behavior of the user equipment with respect to radio access technology selection when the user equipment is in idle mode.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the selection is between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving, by a user equipment, one or more quality of service, system load-based, signal strength or signal quality based thresholds corresponding to one or more criteria for a radio access technology; and

means for selecting, by the user equipment, a radio access technology of a plurality of radio access technologies based on the one or more thresholds while the user equipment is in idle mode.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the selecting is between cellular access and wireless local area network access.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the plurality of radio access technologies comprise a plurality of non-cellular radio access technologies.

22. The apparatus of any of claims 19-21, further comprising:

means for monitoring load-based information on a plurality of radio access technologies, wherein the selecting comprises selecting from the radio access technologies.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

means for determining whether to initiate a mobile initiated call in a first radio access technology or in a second radio access technology of the plurality of radio access technologies based on the one or more thresholds, wherein the selecting comprises selecting the first radio access technology or the second radio access technology; and

means for initiating the mobile initiated call in the radio access technology.

24. The apparatus of any of claims 19-23, further comprising:

means for determining whether to initiate handover of an on-going non- cellular connection to a cellular radio access technology based on the one or more thresholds, wherein the selecting comprises selecting a non-cellular radio access technology of the on-going non-cellular connection or the cellular radio access technology; and

means for initiating the handover when determined based on the one or more thresholds in combination with the corresponding criteria.

25. A computer program product encoding instructions for performing a process, the process comprising the method according to any of claims 1-8.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed in hardware, perform a process, the process comprising the method according to any of claims 1-8