WO2015139765A1

WO2015139765A1 - A method, apparatus and system

Info

Publication number: WO2015139765A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/055676
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniela Laselva; Antti Anton Toskala; Claudio Rosa; Woonhee Hwang
Original assignee: Nokia Solutions And Networks Oy
Priority date: 2014-03-21
Filing date: 2014-03-21
Publication date: 2015-09-24

Abstract

A method comprising receiving in a user equipment attached to a first network criteria selection information and using the criteria selection information to determine if a first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

Description

A method, apparatus and system

The present application relates to a method, apparatus and system and in particular but not exclusively, to network selection for the routing of traffic.

A communication system can be seen as a facility that enables communication sessions between two or more entities such as user terminals, base stations and/or other nodes by providing carriers between the various entities involved in the communications path. A communication system can be provided for example by means of a communication network and one or more compatible communication devices. The communications may comprise, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and/or content data and so on. Non- limiting examples of services provided include two-way or multi-way calls, data communication or multimedia services and access to a data network system, such as the Internet.

In a wireless communication system at least a part of communications between at least two stations occurs over a wireless link. Examples of wireless systems include public land mobile networks (PLMN) , satellite based communication systems and different wireless local networks, for example wireless local area networks (WLAN) . The wireless systems can typically be divided into cells, and are therefore often referred to as cellular systems .

A user can access the communication system by means of an appropriate communication device or terminal . A communication device of a user is often referred to as user eguipment (UE) . A communication device is provided with an appropriate signal receiving and transmitting apparatus for enabling communications, for example enabling access to a communication network or communications directly with other users . The communication device may access a carrier provided by a station, for example a base station of a cell, and transmit and/or receive communications on the carrier.

The communication system and associated devices typically operate in accordance with a given standard or specification which sets out what the various entities associated with the system are permitted to do and how that should be achieved. Communication protocols and/or parameters which shall be used for the connection are also typically defined. An example of attempts to solve the problems associated with the increased demands for capacity is an architecture that is known as the long-term evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio-access technology. The LTE is being standardized by the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) . The various development stages of the 3GPP LTE specifications are referred to as releases. The aim of the standardization is to achieve a communication system with, inter alia, reduced latency, higher user data rates, improved system capacity and coverage, and reduced cost for the operator. In the following certain exemplifying embodiments are explained with reference to a wireless or mobile communication system serving mobile communication devices .

Due to the continuously growing traffic demand, mobile network operators (MNOs) are currently investigating ways of steering user traffic from the operator network to the WLAN network in order to boost the coverage and capacity of their systems. In traffic steering, some traffic may be offloaded from one network to another. In a first aspect there is provided a method comprising receiving in a user equipment attached to a first network criteria selection information and using the criteria selection information to determine if a first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network .

The criteria selection information may indicate the criteria to be used in determining if the first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

The criteria may comprise at least one of a randomisation criteria and a quality based criteria. The quality based criteria may comprise at least one of reference signal received power, a reference signal received quality and a channel quality indicator.

The criteria selection information may comprise network access point identification information.

The criteria selection information may indicate that an access point of the first network is co-located with an access point of the second network.

The method may comprise receiving the criteria selection information via dedicated radio resource signalling or via a broadcasted system information. The criteria selection information may indicate an access point of the second network which could be selected regardless of the quality level of the first network

The first network may be one of a wireless local area network and a cellular network and the second network is the other of a wireless local network and a cellular network.

The method may comprise using the criteria selection information to determine if a second traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

In a second aspect there is provided a method comprising causing criteria selection information to be sent to a user equipment attached to a first network, wherein the criteria selection information is to be used in determining if a first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

The criteria may comprise at least one of a randomisation criteria and a quality based criteria.

The quality based criteria may comprise at least one of reference signal received power, a reference signal received quality and a channel quality indicator.

The criteria selection information may comprise network access point identification information. The criteria selection information may indicate that an access point of the first network is co-located with an access point of the second network. The method may comprise causing the criteria selection information to be sent via dedicated radio resource signalling or via a broadcasted system information.

The criteria selection information may indicate an access point of the second network which could be selected regardless of the quality level of the first network

The first network may be one of a wireless local area network and a cellular network and the second network is the other of a wireless local network and a cellular network. The criteria selection information may be used to determine if a second traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

In a third aspect there is provided an apparatus, said apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to receive in a user equipment attached to a first network criteria selection information and use the criteria selection information to determine if a first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network. The criteria selection information may indicate the criteria to be used in determining if the first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network. The criteria may comprise at least one of a randomisation criteria and a quality based criteria.

The quality based criteria may comprise at least one of reference signal received power, a reference signal received quality and a channel quality indicator. The criteria selection information may comprise network access point identification information.

The at least one processor and at least one memory may be configured to receive the criteria selection information via dedicated radio resource signalling or via a broadcasted system information.

The at least one processor and at least one memory may be configured to use the criteria selection information to determine if a second traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

In a fourth aspect there is provided an apparatus, said apparatus comprisinq at least one processor and at least one memory includinq computer code for one or more proqrams, the at least one memory and the computer code confiqured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to cause criteria selection information to be sent to a user equipment attached to a first network, wherein the criteria selection information is to be used in determininq if a first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

The criteria selection information may indicate the criteria to be used in determininq if the first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

The criteria may comprise at least one of a randomisation criteria and a quality based criteria. The quality based criteria may comprise at least one of reference siqnal received power, a reference siqnal received quality and a channel quality indicator.

The criteria selection information may indicate that an access point of the first network is co-located with an access point of the second network. The at least one processor and at least one memory may be configured to cause the criteria selection information to be sent via dedicated radio resource signalling or via a broadcasted system information. The criteria selection information may indicate an access point of the second network which could be selected regardless of the quality level of the first network

The criteria selection information may be used in determining if a second traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

In a fifth aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising means for receiving in a user equipment attached to a first network criteria selection information and means for using the criteria selection information to determine if a first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

The apparatus may comprise means for receivinq the criteria selection information via dedicated radio resource siqnallinq or via a broadcasted system information. The criteria selection information may indicate an access point of the second network which could be selected reqardless of the quality level of the first network

The apparatus may comprise means for usinq the criteria selection information to determine if a second traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network .

In a sixth aspect there is provided an apparatus comprisinq means for causinq criteria selection information to be sent to a user equipment attached to a first network, the criteria selection information to be used in determininq if a first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

The apparatus may comprise means for causing the criteria selection information to be sent via dedicated radio resource signalling or via a broadcasted system information.

In a seventh aspect computer program comprising program code means adapted to perform the method (s) may also be provided. The computer program may be stored and/or otherwise embodied by means of a carrier medium.

In the above, many different embodiments have been described. It should be appreciated that further embodiments may be provided by the combination of any two or more of the embodiments described above.

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a communication system comprising a base station and a plurality of communication devices;

Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram, of a mobile communication device ;

Figure 3 shows an example of a communication system in which embodiments may be implemented; Figure 4 shows a method of operator controlled internetworking;

Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of a control apparatus;

Before explaining in detail the exemplifying embodiments, certain general principles of a wireless communication system and mobile communication devices are briefly explained with reference to Figures 1 to 2 to assist in understanding the technology underlying the described examples. In a wireless communication system mobile communication devices or user equipment (UE) 102, 103, 105 are provided wireless access via at least one base station or similar wireless transmitting and/or receiving node or point. Base stations are typically controlled by at least one appropriate controller apparatus, so as to enable operation thereof and management of mobile communication devices in communication with the base stations. The controller apparatus may be part of the base station and/or provided by a separate entity such as a Radio Network Controller. In Figure 1 control apparatus 108 and 109 are shown to control the respective macro level base stations 106 and 107. The control apparatus of a base station can be interconnected with other control entities. The control apparatus is typically provided with memory capacity and at least one data processor. The control apparatus and functions may be distributed between a plurality of control units. In some systems, the control apparatus may additionally or alternatively be provided in a radio network controller . In Figure 1 base stations 106 and 107 are shown as connected to a wider communications network 113 via gateway 112. A further gateway function may be provided to connect to another network.

The smaller base stations 116, 118 and 119 may also be connected to the network 113, for example by a separate gateway function and/or via the controllers of the macro level stations. In the example, stations 116 and 118 are connected via a gateway 111 whilst station 120 connects via the controller apparatus 108. In some embodiments, the smaller stations may not be provided. A possible mobile communication device will now be described in more detail with reference to Figure 2 showing a schematic, partially sectioned view of a communication device 102. Such a communication device is often referred to as user eguipment (UE) or terminal. An appropriate mobile communication device may be provided by any device capable of sending and receiving radio signals. Non-limiting examples include a mobile station (MS) or mobile device such as a mobile phone or what is known as a 'smart phone', a computer provided with a wireless interface card or other wireless interface facility (e.g., USB dongle), personal data assistant (PDA) or a tablet provided with wireless communication capabilities, or any combinations of these or the like. A mobile communication device may provide, for example, communication of data for carrying communications such as voice, electronic mail (email), text message, multimedia and so on. Users may thus be offered and provided numerous services via their communication devices . Non- limiting examples of these services include two-way or multi- way calls, data communication or multimedia services or simply an access to a data communications network system, such as the Internet. Users may also be provided broadcast or multicast data. Non-limiting examples of the content include downloads, television and radio programs, videos, advertisements, various alerts and other information.

The mobile device 102 may receive signals over an air or radio interface 207 via appropriate apparatus for receiving and may transmit signals via appropriate apparatus for transmitting radio signals . In Figure 2 transceiver apparatus is designated schematically by block 206. The transceiver apparatus 206 may be provided for example by means of a radio part and associated antenna arrangement. The antenna arrangement may be arranged internally or externally to the mobile device.

A mobile device is typically provided with at least one data processing entity 201, at least one memory 202 and other possible components 203 for use in software and hardware aided execution of tasks it is designed to perform, including control of access to and communications with access systems and other communication devices. The data processing, storage and other relevant control apparatus can be provided on an appropriate circuit board and/or in chipsets. This feature is denoted by reference 204. The user may control the operation of the mobile device by means of a suitable user interface such as key pad 205, voice commands, touch sensitive screen or pad, combinations thereof or the like. A display 208, a speaker and a microphone can be also provided. Furthermore, a mobile communication device may comprise appropriate connectors (either wired or wireless) to other devices and/or for connecting external accessories, for example hands-free eguipment, thereto.

The communication devices 102, 103, 105 may access the communication system based on various access technigues, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), or wideband CDMA (WCDMA) . Other non-limiting examples comprise time division multiple access (TDMA), freguency division multiple access (FDMA) and various schemes thereof such as the interleaved freguency division multiple access (IFDMA), single carrier freguency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) and orthogonal freguency division multiple access (OFDMA) , space division multiple access (SDMA) and so on. An example of wireless communication systems are architectures standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) . A latest 3GPP based development is often referred to as the long term evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio-access technology. The various development stages of the 3GPP specifications are referred to as releases. More recent developments of the LTE are often referred to as LTE Advanced (LTE-A) . The LTE employs a mobile architecture known as the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) . Base stations of such systems are known as evolved or enhanced Node Bs (eNBs) and provide E-UTRAN features such as user plane Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control/Physical layer protocol (RLC/MAC/PHY) and control plane Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol terminations towards the communication devices. Other examples of radio access system include those provided by base stations of systems that are based on technologies such as wireless local area network (WLAN) and/or WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) .

LTE systems may be considered to have a so-called "flat" architecture, without the provision of RNCs; rather the (e)NB is in communication with a system architecture evolution gateway (SAE-GW) and a mobility management entity (MME), which entities may also be pooled meaning that a plurality of these nodes may serve a plurality (set) of (e)NBs. Each UE is served by only one MME and/or S-GW at a time and the (e)NB keeps track of current association. SAE-GW is a "high-level" user plane core network element in LTE, which may consist of the S-GW and the P-GW (serving gateway and packet data network gateway, respectively) . The functionalities of the S- GW and P-GW are separated and they are not reguired to be co- located . Figure 3 shows a communication system comprising a cellular network 101 as well as one or more wireless large area network (WLAN) cells 140. The cellular network 101 may comprise a first base station 110 serving a first cell 112, a second base station 120 serving a second cell 122 and a third base station 130 serving a third cell 132. It will be appreciated that the UE 102 and base stations 110, 120 and 130 may form part of a radio access network (RAN) of the cellular system.

Figure 3 further shows an user eguipment (UE) 102. UE 102 is located in the first cell 112, but at the cell edge, i.e. the UE 102 is close to the border between the first cell and the second cell 132. In this example the cellular network is a long term evolution (LTE) cellular network and the base stations are enhanced node B's (eNB) . It will however be appreciated that in other examples, the cellular network may operate in accordance with other standards of wireless communication. The cellular system 101 of figure 3 may further support traffic steering or offloading some of the user traffic to a further network. In the example of figure 3, one or more wireless large area network (WLAN) cells 140 API, AP2, AP3 and AP4 are shown. The WLAN cells may for example be supported by WLAN nodes and may be deployed to extend the coverage of the cellular network in some cases. THE WLAN node for AP4 is co-located with the base station 130. It will be appreciated that while the further network is described as being a WLAN network, other types of wireless networks may be implemented. Operators may currently exploit cellular offloading to WLANs for capacity and coverage purposes as it may be inexpensive (in terms of licensing for spectrum and/or for cost deployment) and may offer good network performance in high- traffic urban environments. The W-Fi networks may be operator networks or third party networks .

WLAN discovery, selection and/or access may be user- controlled via a connection manager utility installed at the client side (this may be known as ad-hoc connectivity) . Subscriber traffic may disappear from cellular networks to connect to the user's preferred access points whenever these are available, e.g. at home or in the work place. Optimally, from a user point of view the UE should be best connected at any given time to one or more networks in its proximity. From a cellular network operator point of view different scenarios are possible. In one scenario the UE should only use WLAN offloading when offloading provides a reguired service level and use of WLAN is allowed by the RAN/the cellular network operator. Another scenario is to keep traffic in 3GPP networks until the network gets overloaded and only then start offloading to WLAN. In yet another scenario the operator may wish to offload to WLAN as much as possible as long as the WLAN connection can provide a reguired service level for the users. There can be several different motivations for WiFi offloading depending for example on the operator, the type of available networks and the cost associated to these networks. Radio enhancements to 3GPP/WLAN interworking are sought so to support operator assisted connectivity over WLAN along with UE predictability.

The WLAN Radio interworking work item (WI) proposal (RP- 132101) is based on alternatives covered in the report TR 37.834 "Study on WLAN/3GPP Radio Interworking". The UE may steer traffic to WLAN or RAN based on RAN assistance information and using either Rel-12 enhanced ANDSF (eANDSF) rules or RAN rules (if, for example, eANDSF is not supported) . The list of candidate RAN assistance parameters covered in the TR 37.834 includes RAN and WLAN radio thresholds such as RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) /RSRQ (Reference Signal Received Quality) , and RSSI thresholds as well as indicators such as Preferred Access Technology, WLAN traffic steering indicator (WTSI), Offloading Preference Indicator (OPI), Offload Percentage Value. CQI (Channel Quality Indicator) may be used as an alternative to RSRP/RSRQ.

The parameters, as standalone, may be suitable for some scenarios. However, they may be unsuitable under different scenarios and/or network conditions. As an example, the RSRP threshold could be beneficial to control offloading of idle UEs. It may have limitations when applied, for example, to connected UEs or co-located WLAN Access Point (AP) scenarios (cf. R2-14038 and R2-140652). CQI measurement and the corresponding CQI threshold have been proposed as RAN parameters for the offloading of connected UEs. However, RSRP may still be used for idle UEs since for them the CQI measurement is not available.

The following are provided as examples of conditions based on RSRP and RSSI criteria which may be used when deciding how to steer traffic. In the case of offloading from a 3GPP network to a WLAN, if RAN RSRP is less than a threshold s and RAN direct load is greater than threshold x, and if WLAN RSSI is greater than threshold r and WLAN BSS load is less than threshold y, then the traffic flow may be moved to WLAN. In the case of offloading from a WLAN to a 3GPP network, if RAN RSRP is greater than threshold s' and RAN direct load is less than threshold ', and if WLAN RSSI is less than threshold r' and WLAN BSS load is greater than threshold γ' , then traffic flow may be moved to the UMTS/LTE communication system. In the case of a WLAN AP co-located or in close proximity with an eNB, the criteria above, as presented in TR 37.834, may cause users close to the WLAN AP not to be offloaded, as the UE may experience high RSRP or CQI due to the proximity of the LTE eNodeB . An offload preference indicator (OPI), such as an offloading percentage may be used. However, the RSRP/RSRQ criteria are beneficial for the non-co-located scenario .

It may not be feasible or efficient to provide all the parameters to the UE to properly set the corresponding thresholds according to the reguirements of a given scenario. Thus a different mechanism is desirable. In particular, it would be useful to provide a RAN with a level of control in terms of what kind of triggering criteria the UE should use in different scenarios to better benefit from offloading. The method shown in figure 4 provides means of providing such control to RAN.

In step 1 of the method shown in figure 4 criteria selection information, or a measurement selection flag, is received from a RAN in a UE connected to a first network.. The network may be a cellular network or a WLAN network. The flag may be received from a base station. The flag may be signalled via broadcasted System Information or via dedicated RRC signaling. The flag may indicate to the UE which triggering criteria and/or radio measurements the UE should apply when evaluating the offloading decision. In step 2 of the method shown in figure 4, the UE uses the criteria selection information to determine whether to route a first traffic between the UE and the first network or between the UE and the second network. The UE may make the traffic offloading decision in dependence of criteria indicated by the criteria selection information or measurement selection flag.

In the case of co-located WLAN AP the measurement selection flag may be coupled with the co-located WLAN AP ID, so that a UE finding a specific WLAN AP ID could use, for example, randomization as a criteria while other UEs would use quality based criteria (such as RSRP/RSCP or CQI) . This allows WLAN APs other than the co-located WLAN AP to be handled based on quality. All the UEs at the cell edge area would not jump to the co-located WLAN AP due to randomization operation since the quality criteria would still be available.

The flag could alternatively or in addition be an indication that a co-located WLAN AP is available, thus a UE would understand that even with high RSRP and/or CQI values, the co-located WLAN AP may be preferred. Alternative WLAN APs could be then used for low RSRP or CQI values (e.g. if the UE is in a cell edge area) .

The flag could indicate that a specific (or set of) WLAN AP ( s ) is not considered to be part of the quality based criteria, when known to be either co-located, or otherwise in close proximity of the eNB, or not and thus can be selected even if LTE quality does not drop below a certain threshold.

If a parameter impacting the off-loading probability is provided by the network, the parameter could be used to handle the randomization function, controlling the amount of off-loaded traffic to the co-located WLAN AP and/or reducing the probability of all cell center UEs going to the WLAN AP .

The method may be used to impact the onloading decision as well .

The method may allow RAN/operator control over the offloading mechanisms to accommodate different scenarios, including a co-located WLAN AP situation.

The method may be implemented on a control apparatus as shown in figure 5. Figure 5 shows an example of a control apparatus for a communication system, for example to be coupled to and/or for controlling a station of an access system, such as a base station. In some embodiments, a base station may comprise a separate control apparatus. In other embodiments, the control apparatus can be another network element such as a radio network controller. The control apparatus may be provided in one or more of the access point (s) and base stations . The control apparatus may be provided in the WLAN access point. In some embodiments, the method may be implemented by the at least one processor and at least one memory of the UE . In some embodiments, each base station may have such a control apparatus as well as a control apparatus being provided in a radio network controller. The control apparatus 109 can be arranged to provide control on communications in the service area of the system. The control apparatus 109 comprises at least one memory 301, at least one data processing unit 302, 303 and an input/output interface 304. Via the interface the control apparatus can be coupled to a receiver and a transmitter of the base station. For example the control apparatus 109 can be configured to execute an appropriate software code to provide the control functions . It is noted that whilst embodiments have been described in relation to 3GPP RAN and WLAN, similar principles can be applied to any other communication system where internetworking is supported. Therefore, although certain embodiments were described above by way of example with reference to certain exemplifying architectures for wireless networks, technologies and standards, embodiments may be applied to any other suitable forms of communication systems than those illustrated and described herein.

The two access points through which a UE is able to receive or transmit traffic may belong to two different networks . One network may be cellular and the other network may be a wireless local area network, In other embodiments, the two networks may be of the same type.

It is also noted herein that while the above describes exemplifying embodiments of the invention, there are several variations and modifications which may be made to the disclosed solution without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In general, the various embodiments may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects of the invention may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device, although the invention is not limited thereto. While various aspects of the invention may be illustrated and described as block diagrams, flow charts, or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

The embodiments of this invention may be implemented by computer software executable by a data processor of the mobile device, such as in the processor entity, or by hardware, or by a combination of software and hardware.

Further in this regard it should be noted that any blocks of the logic flow as in the Figures may represent program steps, or interconnected logic circuits, blocks and functions, or a combination of program steps and logic circuits, blocks and functions. The software may be stored on such physical media as memory chips, or memory blocks implemented within the processor, magnetic media such as hard disk or floppy disks, and optical media such as for example DVD and the data variants thereof, CD.

The memory may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The data processors may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), FPGA, gate level circuits and processors based on multi-core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. Embodiments of the inventions may be practiced m various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is by and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate.

The foregoing description has provided by way of exemplary and non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the exemplary embodiment of this invention. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this invention will still fall within the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims. Indeed in there is a further embodiment comprising a combination of one or more embodiments with any of the other embodiments previously discussed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving in a user equipment attached to a first network criteria selection information; and using the criteria selection information to determine if a first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the criteria selection information indicates the criteria to be used in determining if the first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network .

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the criteria comprises at least one of a randomisation criteria and a quality based criteria.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the quality based criteria comprises at least one of reference signal received power, a reference signal received quality and a channel quality indicator.

5. A method according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the criteria selection information comprises network access point identification information.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the criteria selection information indicates that an access point of the first network is co-located with an access point of the second network.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising receiving the criteria selection information via dedicated radio resource signalling or via a broadcasted system information.

8. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the criteria selection information indicates an access point of the second network which could be selected regardless of the quality level of the first network

9. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the first network is one of a wireless local area network and a cellular network and the second network is the other of a wireless local network and a cellular network.

10. A method according to any preceding claim, comprising using the criteria selection information to determine if a second traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

11. A method comprising:

causing criteria selection information to be sent to a user equipment attached to a first network, wherein the criteria selection information is to be used in determining if a first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

An apparatus, said apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:

receive in a user equipment attached to a first network criteria selection information; and

use the criteria selection information to determine if a first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the criteria selection information indicates the criteria to be used in determining if the first traffic is to be routed between said user equipment and said first network or between said user equipment and a second, different, network.

An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the criteria comprises at least one of a randomisation criteria and a quality based criteria.

An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the quality based criteria comprises at least one of reference signal received power, a reference signal received quality and a channel quality indicator.

An apparatus according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the criteria selection information comprises network access point identification information.

17. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the criteria selection information indicates that an access point of the first network is co-located with an access point of the second network.

18. An apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 17, comprising receiving the criteria selection information via dedicated radio resource signalling or via a broadcasted system information.

19. An apparatus, said apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to:

cause criteria selection information to be sent to a user eguipment attached to a first network, wherein the criteria selection information is to be used in determining if a first traffic is to be routed between said user eguipment and said first network or between said user eguipment and a second, different, network.

20. A computer program comprising computer executable instructions which when run are configured to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 11.